Glad to hear it. I've been going there every year for a decade plus and
love the springs. Took my kids to train on the 12 mile rocky trail in
prep for our Pacific Crest Trail trip this past summer. A special place
far from the crowds. It has been about 7 years since I've been on the
property where there was even another party present (aside from the
ranger). <I do know that is potentially part of the TPWD challenge though>
-Robert
On 1:59 PM, Allan B. Cobb wrote:
TPWD has deci8ded to keep Devils River State Natural Area and buy the
Devils River Ranch instead of doing a land swap. This is great news
as it just about doubles the land area of DRSNA.
Below is a link to the press release sent out today. If you support
this acquisition, it would be good to send an email to TPWD indicating
your support. There was much opposition to the land sway and this
should be much more popular. Let your voice be heard and send an
email to TPWD.
Allan
----- Original Message -----
*From:* Lydia Saldana <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:* Monday, December 06, 2010 3:42 PM
*Subject:* Devils River Acquisition Update
Below is a news release issued by TPWD this afternoon. We know you are
very interested in this topic and will continue to update you with any
new developments.
All updates will be posted to the TPWD website at the following link:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/news_roundup/devils_river_land_acquisition/
Thank you.
LydiaSalda�a
Communications Director
TexasParksand Wildlife Department
4200 Smith School Rd.
Austin, TX 78744
512-389-4557 (ofc)
512-217-9479 (cel)
**Media Contact:****Tom Harvey, 512-389-4453,
[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=RE%3A%20TPW%20Commission%20Delays%20Consideration%20of%20Devils%20River%20Land%20Acquisition%20%2820101103b%29>
**Dec. 6, 2010****
*TPW Commission To Meet Dec. 20 in Austin*
*/Devils/*River, TFFC Land Acquisitions on Special Meeting Agenda
AUSTIN-- The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission will hold a special
meeting Dec. 20 at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Austin
headquarters to consider two land acquisitions, one on the Devils
River in Val Verde County and another near the Texas Freshwater
Fisheries Center in Athens.
TPWD is now proposing to acquire the 17,638-acre Devils River Ranch in
Val Verde County and manage it as part of the existing Devils River
State Natural Area. Previously, the agency had proposed exchanging the
natural area as partial payment for the ranch about 13 miles downriver.
The agency will host a local constituent briefing in Del Rio to
explain the new Devils River proposal. Anyone is welcome to attend
that meeting, which will take place from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Del
Rio Civic Center, Kennedy Room, 1915 Veterans Blvd.
The Devils River Ranch owner has agreed to sell the ranch to TPWD for
$13 million, significantly below the $15,875,000 fair market value
calculated earlier this year by a certified appraiser. To fund the
purchase, TPWD would use $2.7 million in state funds allocated for
park land acquisition. This would be matched with $1.3 million in
federal Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars. But the bulk of the
purchase would be made with $9 million in private donations.
A proposal to exchange the natural area for the ranch was pulled from
the Nov. 4 commission agenda after TPWD heard concerns from paddlers,
some environmentalists and others. Kayak and canoe clubs expressed
concern that loss of the state natural area would disrupt
opportunities to paddle the upper river. The new proposal maintains
that opportunity while opening the way for the department to work
collaboratively with landowners and paddlers to resolve longstanding
disputes surrounding the river's use, as well as improve the existing
state natural area.
If the acquisition is approved by the commission, the two sites would
likely be operated under one superintendent as a state natural area
complex. Public access to the new site would come after creation of a
master plan as well as a public use plan for both units of the natural
area, a process estimated to take about two years. Private donations
would fund the first 2.5 years of operating expenses for the new site.
TPWD also plans to bring together a working group to include
landowners, paddlers, businesses, elected officials, non-profit
partners and others to work together and seek solutions to address the
recreational interests of Devils River users as well as the property
rights of adjacent landowners.
The department has compiled maps, photos, questions and answers,
conservation easement documents and other resources in a *Devils River
Land Acquisition News Roundup*
<http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/news_roundup/devils_river_land_acquisition/>
on its website.
At the Dec. 20 meeting, commissioners will consider one other item, a
proposal to acquire about 14 acres of private land just north of the
Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. The tract would be used
to build a small reservoir to provide water for fish hatchery ponds.
Public testimony on both items may be made at the Dec. 20 commission
meeting. Questions or comments about the Devils River proposal can be
sent by email to *[email protected]*
<mailto:[email protected]> or by regular mail to Ted
Hollingsworth, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School
Road, Austin, TX 78744.
---------
On the Net:
*
*http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/news_roundup/devils_river_land_acquisition/*
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