A special meeting will be held by Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on June 10 at 10:30 a.m. to discuss the possibility of condemning the 5, 000-acre house in Freestone County that includes Fairfield Lake State Park.
Following the sale of the property by Vistra Corp. to Dallas-based Todd Interests, which has made it known publicly that it intends to build a private, gated community with an golf course, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department( TPWD ) posted notice about the meeting. Todd Interests was distract up to 14, 000 acre feet of the river’s water annually for use outside of Freestone County, according to TPWD.
We advance to safeguard Fairfield Lake from possible destruction with firm resolve, according to Commission Chairman Arch” Beaver” Aplin III. In order to persuade Todd Interests to renounce its contract, we offered a 20 million assignment fee and up to$ 5 million in reimbursement. We could had bought Fairfield Lake State Park from Vistra if that had been the case. Todd Interests has instead decided to demolish a popular public property in Texas that receives more than 80,000 visitors annually. We must work to preserve not only the playground but also one of the best fisheries in our state as part of TPWD’s mission.
According to hydrological modeling by TPWD, diverting water outside of Freestone County could cut reservoir amount by up to a next, drawing the water level down eight foot and reducing the beach by 11 miles, or 41 %. This would harm the lake’s underwater life and have an impact on wildlife.
One of the best places in the country to fish for bass is Fairfield Lake. It is one of TPWD’s most effective fish and has been supported by the Toyota Sharelunker Program since 2020.
According to TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz, Ph.,” Texans and state frontrunners have told us firmly that they want to keep this magnificent playground available for public entertainment and pleasure.” D.” TPWD made Todd Interests a proper offer, and with the full backing of our commission, we were outspoken in our desire to do fair negotiations under fair circumstances. However, Todd Interests refused to cooperate with us, so we now have to look into other possibilities.
TPWD has until June 13 to vacate the property in accordance with the terms of its contract with Vistra.
