Texas Parks and Wildlife today approved the purchase of land fronting the Devil's River.
As KUT previously reported, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners pulled the original Devil's River land deal at their November 4 meeting, after public feedback that the plan blocked access to the river.
In a statement released today TPW said
“What an exciting Christmas gift for the State of Texas,” Commission chair Peter Holt said moments after the commission voted unanimously to authorize Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director Carter Smith to formally close the purchase of the Devils River Ranch later this week. The ranch, which adjoins the 67,000-acre Amistad National Recreation Area, has been appraised at $15,875,000 but the owner agreed to sell the property to TPWD for $13 million as well as donating several hundred thousand dollars worth of ranch equipment and furnishings to the state. TPWD will use $10.1 million in private donations, $2.7 million in state funds allocated for park land acquisition and $1.3 million in federal Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars to acquire the property. The donations also will cover operating expenses for two-and-a-half years as well as development of a master plan for joint public use of the ranch and the Devils River State Natural Area, 12.7 miles upstream.
