SAN ANTONIO — Government Canyon, Enchanted Rock, along with Uvalde and Burnet County have gotten the green light to move forward with the contracting process involved in potential changes to each of their landscapes.
Zack Spector, chief of land & conservation initiatives with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department proposed utilizing more than 823 additional acres of Government Canyon to protect the quality and supply of fresh water to the Edwards Aquifer.
"This area is incredibly important for the city of San Antonio's drinking water supply," Spector said. "It's also home to endangered invertebrate species found nowhere else in the world."
North of Fredericksburg, Enchanted Rock which sees about 250,000 visitors a year has also been proposed to be expanded 3,073 acres, more than doubling it's current size.
Southeast of Garner State Park, the most popular state park which sees 500,000 visitors annually, proposed expansion of 1,700 acres including over a mile of the Frio river could see an exciting change.
"Staff believes this property is very suitable for a new state park," he said.
Texas Parks & Wildlife officials also believe the 2,000 acres in Burnet County, near Colorado Bend State Park, on the east side of the Colorado River could be a new state park.
Andrea Lofye is the infrastructure division director for Texas Parks & Wildlife.
“The property is located across the river from Colorado Bend and it is approximately ten miles upstream from Lake Buchanan," Lofye said. "The acquisition will create additional recreational opportunities and habitat protection.”
No cost has been associated with the land acquisition yet since this approval is early in the contracting process. No word yet on when developments will begin.