Commission Meeting Agenda Item No. 14
Presenter: Ted Hollingsworth

Action
Acquisition of Land – Matagorda County
Approximately 1100 Acres at the Matagorda Peninsula Coastal Management Area
May 26, 2022

I.      Executive Summary: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff has been awarded grant funding to acquire approximately 1,100 acres of land from willing sellers for addition to the Matagorda Peninsula Coastal Management Area (CMA).

II.     Discussion: In 2017, TPWD established the Matagorda Peninsula CMA with the acquisition of approximately 5,100 acres of land on Matagorda Peninsula from the Texas General Land Office. The Matagorda Peninsula CMA currently consists of more than 6,300 acres preserving approximately 14 miles of peninsula from the Caney Creek Cut westward and from the Gulf of Mexico to East Matagorda Bay. This is a remote and undeveloped barrier system that preserves habitat for a remarkable diversity of coastal wildlife from nesting sea turtles to resident and migratory shore and wading birds, several of which are listed as species of greatest conservation need. Habitats consist of Gulf beaches, sand dunes, lagoons, strand prairies, bayous, tidal flats, and emergent salt marshes that are critical for the production of crustaceans, shellfish, and finfish. The East Matagorda Bay system has been identified as a conservation focal area by TPWD and its conservation partners. Goals to protect the East Matagorda Bay system include conservation of as much of the peninsula and surrounding bay shoreline as opportunities and funding allow.

TPWD and the Galveston Bay Foundation have received grants from the criminal settlement of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act to acquire two tracts of land on Matagorda Peninsula totaling approximately 1,000 acres and an undivided interest tract of approximately 76 acres from willing sellers. The subject tracts are contiguous with the current boundaries of the Matagorda Peninsula CMA. If authorized by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, the acquisitions are anticipated to close by the end of 2022.

III. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

"The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to acquire approximately 1,100 acres of fee simple and undivided interests in land for addition to the Matagorda Peninsula Coastal Management Area in Matagorda County."

Commission Agenda Item No. 14
Exhibit A

Location Map for Matagorda Peninsula Coastal Management Area in Matagorda County

Commission Agenda Item No. 14
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map for Matagorda Peninsula,
45 Miles East of Port Lavaca

Commission Agenda Item No. 14
Exhibit C

Site Map Showing Location of Matagorda Peninsula Coastal Management Area (CMA)
Area of Proposed Land Acquisitions Shown in Yellow