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PUBLIC LANDS
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Nineteenth-century political leaders in Texas sold off state
lands as rapidly as possible to pay off debt remaining from the "War of Independence" and to encourage settlement and economic development. By the turn of the
century, most of the state's 261,914 square miles of land area were privately owned.* According to a Sunset
Commission report,in the year 2000, approximately 23 million acres of the state's approximate 176 million acres (includes 4 million acres of submerged coastal lands) was
owned or managed by a public entity, leaving 87 percent of Texas' land in private hands(includes submerged coastal submerged lands).* Most state agencies have not
accepted this percentage due to the inclusion of submerged coastal lands in the Sunset Commission's calculation. State agencies contend that 94.3 percent of
land in Texas is privately held. Therefore, land distribution percentages presented here are based on the assumption that 94.3 of land in Texas is in private hands.
Recognizing the need to protect land for public use and recreation in Texas, the legislators began to pass legislation, to define public lands according to its use, to budget for land acquisition and maintenance. Texas, as well as other states
continue, however, to struggle over public land policies.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), governed by a nine-member board appointed by the governor, is
the lead agency responsible for the management of state parks, natural areas,historic sites and wildlife management
areas, as well as for the protection of fish and wildlife species and their habitats. Other public lands are managed by
the The General Land Office (GLO) and the Texas Forest Service. The GLO established in 1837, is responsible for
leasing state land, including Gulf Coast beaches, bays, and other submerged lands. These are leased primarily for oil
and gas production. The GLO also manages programs to protect coastal natural resources. The Texas Forest Service manages the state forests.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN TEXAS
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NAME
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ACRES
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Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Fritch, Texas
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1.371
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Amistad National Recreation Area
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58,500
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Big Bend National Park
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801,163
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Big Thicket National Preserve
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96,678
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Chamizal National Memorial, El Paso
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55
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Fort Davis National Historic Site
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460
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Guadalupe Mountains National Park
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86,416
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Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Amarillo
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44,978
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San Antonio Missions
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819
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LBJ National Historic Park
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1,157
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Padre Island National Seashore
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130,434
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Palo Alto Battlefield Historic Site
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357
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Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River (segment)
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9,600 acres
191.2 miles
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As the population of Texas increases, the need to improve and acquire land for public
recreation, wildlife habitat and scenic value is recognized by most conservationist and public land professionals. Public surveys also reveal the public desire for more parkland.
- 2.6 percent of the state's total outdoor recreation/conservation lands is provided
by the federal government. This includes land managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- The state provides 3.0 percent of the public lands in the state. Of this 3 percent, Texas Parks and Wildllife
manages 0.6 percent. This includes lands managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife and River Authorities. The remainder of recreational land is provided by local
governments and private sources.
There are approximately 1,400,000 acres of state parks and wildlife management areas in the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department's system. Of this amount, 650,000 are state parks(state parks, historical sites, and natural areas). One-half of the state park system is leased from the federal government.
The land in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's system provides 52 acres of state parkland per 1,000 people. In
a study conducted by Texas Tech University, Loomis Austin recommended that Texas adopt a ratio of 55 acres of state
parkland (state parks, state natural areas, and state historic sites) per 1000 people. If adopted as a goal by Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas would need to acquire an additional 1,428,117 acres of parkland by 2030.*
The conservation and preservation of land for public enjoyment and wildlife habitat have depended not only on the
actions of state and federal governments, but also on the activities of private not-for-profit organizations operating in
the public interest. The Nature Conservancy of Texas, a 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 organization also works with private
landowners who want to manage land for conservation purposes. In 1997 the Nature Conservancy of Texas had 28,000 members and had acquired more than 350,000 acres of land.* The Conservation Fund has protected over 90.000 acres
in Texas, including 20,000 acres in the Rio Grande Valleyk 3,900 acres of critical dunes and wetlands and 50,000 acres of scenic mountains in and around Fort Davis.
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, recreational areas, trails, and greenways. Since 1979, the Trust has helped protect
over 30,000 acres in Texas, including Government Canyon in Bexar County, Barton Creek Wilderness Park and Colorado
River Park in Austin, Great Trinity Forest in Dallas, a community park in Arlington, and part of Katy Prairie in Katy. The
Trust is also instrumental in helping communities develop urban trails and local parks in low-income neighborhoods.*
In addition, thirty-six not-for-profit land trusts in Texas have been instrumental in helping to protect wildlife habitat,
open space, watersheds, farm and ranch land and riparian corridors. As of 2000, these land trusts had protected 307, 717 acres in 95 counties.*
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PUBLIC AREAS IN TEXAS
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