Cameron County leader shares support for SpaceX, TPWD land exchange

The land proposal would bring nearly 500 acres of land near Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge to TPWD in exchange for 43 acres of Boca Chica State Park. Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. shared his new stance on the proposed land exchange in a commentary published on myrgv.com.

In the article, Treviño said the deal is much more than swapping land, but rather a safeguard to the “very essence of what makes Cameron County unique within the vast expanse of Texas.” He went on to detail what needed to be safeguarded in the land itself. 

“Those 477 acres hold within them precious habitats that are home to myriad plant and animal species, from delicate coastal dunes to nesting grounds for endangered birds,” Treviño said. 

Treviño’s new position differs from his previous stance as he admitted to feeling “left in the dark” by TPWD. But now through collaboration, Treviño says the county has come to the realization that the decision is “not only well-intentioned but also necessary for the long-term health and vitality of Cameron County.” 

“Ultimately, we are committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility,” said Treviño.

“How can he support the expansion of a rocket test facility and [liquified natural gas projects] which clearly have turned much of what he calls a ‘paradise on earth’ into a wasteland devoid of wildlife?” Branch said in a statement issued to MySA. 

Branch went on to detail how the two lands being exchanged are habitually different. Boca Chica Beach is a wildlife habitat for shorebirds that use the mud and algal flats to nest. Whereas the SpaceX land being offered is part of the Bahia Grande wetland system that is made of Tamaulipan thornscrub, plains, and the shoreline of Laguna Larga, a manmade lake.

“The hundreds of thousands of migratory birds that flock here annually for rest and foraging, as well as our year-round shore birds, do not live and nest in thorn scrub,” said Branch.

Branch ended by saying Trevino is “praising the decimation” of Boca Chica Beach and warned the community of what the exchange would bring, including “restricted access and less of what Trevino called ‘pristine beaches and diverse ecosystems’.”

“Anyone who has been there recently can already see the dramatic change from beautiful wetlands and beach, rich with wildlife, to a wasteland,” Branch said. “It is going to become a wasteland as they keep building more and more. Where does it stop? How much are we going to [give] away, it sets a precedent.”

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will hold a special commission meeting to deliberate and vote on the land exchange on Monday, March 4, at 10 a.m., according to the agenda notice. 

MySA reached out to Treviño’s office for comment but did not receive a response. This story will be updated when one is received.