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Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

Coordinates: 26°17′01″N 97°23′06″W / 26.28361°N 97.38500°W / 26.28361; -97.38500
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Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map showing the location of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Map showing the location of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Map of Texas
LocationCameron / Willacy counties, Texas, United States
Nearest cityHarlingen, Texas
Coordinates26°17′01″N 97°23′06″W / 26.28361°N 97.38500°W / 26.28361; -97.38500
Area120,000 acres (490 km2)[1]
EstablishedMarch 29, 1946[2]
Visitors+200,000[citation needed] (in 2003)
Governing bodyUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service
WebsiteLaguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is the largest protected area of natural habitat left in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The 120,000-acre (49,000 ha) refuge is located almost entirely in Cameron County, Texas, 25 mi (40 km) east of Harlingen,[2] although a very small part of its northernmost point extends into southern Willacy County.[3]

History

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The Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge was created following World War II in 1946 to protect habitat for migratory birds and waterfowl, specifically redhead ducks (Aythya americana).[1][2]

By 2010, it had grown to encompass a total of 65,096 acres (26,343 ha) in a landscape of "an interspersed pattern of meandering resacas (oxbow lakes), lomas (brush-covered sand/clay dunes), coastal prairies, and wetlands."[2]

Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) with tracking collar, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

In January 2024, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced a proposal to add 477 acres (1.93 km2) to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge via a swap of land currently owned by SpaceX, in order to allow SpaceX to become the owner of 43 acres (17 ha) of Boca Chica State Park land to expand their existing rocket launch facility at SpaceX Starbase.[4][5]

Fauna

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The Peregrine Fund began reintroducing captive-bred northern aplomado falcons (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) to the refuge in 1985, which had been nearly extirpated from the Southwestern United States; by 2009, it was home to 26 pair.[original research?]

Nine other endangered or threatened species inhabit the refuge, such as the Texas ocelot (Leopardus pardalis albescens) and (formerly) the Gulf Coast jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), rare wild cats.[6]

Spanish dagger (Yucca treculeana) at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (April 12, 2016)

Botany and ecology

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Programs at the refuge include vegetation and wetland restoration.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, About Us. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Texas GEMS - Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (LANWR)". Texas Gulf Ecological Management Sites. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. May 7, 2003. Archived from the original on January 25, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
  3. ^ "Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge | Map". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  4. ^ Reagan, Mark (January 17, 2024). "TPWD to consider land swap with SpaceX at Boca Chica". MyRGV.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  5. ^ Masso, Steven (January 17, 2024). "SpaceX requests 43 acres of Boca Chica State Park from Texas". KVEO-TV. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  6. ^ "Endangered Species". Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. August 12, 2009. Archived from the original on February 16, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
  7. ^ "Management". Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2009. Archived from the original on February 16, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
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