Texas congressman introduces plan to create National Recreation Area along Gulf Coast

[Greybeard]

The Brief​

• • A bill proposed by Rep. Randy Weber would establish a national recreation area along the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas.
  • 
    
  • The Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area would cover parts of Jefferson, Chambers, Galveston, Brazoria and Matagorda counties.
  • 
    
  • The establishment of a national recreation area would put the land under the National Parks Service umbrella, while still allowing private ownership.

Texas congressman introduces plan to create National Recreation Area along Gulf Coast | FOX 26 Houston

Texas congressman Randy Weber on Wednesday introduced a bill that would establish a National Recreation Area across five counties along the Gulf Coast.

www.fox26houston.com

Honestly, I'm not really sure what any of this means if this gains traction and goes through. Although I support conservation efforts and enjoy our public lands, both state and federal, I'm leary of when the Feds come and say, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

Could any of our resident public land experts explain what this might entail?

Thanks

 

[Ben Lamb]

NRA's are generally good options for protecting public lands that offer a lot of access and recreational opportunities. The text for this specific one is not available yet, but here's a map that I found on NPCA's website: https://www.npcamaps.org/lonestar/

A little more on NRA's: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_recreation_area

 

[TexanSam]

To be honest, I wonder if this isn't a way to protect against future hurricane damages. It seems every decade or so a storm comes through and wipes out a lot of homes and businesses. Create a conservation area, and then you no longer have to worry about the area getting developed with infrastructure that the government would have to throw money at to replace.

If folks can hunt/fish/recreate on that same land, wouldn't that be a win-win?

 

[Gellar]

To be honest, I wonder if this isn't a way to protect against future hurricane damages. It seems every decade or so a storm comes through and wipes out a lot of homes and businesses. Create a conservation area, and then you no longer have to worry about the area getting developed with infrastructure that the government would have to throw money at to replace.

If folks can hunt/fish/recreate on that same land, wouldn't that be a win-win?

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[Greybeard]

NRA's are generally good options for protecting public lands that offer a lot of access and recreational opportunities. The text for this specific one is not available yet, but here's a map that I found on NPCA's website: https://www.npcamaps.org/lonestar/

A little more on NRA's: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_recreation_area

I appreciate the links. Most of the a
sites on that map are places that my family and I enjoy very frequently. Sounds good so far.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

NWR's managed as part of an NRA? This will be interesting to follow.

 

[twraska]

The Brief​

• • A bill proposed by Rep. Randy Weber would establish a national recreation area along the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas.
  • 
    
  • The Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area would cover parts of Jefferson, Chambers, Galveston, Brazoria and Matagorda counties.
  • 
    
  • The establishment of a national recreation area would put the land under the National Parks Service umbrella, while still allowing private ownership.

Texas congressman introduces plan to create National Recreation Area along Gulf Coast | FOX 26 Houston

Texas congressman Randy Weber on Wednesday introduced a bill that would establish a National Recreation Area across five counties along the Gulf Coast.

www.fox26houston.com

Honestly, I'm not really sure what any of this means if this gains traction and goes through. Although I support conservation efforts and enjoy our public lands, both state and federal, I'm leary of when the Feds come and say, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

Could any of our resident public land experts explain what this might entail?

Thanks

It says private lands. Sure sounds like a violation of the land ownership

 

[Ben Lamb]

It says private lands. Sure sounds like a violation of the land ownership

The article notes that private land won't be impacted by the bill if enacted.

If folks wish to sell their property to the NPS for the NRA, then that's on them. Otherwise the deisgnation only applies to federal lands or lands included in the origin act, which given America's views on private property, I would wager no land theft is occuring.