Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners decided yesterday to delay considering the Devil's River land deal at their regularly meeting this week. Instead, TPWD staff has been asked to continue working on the project and to explore other ways the agency can aquire land for a new state park or preserve in the Devil's River area.
Commission chairman Peter Holt of San Antonio released this statement in a TPWD press release:
"We took this off the [Nov. 4] agenda because we’ve received great feedback from a lot of people around the state who felt the process may be moving too quickl. Also, several people have brought to us some very interesting alternatives. We want the staff to go forward and figure out how to make this work. We understand the concerns of landowners, paddlers and conservationists and want to make sure we take all that into consideration. On the other hand, we represent a state with about 24 million people. The Devils River Ranch is a real opportunity to add something to our park system that is second to none in terms of wildness, but at the same time would allow more people to experience this phenomenal area in appropriate ways.”
TPWD spokesperson Tom Harvey told KUT yesterday that the agency may set up more public meetings, one could be in Austin, to talk about the project. Two public meetings on the Devil's River land aquistion were held this month, one in Del Rio and one in San Antonio.
TWPD is accepting public comment on the project. Email ted.hollingsworth@tpwd.state.tx.us or send a letter to Ted Hollingsworth, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744.
