Action
Exchange of Land – Cameron County
Acquisition of Approximately 477 Acres in Exchange for
Approximately 43 Acres at Boca Chica State Park
January 25, 2024

I.      Executive Summary: Staff requests authorization to pursue acquisition of approximately 477 acres near the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) – Bahia Grande Unit, in exchange for approximately 43 acres from Boca Chica State Park. This acquisition would create opportunities to expand public access and recreation in the region and allow Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to protect and manage the property’s diverse habitats, which include lomas, coastal grasslands, and wetlands.

II.     Discussion: Laguna Atascosa NWR was established in 1946 to protect habitat for wintering waterfowl and other migratory birds, with an emphasis on endangered species management. TPWD acquired Boca Chica State Park in 1994 and until recently, leased it to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), which managed it as a unit of the Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) desires to expand its operational footprint around its launch facilities at Boca Chica and has requested the transfer of 43 acres from Boca Chica State Park in exchange for 477 acres near the Laguna Atascosa NWR to TPWD. This acquisition will provide increased public recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, water recreation, and wildlife viewing, and allow for greater conservation of sensitive habitats for wintering and migratory birds.  Additionally, this land is within the broader conservation landscape of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

III.    Recommendation: Staff recommends that 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. 9
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission

Regarding the Acquisition of Approximately 477 Acres in Cameron County in Exchange for

Approximately 43 Acres at Boca Chica State Park

Resolution

        Whereas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) owns and operates Boca Chica State Park (SP) for a variety of recreation and conservation values, including the protection of coastal habitat; and,

        Whereas, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) desires to expand its operational footprint around its launch facilities at Boca Chica; and,

        Whereas, SpaceX has requested the transfer of 43 acres from Boca Chica SP (the Exchange Tract) in exchange for 477 acres near the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) to TPWD; and,

        Whereas, Laguna Atascosa NWR was established in 1946 to protect habitat for wintering waterfowl and other migratory birds, with an emphasis on endangered species management; and,

        Whereas, Boca Chica SP was acquired in 1994 and until recently, was leased to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and managed as a unit of the Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR; and,

        Whereas, this exchange will provide increased public recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, water recreation, and wildlife viewing, and allow for greater conservation of sensitive habitats for wintering and migratory birds; and,

        Whereas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) finds that as required by Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, 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 that are published at least six days a week in the communities nearest to the state park in which such newspapers are published (the Brownsville Herald in Cameron County), 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 Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 26, that (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use or taking of the Exchange Tract, which will be exchanged for a greater area of land of greater conservation and recreation value; and (2) the program or project that requires the use or taking of land includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to TPWD property; and,

        Whereas, the Commission finds, in accordance with Section 13.009 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code that the proposed exchange of the tracts is in the best interest of TPWD; and,

        Now, therefore, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to exchange the subject tracts for the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approving this Resolution.

Adopted and approved this 25th day of January, 2024.

Commission Agenda Item No. 9
Exhibit B

Location Map for the Proposed Exchange
Cameron County

Commission Agenda Item No. 9
Exhibit C

Vicinity Map for the Proposed Exchange
Cameron County

Commission Agenda Item No. 9
Exhibit D

Site Map of the Proposed Acquisition
Subject Tract in Yellow

Commission Agenda Item No. 9
Exhibit E

Site Map of the Proposed Exchange
Subject Tracts in Green
State Park in Orange