Big Bend Park Could Gain 6,100 Acres, But Only Through Donations or Trades—No Forced Sales Allowed

The aptly named Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act is exactly what it sounds like: a plan to make Big Bend National Park a little bit bigger. This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior—the person in charge of the National Park Service—to acquire roughly 6,100 acres of land to fold into the existing park boundaries. The key detail here is how they can get this land: strictly through donations or land trades (exchanges). They cannot use eminent domain, which means no one can be forced to sell their property to the government for this expansion.

Expanding the Park, Protecting Private Property

This legislation is designed to expand conservation efforts around the park without stepping on the toes of local landowners, which is a big deal in areas where federal land ownership is often a contentious issue. Section 3 of the Act clearly spells out that the Secretary is prohibited from using condemnation or eminent domain to acquire the land. For a rancher or private landowner near Big Bend, this means the government can knock on their door and ask about a trade or a donation, but they can’t legally compel a sale. If they want to keep their land, they keep it—full stop.

What Happens When Land Changes Hands?

If the Secretary successfully acquires a parcel of land, maybe a few hundred acres through a trade with a conservation group or a donation from a family estate, that land immediately changes status. First, the official boundary of Big Bend National Park is automatically adjusted to include it. Second, and crucially, that land immediately falls under the same rules and regulations as the rest of the park. This means it will be managed for conservation, recreation, and historical preservation under the existing laws governing the National Park System. For local entities, this means any acquired land would transfer from county or state jurisdiction to federal park management, which impacts things like local tax bases and law enforcement responsibilities, though the primary benefit is clear: more protected land.

The Fine Print on the Map

To make sure everyone is on the same page, the bill defines exactly which 6,100 acres are eligible for inclusion by referencing a specific document: the map titled “Big Bend National Park, Proposed Boundary Adjustment,” dated November 2022. This prevents any confusion or mission creep down the line, establishing the precise scope of this land adjustment authority right from the start. This clarity is helpful for anyone—from a local government official to an interested citizen—who wants to know exactly where the potential new park boundaries might fall. Essentially, this bill is a green light for conservation expansion, but only if the neighbors agree to it.