Conservation Committee

Wednesday, 9:00 am, August 23, 2006

Commission Hearing Room
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
Item No. Subject Commission Meeting Agenda Item No.
  Approve previous Committee Meeting minutes.  
1. Land and Water Plan Update
Staff: Robert Cook
Committee Only
2. Land Sale – Briscoe County – Caprock Canyons Trailway – Permission to Begin the Public Notice and Input Process (Proposed Sale of .60-Acre to Adjacent Landowner)
Staff: Corky Kuhlmann
Committee Only
3. Land Donation – Bastrop County – Bastrop State Park – Permission to Begin the Public Notice and Input Process (Acquisition fo 265 Acres)
Staff: Corky Kuhlmann
Committee Only
4. Oil and Gas Lease Nomination – Caldwell County – Lockhart State Park
Staff: Corky Kuhlmann
18
5. Land Acquisition – Brown County (Acceptance of Mineral Rights at the McGillivray and Leona McKie Muse Wildlife Management Area)
Staff: Corky Kuhlmann
19
6. Land Donations – Brewster County – Black Gap Wildlife Management Area (Acceptance of Inholdings Purchased by the Texas Bighorn Society and Donated to TPWD)
Staff: Ted Hollingsworth
20
7. Conservation Easement (CE) Donation – Brewster County – Black Gap Wildlife Management Area (Acceptance of Donation of CE of 9,470 Acres from Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation)
Staff: Ted Hollingsworth
21
8. Land Exchange – Galveston County – Galveston Island State Park (Request Permission to Begin the Public Notice and Input Process)
Staff: Corky Kuhlmann
Executive Session Only

Committee Agenda Item No. 1
Presenter: Robert L. Cook

Conservation Committee
Land and Water Plan Update
August 2006

I. Executive Summary: Executive Director Robert L. Cook will briefly update the Commission on the status of the agency’s efforts to implement the Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan (the Plan).

II. Discussion: In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature directed that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) develop a Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan (Tex. Park & Wild. Code §11.104). In November 2002, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (the Commission) adopted the first Plan. A revised Plan was adopted by the Commission in January 2005. The Plan is available on the TPWD web site. Executive Director Robert L. Cook will update the Finance Committee on TPWD’s recent progress in achieving the Plan’s Goals and Objectives as they relate to the Conservation Committee.

The Plan consists of 8 Goals and a total of 56 Objectives. The Goals stated in the Plan are as follows:


Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Presenter: Corky Kuhlmann

Conservation Committee
Land Sale – Briscoe County
Caprock Canyons Trailway
August 2006

I. Executive Summary: Staff is seeking permission to begin the public input process regarding a proposed land sale of approximately 0.60 acres at Caprock Canyons Trailway to an adjacent landowner.

II. Discussion: The Caprock Canyons Trailway corridor traverses through Floyd, Briscoe and Hall Counties, Texas. The Trailway is 64.25 miles in length, and from 100' to 600' in width and comprises 1,200 acres. It was acquired from Burlington Northern Railroad in 1992. The Trailway is used by hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders.

Due to a mutual misunderstanding between TPWD staff and an adjacent landowner, the landowner built a residence partially on TPWD owned trailway property. The sale tract is located in Quitaque, Texas and comprises an area of approximately 515' X 50' or 0.60 acre, leaving the trailway with a width of 150'. TPWD staff has determined that in most circumstances along the trailway, a uniform 100' width is favorable for ease of operation and maintenance. The sale tract would be in an area where the 100' width would be favorable.

Staff would like to begin the process of providing public notice and obtaining public input regarding a proposed sale of approximately 0.60 acre of land at Caprock Canyons Trailway to an adjacent landowner.

Attachments - 1

  1. Exhibit A – Location Map

Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Exhibit A

Location Map

This image is a representation of the proposed sale tract in relation to Caprock Canyon State Park

For help in interpreting this map, please contact Corky Kuhlmann.


Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Presenter: Corky Kuhlmann

Conservation Committee
Land Donation – Bastrop County
Bastrop State Park
August 2006

I. Executive Summary: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff is seeking authorization to begin the public notice and comment process regarding the acceptance of approximately 265 acres of land adjacent to Bastrop State Park (BSP). The property has excellent recreational potential and habitat for the endangered Houston toad.

II. Discussion: Approximately 265 acres of land have been offered for sale adjacent to BSP. Bastrop County has negotiated a contract to purchase the property. Upon acquiring this property, Bastrop County has indicated that it will donate the tract to TPWD. The property has frontage on State Highway 21 and more than a mile of boundary in common with BSP (see Exhibit A). The vegetation cover is native pine-oak forest with some pastureland and an earthen water tank. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the tract as known Houston toad habitat. The location and attributes of the tract make it manageable by existing park staff, and offer potential for expanding public outdoor recreation opportunities in the future, to the extent this does not adversely impact toad habitat.

Staff would like to begin the process of providing public notice and obtaining public input regarding a proposed donation of 265 acres of land to TPWD from Bastrop County.

Attachments - 1

  1. Exhibit A – Location Map

Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Exhibit A

Property Map

This image is a representation of where the subject tract lies in relation to Bastrop State Park

For help in interpreting this map, please contact Corky Kuhlmann.