Work Session
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
9:00 a.m.

Jeffery D. Hildebrand, Commission Chair
David Yoskowitz, Ph.D., Executive Director

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Commission Hearing Room
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744

Agenda

Approval of the Previous Minutes from the Commission Work Session held March 27, 2024

Land and Water Plan

1. Update on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Progress in Implementing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan – David Yoskowitz, Ph.D.
   • Internal Affairs Update
   • Staff Recognition
   • Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan Update
     • Rule Review Process Preview
     • Chapter 51 – Executive
     • Chapter 52 – Stocking Policy
     • Chapter 55 – Law Enforcement
     • Chapter 60 – Maintenance Reviews
     • Chapter 61 – Design and Construction
2. Commission Policy CP-001 Revision – Recommended Adoption of Proposed Change – James Murphy (Action Item No. 1)

Financial

3. Financial Overview – Reggie Pegues
4. Strategic Plan Update – Michael Goldsmith
5. Internal Audit Update – Paul Gentry

Natural Resources

6. Banning Canned Hunts and Establishing Trapping Standards for Mountain Lions – Recommended Adoption of Proposed Rule – Richard Heilbrun (Action Item No. 2)
7. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Detection and Response Rules – Containment and Surveillance Zones, Check Stations, and Deer Carcass Movement Restrictions and Disposal Requirements – Recommended Adoption of Proposed Changes and Request Permission to Publish Boundaries for New Surveillance Zones – Dr. J. Hunter Reed (Action Item No. 3)
8. CWD Detection and Response Rules – CWD Testing Requirements at Deer Breeding Facilities – Recommended Adoption of Proposed Changes – Dr. J. Hunter Reed (Action Item No. 4)
9. Disease Management – Special Take Authorization Rule – Recommended Adoption of Proposed Rule – Stormy King (Action Item No. 5)
10. Public Hunting Program – Establishment of an Open Season on Public Hunting Lands and Approval of Public Hunting Activities on State Parks – Kevin Mote (Action Item No. 6)
11. Briefing – Quail Update – John McLaughlin

Land Conservation

12. Acquisition of Land – Bastrop County – Approximately 43 Acres at Bastrop State Park – Trey Vick (Work Session and Executive Session) (Action Item No. 8)
13. Acquisition of Land – Harrison County – Approximately 1.1 Acres at Caddo Lake State Park – Trey Vick (Work Session and Executive Session) (Action Item No. 9)
14. Acquisition of Land – Limestone County – Approximately 3 Acres at Fort Parker State Park – Trey Vick (Work Session and Executive Session) (Action Item No. 10)
15. Acceptance of Donation of Land – Bastrop County - Approximately 49 Acres at Bastrop State Park – Jason Estrella (Work Session and Executive Session) (Action Item No. 11)
16. Acquisition of Land – Anderson County – Approximately 6900 Acres in the Middle Trinity River Ecosystem Project – Stan David (Work Session and Executive Session) (Action Item No. 12)
17. Grant of Pipeline Easement – Jefferson County - Approximately 3 Acres at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area – Request Permission to Begin the Public Notice and Input Process – Stan David (Work Session and Executive Session)

Executive Session

18. Litigation Update – James Murphy (Executive Session Only)

Agenda Items

Work Session Agenda Item 1

Presenter: David Yoskowitz, Ph.D.

Update on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Progress
in Implementing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Land and
Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan

I. Executive Summary:

Executive Director David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. will briefly update the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) on the status of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) efforts to implement the Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan (plan).

II. Discussion:

In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature directed that TPWD develop a Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan (Texas Parks and Wildlife Code section 11.104). In 2002, the Commission adopted the first plan. A revised plan was adopted by the Commission in January 2005. In November 2009, the Commission approved a new plan, effective January 1, 2010, that included broad input from stakeholders and the general public. Minor revisions continue to be made to the plan. Every five years, TPWD is statutorily required to evaluate its progress toward achieving the plan’s goal and objectives. In November 2023, the Commission approved the 2024 Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan goals, objectives, strategies, and actions, which are available on TPWD’s website. Dr. Yoskowitz will update the Commission on TPWD’s recent progress in achieving the plan’s goals, objectives, and deliverables.

The plan consists of the following four goals:

1. Practice, Encourage, and Enable Science-Based Stewardship of Natural and Cultural Resources
2. Increase Access to and Participation in the Outdoors
3. Educate, Inform, and Engage Texas Citizens in Support of Conservation and Recreation
4. Employ Efficient, Sustainable, and Sound Business Practices

Work Session Agenda Item 3

Presenter: Reggie Pegues

Financial Overview

I. Executive Summary:

Staff will present a financial overview of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

II. Discussion:

Staff will update the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on state park, boat registration and titling, and license fee revenues collected by TPWD for year-to-date Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. Staff will also summarize the year-to-date budget for FY 2024.

Work Session Agenda Item 4

Presenter: Michael Goldsmith

Strategic Plan Update

I. Executive Summary:

Staff will brief the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Legislative Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025-2029.

II. Discussion:

Staff will describe updates to the FY 2025-2029 Legislative Strategic Plan, internally titled the TPWD Natural Agenda, as prescribed by the Legislative Budget Board and the Office of the Governor.

Work Session Agenda Item 5

Presenter: Paul Gentry

Internal Audit Update

I. Executive Summary:

Staff will update the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) on Internal Audit activities and projects that have taken place since the last Commission Meeting.

II. Discussion:

Staff will present an update on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024 Internal Audit Plans. Staff will also provide an update on external audits and assessments.

Work Session Agenda Item 11

Presenter: John McLaughlin

Briefing
Quail Update

I. Executive Summary:

Staff will update the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on quail population trends, recreational quail hunting trends, habitat conservation efforts with partners in Texas, and agency-funded quail research.

II. Discussion:

Quail populations remain robust and widespread, but like other grassland bird species, they have experienced regional declines. Habitat loss and fragmentation are likely culprits driving long-term population trends, with weather-related factors (e.g., rainfall, temperature) affecting annual population fluctuations. However, significant resources have been allocated to these species, and quail have become a rallying beacon for grassland and forest-savannah conservation efforts in the U.S.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) annually monitors quail populations across six ecoregions. The Rolling Plains and South Texas Plains remain strongholds for northern bobwhite quail, with the Trans-Pecos serving as a stronghold for scaled quail and Montezuma quail. In addition to these surveys, national monitoring efforts have noted regional population declines for over a century. TPWD annually monitors hunter harvest and participation, with both exhibiting a downward trend in recent decades, closely following quail population trends. In Texas, state, federal, and private funds have been dedicated to support a host of private lands habitat programs for which quail serve as a focal species. TPWD has partnered with various conservation organizations to fund external biologists who support the agency’s mission and extend our geographic footprint. Together with TPWD staff, these programs and biologists serve as a bridge to private landowners, steering on-the-ground management and increasing the visibility of quail conservation efforts. Additionally, the agency has prioritized quail research funding, allocating more than $3.5 million with university partners since 2018. Projects have focused on habitat use, regional population trends, genetics, impact of management actions, and landowner perceptions of regional declines.

Work Session Agenda Item 17

Presenter: Stan David

Grant of Pipeline Easement – Jefferson County
Approximately 3 Acres at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area
Request Permission to Begin the Public Notice and Input Process

I. Executive Summary:

Chevron Phillips Chemical (Chevron) requests an easement across the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for the construction and installation of a 12-inch highly volatile liquids (HVL) pipeline.

II. Discussion:

The J.D. Murphree WMA consists of approximately 25,500 acres of coastal marsh and open water within the Texas Chenier Plain and is adjacent to the Sabine Neches Waterway. The WMA is divided into three units: Hillebrandt, Big Hill, and Salt Bayou.

Chevron requests an easement crossing the north side of the Hillebrandt Unit for a 12-inch HVL pipeline that would be installed through horizontal directional drilling. The easement would be approximately 2,672 feet in length and approximately 50 feet wide.

Staff requests permission to begin the public notice and input process.

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Work Session Agenda Item 17
Exhibit A

Location Map for the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
Jefferson County

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Work Session Agenda Item 17
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map for the J.D. Murphree WMA
Approximately 20 Miles South of Beaumont

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Work Session Agenda Item 17
Exhibit C

Area Map of the J.D. Murphree WMA
Hillebrandt Unit Outlined in Red
Big Hill Unit Outlined in Green

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Work Session Agenda Item 17
Exhibit D

Location of Requested Easement
Requested Easement in Orange
Hillebrandt Unit Outlined in Red

Work Session Agenda Item 18

Presenter: James Murphy

Litigation Update

I. Executive Summary:

Attorneys for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will update and advise the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission regarding pending or anticipated litigation.