Request for Drainage Easement – Hays County - Approximately 1.2 Acres at A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery

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Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Presenter: Jacob Aston

Action
Request for Drainage Easement – Hays County
Approximately 1.2 Acres at A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery
May 28, 2026

I.        Executive Summary: Staff seeks approval to grant a drainage easement to the City of San Marcos adjacent to the A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery, for the construction and installation of approximately 2,100 linear feet of reinforced concrete culvert. The easement will improve and increase capacity to an existing stormwater drainage system, benefiting both the hatchery and area neighborhoods.

II.      Discussion: A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery was built in 1949 and named after A.E. Wood, who served on the Texas Game and Oyster Commission. The hatchery was a mainstay of warm water fish production for Texas until 1984, when it was closed for renovation. After four years and $14 million, primarily from Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration funds, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reopened it as one of the most modern fish hatcheries in the United States. The fish hatchery has a 33,000 square-foot building for intensive culture operation and 50-plastic lined ponds that provide nearly 47 surface acres of water. The hatchery is responsible for raising millions of fish each year for stocking into the public waters of Texas.

The City of San Marcos requests a drainage easement that is approximately 2,100 feet long and 25 feet wide, with a total easement area of 1.2 acres. The easement will be used for the construction and installation of approximately 2,100 linear feet of 8-foot by 4-foot reinforced box culverts for drainage purposes to divert storm water away from the hatchery and surrounding neighborhood.

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 and authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to grant an approximately 1.2-acre easement at the A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery.”

1. Exhibit A – Resolution
2. Exhibit B – Location Map
3. Exhibit C – Vicinity Map
4. Exhibit D – Area Map
4. Exhibit E – Location of Requested Easement

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Regarding the Grant of an Easement Covering Approximately 1.2 Acres of Real Property
in Hays County for the Installation and Operation of Drainage Infrastructure

Resolution

     Whereas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) owns and operates A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery for a variety of recreation, research, and conservation values including freshwater fish production; and,

     Whereas, the City of San Marcos is seeking an easement for the installation and operation of drainage infrastructure that will include 8-foot by 4-foot reinforced box culverts that will occupy approximately 1.2 acres or 25 feet in width crossing 2,100 linear feet of the fish hatchery (Easement); and,

     Whereas, the proposed drainage infrastructure will be constructed in close proximity to the boundary of the fish hatchery to minimize impacts to existing infrastructure; 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 a newspaper of general circulation that is published at least six days a week in the communities nearest to the fish hatchery in which such newspaper is published (Austin American Statesmen), 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; and (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 fish hatchery 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 the City of San Marcos for the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approving this Resolution.

Adopted and approved this 20^th day of August, 2026.

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit B

Location Map for the A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery
Hays County

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit C

Vicinity Map for the A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery
San Marcos, Texas

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit D

Area Map of the A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery
A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery outlined in Red

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit E

Location of Requested Easement
A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery outlined in Red
Location of Requested Easement in Yellow