Stay Informed

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is exploring a potential land exchange with SpaceX in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Cameron County, Texas. The proposal is for an exchange of approximately equal acreage, where land currently owned by the federal government would be transferred into private ownership by SpaceX, and land currently owned by SpaceX would be transferred into federal ownership.

For the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, exchanging land would facilitate greater protections for fish and wildlife resources at Lower Rio Grande Valley and Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuges. This includes high quality habitat for a myriad of species, including the endangered ocelot, northern aplomado falcon, piping plover, and Kemp’s ridley sea turtle.

Where?

A single adult Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle slowly walks across a beach towards the ocean.
Image Details

The 103,000-acre Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge spans four South Texas counties and is managed by USFWS. This includes the Boca Chica Tract, which provides wildlife habitat as well as significant cultural resource including the Palmito Ranch National Historic Landmark National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark is a nationally significant historic place designated by the Secretary of the Interior because it possesses exceptional value in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. More than 2,600 places bear this designation, 10 of them on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands.

Learn more about National Historic Landmark .

The Boca Chica Tract borders the recently established SpaceX Boca Chica Launch site and manufacturing facility (Starbase). SpaceX has multiple inholdings within the Boca Chica Tract and is developing land along the refuge boundary. Land exchanges are a valuable conservation tool, regularly utilized to increase the size, improve connectivity, and/or enhance the quality of lands managed as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Through the proposed exchange, USFWS would divest of lands likely to be impacted by SpaceX activities, and SpaceX would exchange land that includes desirable habitat for conservation.

Why?

  • Reduces Inholdings: The proposed exchange helps consolidate refuge lands by eliminating or reducing private inholdings, allowing for more efficient management and fewer boundary conflicts.
  • Improves Habitat Connectivity: Consolidated lands create larger, continuous blocks of habitat, which supports wildlife movement, genetic diversity, and ecosystem resilience.
  • Enhances Resource Protection: The exchange can bring ecologically valuable and/or strategically located lands under federal protection, improving long-term conservation outcomes.
  • Increases Management Efficiency: Fewer fragmented parcels mean reduced costs of time spent on boundary maintenance, trespass issues, Right of Way, and access coordination.
  • Supports Refuge Purposes: By acquiring lands that align with refuge goals, such as protecting endangered species habitat, wetlands, or migration corridors, the exchange advances the refuge’s mission.

Next Steps

In the coming months, USFWS will engage tribes, state agencies, and other federal agencies in consultation for specific components of this project. An Environmental Assessment consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act will be prepared to disclose the environmental effects (either beneficial or negative) associated with this project prior to a final decision being made.

Stay Connected

As the process moves forward, we at USFWS are welcoming public input and feedback. We value our relationships with local stakeholders and community partners, and remain committed to being a good neighbor and conservation partner.

If you would like to be informed about developments in this project, please send your preferred email address to r2plancomments@fws.gov. We will add you to our contact list and send updates as they are available.