Commission Agenda Item No. 20
Presenter:  Ted Hollingsworth

Action
Land Acquisition – Presidio County
520± Acres at Big Bend Ranch State Park
August 25, 2011

I.              Executive Summary:  Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has been offered the strategic 520-acre “Tapado Canyon” tract on the Rio Grande within Big Bend Ranch State Park at a bargain price.

II.            Discussion:  When acquired in 1988, Big Bend Ranch State Park (SP) was riddled with inholdings, some of which posed compromises to park management and operations.  Since then, most of these inholdings have been acquired, and the park now covers more than 310,000 acres. A few important inholdings remain, including tracts in the Solitario and along the Rio Grande. One of these, a 520-acre riverfront tract that includes the most dramatic portion of Tapado Canyon, has considerable aesthetic and recreational value.  The owner once owned much of what is now the state park, and staff has remained in communication with him for many years.  TPWD currently has a term recreation lease on this tract.

The owner is now willing to sell the Tapado Canyon tract to TPWD.  Staff has negotiated a contract of sale that represents a bargain purchase relative to recent appraisals of riverfront tracts in the park.

III.          Recommendation:  The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to acquire approximately 520± acres in Presidio County for addition to Big Bend Ranch State Park.”