Commission Meeting Agenda Item No. 5
Presenter: Jason Estrella

Action
Grant of Utility Easement – Bastrop County
Approximately 1 Acre at Bastrop State Park
May 25, 2023

I.      Executive Summary: Aqua Water Supply Corporation (Aqua) requests an easement across Bastrop State Park (Park) for the construction and installation of a 12-inch water supply line to be connected to an existing water storage tank outside of the Park’s boundary.

Lea el Resumen Ejecutivo del Tema Núm. 5 en español

II.     Discussion: Bastrop is seeing a large increase in population, and Aqua is expanding its service area and creating redundancy in its water supply system in and around Bastrop to address the growing need for drinking water for residents in its service area.

The primary purpose of the proposed new water supply line is to connect an existing Aqua water line within the Park to an existing Aqua storage tank located outside of the Park’s boundary. The proposed new easement route lies along the southern portion of the Park that is adjacent to Highway 71. The proposed route is the most economically feasible alternative and will minimize impacts to the Park’s resources.

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

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts the Resolution attached as Exhibit A.”

Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Regarding the Granting of an Easement Covering
Approximately 1 Acre of Real Property in Bastrop County
for the Construction and Installation of a New Water Line

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) owns and operates Bastrop State Park (Park) for a variety of recreation, historic, and conservation values; and,

WHEREAS, Aqua Water Supply Corporation (Aqua) is seeking to connect to an existing water supply line located on the Park; and,

WHEREAS, Aqua requests a fifteen-foot (15’) easement (Easement) across the Park to construct and install a new twelve-inch (12”) water supply line; and,

WHEREAS, TPWD staff finds it is in the best interest of the Park and Aqua to work together cooperatively; and

WHEREAS, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) finds that as required by Texas Parks and Wildlife Code (PWC) chapter 26, notices of today’s hearing of this matter were published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in newspapers of general circulation which are published at least six days a week in the communities nearest to the Park in which such newspapers are published (Austin-American Statesman), with the last day of publication being not less than one week or more than two weeks before the date of today’s hearing; and,

WHEREAS, the Commission finds, in accordance with PWC chapter 26, that (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use or taking of such land for the Easement; (2) the program or project that requires the Easement includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the land; and,

WHEREAS, the Commission finds that the grant of an Easement subject to conditions that will minimize harm of the Easement to the Park is in accordance with PWC section 11.301; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to negotiate terms and conditions under which an Easement may be granted, and to grant an Easement to Aqua for the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and, in the motion, approved in this Resolution.

Adopted and approved this 25th day of May 2023.

Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit B

Location Map for Bastrop State Park
Bastrop County

Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit C

Vicinity Map for Bastrop State Park
Bastrop, Texas

Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit D

Location of Requested Easement
Requested Easement in Yellow
Existing Water Line in Blue
Bastrop State Park Boundary Outlined in Red