HCC Conservation Chairman John Bartos passes along these notes from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department:

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Greetings -

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will hold Public Meetings in April 2012, regarding the proposed Public Use portion of the Devils River State Natural Area - General Management Plan.  State Parks officials will discuss proposals related to public access, camping, trail systems, interpretive plans and other recreational opportunities within the Units of Devils River State Natural Area.  This will be followed by the opportunity for the public to provide input on the proposals.

Please hold the date for a meeting in your area:

April 10 - Houston
April 11 - Dallas
April 12 - Austin
April 16 - Del Rio
April 19 - San Antonio

Venues for the meetings are being finalized. All meetings are currently scheduled from 7-9pm.  Be on the lookout for general information related to the proposals and exact meeting locations in the next few weeks via email, social media and press release.

You are receiving this email because you have previously expressed an interest to TPWD about Devils River State Natural Area.  For question or comments please email DevilsRiverComment@tpwd.state.tx.us.

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Here are the details of the public meeting on the Devils River natural area. It would be nice to have a good turnout to show SE Texas has interest in this.

Public Meetings
Devils River State Natural Area Public Use Plan

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is holding public meetings to present and take comments on the Devils River State Natural Area Public Use Plan. TPWD is welcoming and encouraging public comment regarding recreational and public use of the State Natural Area and its associated river frontage. Proposed changes and new recreational use will be presented. This is an opportunity to participate in the proposed Public Use Plan for the Devils River State Natural Area.

The public meetings will take place on the following dates:  

Houston - April 10, 7-9 p.m. - Houston Zoo, Brown Education Hall, 6200 Hermann Park Drive,Gate 5, Houston 77030 (Enter through GATE 5.)

Arlington - April 11, 7-9 p.m., Bob Duncan Center, Garden Room, 2800 S. Center Street,Arlington 76014

Austin - April 12, 6:30-8:30, LCRA Redbud Center, Room RBC 108 North, 3601 Lake Austin Blvd.,Austin 78703

Del Rio - April 16, 7-9 p.m., Civic Center, Kennedy Room, 1915 Veterans Blvd., Del Rio 78840

San Antonio - April 19, 7-9 p.m., Central Library Auditorium, 600 Soledad, San Antonio 78205

Comments can also be made by emailing devilsrivercomment@tpwd.state.tx.us.

For further information, please contact Chris Beckcom, (512) 389-4661, chris.beckcom@tpwd.state.tx.us or Joe Ranzau, (830) 395-2133, joe.ranzau@tpwd.state.tx.us.

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The Devil's River is one of the most beautiful and pristine rivers in Texas, and access for paddling has been problematic for many years because of private property issues.  If you have an interest in this issue, these meetings would be a good time to make your views heard.

John Bartos