Preserving Texas In the News

AUSTIN - From the desert wilderness of Big Bend Ranch to the red cliffs of Palo Duro Canyon, our parks system is a big part of what makes Texas special. Our parks help protect drinking water supplies and wildlife habitat, provide countless recreational opportunities, and are home to some of the most breathtaking views in America. They're also a major economic engine for the state, generating more than $1 billion in economic activity for local communities.

Sadly, this great resource has suffered under serious neglect in recent years. Shamefully ranked 49th in the nation in per-capita spending on state parks, the Legislature has let Texas state parks go without even the minimal support needed to maintain them. Budget cuts have forced the agency to lay off dozens of park rangers, close campgrounds, cut back hours of operation and even consider selling part of Big Bend Ranch State Park to a private developer in order to raise additional funds. In July, the TPWD announced that new proposed budget cuts would mean the agency would have no choice but to close 18 state parks.

The public outcry over the state of our parks has created considerable momentum for increased funding in the next Legislative session, which convenes in January 2007. However, our parks need more than stop-gap measures to prevent further closures. In 2001 Texas Tech University researchers found that with only 52 acres of state parks per 1,000 Texans, and far fewer near the state's major cities, "the current acreage available for outdoor recreation does not meet demand," a situation which only would worsen as our population continues its dramatic growth. They also warned that "efforts to conserve and restore biologically sustainable habitats in each of the ecoregions of Texas remain inadequate."

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department agreed and issued its own needs assessment, laying out a 10-year plan to "provide optimal wildlife habitat and quality outdoor experiences" by creating new 5,000-acre parks within 90 minutes of each of the state's major cities and the lower Rio Grande Valley. The department further recommended expanding 14 existing state parks. By the time the Legislature convenes next year, the department will be halfway into its 10-year plan, yet none of the new parks have been created or expanded.

As the Legislature considers parks funding issues in the 2007 Legislative session, they should make sure not to just patch the holes in the system but also to fund an ambitious park acquisition program that keeps up with the needs of our growing population and properly protects the many natural areas threatened with development. With land prices continuing to rise, it is myopic to put off these investments any longer.

There is widespread support for creating these parks. Seventy-seven percent of Texans polled in a Texas Tech study supported "more Texas Parks and Wildlife funding to buy additional land for conservation of natural resources and outdoor recreation." With an average of 20 acres of working farms, forests and open space lost every hour in Texas due to development, many of our most unique and vulnerable natural areas are at risk. Endangered ecoregions such as the blackland prairies (near Austin), Gulf Coast Prairies (near Houston), South Texas Plains (in the lower Rio Grande Valley), the Edwards Plateau (near San Antonio), and Trans-Pecos (near El Paso) are all incredibly valuable natural areas that require immediate protection.

Texans all want a state where there's abundant parkland, our rivers and streams are protected, and wildlife has a place to survive and thrive. We and future generations are counting on the Legislature to make a substantial investment to give Texas the world-class parks system we deserve.

Luke Metzger is an advocate with Environment Texas, a statewide citizens' advocacy organization based in Austin.