By: Guillen H.R. No. 191
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Willacy County, located in the southern Lower Rio
Grande Valley region of South Texas, containing more than 29,627
acres of federally managed land and wildlife; and
WHEREAS, Willacy County Commissioners Court recognize the
importance of U.S. Department of Interior objectives as the
nation's natural resource caretaker with aim to promote public
lands, wildlife, environmental sustainable energy and preserve
cultural heritage.
WHEREAS, Willacy County is a rural community with the
diligence of its county leadership to promote its cultural
heritage, join with businesses, governmental and civic
organizations in alliance, partnership and contractual agreements
to foster professional relations aimed to promote a diversified
economy while it also maintains its agricultural values, supports
conservation of natural resources and wildlife preservation.
WHEREAS, The community of Willacy County is a unique regional
community known for its abundant natural resources adding economic
growth, technology, environmental and energy conservation goals
with the recent completion of 600 megawatts wind farm operations
facilitating green energy source to South and Central Texas
communities, headquarter to a fiber optic corporate office
facilitating jobs, rural and regional access to Internet,
communication technology and over $20 million energy capital
investment expenditure includes current energy exploration in
portions of the U.S. public lands located in Willacy County.
WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy the Santa Ana
National Wildlife Refuge, the Tieniente and East Lake - Sal del Rey
sections of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge,
the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, and the Padre Island
National Seashore--Laguna Madre;
WHEREAS, Willacy County joins other Lower Rio Grande Valley
tourist organization and the regional U.S. Wildlife Refuge to show
case natural landscapes, wildlife and promote an average of $400
million annual tourist economic impact to the region; as a result,
the development of the Coastal Land Resource Center and Laguna
Point Recreation Area at Port Mansfield are also vital to enhance
environmental science education, outdoor recreation activities,
electric generation and conservation and viewing of wildlife
including various public infrastructure improvements to promote
the fishing industry, access to, and appreciation of, the area's
great outdoors are currently in development, with completion dates
set for 2014; and
WHEREAS, Willacy Commissioners Court in 2009, entered a
Mutual Partnership Agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge - South Texas complex to promote
ecotourism, accessible roadways, and to manage and preserve its
pristine environments; and
WHEREAS, U.S. Department of Interior appointed Secretary,
Sally Jewell intimately understands the vital role of environmental
sustainable energy, ecotourism, preserved cultural heritage plays
in local and state economies, and it is indeed appropriate to invite
her to see firsthand how the abundant natural resources of Willacy
County are helping to drive its economy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Willacy County hereby extends an official
invitation to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior,
Sally Jewell, to visit Willacy County to learn more about the
county's achievements and other areas in the Lower Rio Grande
Valley with tour plans relating to the protection and enhancement
of the area's environment; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the chief clerk forward an official copy of
this resolution to the U.S. Department of Interior.