Conservation Committee

Wednesday, 9:00 am, November 4, 2009

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

Commissioner Mark E. Bivins, Committee Chair
Scott Boruff, Committee Liaison

Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes

  1. Update on TPWD Progress in Implementing the TPWD Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan
    Staff: Carter Smith
  2. Right-of-Way Easement - Hays County - Approximately 5 Acres at Stokes Island (Inland Fisheries Property) - Permission to Begin the Public Notice and Input Process
    Staff: Corky Kuhlmann
  3. Land Sale and Conservation Easement - San Saba and Lampasas Counties - 12.5 Acres at Colorado Bend State Park - Permission to Begin the Public Notice and Input Process
    Staff: Corky Kuhlmann
  4. Land Acquisition - Hidalgo County - 30 Acres at Estero Llano Grande-World Birding Center - Permission to Begin the Public Notice and Input Process
    Staff: Corky Kuhlmann
  5. Nomination for Oil and Gas Lease - Dimmit and LaSalle Counties - Chaparral Wildlife Management Area (Action Item No. 13)
    Staff: Corky Kuhlmann
  6. Pipeline Easement - Harris County - San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site (Action Item No. 14)
    Staff: Ted Hollingsworth
  7. Land Acquisition - Hardin County - approximately 1,500 Acres at Village Creek State Park (Action Item No. 15)
    Staff: Ted Hollingsworth
  8. Request Commission Approval of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan (Action Item No. 16)
    Staff: Ted Hollingsworth
  9. Land Sale - Travis County - 8 Acres on Stassney Lane - Permission to Begin the Public Notice and Public Input Process
    Corky Kuhlmann
  10. Possible Land Acquisition in Tarrant County (Executive Session Only)
    Staff: Carter Smith
  11. Land Acquisition - Uvalde County - 178 Acres at Garner State Park - Permission to Begin the Public Notice and Public Input Process (Executive Session Only)
    Staff: Corky Kuhlmann
  12. Easement - Freestone County - Water Treatment Wetlands Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area (Executive Session Only)
    Staff: Ted Hollingsworth -  ITEM WITHDRAWN 
  13. Request for Representation Regarding Property Partition - Tom Green County - San Angelo Regional Office Complex (Executive Session and Action Item No. 12)
    Staff: Ann Bright

Committee Agenda Item No. 1
Presenter: Carter Smith

Conservation Committee
Update on TPWD Progress in Implementing the TPWD Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan
November 4, 2009

I. Executive Summary: Executive Director Carter Smith 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 Carter Smith will update the Conservation 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
Right-of-Way and Drainage Easement - Hays County
November 4, 2009

I. Executive Summary: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff has received a request for a right-of-way (ROW) and drainage easement through a portion of Stokes Island Park.

II. Discussion:Stokes Island Park also known as Thompson's Island is a 5.576 acre tract of land located within the city limits of San Marcos and is directly across the San Marcos River from the A.E. Wood State Fish Hatchery. The Island is formed by the San Marcos River and an early 1900s mill race. The island property was donated to Texas Parks and Wildlife in 1993 and used briefly as a state park before being transferred to the Inland Fisheries Division as a buffer for the fish hatchery which draws its water from an intake system located in the San Marcos River. Stokes Island Park is now maintained by the City of San Marcos by an informal agreement.

Just west of the island property on Cape Road is a bridge across the San Marcos River that has been deemed unsafe by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and slated to be rebuilt. TPWD has received a request from the City of San Marcos for a ROW and drainage easement to accommodate the rebuilding of this bridge and a ROW easement for the use of Cape Road.

Staff would like to begin the process of providing public notice and obtaining public input regarding the requested ROW and drainage easement.


Attachments - 3

  1. Exhibit A – Location Map
  2. Exhibit B – Vicinity Map
  3. Exhibit C – Site Map

Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Exhibit A

Location Map
Hays County

Location of Hays County in relation to the State of Texas

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


Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map
Stokes Island Park

Location of Stokes Island Park in relation to the city of San Marcos and IH 35

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


Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Exhibit C

Site Map
Stokes Island

Location of Stokes Island Park in relation to State Fish Hatchery, San Marcos River and Proposed ROW and Drainage Easement

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


Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Presenter: Corky Kuhlmann

Conservation Committee
Land Sale and Conservation Easement - San Saba County
Colorado Bend State Park
November 4, 2009

I. Executive Summary: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is in negotiations with a private landowner for a land sale at Colorado Bend Sate Park.

II. Discussion: TPWD has been contacted by an adjacent landowner seeking to purchase an approximate 12.5 acre tract of land (Tract) on the edge of Colorado Bend State Park (Park). The landowner currently has limited permitted right-of-way access to his property from TPWD across the Tract.

The landowner has proposed to purchase the Tract for fair market value and then place a conservation easement on the Tract. In addition the landowner will donate a conservation easement on a portion of the landowner's property that is adjacent to the Park. The conservation easement will be in a strip of land approximately 750' wide by 1.7 miles long containing approximately 144 acres of land.

Staff would like to begin the process of providing public notice and obtaining public input regarding the sale of approximately 12.5 acres of land and the acceptance of a conservation easement on approximately 144 acres of land at Colorado Bend State Park.

Attachments - 3

  1. Exhibit A – Location Map
  2. Exhibit B – Vicinity Map
  3. Exhibit C – Site Map

Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Exhibit A

Location Map
Colorado Bend State Park
San Saba County

Location of San Saba County in relation to the State of Texas

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


Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map
Colorado Bend State Park

Location of Colorado Bend State Park in relation to Inks Lake and Longhorn Caverns State Parks

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


Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Exhibit C

Site Map

Location of Colorado Bend State Park in relation to Conservation Easement

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


Committee Agenda Item No. 4
Presenter: Corky Kuhlmann

Conservation Committee
Land Acquisition - Hidalgo County
Estero Llano Grande State Park-World Birding Center
November 4, 2009

I. Executive Summary: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is in negotiations for the acquisition of a 30 acre tract as an addition to the Estero Llano Grande State Park-World Birding Center.

II. Discussion: TPWD staff is currently in negotiations with the McAllen District, Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church (Church) a private seller for a 30 acre tract of land as an addition to Estero Llano Grande State Park. The Methodist Camp Thicket is owned and operated by the Church. The 30-acre property is located on FM 1015 between Weslaco and Mercedes, in Hidalgo County, Texas. The primary mission of Camp Thicket is to provide a secluded, natural setting for religious retreats. The conservation of native plants and animals is complementary to this purpose. Populations of several rare native plant species occur at Camp Thicket, including a federally-listed endangered species, Texas Ayenia. This tract has some of the best examples of native habitat left in the Valley.

Staff would like to begin the process of providing public notice and obtaining public input regarding a proposed acquisition of an approximate 30-acre tract as an addition to the Alazan Bayou WMA.

Attachments - 3

  1. Exhibit A – Location Map
  2. Exhibit B – Vicinity Map
  3. Exhibit C – Site Map

Committee Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit A

Location Map
Hidalgo County
Estero Llano Grande State Park-World Birding Center

Location of Hidalgo County in relation to the State of Texas

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


Committee Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map

Location of Methodist Camp Thicket in relation to Donna and Weslaco

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


Committee Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit C

Site Map

Location of Estero Llano Grande World Birding Center in relation to Methodist Camp

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


Committee Agenda Item No. 9
Presenter: Corky Kuhlmann

Conservation Committee
Land Sale - Travis County
McKinney Falls State Park
November 4, 2009

I. Executive Summary: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Staff (TPWD) is seeking approval to sell approximately 8 acres at McKinney Falls State Park.

II. Discussion: The General Land Office has identified tracts totaling approximately 8 acres at McKinney Falls State Park as being unused or significantly underutilized and has recommended that these tracts be sold, with the proceeds being used for the purchase of like lands. These tracts are separated from the main body of the Park by the extension of Stassney Lane. TPWD is currently in negotiations with the City of Austin for the sale of a 0.711 acre tract out of this property to be used as part of a drainage project along Williamson Creek.

Staff would like to begin the process of providing public notice and obtaining public input regarding sale of approximately 8 acres of land at McKinney Falls State Park.

Attachments - 3

  1. Exhibit A – Location Map
  2. Exhibit B – Vicinity Map
  3. Exhibit C – Site Map

Committee Agenda Item No. 9
Exhibit A

Location Map
McKinney Falls State Park
Travis County

Location of Travis County in relation to the State of Texas

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


Committee Agenda Item No. 9
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map
McKinney Falls State Park

Location of McKinney Falls State Park in relation to TPWD Headquarters and Subject Tract

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


Committee Agenda Item No. 9
Exhibit C

Site Map

Location of McKinney Falls State Park in relation to private ownership

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