Exciting news for the Christmas Mountains

Environment Texas - environmenttexas.org

Exciting news for the Christmas Mountains

I have exciting news for you. And, since you've supported Environment Texas' work to protect the Christmas Mountains, I wanted to tell you first.

Just this morning, the state announced intentions to transfer the Christmas Mountains to the Texas State University system. This would make the land, in Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson's words, an "outdoor classroom, open to all — including hunters — with conservation of the land guaranteed forever."

This is a far cry from the fall of 2007, when Patterson proposed selling the mountains to private interests, despite an agreement to keep the land in public hands.

After a public outcry and extended campaign from Environment Texas, Patterson abandoned this plan. But he also rejected an offer by Big Bend National Park to purchase and protect the land, citing the park’s prohibition on hunting.

And so, the fate of the Mountains was left in limbo – until today.

We at Environment Texas would have liked to see Big Bend acquire the Christmas Mountains — but this transfer is an acceptable, attractive alternative.

Geology, archaeology and biology students at Sul Ross State, Sam Houston State, Lamar University and other Texas State campuses will get to explore the mountains, expanding our knowledge of this unique natural treasure.

Further, the mountains will remain open to the public, with access directly from Big Bend National Park. And conservation easements in place guarantee the property will remain wild and undeveloped.

I’m confident that under the protection of the Texas State University system, they will be well-cared for and a new generation of Texans will get to experience their beauty.

I'm proud of what we've accomplished together. I hope you are, too.

Sincerely,

Luke

Luke Metzger
Environment Texas Director

AAS 9/14/11

Christmas Mountains to go to TSU System

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Texas plans to turn over control of the rugged Christmas Mountains in West Texas to the Texas State University System to conserve and use as outdoor wilderness classroom and laboratory.

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has scheduled a Thursday news conference to announce the deal for the 9,000-acre tract next to Big Bend National Park. Patterson once considered selling the property to a private owner, but withdrew that idea under fierce criticism from environmentalists who wanted it to stay in private hands.

Luke Metzger of Environment Texas, one of the groups involved in negotiating the transfer, said the deal meets environmentalists' goal of preserving the land while also allowing the university system "to use it for scientific research and education opportunities."

(snip)

The Christmas Mountains property was donated to the state in 1991 by the Virginia-based Conservation Fund, which bought it with a grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

It was donated with the understanding that the National Park Service or the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department would take it over if the state lost interest in the property. The General Land Office is responsible for managing land to raise money for the Permanent School Fund.