Getting Better all the Time

At Lake Somerville State Park

By Tom Harvey

SOMERVILLE, Texas - The Nails Creek Unit of Lake Somerville State Park has fully reopened, a prime example of how state parks across Texas have benefited from new funding provided last year by the Texas Legislature. The park has resumed overnight camping and rehired staff positions that were cut in 2005 due to fiscal constraints.

For 2008, the park received a 45 percent operating budget increase. Nails Creek Superintendent Austin Vieh has been rehired into his old job running one of Lake Somerville’s two state park units. Two other employee positions have also been rehired, making possible expanded visitor offerings. Last fall, the park resumed overnight camping for the first time in two years. This spring, the park has fully reopened, resuming discontinued activities like guided canoe tours down Yegua Creek.

Besides the increased park operating funds from state lawmakers, Lake Somerville will also benefit from bond money approved by Texas voters in 2007. The Nails Creek Unit is slated to get more than $320,000 in Proposition 4 funding to replace a deteriorating restroom and make it accessible for people with disabilities.

State investments at Lake Somerville should generate a strong return for the host community, since Texas A&M University research reported in 2005 showed the state park’s Birch Creek Unit generates an annual retail sales impact of $3 million from employee and visitor spending, creates 71 jobs and produces an impact of $1.7 million in additional income for Burleson County residents.

“We have lots of people who come from Houston just for the day or for the weekend with their boats or recreational vehicles to the state park,” said Weldon Peters, Burleson County Chamber of Commerce president. “These park visitors shop in Somerville and Caldwell and other nearby towns. People can fish, water ski, camp and that brings people to the area. This has been going on for years, but I’ve seen it’s growing—more and more people are coming.”

The A&M study reported the state park’s Birch Creek Unit generated $216,265 in revenues in fiscal year 2004 and had $396,524 in operating costs during that same year. The state’s “net” investment to operate the park was thus about $180,000. In return, the park generated a retail sales impact of close to 17 times that amount in Burleson County from employee and visitor spending on groceries, meals out, lodging, shopping and other expenses. If only non-local visitor spending is considered, the park still drew $2,498,162 in retail sales impact to the host county.

The Lake Somerville/Birch Creek findings are one example of the data gleaned from interviews conducted with more than 11,000 visitors at Texas state parks in 2002 and 2004 by Texas A&M University. Research revealed that statewide economic activity associated with the 80 state parks studied generated an estimated total of $793 million in retail sales, had a $456 million impact on residents’ income and created roughly 11,928 jobs. These figures include spending by all visitors, both local and non-local, plus state park budget dollars spent in local communities.

The complete “Economic Contributions of Texas State Parks (PDF document)” research report, including fact sheets on each of the 80 parks studied, can be downloaded. Details on both units of Lake Somerville State Park, including visitor facilities, hours and fees, maps and directions, can also be viewed online.

For more information on state park funding, please check out our State of Parks newsletter (PDF document).