Texas Almanac, 1994-1995 Page: 622
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622 Texas Almanac 1994-1995
and woodlands. Bird watching and fishing are the most
popular activities. Hunting is permitted during limited sea-
sons in designated areas. Address: Rt. 3, Box 123, Sher-
man 75090-9564. Phone (903) 786-2826.
Laguna Atascosa: Established in 1946 as southernm-
most waterfowl refuge in the Central Flyway, this refuge
contains more than 45,000 acres fronting on the Laguna
Madre in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Open lagoons,
coastal prairies, salt flats and brushlands support a
wide diversity of wildlife. The United States' largest concen-
tration of redhead ducks winters here, along with many
other species of waterfowl and shorebirds. White-tailed
deer, javelina, armadillo and Texas tortoise can be
found, along with endangered ocelot and laguarundi. Bird
watching and nature study are popular, with migratory birds
abundant in the winter and many Mexican birds present
year-round. Saltwater fishing is permitted within Adolph Th-
omae, Jr. County Park on the Harlingen Ship Channel. Ar-
chery and rifle hunts are held most years for deer and feral
hogs. Entrance fee. Address: Box 450, Rio Hondo 78583.
Phone (210) 748-3607.
Lower Rio Grande Valley: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is slowly acquiring land in the Lower Rio Grande
Valley for a new nationa refuge, which will encompass
some 130,000 acres within the four-county area of Cam-
eron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties. Area acquired
for the refuge will include 11 different habitat types, includ-
ingt sbal palm forest, tidal flats, coastal brushand,
mid-delta thorn forest, woodland potholes and basins,
upland thorn scrub, flood forest, barretal, riparlan
woodland and Chihuahuan thorn forest. At least 100
unique vertebrate species that are listed as endangered,
threatened, or which occur at the periphery of their range
call the area home. Funds to purchase lands for the refuge
come from the Federal Land and Water Conservation
Fund, whose monies come from sale of Outer Continental
Shelf oil and gas leases, taxes on motorboat fuels and the
sale of certain surplus federal lands. For more information,
contact Santa Ana/Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wild-
life Refuges, Rt. 2, Box 202A, Alamo 78516. Phone (512)
787-7861.
Matgorda Island: Matagorda Island is aintly owned
by the Texas General Land Office andthe U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. Currently, 19,000 acres of federal lands
and 24,000 acres of state lands on the northern 2/3 of the
island are managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife De-
partrnent as the Matagorda Island State Park and Wildlife
Management Area (Park), a Unit of the National Wildlife
Refuge System. Information on the park may be obtained
from the Park Superintendent, P.O. Box 117, Port O'Connor
77982. The southern 1/3 of the island (11,502 acres of fed-
eral lands) are currently managed by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service as the Matagorda Island Unit of Aransas
NWR. A unique new management agreement will soon re-
place the island's present cumbersome management sce-
nario. This new agreement will place the entire island
(30,502 acres of federal lands and 26,166 acres of state
lands) into both the National Wildlife Refuge System and
State Natural Area System, to be known as the Matagorda
sland National Wildlife Refuge and State Natural Area.
Texas Parks and Wildlife will manage the habitat and wild-
life on the island through the Aransas NWR. The island sup-
ports a wide variety of migratory birds, some 19 state or
federally-isted threatened or endangered species, a
large herd of white-tailed deer, alligator and other wild-
life. Salt-water fishing, hunting (in season), birding, pic-
nicking and historical interpretation are popular activities.
MFaddin: Purchased in 1980 with duck stamp reve-
nues, this refuge's 42,955 acres are of great importance to
wintering populations of migratory waterfowl. The endan-
gered southern bald eagle and peregrine falcon are rare
visitors, but may occasionally be seen during peak fall and
spring migrations. One of the densest populations of allga-
tore in Texas is found here. Activities on the refuge include
wildlife observation, waterfowl hunting, fishing and crab-
bing. Address: Box 609, Sabine Pass 77655. Phone (409)
971-2909.
Muleshoe: Oldest of national refuges in Texas, Mule-
shoe provides winter habitat for waterfowl and the conti-
nent's largest wintering population of sandhill cranes.
Comprising 5,809 acres in the high plains of Bailey County,the refuge contains three playa lakes, marsh areas, call-
che outcroppings and native grasslands. Tour roads are
available, as well as a prairie dog town, nature trail, camp-
ground and picnic area. Address: Box 549, Muleshoe
79347. Phone (806)946-3341.
San Bernard: Located on the Gulf of Mexico near
Freeport, this refuge's nearly 28,000 acres attract migrat-
Ing waterfowl, including thousands of snow geese, which
spend the winter on the refuge. Habitats consist of coastal
prairIes, salt/mud flats and saltwater and freshwater
ponds and potholes. Visitors enjoy photography and bird
watching; fishing is permitted, as well as waterfowl hunting
in season. A special permit waterfowl hunt is conducted
three days per week. Contact refuge office for details. Ad-
dress: Box 1088, Angleton 77516. Phone: (409) 849-7771.
Santa Ana: Established in 1943 and referred to as
"gem of the National Wildlife Refuge System," Santa
Ana's more than 2,000 acres of subtropical forest and na-
tive brushland provide habitat for many unusual birds. Lo-
cated on the north bank of the Rio Grande in Hidalgo
County, the refuge attracts many birders who come from
across the United States to view many species of Mexican
birds as they reach the northern edge of their ranges in
South Texas. Also finding sanctuary on this refuge are oce-
lot and jaguarundi, endangered members of the cat family.
Address: Rt. 2, Box 202A, Alamo 78516. Phone (512) 787-
3079.
Texas Point: Purchased in 1979 with duck stamp rev-
enues, Texas Point's 8,952 acres are located on the Upper
Gulf Coast, where they serve a large wintering population of
waterfowl as well as migratory birds. The endangered
southern bald eagle and peregrine falcon may occasion-
ally be seen during peak fall and spring migrations. Allige-
tore are commonly observed dunng the spring, summer
and fall months. Activities include wildlife observation, wa-
terfowl hunting, fishing and crabbing. Access to the refuge
is by boat and on foot only. Address: Box 609, Sabine Pass
77655. Phone (409) 971-2909.R&K CAMPING CENTER
Sales * Rentals * Service
FODN TRAILE"725 S. JUPITER RD.
GARLAND, DALLAS CO. TEXAS
214-276-7637r
622
Texas Almanac 1994-1995
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Kingston, Mike. Texas Almanac, 1994-1995, book, 1993; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth162513/m1/622/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.