The Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area: Feasibility Study Status Report - September 2013
Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area Concept National Park Criteria
Concept Storm Surge Damage Reduction Large, Landscape-scale Conservation opublic/private partnership common goals oworking Landscapes and Public Lands o Willing partners only o No new regulations for non-participating landowners o Broad stakeholder participation Sustainable Economic Development o Resilient economic uses of the land o Recreation and education o Historic preservation o Tourism
100-Year Storm Surge Levels Slide courtesy of Hal Needham, Louisiana State University
Storm surge flowing back into Gulf four days after Ike s landfall Photo: Bryan Carlile 5
Strategy 1 Unified Private-Local-State-Federal Effort 2 Landscape Scale Consensus Building 3 Coordinated Economic Development 4 Stakeholder Management
Designed by Texans, for Texans Strictly voluntary participation No new regulation for non-participating landowners Flexible configuration Jointly governed Partners retain individual decisionmaking authority Partners not obligated to increase expenditures
Criteria For Inclusion in the National Park System 1 National Significance 2 Suitability 3 Feasibility 4 Need for NPS
National Significance - Natural Ecosystem Interface Unique on the Gulf Coast Sub Tropical - Southeastern Mixed Forest & Prairie and Parkland Provinces Met Contains many habitat types - barrier beaches, coastal estuaries, bays, marshes, riverine hardwood bottomlands, piney woods and coastal prairies Globally Important Bird Habitat Exceptional Migratory Bird Area Shorebirds, wading birds, Neotropical songbirds and birds of prey are exceedingly abundant Estuary of National Significance Remnant Coastal Prairie
SSPEED Scientific Study
National Significance - Culural 19 th Century Galveston - Architecture and History National Historic Landmark Districs National Historic Landmark Ship Elissa Wall Street of the West Ellis Island of the South Native Americans European Settlers African Americans Civil War Great Storm of 1900
National Historic Landmarks
2 Suitability o Resource type not already adequately represented in the national park system in other public lands o Would new area expand, enhance, or duplicate resource protection or visitor use opportunities
Resource type that is not already adequately represented in the National Park System or other protected areas
Resource type addresses rarity of the resources, interpretive and educational potential The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail
Resource type addresses rarity of the resources, interpretive and educational potential Texas Independence Trail
Ramps & Launches
3 Feasibility o o o Be of sufficient size and appropriate configuration Capable of efficient administration at a reasonable cost Stakeholder support
Capable of efficient administratio n at reasonable cost US US Advisory Council Proposed Lone Star Coastal Nat l Rec Area Partnership Tx Tx Loc Gov (as determined by Partnership Agreement) PPO Loc Gov PPO NGO NGO
Opportunity Knocks: Potential Economic Impact of the Proposed Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area By the 10th year, tourist visitation triples, economic impact quadruples to $192 M in sales, and local tourism-related jobs increase by 11%.
Newspaper articles Public support picture Local public support (including landowners)
Steering Committee Baker Nau
PenDeCo Peninsula Development Corporation Partners Coalition 35 Members 23 Resolutions or Letters of Intent
National Park Service Packages/brands/promotes year-round tourism International marketing reach Attracts new funding Improves regional image Unparalleled partnership capability Integrates public and private: conservation outdoor recreation historic preservation tourism education
Conclusion: Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area Meets NPS Criteria Nationally significant resources Enhanced protection of under-represented resources; expanded visitor access and education opportunities Feasible partnership model Comprehensive, large scale conservation strategy Cost-effective, shared public/private effort Significant local and regional economic benefits Stakeholder involvement Need for NPS
The Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area: Wadaya think? Do they know what they are talking about? Maybe. But I have many, many questions!