Will developers buy our State park? [08-08-02]
By Art Jones
For nearly 20 years, a 400-acre parcel of prairie and riparian forest along
the eastern shoreline of Eagle Mountain Lake has been owned by the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), earmarked for a new State Park. To
date, we have no park and perhaps never will. TPWD wants to sell the land. In
the near future, this area too, may be lost to the relentless invasion of
rooftops and asphalt.
The TPWD's land and Water Resources Conservation Plan lists Eagle Mountain
Lake State Park as Eligible for Transfer, Local Management or Sale.
In a recent telephone conversation, Jack Bauer, Director of the Land
Conservation Program, stated the land had not been developed due to
"significant opposition" but refused to define what opposition. "I'm not
going to tell you that until after we vote on the plan," he said. The vote is
later this month. "I can tell you the Texas General Land Office is going to
buy the land," Bauer said.
Paul Sturrock, spokesman for the Texas General Land Office denied Bauer's
claim. "We are not going to buy the property," stated Sturrock.
Why haven't we heard about this before now? A public meeting to gather input
from the Dallas/Fort Worth area was held July 9 at the Collin County Junior
College (Plano campus) Conference Center, 2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway. Plano?
Another was held July 31 in Amarillo. How convenient for our local input. No
press releases were received at the Times-Record, a point I mentioned to
Bauer. "What are you asking? We followed the State's guidelines on public
notices. We did what was required," Bauer said. If so, the State may want to
reevaluate it's method of notifying the public of public issues.
If you visit the TPWD Website, there is a statement that, "The 77th Texas
Legislature required that Texas Parks and Wildlife Department prepare a Land
and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan and that the Parks and
Wildlife Commission adopt the plan by October 15, 2002. This plan will guide
the Department over the next ten years in conserving natural resources and
providing public access to the outdoors. TPWD staff has completed a
comprehensive inventory of all lands and waters associated with natural,
cultural, historic, wildlife and recreational resources and has initiated
organization of information for this plan. A draft outline for the plan is
ready for review."
In a press release (also on the Website) TPWD asks, "What do you want the
outdoors to be like in 10 years? The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is
looking for input on the future outdoor recreation and resource conservation
needs of Texas during a statewide series of upcoming public meetings.
"This plan will emphasize outdoor recreation access issues with a focus on
the major urban centers," said TPWD Executive Director Robert L. Cook. "It
will establish conservation priorities for all parts of the state," he said.
"It will address water conservation and it will set forth our agenda in
water. We haven't had anything like this. This will be 'the' TPWD plan."
There is no question that the Plan is the most comprehensive overview ever
compiled of what Texas has and lacks in natural, historical, wildlife and
outdoor recreational resources. The question is, what will happen to the 400
acres on Eagle Mountain Lake? No, we have not been able to use it for a State
Park, but should this natural area be sold and destroyed just so some
developer can build another high-dollar lakeside neighborhood?
A Fort Worth City employee, who asked to remain anonymous, observed that it
was interesting that the land had been held in trust by the State all these
years, and now that development was encroaching on this part of the County,
it is being put up for sale.
TPWD has stated that the focus of its conservation and recreation efforts are
based on population needs and conservation goals, and Executive Director Cook
has said that public participation will be encouraged and is necessary -
that officials want the public to get involved in the process.
You might want to give them a call with your opinion of the Plan - write to
Land & Water Resources Conservation and Recreations Plan, 4200 Smith School
Road, Austin, TX 78744. There is also a place to e-mail your comments on the
TPWD Website at <A HREF="http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/plan/">TPW - Land and
Water Resources Conservationa and Recreation Plan</A>
(
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/plan/)
Time is short, however. Comments will be accepted until August 16, 2002. The
Parks and Wildlife Commission will adopt the final plan after the annual
public hearing in Austin on August 29, 2002.
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