This is great news for all wildlife in the area. 6,600 acres is not a massive tract of land but it is a pretty good chunk that will help insulate interior areas of The Big Thicket Preserve. See the article below for full details.
The Big Thicket to Increase in Size
BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) — When Pete Gunter took a boat tour of the Big Thicket's latest land acquisition recently, he saw concrete results of years of work and struggle by a core group of supporters.
He also saw economic opportunity lurking in the freshly greened cypress trees, slow-moving bayou waters and assorted wildlife — including wading birds and a sunning alligator.
Gunter, Big Thicket Association past president and author of books about the Neches River, marveled at the beauty of the Southeast Texas swamps around Beaumont.
"It just isn't getting out — it's Texas' best kept secret," he said. Gunter firmly believes that if the rest of the world knew what the region had to offer in terms of scenic beauty and outdoor sporting opportunities, it would beat a path to the region.
"You've got one boat — you should have six and they should be serving meals," he said.
The "one boat" to which Gunter referred was the Cardinal Neches River Adventures vessel transporting about 30 Big Thicket supporters, cheerleaders and employees on a tour of a newly acquired tract on the east side of the Neches River just above Interstate 10.
The U.S. Parks Service and The Conservation Fund were celebrating the addition of the 6,600-acre parcel. The Conservation Fund acquired the land through donations and funding from a variety of private businesses and foundations, as well as environmental fines from cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office. They then turned the tract over to the Thicket.
As the boat glided slowly and quietly up 10-Mile Creek amid jumping fish and lurking gators, the Fund's Julie Shackleford expanded on some of the amenities the new addition would bring to the region.
While the lower portion of the tract consists mainly of swamps and bayous, the higher elevation Houseman property, near the confluence of the Neches and Village Creek, should have good prospects for hiking trails.
Wetlands and bayous, most of which is not really well suited for hiking, nonetheless provide excellent canoeing and kayaking opportunities.
Shackleford said a book coming out in the fall, "The Neches River Users' Guide," will profile the meandering waterways branching out from 10-Mile Creek and should attract boaters to the Thicket.
Gunter said an important part of developing ecotourism businesses will be partnering with local government.
"One reason I came down here today was to talk to the mayor of Beaumont about economic opportunities (in the Big Thicket)," he said. As timber and oil cease to be the major part of the economy they once were, he added, the land they once used is left vacant.
Gunter said he did not want to imply that ecotourism could solve the region's economic woes — but it could be a significant part of a diversified economy that would enhance the quality of life in Southeast Texas at the same time it generated revenue.
Others on the tour spoke of the importance of wetlands to the region for flood control and as a stopping-off point for migrating wildlife, a situation that creates another ecotourism market.
Gunter said the next few years will be crucial for the preserve. As timber companies have divested themselves of their land holdings, the property is ripe for development.
It is important for the Big Thicket to acquire more land along its outer edges to preserve the wild character of the preserve.
"You don't have much of a wilderness experience if you can see the Lake of Fire Tanning Salon from the hiking trail or the campsite is next door to Bubba's All American Digital Carwash," Gunter said.
This is good news. The acknowledgement of preserving the experience of the area is important.
ReplyDeleteOur local church camp in a semi-wild rural area has decided to sell some of the camp property (against quit claim deed stipulations from original donation) to a rock crushing company. This is creating a furor in the community, and I'm glad.
The churches bring their attendee's to this camp for the wilderness experience, not to hear a rock crusher running and trucks on narrow roads creating a hazard to humans and wildlife.
Good to see some people in America can see the big picture and not just the $$ signs in property value. Preserving a states beautiful wild area's is of utmost importance.
Thanks for posting this great article.
who you guy's kidding.iv'e seen the state and lumber companies steal millions of your wooded acres for their mills if there was oil of any quanity the place would be leveled so fast.in the sixties and seventies i saw 3/5 of the thicket disappear.now they are giving some back,i guess the seismic reading were not promising for oil.how lucky you are.
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