Texas Environmental Almanac, Chapter 3, Public Lands, Page 2

WHO USES PARKS

A 1991 federal study revealed that, of the 6.5 million Texas residents 16 years and older engaged in wildlife-associated recreation, 2.6 million participated in fishing and 1 million in hunting activities, and 3.8 million in non-consumptive activities such as observing, feeding or photographing wildlife.(15) (These figures total more than 6.5 million because some people participated in multiple activities.)

Results of a 1993 statewide citizen survey conducted by Texas A&M of 2,688 Texans selected randomly from those holding a current Texas driver license showed that respondents' four most important non-community-based recreation activities were camping, fishing, swimming and hiking. The development of campsites and natural area parks were cited much more frequently than other recreational facilities as being most needed at the state level.

Respondents stated that for local communities, the most needed facilities were bike trails, walking/jogging trails and nature trails. The need for trails was rated substantially higher than for other community-based recreational facilities.(16)

In a 1994 survey of recreation and park professionals and citizen groups, conserving natural resources for recreational use and meeting recreational open space needs were listed as two of the top four priorities that should be addressed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. (In this context, recreational use referred to passive recreation, such as wildlife observation, walking, hiking or picnicking.) The other priorities were financing new parks and recreational space and maintaining and renovating existing parks and recreation facilities.(17)

PARK POLLUTION

Texas public lands are not immune to air, land and water pollution. Protecting parks from pollution and urban development is a concern of the National Park Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.(18) For instance, the U.S. Park Service believes that the rapid decline of visibility at Big Bend National Park is mainly due to air pollution from northeastern Mexico, including the coal-burning plant located 120 miles southeast of the park. Big Bend is considered to suffer the most visibility degradation of any site in the National Park System.(19)

The Franklin Mountains in El Paso suffer from serious air pollution, and for years McKinney Falls located outside the city of Austin was closed due to leaking sewer lines from a municipal waste treatment facility.

Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, 1991 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation: Texas. (Washington D.C.: U.S. Printing Office, 1993.)

Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census 1991 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation: Texas. (Washington D.C.: U.S. Printing Office, 1993.)

FUTURE ACQUISITIONS

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department can establish parks and protected areas without legislation or a decree from the Governor. Protected area acquisitions are initiated by the TPWD staff, based on a priority list and approved by the Department's nine member commission. During the last few years Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has been adding to existing parks rather than establishing new parks. TPWD's 1995-1999 Strategic Plan notes that there is a $265 million dollar unfunded need for land acquisition.

According to the National Park Service, there are no pending Congressional actions to designate new national parkland in Texas. The National Park Service does plan to purchase approximately 48,000 private acres that are currently within the existing boundaries of designated national parks in Texas.(20)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) plans to acquire at least 50,000 acres of habitat for national wildlife refuges along the Lower Rio Grande Valley and additional coastal wetlands and bottomland hardwoods along East Texas rivers.(21) (See Biodiversity section for listing of USFWS future acquisitions.)

The U.S. Forest Service hopes that a Congressional allocation will allow the Forest Service to purchase 10,000 to 14,000 in additional acreage in Texas within the Forest Service's existing boundaries, but there is no indication that a new national forest will be designated in Texas in the near future.(22)

Local city councils and commissioners courts decide whether to purchase parkland at the local level, but often voters must approve bonds for funds to purchase the land and operate the parks.

PUBLIC/PRIVATE CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES

Through the efforts of conservation groups across the country, Congress enacted legislation in 1989 that required the Resolution Trust Corporation to identify significant properties held as a result of failed savings and loan institutions.(23) Significant properties include wetlands, endangered species habitats, wilderness areas, properties with historic structures, or of archaeological or scientific value. Once these properties were identified, RTC was required to notify conservation and preservation buyers of the existence of these properties and provide them with a period of time to bid on the land.(24)

Texans have benefited from this legislation: 4,700 acres of endangered species habitat in San Antonio owned by the RTC were bought for parkland through the combined efforts of the Trust for Public Land, the San Antonio Water System, the Edwards Underground Water District and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The FDIC has authorized the sale of Playa del Rio, a 12,500 acre wetland and wildlife haven at the mouth of the Rio Grande River, to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The cities of Austin, Arlington, Fort Worth, Whitehouse, Cedar Hill, Rowlett, Corpus Christi and Dallas have all purchased parkland from the RTC.

The Texas Nature Conservancy, a state affiliate of The Nature Conservancy, a national, not-for-profit organization that helps preserve significant natural areas, has been working in Texas since 1966. The Conservancy identifies acreage that needs to be protected and then preserves the land through gift, lease, trade or purchase. The Conservancy acts as the manager of natural areas or provides protection until an appropriate agency takes over the maintenance and care. As of January 1993, the Texas Nature Conservancy had 22,000 members and had acquired more than 281,000 acres of land.

Also active in Texas is the Trust for Public Land, a national not-for-profit organization that helps communities acquire land for parks, community gardens, recreation areas and wilderness lands. The Trust has helped protect 13,415 acres in Texas, including Barton Creek Wilderness Park in Austin, Government Canyon in San Antonio, parkland in Dallas County and a wildlife refuge in Angelina County. In 12 cities across the country, including Austin, Texas, the Trust is testing the theory that juvenile crime drops when cities provide parks and recreational facilities.

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Texas Environmental Almanac, Chapter 3, Public Lands, Page 2

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