During the Jan. 24 work session, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission directed staff to withdraw agenda item #9 – Exchange of Land — Cameron County – Acquisition of Approximately 477 acres in exchange for approximately 43 acres at Boca Chica State Park.  The item has been moved to the March 27-28 Commission agenda to allow for additional time for public notice and comment.

While still under consideration, the potential land exchange could provide mutual benefits by allowing Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to enhance its management and protection of Texas’ natural resources and increase recreational opportunities, such as hiking, camping, water recreation, and wildlife viewing while allowing for expansion of SpaceX’s facilities and operations in Texas. These conversations continue more than a decade of cooperative work with SpaceX to carry out our respective missions as neighbors.

The agenda item presents an opportunity for Commissioners to consider authorizing the acquisition of approximately 477 acres near the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge Bahia Grande Unit in exchange for approximately 43 non-contiguous acres from Boca Chica State Park. TPWD looks forward to working with the public, and city and county officials on future plans.

Boca Chica State Park, located in Cameron County three miles north of the mouth of the Rio Grande, was acquired in 1994 and consists of a number of tracts totaling approximately 1,060 acres of dunes, flats, marshes and coastal grasslands.

For copies of public comment, please file an Open Records request online through TPWD’s open records center webpage.