One of the most important coastal wetland ecosystems along the lower Rio Grande corridor -- 12,638 acres of wildlife-rich tidal flats, open ponds and brush in Cameron County -- today became part of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
The property, about 10 miles northeast of Brownsville north of the Brownsville Ship Channel, was acquired from the Yturria Family by The Conservation Fund and transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A 30-year conservation easement conservation easement
A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a government agency or qualified conservation organization that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on a property in the future. Conservation easements aim to protect habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife by limiting residential, industrial or commercial development. Contracts may prohibit alteration of the natural topography, conversion of native grassland to cropland, drainage of wetland and establishment of game farms. Easement land remains in private ownership.
Learn more about conservation easement on the property was obtained by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Natural Resources Conservation Service. Funding for the acquisition was provided by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission; the easement was acquired through USDAs Wetland Reserve Program, which will help enhance and maintain wetlands on the property.
"This land has exceptional value to waterfowl, songbirds, and other wildlife native to South Texas," said Larry Ditto, Project Manager for the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. "Its tidal flats, scattered wetlands and scrub brush habitats once dominated the Lower Rio Grande Valley and today host an incredible number and variety of wildlife."
Dan McNamara, Jr., representing The Conservation Fund in Texas, expressed his appreciation to the land owners for their cooperation: "This property has been in the Yturria Family for over 100 years. By making it available for this purchase they have ensured it will remain an important part of the local landscape and our nations natural heritage. We owe the Yturrias our gratitude for this opportunity as well as Governor Bush for authorizing the acquisition by the Fish & Wildlife Service."
As well as its critical role in providing habitat for an abundance of native resident species, this property is also part of a larger ecological system along the Rio Grande and the Gulf of Mexico that provides wintering grounds and stop-overs for North Americas migratory birds. This fact is not lost on the thousands of migrating "Winter Texans" who enjoy viewing wildlife in the Valley, to the tune of $100 million annually as estimated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Several national birding organizations list South Texas as one of the nations top birdwatching destinations.
The Conservation Fund acts to protect the nations legacy of land and water resources in partnership with other organizations, public agencies, foundations, corporations and individuals. To date the Fund has helped its partners safeguard wildlife habitat, greenways, community "greenspace" and historic sites totaling more than 1.6 million acres throughout the nation. Headquarters are in Arlington, Virginia.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprised of more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts.
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