;~ER / RANJGER STATION ANJD NiATONAL SEASHORE L
144
THESIS Z;E\;~ER / RANJGER STATION ANJD NiATONAL SEASHORE L _
Transcript of ;~ER / RANJGER STATION ANJD NiATONAL SEASHORE L
THESIS Z;E\ ;~ER / RANJGER STATION ANJD NiATONAL SEASHORE L _
SUBMITTED TO THE ARCHITECTURAL FACULTY OF TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY IN
PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF
ARCHITECTURE.
ARCHITECTURE 422: 3
DECEMBER 11/ 1973
PROGRAM ADVISER - BILL W. FELTY
(lOij^i^
II
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AC
I ^ I WISH TO EXPRESS A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY PARENTS. WITHOUT THEIR LOVE AND
n"'^ UNDERSTANDING/ THIS PROGRAM COULD NOT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN. I ALSO WISH TO EX-
'̂ •̂'''1 PRESS GRATITUDE TO MR. JAMES D. ARNOTT/ PARK SUPERINTENDENT OF PADRE ISLAND
NATIONAL SEASHORE/ FOR HIS SPECIAL EFFORTS IN AIDING MY RESEARCHI
III
DEDICATION
I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS PROGRAM TO MY WIFE/
DIANE/ WHOSE CONSTANT SUPPORT MADE THIS WORK POSSIBLE.
IV
PREFACE
IN 1965 THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS APPROVED AND PRESIDENT LYNDON B.
JOHNSON SIGNED INTO LAW A BILL WHICH ESTABLISHED AN 80.5 MILE STRETCH OF
PADRE ISLAND AS A NATIONAL SEASHORE WITHIN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. SINCE
THAT TIME/ THE NATIONAL SEASHORE HAS GREATLY EXPANDED SERVICES AND PROTECTION
TO THE VISITORS OF THE ISLAND. A VISITOR CENTER AT MALAQUITE BEACH/ A RANGER
STATION NEAR THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY/ AND THE GENERAL PARK HEADQUARTERS IN
FLOUR BLUFF/ TEXAS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO ACCOMPLISH THESE SERVICES.
BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME DISTANCE AND RUGGED TERRAIN EXISTING BETWEEN THE
PARK'S SOUTHERN BOUNDARY/ AT THE MANSFIELD CHANNEL/ NORTH TO MALAQUITE BEACH/
PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE PRESENTS A UNIQUE PROBLEM TO THE PARK OFFICIALS
RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS MAINTENANCE. IT NORMALLY REQUIRES FOURTEEN TO SIXTEEN
HOURS FOR PARK RANGERS TO PATROL THE 68 MILE STRETCH FROM MALAQUITE BEACH TO
THE MANSFIELD CHANNEL AND BACK AGAIN TO MALAQUITE BEACH USING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE
VEHICLES, DURING THE SUMMER SEASON/ THE PATROL DOWN THE ISLAND IS MADE UP TO
THREE TIMES PER WEEK WHILE IN THE WINTER/ ONLY ONE JOURNEY CAN BE MADE PER WEEK.
THE DIFFICULTIES IN PATROLLING THE ISLAND/ COUPLED WITH THE MASTER PLAN
GOAL OF EXTENDING THE NATIONAL SEASHORE BOUNDARIES SOUTH OF THE MANSFIELD
CHANNEL AND BRIDGING IT WITH A SMALL SCALE FERRY SERVICE* HAS INDUCED PARK
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OFFICIALS TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A RANGER
STATION WHICH COULD BE SERVICED OUT OF PORT MANSFIELD. IT IS THE PURPOSE
OF THIS THESIS PROGRAM TO EXPLORE THESE AND OTHER DESIGN CRITERIA AND PRE
SENT THEM IN AN ORDERLY FASHION SO THAT IT MAY BE USED AS A REFERENCE IN
EXPLORING AN ULTIMATE DESIGN SOLUTION,
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CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE I
SUBMISSION II
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS III
DEDICATION IV
PREFACE V
TABLE OF CONTENTS VII
1 . NATIONAL SEASHORE w
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
PURPOSE 2
ORGANIZATION 5
NATIONAL SEASHORES
HISTORY 7
PADRE ISLAND OPERATION 9
STAFF ORGANIZATION 11
FINANCE 16
VISITOR CENTER FUNCTIONS 18
RANGER STATION FUNCTIONS 20
VII
PADRE ISLAND
INTRODUCTION
HISTORY
INDIAN CULTURES
SPANISH EXPLORATION
THE PADRE
THE DUNN RANCH
THE MANSFIELD CUT
POST WAR DEVELOPMENT
IMPACT OF THE NATIONAL SEASHORE
22
23
23
25
31
36
37
39
40
3 . NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
REGION 42
SITE 43
ECOLOGY 44
GRASSES AND DUNES 45
WILDLIFE 49
TOPOGRAPHY 59
WINDS 60
PRECIPITATION 61
VIII
TEMPERATURES 62
SUNSHINE 63
SUN LOCATION 64
GEOLOGY AND SOIL CONDITIONS 66
GULF SALINITY 68
GULF TEMPERATURES 68
WAVE HEIGHTS 69
SURFACE CURRENTS 70
TIDES 70
LIMITING FACTOR GRADIENTS 71
ENVIRONMENTAL TOLERANCES TO DEVELOPMENT 72
BARRIER ISLAND DEVELOPMENT TOLERANCES 74
4 . RECREATIONAL PATTERNS
VISITATION 76
SEASHORE ATTENDANCE 11
LENGTH OF VISITS 11
RECREATION 78
MANSFIELD FACILITIES ACTIVITIES ANALYSIS
ZONE OF OPERATION 84
IX
VISITATION 84
STAFF 85
ACTIVITIES 90
B . BIBLIOGRAPHY
BIBLIOGRAPHY 87
FOOTNOTES 90
" 7 CORRESPONDENCE
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2 NATinNAI PARK SERVICE
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE WELL BEFORE THE BIRTH OF THE NATIONAL PARK IDEA IN THIS COUNTRY, THE
BELIEF THAT PARKS ARE VITAL TO THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE
WAS ELOQUENTLY EXPRESSED BY THE NOTED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND PLANNER,
FREDERICK LAW OLMSTEAD. SUBMITTING HIS REPORT TO THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE
IN 1865, RECOMMENDING THE POLICY WHICH SHOULD GOVERN THE YOSEMITE VALLEY AND
THE NEIGHBORING MARIPOSA BIG TREE GROVE, OLMSTEAD WROTE:
"IT IS THE MAIN DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT, TO PROVIDE MEANS OF PROTECTION FOR ALL ITS CITIZENS IN THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS AGAINST THE OBSTACLES, OTHERWISE INSURMOUNTABLE, WHICH THE SELFISHNESS OF INDIVIDUALS OR COMBINATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS IS LIABLE TO INTERPOSE TO THE PURSUIT.
IT IS A SCIENTIFIC FACT THAT THE OCCASIONAL CONTEMPLATION OF NATURAL SCENES OF AN IMPRESSIVE CHARACTER, PARTICULARLY IF THIS CONTEMPLATION OCCURS IN CONNECTION WITH RELIEF FROM ORDINARY CARES, CHANGE OF AIR AND CHANCE OF HABITS, IS FAVORABLE TO THE HEALTH AND VIGOR OF MENj AND, ESPECIALLY TO THE HEALTH AND VIGOR OF THEIR INTELLECT. IT NOT ONLY GIVES PLEASURE FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT INCREASES THE SUBSEQUENT CAPACITY FOR HAPPINESS AND THE MEANS OF SECURING HAPPINESS. •'•
WHEN THE BILL TO CREATE A NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION
IN CONGRESS IN 1916, J. HORACE MCFARLAND DEFINED THE SOCIAL VALUES OF PARKS.
TESTIFYING BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS, HE SAID:
"THE WORD 'PARK' IN THE MINDS OF MOST OF US SUGGESTS A PLACE WHERE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FLOWER BEDS, AND PROBABLY STONE DOGS, AND IRON FOUNTAINS, AND THINGS OF THAT KIND, AND A ROAD OVER WHICH AN AUTOMOBILE MAY TRAVEL. WE FORGET THAT THE PARK HAS PASSED OUT OF THAT CATEGORY IN THE
UNITED STATES. THE PARK NOW SERVES THE PEOPLEJ THE PARK DECREASES THE DEMAND ON THE FORCES FOR KEEPING ORDERJTHE PARK IS THE DIRECT COMPETITOR, IN THE UNITED STATES, OF THE COURTS, OF THE JAIL, OF THE CEMETERY. AND A VERY EFFICIENT COMPETITOR WITH ALL OF THEM. ^̂
LOVE OF LOCALITY IS ONE OF THE ROOTS OF SOCIAL COHESION. BUT IN A
SOCIETY WHERE ONE FAMILY IN FIVE MOVES EACH YEAR, AND WHERE WE HAVE MORE
THAN 80 MILLION AUTOMOBILES, WE HAVE A HARD TIME DEVELOPING LOCAL ROOTS OF
THE KIND FAMILIAR TO ENGLISHMEN IN SuSSEX OR FRENCHMEN IN BRITTANY, OUR
NATIONAL PARKS, LIKE YOSEMITE AND GRAND CANYON, AND OUR NATIONAL SEASHORES
SUCH AS PADRE ISLAND AND CAPE COD, TAKE THE PLACE OF LOCAL ROOTS FOR TENS
OF MILLIONS OF MOBILE AMERICANS. THEY TEND TO GIVE US THE ASSURANCE OF A
"SENSE OF PLACE" EXPRESSIVE OF OUR COUNTRY THAT WE CAN TIE TO PERMANENTLY,
WHEREVER WE MOVE OR LIVE.
MANY PEOPLE GO TO THE NATIONAL PARKS AND HISTORIC LANDMARKS NOT SIMPLY
TO SATISFY A NEED TO GET BACK TO NATURE FROM CROWDED CITIES OR FOR OUTDOOR
RECREATION, BUT TO STRENGTHEN THEIR IDENTITY WITH THEIR COUNTRY. THE NATIONAL
PARK SYSTEM IS QUALIFIED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL
ETHIC AS THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH U.S. CITIZENS MAY RENEW AND PRESERVE THE
QUALITY OF THEIR NATIONAL LIFE.
EVERY SOCIETY, EVERY ORGANIZED AGGREGATE OF PERSONS WITH A GROUP CON
SCIOUSNESS, HAS ITS OWN WAY OF LIFE, ITS OWN CULTURE. THE ESSENTIAL CORE OF
CULTURE CONSISTS OF TRADITIONAL IDEAS, AND ESPECIALLY THEIR ATTACHED VALUES,
WHOSE ORIGINS ARE NON-BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIALLY TRANSMITTED, THOSE IDEAS AND
VALUES ARE EXPRESSED IN SUCH TANGIBLES AS TOOLS, STRUCTURES, AND OTHER ARTI
FACTS; AND SUCH ABSTRACT AND INTANGIBLE PRODUCTS AS LANGUAGE, LAWS, CUSTOMS,
AND THE DESIGN AND ARTISTIC QUALITIES OF ART, SCULPTURE, MUSIC, ARCHITECTURE,
AND LITERATURE. THUS, IT MIGHT ALSO BE SAID THAT THE PARK SYSTEM TAKES ON
NEW IMPORTANCE AS A LAUNCHING AREA FOR PROGRAMS AIMED AT BRINGING MAN BACK TO
THE CENTER OF HIS WORLD-RESPONSIVE TO IT, AND RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
THUS, THE NATIONAL PARK MOVEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY COULD BE VIEWED AS THE
NATURAL EVOLUTION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL ETHIC. THIS EMERGING ETHIC STANDS AS
AN IMPERATIVE GUIDELINE IN CARRYING OUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT CONGRESS HAS
ENTRUSTED TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. IT SEEKS TO BRING TOGETHER, INTO A
MANAGEABLE FUSION, THE TWO WORLDS OF MAN; THE NATURAL WORLD INTO WHICH HE IS
BORN, AND THE CULTURAL WORLD HE HAS CREATED,
ORGANIZATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
THERE ARE THREE BASIC LEVELS OF OPERATION IN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE: THE
PARKS/ THE REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS/ AND THE WASHINGTON OFFICE LOCATED ON THE THIRD
FLOOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUILDING,
THE WASHINGTON OFFICE AND THE ENTIRE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS LED BY THE PARK
SERVICE DIRECTOR. THE DIRECTOR DELEGATES AS MANY OF HIS RESPONSIBILITIES AS POSSIBLE
TO HIS THREE DEPUTY DIRECTORS/ RETAINING ONLY THOSE WHICH ARE NOT TRANSFERRABLE: RE
LATIONSHIPS WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS/ INCLUDING KEY LEGISLATIVE MATTERS; DETERMINATION
OF BUDGET AND FISCAL ALLOCATIONS; PUBLIC AND CEREMONIAL APPEARANCES AND MEMBERSHIP ON
A GREAT NUMBER OF COMMISSIONS; CRITICAL PERSONNEL SELECTIONS/ INCLUDING ALL PARK SU
PERINTENDENTS; REMARKABLY FREQUENT MEETINGS WITH THE REGIONAL DIRECTORS IN THE FIELD;
AND ALL MATTERS OF CONCERN TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR,̂
THE NEXT LEVEL OF AUTHORITY ARE THE REGIONAL OFFICES/ EACH OF WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE COORDINATION AND SUPERVISION OF UP TO FIFTY PARKS. HEADQUARTERS FOR THE RE
GIONS ARE IN PHILADELPHIA (NORTHEAST)/ ATLANTA (SOUTHEAST)/ OMAHA (MIDWEST)/ SAN
FRANCISCO (WEST)/ SANTA FE (SOUTHWEST/ INCLUDING PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE)/ AND
SEATTLE (PACIFIC NORTHWEST).
- THE REGIONAL OFFICES PROVIDE THE INSTRUMENT THROUGH WHICH THE DIRECTOR CAN COM
MUNICATE WITH THE 284 FIELD AREAS/ AND VICE VERSA. BECAUSE OF THE FAR-FLUNG NATURE
OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM/ IT IS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR WASHINGTON OFFICE
STAFF MEMBERS TO VISIT MORE THAN A FEW PARKS A YEAR/ AND IT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE
REGIONAL OFFICE TO MAINTAIN A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INDIVIDUAL PARKS,
THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR IS EXPECTED TO BE THOROUGHLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT ALL OF THE
PARKS AND MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES IN HIS REGION.^
THE STAFF ORGANIZATION OF A PARK SERVICE REGIONAL OFFICE CONTAINS MANY PRO
FESSIONAL PEOPLE WHO CAN ADVISE/ AND COMFORT THEIR COUNTERPARTS WITHIN THE ACTUAL
PARKS ON ALMOST ALL MATTERS WHICH MIGHT ARISE. IN PARTICULAR/ THE REGIONAL OFFICE
PROVIDES TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO THE SMALL PARKS THAT DO NOT HAVE'SIMILAR STAFF
CAPABILITIES.
THE ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE AT THE PARK LEVEL IS ANALYZED IN THIS PROGRAM,
UNDER "PADRE ISLAND OPERATION",
NATIONAL SEASHORES 7
HISTORY OF NATIONAL SEASHORES
IN 1935 THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ATLANTIC AND GULF
COASTS AND FOUND SUITABLE SEASHORE FOR RECREATION FOR THE PUBLIC. IT THEN RECOM
MENDED THAT A NUMBER OF STRIPS BE ACQUIRED BY FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERN
MENTS, AT THIS TIME IN 1935, VERY LITTLE WAS DONE IN THE WAY OF ACQUIRING THIS
LAND,
IN 1955, A SECOND SURVEY WAS DONE WHICH SHOW'ED THAT OF 3,700 MILES OF
SHORELINE ALONG THE ATLANTIC AND GULF, ONLY 105 MILES WERE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC
USE.
IN 1959 A SURVEY WAS MADE OF 1,743 MILES OF PACIFIC COAST, FROM MEXICO TO
THE STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA. OF THIS 1,448 MILES WERE IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP, AND
COULD NOT BE USED FOR PUBLIC RECREATION.
To DATE, THERE ARE FOUR NATIONAL SEASHORES. CAPE LOOKOUT NATIONAL SEASHORE,
NORTH CAROLINA IS THE MOST RECENTLY ESTABLISHED NATIONAL SEASHORE. IT WAS ES
TABLISHED IN 1966. IT INCLUDES 58 MILES OF OCEAN SHORE ON PORTSMOUTH ISLAND,
CORE BANKS, AND SHACKLEFORD BANKS, SOUTH OF ACRACOKE INLET. FIRE ISLAND, NA
TIONAL SEASHORE, NEW YORK OPENED ITS FIRST SEASON IN 1966. THIS SEASHORE HAS
A 31 MILE LONG BARRIER ISLAND. PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE, TEXAS IS AN
OFFSHORE BARRIER REEF BETWEEN THE GULF OF MEXICO AND LAGUNA MADRE, PART OF THE
INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY. PADRE ISLAND HAS 113 MILES WITH A BROAD BEACH AND GRASS
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TOPPED DUNES UP TO 40 FEET. THE NATIONAL SEASHORE INCLUDES 80.5 MILES WHICH
MAKE IT THE LONGEST UNCLUTTERED BEACH IN THE UNITED STATES. PoiNT REYES
NATIONAL SEASHORE, CALIFORNIA WAS AUTHORIZED IN 1962. ABOUT HALF OF ITS
64,546 ACRES WILL REMAIN IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP AS A PASTORAL ZONE. THE REST
IS BEING PURCHASED AND DEVELOPED FOR PUBLIC USE IN BALANCE WITH THE NATURAL
VALUES.
PADRE ISLAND OPERATION 9
AS WITH THE NATIONAL PARKS, ALL NATIONAL SEASHORES ARE ALLOWED TO PROGRAM
THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL OPERATIONS. BECAUSE EACH PARK AND SEASHORE HAVE THEIR OWN
CHARACTERISTICS WHICH SEPARATE THEM FROM OTHER PARKS (siZE/ NUMBER OF VISITORS/
MAINTENANCE/ CLIMATOLOGY/ NATURAL BARRIERS/ BUDGET/ ETC. . , ) / IT IS NECESSARY
TO STRUCTURE THE PARK OPERATION TO FIT THE INDIVIDUAL PARK IN THE MOST EFFICIENT
MANNER.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS/ EXCLUDING CONCESSION PERSONNEL, VARIES/
FROM A MAXIMUM OF 49 TO AN APPROXIMATE MINIMUM OF 28/ ACCORDING TO THE SEASON OF
THE YEAR. THE EXTENSION OF SERVICES TO THE PROPOSED MANSFIELD FACILITY WILL IN
CREASE BOTH OF THESE FIGURES BY 4 TO 5 EMPLOYEES.
AT THE HIGHEST POSITION IN THE PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE IS THE PARK
MANAGER/ WHO IS PRIMARILY COORDINATOR OF THE SEASHORE'S FOUR BRANCHES OF OPERATIONS/
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUDGET/ AND ALSO ASSUMES THE FUNCTION OF A LIAISON BETWEEN
PADRE AND WASHINGTON.
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVTSTON MAINTAINS BOOKKEEPING/AIDS PARK MANAGER IN BUDGET
PLANNING/ AND ACQUIRES ALL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT WHICH ARE NECESSARY IN THE PARK
OPERATION. THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION OPERATES OUT OF THE FLOUR BLUFF PARK
HEADQUARTERS AND IS STAFFED BY THREE EMPLOYEES; THE ADMINISTRATIVE OPFICER/ THE
GENERAL SUPPLY ASSISTANT AND A DEPARTMENT SECRETARY.
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INTERPRETIVE DIVISION PROVIDES SCHEDULED INTERPRETIVE GUIDED TOURS/ UN-
GUIDED TRAILS (i.E. THE GRASSLANDS TRAIL)/ AND BROCHURES ABOUT THE ISLAND AND ITS
SERVICES. THE INTERPRETIVE DIVISION IS STAFFED BY TWO PERMANENT PARK RANGERS/
WITH EXPERT NATURALIST BACKGROUND/ AND DURING THE SUMMER SEASON TWO ADDITIONAL
RANGERS AND A PARK AID ARE REQUIRED.
MAINTENANCE DIVISION SERVICES AND MAINTAINS THE BUILDINGS OPERATED BY THE
NATIONAL SEASHORE AND PROVIDES UPKEEP OF THE EXISTING ROADS AND TRAILS. THE STAFF
VARIES IN NUMBER FROM 9 TO 19 PERSONNEL,AND ITS STRUCTURE CAN BE FOUND IN THE FOL
LOWING STAFF ORGANIZATION DIAGRAMS.
THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND VISITOR PROTECTION DIVISION IS DIVIDED INTO TWO
GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS OF OPERATION: THE GuLF DISTRICT AND THE LAGUNA MADRE DISTRICT/
BOTH OF WHICH SERVE THE SAME PURPOSES OF PROVIDING A LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE IN
ORDER TO PROTECT THE ISLAND'S VISITORS AS WELL AS ITS ENVIRONMENT. ITS STRUCTURE
MAY ALSO BE FOUND IN THE STAFF ORGANIZATION DIAGRAMS.
THE MANSFIELD FACILITY WOULD PERMANENTLY STAFF THREE RANGERS FROM THE PROTECTIVE
DIVISION/ ONE EMPLOYEE FROM THE MAINTENANCE DIVISION/ AS WELL AS PROVIDING AN OPER
ATIONAL BASE FOR TEMPORARY VISITS BY PERSONNEL OF THE INTERPRETIVE DIVISION.
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STAFF O R G A N I Z A T I O N
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FINANCE
IN ORDER TO FINANCE THE MANY OPERATIONS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE A BUDGET IS ESTABLISHED AND MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH CONGRESSIONAL
APPROPRIATION.
IN 1972/ 149/000/000 VISITS WERE RECORDED IN THE MANY UNITS OF THE PARK
SERVICE AND AS THE POPULARITY AND USE OF THE PARKS INCREASE, SO HAS THE NEED
FOR MONEY. THE FIRST APPROPRIATION/ $10/000 FOR THE NEWLY CREATED YELLOWSTONE/
WAS MADE IN 1878. BY CONTRAST/ THE PARK SERVICE APPROPRIATION FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR OF 1972 WAS $128/588/200. IN GENERAL/ THIS MONEY IS USED FOR MANAGEMENT
AND PROTECTION/ EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES/ MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION OF PHYSI
CAL FACILITIES/ CONSTRUCTION/ ACQUISITION OF LANDS/ AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.
SOME AREAS OF THE PARK SYSTEM COLLECT VISITOR-USE FEES. THESE INCLUDE
AUTOMOBILE/ MOTORCYCLE/ HOUSETRAILER/ GUIDE/ ADMISSION/ AND OTHER FEES WHICH
ARE CHARGED TO COMPLY WITH POLICIES ESTABLISHED BY CONGRESS. HOWEVER/ WITH
ONLY MINOR EXCEPTIONS/ NONE OF THE MONEY SO COLLECTED IS RETAINED BY THE IN
DIVIDUAL PARK; RATHER/ SUCH REVENUES ARE DEPOSITED IN THE UNITED STATES TREASURY.
THIS MONEY IS THEN USED TO OFFSET APPROPRIATED FUNDS/ THEREBY REDUCING THE COST
OF THE SYSTEM TO THE TAX PAYER.
17 PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE AND MANY OTHER UNITS OF THE PARK SYSTEM
DO NOT COLLECT VISITOR-USE FEES BECAUSE IN THESE AREAS THE COST OF COLLECTION
WOULD EXCEED THE REVENUE. ALSO SOME AREAS ARE INADEQUATELY DEVELOPED TO JUSTIFY
LEVYING SUCH FEES. IN ADDITION/ SOME FUNDS ARE RECEIVED FROM BUSINESS CON
CESSION PERMITS AND LICENSES; RENTS AND ROYALTIES; FINES/ PENALTIES/ AND FOR
FEITURES; AS WELL AS GIFTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS.
FUNCTIONS OF A VISITOR CENTER • ̂ ^
A VISITOR CENTER HAS MANY FUNCTIONS WHICH PAVE THE WAY FOR BETTER UNDER
STANDING OF THE PARK AND A CHANCE FOR THE VISITORS TO VIEW THE FEATURES OF THE
PARK IN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE WAY.
1. INFORMATION DESKS, (MANNED AND SELF-HELP), AUDIOVISUAL PROGRAMS, AND
PUBLICATIONS SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS INTERPRETIVE ACTIVITIES PROVIDED IN
A VISITOR CENTER.
2. PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SHOULD BE A PART OF THIS
INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF COOPERATING WITH SCHOOLS AND
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE A SOURCE OF COMMUNICATION.
3. VISITORS SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THE AREA'S
WILDLIFE BY WAY OF PARK ROADS WITH PARKING OVERLOOKS AND WILDLIFE TRAILS.
SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS MADE AVAILABLE TO VISITORS AID IN OBSERVING AND
IDENTIFYING WILDLIFE.
4. IN NATURAL AREAS, OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WHICH CAN BE DONE WITH
OUT ALTERATIONS TO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ARE ENCOURAGED. SuCH ACTIVI
TIES WOULD INCLUDE HIKING ON NATURE TRAILS, BICYCLE RIDING, CAMPING, PIC-
NICING, NATURE OBSERVATION, HORSEBACK RIDING, AND WATER-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES.
5. CONCESSION FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED; HOWEVER, THEY MUST FOLLOW SET ADMINI
STRATIVE POLICIES. CONCESSION FACILITIES ARE USUALLY PRIVATELY OWNED;^
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HOWEVER, WHEN THERE IS NO RESPONSE FROM A PROSPECTUS AND THE FACILITY
IS NECESSARY FOR THE ACCOMODATION OF THE PARK VISITORS, THE FACILITY
MAY BE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT WITH APPROPRIATED FUNDS AND MADE
AVAILABLE TO RESPONSIBLE PRIVATE PARTIES FOR OPERATION. CONCESSIONERS
SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN ALL GOVERNMENT-OWNED FACILITIES USED IN
CONCESSION OPERATIONS. ANNUAL MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS SHALL BE REQUIRED
DURING THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT. CONCESSIONERS SHOULD CARRY INSURANCE
COVERING LOSSES BY FIRE, PUBLIC LIABILITY, EMPLOYEE LIABILITY, OR OTHER
HAZARDS. CONCESSIONERS SHOULD ADHERE TO EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES,
LABOR STANDARDS, AND APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS.^ THE MERCHANDISE
SOLD BY CONCESSIONERS SHOULD INCLUDE THOSE ITEMS WHICH WOULD BE ENJOYABLE
AND NECESSARY FOR VISITOR'S USE. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY BE PERMITTED
IN NATURAL AREAS, SUBJECT TO SERVICE REGULATIONS AND LAWS. THE CONCESS
IONERS SHOULD MAINTAIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF ACCOMODATIONS WHICH ARE
LOW PRICED. SERVICES OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC BY CONCESSIONERS MUST BE
SATISFACTORY AS JUDGED BY RECOGNIZED STANDARDS. "̂
6. RELIGIOUS SERVICES MAY BE HELD AT VISITOR CENTERS IF FACILITIES FOR
WORSHIP SERVICES ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN NEARBY COMMUNITIES.
20
FUNCTIONS OF A RANGER STATION
THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS OF A PADRE ISLAND PARK RANGER
DEPEND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT OF THE TYPE OF RANGER POSITION THAT HE IS FULFILLING,
1. ASSISTS IN THE PREPARATION OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES IN CASE OF DROWNINGS/
INJURIES/ SEARCH AND RESCUE/ SERIOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS/ AND CARRIES
THEM OUT.
2. MAKES SAFETY INSPECTIONS OF THE AREA AND PATROLS THE CAMPGROUNDS.
3. AIDS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES FOR NARCOTICS AND OTHER SERIOUS
LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEMS.
4. TRAINS SEASONAL RANGERS AND SUPERVISES THEIR ACTIVITIES.
5. INSPECTS FIRE EQUIPMENT FOR FIRE SAFETY THROUGHOUT ALL FACILITIES.
6. PARTICIPATES IN PROGRAMMED HEALTH INSPECTIONS OF FOOD SERVICES IN
CONCESSIONERS.
7. CONSTANT PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PERSONAL CONTACTS WITH ALL VISITORS.
FOR TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION NEEDS/ THE PADRE ISLAND PARK RANGERS
ARE EQUIPPED WITH SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT. THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH A STATION WAGON
WHICH SERVES AS THEIR EMERGENCY AMBULANCE. THERE ARE SEVERAL FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
VEHICLES AT THEIR DISPOSAL FOR USE AS PATROL TRANSPORTATION FOR BEACH USE DOWN
THE ISLAND. PORTABLE MOBILE RADIO UNITS ARE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLES AND A
DISPATCHER OPERATION AT THE RANGER STATION MAKE UP THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.
INTRODUCTION 22
OFF THE COAST OF TEXAS THERE ARE A CHAIN OF ISLANDS WHICH REACH FROM
GALVESTON ISLAND ALL THE WAY TO THE RIO GRANDE ON THE MEXICAN BORDER. BY FAR
THE LARGEST OF THESE IS PADRE ISLAND, WHICH AT ONE TIME WAS CALLED ISLE DE
BLANCA BY SPANISH EXPLORERS BECAUSE FROM THE GULF THE MANY DUNES OF WHITE SAND
RESEMBLE A WHITE WALL AGAINST THE HORIZON,
THESE SANDS SINCE PREHISTORY HAVE BEEN ON THE MOVE. THIS PRESENTS A UNIQUE
PROBLEM IN DOCUMENTING THE HISTORY OF THE ISLAND.. BECAUSE OF THE MOVING AND
CHANGING OF THE SANDS AND THE GENERAL HARSH AND EROSIVE ENVIRONMENT OF PADRE
ISLAND, MANY ARTIFACTS AND OCCURENCES IN HISTORY ARE EASILY LOST OR COVERED.
PADRE IS THE LONGEST IN THIS SLENDER CHAIN OF ISLANDS THAT HUG THE TEXAS
COAST. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 125 MILES LONG AND FROM A FEW HUNDRED YARDS TO AL
MOST FIVE MILES WIDE. IT CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 350,000 ACRES OF LAND. THIS
FIGURE DOES VARY, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE GuLF SIDE OF PADRE IS CONSTANTLY ON THE
MOVE, THE WINDS AND WAVE ACTION HAVE MOVED CERTAIN PARTS OF THE SHORELINE AS
MUCH AS 1,000 FEET WESTWARD IN THE PAST 100 YEARS. OFF THE BEACH AND IN THE
BREAKERS OF THE SURF ARE FOUND SANDBARS THAT ARE ALSO CONSTANTLY CHANGING THEIR
POSITION. THESE BARS ARE LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY OF THE SHIP WRECKS THAT
HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF MANY OF THE EVENTS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED THE HISTORY OF
PADRE ISLAND.
•••I
23 HISTORY
THE HISTORY OF THE INDIAN ON PADRE ISLAND BEGINS IN THE SHELL PILES AND
MOUNDS TO BE FOUND SCATTERED ALONG THE COASTAL PLAINS AND ON THE MANY ISLANDS
OF THE COAST OF TEXAS. THERE WERE NO PERMANENT SETTLEMENTS ON THE COASTAL
ISLAND BECAUSE THE INDIANS WHO LIVED ON THE ISLAND WERE ALL OF NOMADIC WARLIKE
TRIBES. THE EXISTENCE OF THESE MIGRATORY INDIANS HAS BEEN TRACED THROUGH THE
SHELL PILES AS WELL AS THE ARROWHEADS, PIECES OF POTTERY> AND OTHER ARTIFACTS
FOUND THROUGHOUT THE ISLANDS.
IT IS KNOWN THAT THE INDIANS OF VARIOUS TEXAS COASTAL REGIONS MADE REGULAR
TRIPS TO THESE ISUNDS IN SEARCH OF SHELLFISH FOR FOOD AND SHELLS FOR DECORATIVE
ITEMS, SIMPLE UTENSILS AND FOR TRADE. PROOF OF THE EXISTENCE OF CoASTAL INDIANS
TRADE CAN BE TRACED TO THE FACT THAT SHELL DECORATIONS AND UTENSILS^ MADE OF
SHELLS THAT ARE COMMON TO THE TEXAS COASTAL WATERS ONLY., HAVE BEEN FOUND IN
PLAINS INDIANS FOOD CACHES AS FAR AWAY AS NEBRASKA.
THE FOLLOWING ARE A FEW OF THE PRINCIPAL TRIBES WHICH LIVED AND ROAMED
ALONG THE COASTAL PLAINS AND ISLANDS OF TEXAS: ARKAKISOS., ATTACAPA., BIDAI.,
DEADOSE, COCO^ COPANES, CUJANES, COAPITS, NATCHEZ, AND CARANKAWAS.^
THE NAME OF THIS GROUP OF TRIBES WHO SHARE A SIMILAR LANGUAGE ARE THE
KARANKAWA. THESE INDIANS WERE GIANTS IN STATURE COMPARED TO OTHER INDIAN TRIBES
AS WELL AS WITH THE SPANISH EXPLORERS. THE KARANKAWAS AVERAGED OVER SIX FEET
'li
24
IN HEIGHT AND WERE DESCRIBED TO HAVE HAD A WONDERFULLY DEVELOPED PHYSIQUE.
THEY WERE GOOD HUNTERS AND THEY USED THE BOW AND ARROW AS THEIR PRINCIPAL
WEAPON WHEN HUNTING. THE BOWS WERE MADE OF A NATIVE WOOD, CEDAR OR MESQUITE,
AND THE ARROWS WERE MADE OF THE STRAIGHT CANE OF THE SWAMP AND TIPPED WITH
EITHER SHARP BONE OR FLINT. THE CANES AND BONE WERE NATIVE TO THE AREA WHILE
THE FLINT WAS EITHER STOLEN OR BARTERED FROM THE OTHER TRIBES TO THE NORTH.
As FISHERMAN, THEY WERE UNSURPASSED AND WERE ALMOST AS MUCH AT HOME IN THE
WATER AS OUT. THEY FOUND THEIR FOODS IN THE BAYS ALONG THE GULF AND SPENT MOST
OF THEIR LIVES IN THESE TIDE WATER AREAS. THEY USED SPEARS AS WELL AS BOW AND
ARROWS TO HUNT THE FISH. OiL AND GREASE FROM THE ALLIGATOR WAS SOMETIMES
SMEARED ON THE BODIES OF THESE FISHERMEN TO PROTECT THEM DURING LONG PERIODS OF
TIME IN THE WATER. THE ODOR OF THE GREASE COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT THESE
INDIANS NEVER BATHED THEMSELVES CREATED A SCENT POWERFUL ENOUGH TO HELP REPEL
THE MOSQUITOES AND OTHER INSECTS IN THE BAYS,
THE KARANKAWAS WERE MIGRATORY BY NATURE AND SELDOM STAYED IN ONE PLACE MORE
THAN A FEW WEEKS. FOR A TRIBE TO MOVE WAS A SIMPLE OPERATION FOR THEY HAD FEW
POSSESIONS. SINCE ALMOST ALL THEIR FOOD WAS EATEN RAW AND THEY WERE NOT AGRI
CULTURALLY ORIENTED, THEY SELDOM USED OR HAD ANY NEED FOR POTTERY. THEY WORE
NO CLOTHING AND EXCEPT FOR THE SKIN BAGS USED TO CARRY WATER;THE ONLY OTHER
IMPORTANT POSSESSION THEY CARRIED WERE THEIR WEAPONS.
25 UPON ARRIVAL IN AN AREA WHERE THEY INTENDED TO STAY FOR A WHILE, THEY
OFTEN ERECTED CRUDE SHELTERS CALLED "BAAKS" MADE OF LIMBS OF TREES AND COVERED
WITH THE LONG GRASSES OF THE COASTAL PRAIRIE. WHEN CAMPING ON THE PLAINS AREAS
ALONG THE COAST, IT WAS OFTEN EASIER TO USE TREE TRUNKS AND LIMBS THAT HAD
WASHED UP ON THE SHORE WITH THE TIDES. FASHIONING WITH THESE THE FRAMEWORK FOR
THEIR HUTS THEY WOULD THEN COVER THEM WITH GRASSES OR ANIMAL HIDES. THIS USU
ALLY AFFORDED ALL THE SHELTER FROM THE ELEMENTS THEY DESIRED.
THE SAVAGENESS AND TREACHEROUS NATURE OF THESE COASTAL TRIBES CANNOT BE
OVER EMPHASIZED. THERE ARE MANY ACCOUNTS RECORDED OF THEIR CANNIBALISTIC PRAC
TICES. IT WAS A COMMON PRACTICE OF GREAT PLEASURE TO THE CARANKAWA TRIBE TO
CAPTURE SOMEONE IN ANOTHER TRIBE AND SACRIFICE HIM IN CEREMONIES WHICH INVOLVE
CUTTING OFF PIECES OF THE VICTIMS FLESH AND EATING THEM BEFORE HIS OWN EYES
UNTIL HE FINALLY DIES. THESE WERE THE BARBARIAN PEOPLE WHO RULED THE TEXAS
GULF COAST IN WHICH THEY LIVED AND WERE THE NATIVES WHO FIRST GREETED THE
SPANISH EXPLORERS.
THE EXPLORATION OF THE GULF OF MEXICO, INCLUDING PADRE ISLAND, BEGAN IN
1519 WHEN THE GOVERNOR OF JAMAICA, FRANCISCO GARAY, SENT ALONZO ALVEREZ DE
PINEDA TO EXPLORE THE NORTHERN COAST. THIS WAS DONE IN HOPES THAT HE MIGHT DIS
COVER THE RUMORED, SO-CALLED STRAIT OF ANIAN, A MYTHICAL WATERWAY THAT SUPPOSEDLY
COULD BE FOLLOWED TO AsiA. ON THIS VOYAGE PiNEDA CHARTED THE COASTLINE FROM THE
26
TIP OF FLORIDA TO THE GENERAL AREA OF THE PRESENT CITY OF TAMPICO, MEXICO.
ON HIS VOYAGE HE BECAME THE FIRST POST-COLUMBIAN EXPLORER TO TOUCH TEXAS SOIL.
DURING THE TRIP, PINEDA REPEATEDLY STOPPED ALONG THE COAST TO TAKE FORMAL POS
SESSION OF THE LAND. ON THE FESTIVE DAY OF SAINT CORPUS CHRISTI, HE DISCOVERED
THE BAY THAT STILL BEARS THAT NAME. IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT HE MADE ONE OR
POSSIBLY MORE STOPS ON THE SHORES OF PADRE ISLAND. ONE OF HIS DISCOVERIES ON
THIS VOYAGE WAS A LARGE RIVER FLOWING INTO THE GuLF. THIS, HE IMMEDIATELY NAMED
"ESPIRITU SANTO". THIS RIVER HAS GENERALLY BEEN ACCEPTED BY SCHOLARS TO BE THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
UPON COMPLETION OF HIS VOYAGE HE RETURNED TO JAMAICA AND ON HIS CHARTS GAVE
TEXAS HER FIRST NAME, "AMICHEL". ACCORDING TO REPORTS SENT BACK TO SPAIN,
"AMICHEL" WAS A WONDERFUL LAND AND HAD GOLD IN ABUNDANCE AND WAS INHABITED BY
A RACE OF GIANTS. HIS RECORDS OF THIS EXPLORATION TELL OF STOPPING AND TRADING
FOR GOLD AND GOLD ORNAMENTS AT A PLACE HE NAMED THE RiO DE LAS PALMAS, OR THE
RIVER OF THE PALMS. THIS IS WHAT IS KNOWN TODAY AS THE RIO GRANDE.
DURING THE EARLY 16TH CENTURY, EXPLORATION OF THE NEW WORLD WAS PROCEEDING
AT A MAD PACE, AND COMPETITION WAS KEEN AMONG THE MANY EXPLORERS SEEKING FAME
AS WELL AS WEALTH IN THESE NEW LANDS.
IN 1523, FRANCISCO GARAY EQUIPPED HIS OWN FLEET AND WITH A POWERFUL FORCE
OF WHAT HE THOUGHT TO BE SUFFICIENT STRENGTH TO CONQUER AND COLONIZE "AMICHEL"
27
OR TEXAS, HE SAILED FROM JAMAICA AT THE END OF JUNE. HIS TOTAL FORCES CON
SISTED OF THIRTEEN VESSELS BEARING ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIX CAVALRY AND
EIGHT HUNDRED AND FORTY INFANTRY, ALL WELL EQUIPPED WITH THE USUAL ARMAMENT
OF THE DAY. HE REACHED THE RiO GRANDE ON JULY 25 AND PREPARED TO BUILD A
SETTLEMENT, AT THIS TIME IT IS CERTAIN THAT HIS MEN EXPLORED THE SURROUNDING
AREA, INCLUDING THE SOUTHERN TIP OF PADRE ISLAND. BECAUSE OF THE UNPROMISING
NATURE OF THE COUNTRY, DISSENSION AROSE AND THE TROOPS INSISTED ON MOVING
SOUTHWARD. GARAY FINALLY AGREED AND THE FORCE SAILED SOUTH TO MEXICAN TERRITORIES.
IN THE YEAR 1553 THE PLATA FLOTA (SILVER FLEET) AS IT WAS CALLED BECAUSE OF
THE GREAT AMOUNTS OF THE PRECIOUS METALS IT CARRIED IN ITS CARGOES, HAD SAILED
FROM THE NEW WORLD ON ITS ANNUAL VOYAGE RETURNING TO SPAIN. WEALTHY MERCHANTS
AS WELL AS MANY NOBLEMAN WERE AMONG THE PASSENGERS RETURNING TO THEIR HOMELAND.
THE HOLDS OF THE SHIPS WERE HEAVILY LOADED WITH BARS OF BULLION AND CASKS OF
COINS BEING SHIPPED TO THE KING OF SPAIN.
THE 20 GREAT SHIPS MADE THEIR WAY ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO TO A STOPOVER
IN CUBA. FROM CUBA THEIR ROUTE LED NORTH EASTERLY NEAR THE FLORIDA KEYS AND
THEN PARALLEL TO THE COAST OF FLORIDA. THEY WERE MAKING HASTE TO BEAT THE
HURRICANE SEASON WHICH WAS FAST APPROACHING. THEY HAD HARDLY GOTTEN UNDERWAY
WHEN THEY WERE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING STRUCK BY A HURRICANE, RiGGING
WAS CARRIED AWAY IN THE WINDS WITH MASTS SNAPPING AS IF MADE OF MATCHWOOD.
28
WITH THE INCREASING WINDS AND WAVES, THEY WERE SWEPT BACK INTO AND ACROSS THE
GULF.
WHEN THE STORM FIRST HIT, THREE SHIPS WHICH WERE ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE
STORM MADE THEIR ESCAPE AND EVENTUALLY MADE THEIR WAY BACK SAFELY TO CUBA. THE
REMAINING SHIPS WERE NOT SO FORTUNATE. WHEN THE WINDS OF THE STORM HAD SUBSIDED,
ALL BUT THREE SHIPS HAD BEEN SUNK WITH ALL HANDS AND CARGO LOST.
THE THREE SHIPS THAT DID SURVIVE THE STORM EITHER HIT OFFSHORE BARS OR WERE
WRECKED ON THE SHORES OF THE ISLAND ITSELF. THE SURVIVORS OF THE THREE SHIPS,
ABOUT 300 IN NUMBER, FOUND THE ISLAND QUIET AND SERENE AFTER THEIR DISASTOROUS
JOURNEY IN THE GULF. SoME OF THE MEN MANAGED TO SWIM OUT TO THE WRECKAGE AND
SALVAGE SOME FOOD AND EQUIPMENT. THE WAVES ALSO ASSISTED AND WASHED ASHORE
FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES. THEY WERE UNDECIDED AS TO WHAT TO DO AND HATED TO
LEAVE THE SCENE OF THE DISASTER WITH ITS ILLUSION OF SECURITY WITH THE FOOD
WHICH HAD BEEN WASHED ASHORE. THIS HESITATION MAY HAVE BEEN A DECIDING FACTOR
IN THEIR EVENTUAL FATE.
ON THE SIXTH DAY AFTER THE WRECK, A BAND OF NAKED INDIANS APPEARED; AT
FIRST CURIOUS, AND HESITANT TO APPROACH THE SPANIARDS.^ THE SPANIARDS MADE SIGNS
THAT THEY WERE FRIENDLY AND MEANT NO HARM, AND SOON THE INDIANS BEGAN TO MINGLE
AMONG THEM. AFTER A BRIEF DISCUSSION AMONG THE INDIANS THEY LEFT ONLY TO RE
TURN A SHORT WHILE LATER BEARING QUANTITIES OF VENISON AND FISH WHICH THEY
29
OFFERED TO THE SPANIARDS. AT THE SITE OF FRESH FOOD THEY ABANDONED CAUTION
AND QUICKLY KINDLED A FIRE, COOKED THE MEAT, AND BEGAN A FEAST.
THEY WERE NEVER TO FINISH, FOR AS THEY STARTED DEVOURING FOOD, THE INDIANS
FELL UPON THEM WITH WILD SHOUTS AND SENT A VOLLEY OF ARROWS IN THEIR MIDST.
CONFUSION DEVELOPED AND SEVERAL SPANIARDS WERE KILLED IN THIS FIRST SURPRISE
ATTACK. THE SOLDIERS WITH CROSSBOWS RETURNED FIRE AND DROVE THE INDIANS TEM
PORARILY BACK INTO THE DUNES,
THE SPANIARDS KNEW THAT THE INDIANS WOULD RETURN AND THAT THEY COULD NO
LONGER STAY THERE, SO DOWN THE BEACH THEY STARTED. THE JOURNEY BECAME A RACE
AT TIMES WITH THE INDIANS FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND, CONSTANTLY FIRING ARROWS AT
THEM. THE FLIGHT WENT ON DAY AFTER DAY IN THE BLISTERING HEAT OF ISLAND.
WHEN THEY HAD WRECKED THEY HAD THOUGHT THAT THE COASTAL CITY OF PANUCA,
IN MEXICO, WAS ONLY A FEW DAYS JOURNEY, WHEN ACTUALLY IT WAS A FORTY DAY MARCH.
AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THEIR SUFFERING BECAME ALMOST MORE THAN THEY COULD BEAR.
THE CHILDREN CRIED FOR WATER AND FOOD AND WERE THE FIRST ONES TO FALL FROM EX
HAUSTION. As THE SOBBING MOTHER WOULD STAY BEHIND TO GIVE COMFORT TO THE SUF
FERING CHILD, THEY SOON BOTH WOULD BE KILLED.
ON THIS DOOMED JOURNEY ONLY TWO WERE TO SURVIVE. ONE, FRANCISCO VASQUEZ,
HAVING BEEN WOUNDED EARLY IN THE JOURNEY MANAGED TO SLIP ASIDE AND WAS MISSED
BY THE INDIANS. HE KNEW THAT EVENTUALLY A SHIP WOULD BE SENT OUT FROM SPAIN
30
TO SALVAGE WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE VALUABLE'CARGOES AND THEREFORE HE PATIENTLY
WAITED OUT THIS ARRIVAL.
THE OTHER'SURVIVOR WAS FRAY MARCOS DE MENA. MENA, WITH ARROW WOUNDS IN
THE BODY AND ONE IN THE EYE GREW FAINT FROM THE LOSS OF BLOOD AND WENT INTO
A COMA. HIS COMPANIONS FEARING HIM NEAR DEATH, BURIED HIM UNDER A LOW SHRUB
BEHIND A SAND DUNE. LEAVING ONLY HIS FACE EXPOSED, THEY LEFT HIM TO DIE.
THERE IS KNOW WAY OF KNOWING HOW LONG HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS BUT WHEN HE REGAINED
CONSCIOUSNESS, HE AGAIN STARTED DOWN THE ISLAND TO CATCH UP WITH HIS COMPANIONS.
FOLLOWING THEIR BLOODY TRAIL HE SOON FOUND THE SAD REMAINS OF EXPEDITION AT THE
BANKS OF THE RiO GRANDE WHERE IT APPEARED THAT ATTEMPTS HAD BEEN TO BUILD RAFTS
TO CROSS THE RIVER. HE SOON DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE SAFER TO TRAVEL BY NIGHT
AND REST BY DAY. FRAY MARCOS DE MENA CONTINUED ON HIS JOURNEY, EVENTUALLY
REACHED PANUCA, AND LIVED TO TELL HIS STORY.lo
THE DISASTEROUS JOURNEY OF THE "SILVER FLEET" IN 1553 is OUR FIRST DOCU
MENTED ACCOUNT THAT TREASURES DO EXIST ON OR NEAR THE SHORES OF PADRE ISLAND.
IT IS RECORDED IN THE ARCHIVES OF SEVILLE, SPAIN THAT A SALVAGE EXPEDITION WAS
SENT OUT TO FIND THE REMAINS, IF ANY, OF THE FLEET. OF THE THREE SHIPS WHICH
WERE WRECKED ON PADRE ONLY ONE WAS PARTIALLY SALVAGED BY THE SPANIARDS.
IN 1967, A SALVAGE FIRM FROM INDIANA LOCATED ONE OF THESE WRECKS AND HAS
SALVAGED ITS ENTIRE CONTENTS WHICH ARE OF VALUE. HoWEVER, THE TREASURE IS TODAY
31
BEING FOUGHT FOR IN THE COURTS BETWEEN THE SALVAGE FIRM AND THE STATE OF
TEXAS.
BY 1803 THE EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION OF MEXICO WAS VIRTUALLY COMPLETE.
CITIES AND TOWNS HAD SPRUNG UP AND COMMERCE AND FARMING WERE THRIVING. MISSIONS
AND CHURCHES WERE ADVANCING AND EXPANDING THE SPANISH AND CATHOLIC INFLUENCE.
ON THE MAINLAND, AND SOME TWENTY MILES UP THE SOUTHERN BANK OF THE RIO
GRANDE, WAS LOCATED THE CHURCH OF PADRE NICHOLAS BALLI. THE PADRE WAS AN
AGGRESSIVE MAN DESIROUS OF WEALTH AND PROPERTY. HE IS THE FIRST TO ATTEMPT
TO SETTLE ON PADRE'S SANDS. THE PADRE, IN HIS TRAVELS WITHIN HIS PARISH, WAS
IMPRESSED WITH THE VASTNESS OF THIS LUSH ISLAND AND THE POSSIBILITIES IT HELD
FOR A LARGE CATTLE RANCHj A RANCH BOUNDED ON ALL SIDES WITH WATER, AND WITH
NO NEED FOR EXTENSIVE FENCING. PLENTY OF SALT IN THE NATURAL FORM FOR THE
CATTLE AND PLENTY OF WATER IN THE LOW PLACES UP AND DOWN THE ISLAND. THE DUNES
CONTAINED GREEN GRASSES FOR MILES WHICH HAD NEVER BEEN GRAZED.
THE ENTERPRISING PADRE OBTAINED THE TITLE TO YsLA DE CoRPUS CHRISTI (PADRE
ISLAND) SOMETIME EARLY IN THE YEAR 1800 FROM THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT. ALTHOUGH
HE HAD RECEIVED THE GRANT TO THE ISLAND, HE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISH HIS
RESIDENCE THERE. INSTEAD, WHEN THE RANCH WAS ESTABLISHED, HE IMMEDIATELY MOVED
HIS NEPHEW, JUAN JOSE BALLI, ONTO THE ISLAND AND PLACED HIM IN COMPLETE CHARGE
OF THE CATTLE RAISING BUSINESS.
32
IN 1810 THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION SUDDENLY EXPLODED INTO OPEN WARFARE. BE
CAUSE OF HIS PREVIOUS POLITICAL ASSOCIATION, PADRE BALLI WAS FORCED TO FLEE
FROM THE REVOLT OF THE PEOPLE IN HIS PARISH AND SOUGHT REFUGE ON HIS ISLAND.
JUAN JOSE BALLI HAD DONE WELL AND THE ISLAND WAS COVERED WITH THE WIRY
MUSTANGS AND LONGHORN CATTLE. THE PADRE REMAINED ON THE ISLAND, RESTING UN
TIL THE REVOLUTION RAN ITS COURSE.
AFTER THE REVOLUTION, A CHANGING GOVERNMENT HAD LEFT HIM IN OCCUPANCY OF
THE ISLAND, BUT HE WAS COMPLETELY WITHOUT LEGAL TITLE. PADRE BALLI SOON BEGAN
WORK TO ATTEMPT TO SALVAGE ALL THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE AND SOON THE COURTS OF
MEXICO WERE HAVING HEARINGS AS TO HIS LEGAL TITLES, EVEN THOUGH HE PERSISTED
FOR YEARS, THERE SEEMED TO BE NONE WHO COULD TAKE TIME TO HEAR HIM AS THE ONES
IN AUTHORITY WERE TOO BUSY DEFENDING THEIR OWN NEWLY ACQUIRED POSITIONS. IT
WAS DURING THESE YEARS THAT THE LONG STRETCH OF SAND CAME TO BE KNOWN AS "THE
PADRE'S ISLAND" AND WAS EVENTUALLY SHORTENED TO PADRE ISLAND.
THE PADRE, THOUGH IN AILING HEALTH PERSISTED AND FINALLY THE WHEELS OF
JUSTICE TURNED IN HIS FAVOR. GOVERNOR. FERNANDEZ CONCEDED THE PADRE'S REGRANT
TO THE ISLAND. THIS REQUIRED AN OFFICIAL SURVEY AND SO IN 1927 A SURVEY PARTY
WITH THE AID OF JUAN JoSE BALLI BEGAN WORK ON THE FIRST OFFICIAL MAPPING OF THE
ISLAND.
33
DURING THE PERIOD WHEN PADRE BALLI WAS ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN TITLE TO THE
ISLAND, THE SETTLEMENT OF TEXAS WAS GOING ON. ENGLISH SPEAKING COLONISTS WERE
ESTABLISHING SETTLEMENTS AS FAR SOUTH AS AUSTIN AND CORPUS CHRISTI. A WAGON
ROUTE HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED AND SURVEYED ON PADRE ISLAND. THE PERIOD BETWEEN
1824 AND 1836 SAW MANY BURRO TRAINS CARAVANS OF SPANISH CARRITAS (TWO-WHEELED
CARTS) TRAVELING THE BEACHES IN INCREASING NUMBERS.
THIS, EVEN THOUGH DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL; WAS STILL THE SHORTEST ROUTE FROM
NORTH TO SOUTH. ALTHOUGH THE PORT OF ViLLA DE BEDOYA, LOCATED NEAR THE PRESENT
DAY SITE OF CoRPUS CHRISTI, WAS SOON ABANDONED, THE ROAD WAS STILL POPULAR AND
USED BY TRAVELERS AND SMUGGLERS. OTHER ADVANTAGES TO USING THE BEACH ROUTE
WERE THAT THE TRAVELER HAD ONLY TO FOLLOW THE SHORELINE OF THE GULF AND THE
WAY COULD NOT BE LOST, ALSO, THE NOW FRIENDLY INDIANS WERE ALWAYS READY TO
SHARE THEIR COYOTE HIDE TENTS, AS WELL AS THEIR WOMEN , IN RETURN FOR A FEW
TRADING GOODS.
IT WAS ALSO DURING THIS PERIOD THAT THE FAMOUS PIRATE JEAN LAFFITE,
USING HIS OWN TOWN OF CAMPEACHE (NEAR GALVESTON, TEXAS) AS HIS HOME BASE, WOULD
HIDE BEHIND PADRE ISLAND NEAR THE MOUTH OF BAFFIN BAY, SPAIN WAS STILL SENDING
BACK MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BACK TO SPAIN EACH YEAR IN ROUND BOTTOMED, FAT, AND
HEAVY GALLONS. THE SMALL, FAST, SHALLOW DRAFT PIRATE SHIPS WHICH HID IN THESE
BACK BAYS WOULD TAKE UP CHASE UPON SEEING THE TELL-TALE SAILS ON THE HORIZON.
34
THE SPANISH SHIPS WERE EASILY OVERTAKEN BY THE FASTER SAILING PIRATE SHIPS
AND RAIDED.
AFTER CAPTURING SUCH A PRIZE THE PRIVATEERS WOULD OFTEN RETURN TO PADRE
AND HIDE THE LOOT AND AWAIT THE PASSING OF ANOTHER VICTIM. IN THIS WAY THEY
COULD RAID SEVERAL SHIPS AND HAVE A FULL CARGO BEFORE RETURNING TO CAMPEACHE
TO SELL THE CARGO.
GOLD AND SILVER WERE NOT THE ONLY CARGOES WHICH LAFITTE'S PRIVATEERS
SOUGHT. DURING THE PERIOD JUST PRIOR TO 1820 THE BLACK SLAVE MARKET WAS A
VERY PROFITTING BUSINESS. THE CAPTURED BLACKS WERE OFTEN CHAINED AND HELD
ON PADRE UNTIL THEY COULD BE TRAFFICKED TO DEALERS BACK AT CAMPEACHE.
IN 1819, DUE TO LOSSES TO THE GULF COAST PRIVATEERS, THE SPANISH DIS
CARDED THE CUMBERSOME GALLEON AND BEGAN USING SMALL FAST SCHOONERS TO DELIVER
THEIR TRADE. THESE SCHOONERS CARRIED ONLY ABOUT ONE-FOURTH AS MUCH CARGO BUT
CARRIED IT MUCH FASTER. THIS CHANGE PLUS PRESSURE FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
FORCED JEAN LAFITTE AND HIS MEN TO LEAVE THE TEXAS GULF COAST FOR THE COAST
OF YUCATAN WHERE HE SETTLED DOWN AND LIVED OUT HIS REMAINING YEARS.
IN THE YEAR 1840, SOMETIME IN THE EARLY FALL AND DURING NOW WELL KNOWN
HURRICANE SEASON, AN EASTERNER, JOHN SINGER, BROTHER OF THE INVENTOR OF THE
SEWING MACHINE, WAS ON HIS WAY TO BRAZOS SANTIAGO ON SOME UNKNOWN MISSION IN
II _
35
HIS SCHOONER, THE "ALICE SADELL", WHEN THEY WERE CAUGHT IN A SUDDEN STORM AND
SHIPWRECKED ON THE SHORES OF PADRE, SOME 25 MILES FROM THE SOUTHERN TIP. FoR
SOME TIME JOHN SINGER AND HIS WIFE LIVED NEAR THE BEACH IN A CRUDE SHELTER
FASHIONED FROM THE SAILS AND OTHER WRECKAGE OF THEIR SHIP. DURING THIS TIME
THEY EXPLORED PARTS OF THE ISLAND, AND BEING OF AN ADVENTUROUS NATURE THEY DE
CIDED TO STAY, THEY FOUND THE LONG ABANDONED RUINS OF PADRE NICHOLAS BALLI'S
ONCE GREAT RANCHO SANTA CRUZ. ALTHOUGH IT HAD BEEN LONG ABANDONED AND WAS
IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR, WITH SALVAGED MATERIALS THEY WERE ABLE TO RESTORE THE
OLD STRUCTURE AND ALSO BUILD A PERMANENT RESIDENCE. AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THEIR
HOME THEY WERE SOON OCCUPIED IN THE BUSINESS OF RAISING CATTLE AS WELL AS EX
PANDING THEIR OWN FAMILY. AS THE CHILDREN WERE BORN AND GREW TO MATURITY, THEY
WERE ASSIGNED THEIR OWN CATTLE BRAND AND WERE KEPT BUSY TENDING THEIR OWN HERDS,
IN THIS WAY, THE SINGERS CONTINUED TO LIVE AND PROSPER. SOME YEARS THEY HAD AS
MANY AS 1,500 CATTLE TO SELL TO THE BUYERS FROM THE EAST.
THE SINGERS CONTINUED TO LIVE ON PADRE UNTIL THE CIVIL WAR WHEN, THEIR
SYMPATHIES BEING WITH THE NORTH, THEY WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THE ISLAND,
IN 1846 THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SENT GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR WITH FEDERAL TROOPS
TO PROTECT THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARIES AND SETTLERS AS WELL AS THE HARBORS ALONG
THE RIO GRANDE. THE TROOPS WERE LANDED NEAR THE UPPER END OF PADRE ISLAND AND
MARCHED BY THE OLD SMUGGLERS TRAIL DOWN THE LENGTH OF THE ISLAND. THIS WAS THE
FIRST TIME THAT PADRE HAD COME UNDER THE UNITED STATES FLAG,
36
AFTER THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES, SETTLEMENT BEGAN TO TAKE PLACE AT A
RAPID PACE ALL OVER THE STATE. CATTLE RAISING WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRY
AND WAS MOST PROFITABLE TO THOSE WHO HAD ACQUIRED GRAZING LANDS SUFFICIENT FOR
LARGE HERDS. THE LUSH GREEN GRASSES ALONG THE GuLF COASTAL PLAINS WERE SOON
GRAZED DOWN AND IT BECAME NECESSARY TO MOVE THE LARGE HERDS ABOUT IN SEARCH
OF GREENER PASTURES.
IT WAS THIS SEARCH FOR NEW GRAZING LANDS WHICH BROUGHT PAT DUNN TO PADRE
ISLAND IN 1879. WITH HIM HE BROUGHT A SMALL HERD OF CATTLE AND WITH HARD WORK
AND GOOD BUSINESS MANAGEMENT HE SOON OWNED ALMOST THE ENTIRE ISLAND WITH MANY
THOUSANDS OF CATTLE ROAMING THE GRASS COVERED DUNES. SOON AFTER MOVING TO
PADRE, PAT MARRIED AND MOVED HIS WIFE TO THE ISLAND. ONE OF THE FIRST HOUSES
THEY HAD WAS LOCATED IN A SMALL VILLAGE CALLED THE "SETTLEMENT" WHICH WAS AP
PROXIMATELY TWENTY MILES SOUTH OF THE PRESENT DAY CAUSEWAY TO THE ISLAND.
To RUN SO MANY CATTLE ON THE ISLAND REQUIRED SEVERAL CAMPS, ON THE UPPER
END OF THE ISLAND WAS THE HOME OF THE DUNNS, A HOUSE FOR THE RANCH FOREMAN AND
A BUNKHOUSE FOR SEVERAL COWBOYS. TWELVE MILES SOUTH WAS WHAT WAS CALLED THE
NOVIA STATION, JUST A SIMPLE CAMPHOUSE. NEXT AS YOU WENT SOUTH WAS THE CAMP
CALLED BLACK HILL AND THE LAST MAIN CAMP. GREEN HILL, WAS FORTY-SIX MILES FROM
THE MAIN RANCH HOUSE. SOME OF THESE BUILDINGS ARE STILL STANDING TODAY AS WELL
AS PARTS OF THE OLD CORRAL. SOME OF THE BOARDS USED IN THE CORRAL FENCE ARE
LONG BOARDS OF MAHOGANY DRIFTWOOD,
37
AT VARIOUS PLACES ON THE ISLAND WERE SCATTERED FRESH WATER TANKS, DIP
PING VATS AND CAMPING SPOTS USED DURING ROUNDUP. THE DIPPING VATS ON THE IS
LAND WERE MADE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE USED ON THE MAINLAND BECAUSE OF THE SHAL
LOW WATER THAT IS USUALLY REACHED AT ABOUT 3 FEET IN DEPTH. HERE PITS WERE
DUG TO WATER DEPTHS AND THEN BOARDED UP WITH WATER TIGHT JOINTS AND USUALLY
EXTENDED FOR TWO OR THREE FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. WATER TANKS WERE SHALLOW
DUG PITS WITH THE SIDES BOARDED UP WITH SLABS OF DRIFTWOOD TO PREVENT THEM
FROM CAVING IN WHEN CATTLE CAME TO DRINK.
IN 1926 PAT DUNN SOLD HIS SURFACE HOLDINGS ON PADRE BUT RESERVED ALL
MINERAL RIGHTS UNDER THE ISLAND AND THESE ARE STILL OWNED BY THE FAMILY. HE
CONTINUED TO RANCH UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1937.
THE FIRST CAUSEWAY TO PADRE WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED ON JULY 4, 1927 AND
WAS APPROPRIATELY NAMED "DON PATRICIO CAUSEWAY" AFTER THE MAN WHO HAD CON
TRIBUTED SO MUCH TO THE ISLAND, THIS WAS A TROUGH-TYPE BRIDGE AND REACHED
FROM FLOUR BLUFF OUTSIDE OF CORPUS TO APPROXIMATELY THE SAME LOCATION WHERE
THE PRESENT DAY CAUSEWAY ENDS. THIS CAUSEWAY WAS WASHED AWAY IN THE 1933
HURRICANE.
FROM THE TIME CORPUS WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED, THE CORPUS CHRISTI PASS
WAS THE MAIN ENTRY AND EXIT TO THE GULF AND TO THE WORLD FOR SOUTHERN TEXAS,
38
THIS PASS WAS BETWEEN PADRE AND MUSTANG ISLAND. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT AT
TIMES THIS CHANNEL WAS UP TO ONE MILE IN WIDTH AND AS MUCH AS 30 FEET DEEP.
A UNITED STATES CHART OF THE TEXAS COAST IN 1908 SHOWED IT TO BE AT LEAST
HALF A MILE WIDE AND FROM 25 TO 30 FEET IN DEPTH. THE PASS HAS AT TIMES
BEEN INTERMITTENTLY CLOSED AND OPEN AGAIN ACCORDING TO THE WHIMS OF THE TIDES.
AT VARIOUS TIMES, WHEN IT HAD CLOSED, ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO REOPEN THE CUT,
BUT NATURE HAD A WAY OF TAKING HER OWN TIME. THE PASS AT THE OTHER END OF
F̂ usTANG ISLAND WHICH IS STILL USED TODAY TO REACH THE CORPUS CHRISTI PIERS
AND TURNING BASIN WAS DREDGED AND OPENED IN 1874.
THE 1933 HURRICANE COMPLETELY CLOSED CORPUS CHRISTI PASS. IN 1938 A
LARGE SUCTION DREDGE WAS MOVED IN AND WORK BEGAN TO TRY TO REOPEN THE PASS.
UNFORTUNATELY THE TIDES REFILLED THE CUT AS FAST AS THE DREDGE COULD CLEAR
IT AND THE OPERATION WAS SOON ABANDONED.
IN 1940 ANOTHER PASS WAS CUT THROUGH THE ISLAND AT WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS
MURDOCK'S LANDING. THIS LANDING, LOCATED ON THE LAGUNA MADRE, IS APPROXIMATELY
THE SAME LOCATION AS THE NATURAL PASS THAT ONCE SEPARATED THE ISLAND. IT WAS
THE PASS THAT WAS KNOWN ON THE ANCIENT MAPS AS RiO DE FLORES AND IS NEAR THE SPOT
WHERE THE 1553 SHIPWRECKS OCCURRED. THE MODERN PASS WASTED LITTLE TIME IN
CLOSING ITSELF BACK UP BY 1942.
39
ANOTHER PASS THAT WAS CUT WAS SPONSORED BY W.O. YARBOROUGH AND WAS NAMED
AFTER HIM. THIS PASS WAS OPENED FROM THE LAGUNA MADRE TO THE GuLF, THROUGH
PADRE ISLAND ON APRIL 16, 1941. BUT IT LIKE THE OTHERS, WAS DOOMED TO FAIL
URE AND BY 1950 THE BEACHES OF PADRE WERE ONCE AGAIN UNBROKEN.
AGAIN ANOTHER PASS WAS OPENED. THE STILL EXISTING PASS WAS CUT OPPOSITE
THE SMALL TOWN OF PORT MANSFIELD. IT IS USED FOR ACCESS BY BOTH MERCHANT
SHIPS AND THE FISHERMEN OF SoUTH TEXAS. I
FOR MANY YEARS PADRE HAD HELD OUT AGAINST THE ENCROACHMENT OF CIVILI
ZATION BUT AROUND 1930 THE ISLAND BEGAN TO TAKE ON RAPID CHANGES. LAND WAS I
PURCHASED AND SUB-DIVIDED INTO COTTAGE AND HOME SITES. IN 1949 A THOUSAND
ACRES WAS GIVEN TO NUECES CoUNTY FOR PARKS. WORLD WAR II SLOWED DOWN THE
DEVELOPMENT AND THE ISLAND WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE U.S. ARMED FORCES AND WAS
UNDER COASTAL PATROL. A SCARE DEVELOPED OVER THE POSSIBILITIES OF MIDNIGHT
LANDINGS FROM ENEMY SUBMARINES OF SPIES AND SABATEURS. As A RESULT, THE ji
PUBLIC WAS BARRED FROM THE ISLAND DURING THE WAR YEARS.
IN 1940 THE WHITE SAND DUNES WHICH HAD GIVEN FLOUR BLUFF ITS NAME WERE
BULLDOZED FLAT TO MAKE WAY FOR WHAT IS STILL THE LARGEST NAVAL AIR STATION
IN THE WORLD. THE BASE, WHICH WAS SET UP ALMOST OVER NIGHT, SET UP GUNNERY t
AND BOMBING PRACTICE RANGES ON THE ISLAND. THE NAVAL AIR STATION IS STILL
40 ACTIVE IN THE TRAINING OF NAVY PILOTSJ ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELD OF AIR CRAFT
CARRIER OPERATIONS.
AFTER THE WAR, PROGRESS WAS NOW CONSTANT ON THE ISLAND AND IN 1950 A PAVED
HIGHWAY FROM PORT ARANSAS TO THE NUECES CoUNTY LINE ON PADRE WAS COMPLETED.
THIS WAS JOINED WITH THE PAVED HIGHWAY THAT STRETCHES ACROSS PADRE FROM THE
END OF THE CAUSEWAY TO THE NUECES CoUNTY PARK THAT HAD RECENTLY BEEN ESTA
BLISHED ON THE BEACH. ALSO IN 1950, A NEW CAUSEWAY WAS OPENED FROM SoUTH
CORPUS TO PADRE. IT CONSISTED OF TWO SWING TYPE BARGE BRIDGES TO ACCOMODATE
THE TRAFFIC OF THE INTERCOASTAL CANAL. HoWEVER, BECAUSE THE NEW CAUSEWAYS
STRUCTURE RESTRICTED THE FLOW OF THE TIDAL WATER BETWEEN THE LAGUNA MADRE AND
CORPUS CHRISTI BAY AND THE FACT THAT BY THE LATE 1960'S TRAFFIC COULD NO LONGER
BE CONTROLLED EFFICIENTLY,A NEW HIGH BRIDGE WAS CONSTRUCTED. THIS NEWEST
CAUSEWAY WHICH WAS DEDICATED IN 1972 CONTAINS SIX LANES.
WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL SEASHORE ON PADRE IN 1965, A NEW
ERA OF CONSERVATION AND CONTROL HAS BEEN USHERED IN. ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF
THE CHALLENGE TO RESIST FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL EXPLOITATION CAN
BE MET,
\
MATURAL ENVIRONMENnp
1(2
ON
44 ECOLOGY "
THE ENVIRONMENTAL TOLERANCES TO DEVELOPMENT ARE A VERY CRITICAL MATTER FOR
BARRIER ISLANDS SUCH AS PADRE ISLAND. BEFORE ANALYSIS OF THE DEVELOPMENT LIMI
TATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT CAN BE MADE/ ONE MUST THOROUGHLY STUDY THE EX
ISTING ECOLOGICAL COMPONENTS WHICH MAKE UP THE ISLANDS PRIMARY RESOURCE.
THE DUNE GRASS, WHICH IS THE BACKBONE OF ALL BARRIER ISLANDS, CAN THRIVE
UNDER HARSH PADRE CONDITIONS SUCH AS EXTREME GLARE/ HIGH SALINITY/ SOILS LACKING
HUMUS, AND AN UNCERTAIN AND OSCILLATING SUPPLY OF WATER. As THE GRASSES GROW AND
SPREAD/ SAND IS DEFLECTED FROM THE GULF BREEZES BY THE PLANT LEAVES AND BEGIN TO
PILE AROUND THE NECKS. AT THE SAME TIME/ ROOTS EXTEND BELOW THE GROUND AND FORM
A DENSE MAT, WHICH STABILIZES THE DUNE BELOW AND THE LEAVES THAT ENTRAP SAND AND
ANCHOR IT ABOVE GROUND. IT IS THIS ACTION WHICH BOTH BUILDS AND MAINTAINS THE
ISLAND AND CURIOUSLY MANY OF THE ORIGINAL HARDY SPECIES OF GRASSES DISAPPEAR WHEN
COMPETITION FROM OTHER GRASS TYPES ARRIVE AFTER THE DUNES ARE ESTABLISHED. BEFORE
A MORE DETAIL STUDY OF VEGETATION GROUPINGS IS ESTABLISHED, IT SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED
THAT ALTHOUGH DUNE GRASSES ARE EXTREMELY TOLERANT TO MANY OF THE NATURAL HARSH CON
DITIONS OF PADRE/ THEY ARE VERY VULNERABLE TO MAN, THE ISLAND VEGETATION IS VERY
SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE TRAMPLING OF HIKERS AND VEHICLES/AND ALTHOUGH STRICT LEGISLATION
WAS INACTED BY TEXAS LAWMAKERS IN AUGUST/ 1973 TO PROTECT THESE PLANTS/ THEIR PRESERVATION
45
SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED HIGH PRIORITY IN PLANNING FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE SEASHORE,
GRASSES AND DUNES
FIVE VEGETATIVE SITES AND FOUR LAND TYPES HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED IN MAKING
UP THE VEGETATIVE INVENTORY OF PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE. THOSE DELIN
EATIONS WERE MADE AS FOLLOWS:
VEGETATIVE SITES
1. COAST DUNES
A. COASTAL DUNES/ GOOD COVER.
B. COASTAL DUNES/ LESS THAN 35 PERCENT SURFACE BARE.
c. COASTAL DUNES/ 35 TO 70 PERCENT SURFACE BARE.
D. COASTAL DUNES/ MORE THAN 70 PERCENT SURFACE BARE.
2. Low COASTAL SANDS.
3. SALT MARSH.
4. SALTY SANDS.
5. SHOREGRASS FLATS.
[MR TYPES (NO VEGETATION)
1. SALT FLATS.
2. ACTIVE DUNES.
46
3. BEACH.
4. SPOIL BANKS.
COASTAL W^LL - THE COAST DUNES CONSIST OF DEEP/ WIND DEPOSITED AND FORMED
MOSTLY AS NARROW BELTS ADJACENT TO THE BEACH/ OR AS RIDGES OVER MUCH OF THE
ISLAND. THE DUNES RANGE FROM A FEW FEET TO 42 FEET HIGH. THE ORIGINAL VEGE
TATION APPARENTLY IS A DENSE COVER OF SEACOAST BLUESTEM/ SEAOATS/ GULFDUNE
PASPALUM/ AND OTHER CLOSELY RELATED SPECIES. FoRBS ARE PRESENT, BUT ARE A MI
NOR PART OF THE PLAN COMMUNITY, THE COASTAL DUNES AREAS HAVE BEEN DIVIDED INTO
SEVERAL UNITS TO DESIGNATE THE DEGREE OF BARE SURFACE UNPROTECTED THUS SUBJECT
TO WIND ACTION.
COASTAL DUNES, LITTLE QR m BAE£ SURFACE AND ACTIVE WIND EROSION. THE
VEGETATION CONSISTS MOSTLY OF SEACOAST BLUESTEM, SEAOATS, GULFDUNE/ PASPALUM,
AND SAND DROPSEED. FORBS ARE FOUND IN SMALL AMOUNTS THOUGH THERE MAY BE LOCAL
AREAS CONTAINING ABUNDANT AMOUNTS OF CAMPHORWEED, RIDDELLS GROUNDSEL, AND SOME
ANNUALS.
COASTAL DUNES HAVING LESS I U M 3i PERCENT QL IU£ SURFACE BARE AND SUBJECT
TO WIND EROSION. VEGETATION CONSISTS OF SCATTERED CLUMPS OF SEAOATS/ SEACOAST
BLUESTEM/ GULFDUNE PASPALUM/ SAND DROPSEED/ AND MANY FORBS/ SUCH AS BEACH
EVENING PRIMROSE/ RIDDELLS GROUNDSEL/ CAMPHORWEED/AND GULF CROTON.
47
COASTAL mmE2. WITH 2^ la ZQ PERCFNT Q£ IHE SURFACE BARE AND WIND EROSION
ACTIVE, VEGETATION CONSISTS OF A FEW SCATTERED CLUMPS OF SEAOATS, WITH GULF
CROTON, BEACH EVENING PRIMROSE, SOILBIND, FIDDLELEAF MORNING GLORY, RIDDELLS
GROUNDSEL, CAMPHORWEED, AND OTHER FORBS ABUNDANT,
COASTAL UMEI HAVING mEL I H M ZQ PERCENT QE IHE. SURFACE BARE AND WIND
EROSION EXTREMELY ACTIVE. VEGETATION CONSISTS OF WIDELY SCATTERED PLANTS OF
SEAOATS, GULF CROTON, SOILBIND, AND FIDDLELEAF MORNING GLORY, AND SESUVIUM
OF HUMMOCKS OF WIND-BLOWN SAND.
Low COASTAL SANDS - THESE AREAS CONSIST OF DEEP SANDS WITH AN ALMOST
LEVEL TO LOW HUMMOCKY SURFACE AT ELEVATIONS OF A FEW FEET TO ABOUT 10 FEET
ABOVE SEA LEVEL. THEY ARE LOCATED USUALLY JUST WEST AND ADJACENT TO OR BE
HIND THE BELT OF COASTAL DUNES. THEY ARE OFTEN ASSOCIATED OR MIXED WITH THE
DUNES, OR INTERMIXED WITH SHALLOW DEPRESSIONS OF THE SALT MARSH SITE. VEGE
TATION IS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO THE COASTAL DUNES, WITH SEACOAST BLUESTEM AND
GULFDUNE PASPALUM DOMINANT. SEAOATS ARE OCCASIONALLY FOUND ON LOW SANDY
HUMMOCKS. AT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS, AND PARTICULARLY ADJACENT TO THE DEPRES
SIONS, GULFDUNE PASPALUM AND STARRUSH WHITETOP BECOME ABUNDANT.
SALT MARSH - THE SALT MARSH SITE CONSISTS OF POORLY DRAINED SHALLOW DE
PRESSIONS AT ELEVATIONS AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE SEA LEVEL. THE DEPRESSIONS ARE
OCCASIONALLY INUNDATED WITH FRESH WATER AFTER RAINS OR WITH SALTWATER AFTER
48
HURRICANES, AND SERVE AS THE BREEDING PLACE FOR MOSQUITOES AND OTHER INSECTS.
THE WATER TABLE IS AT OR NEAR THE SURFACE WHEN WATER IS NOT ACTUALLY COVERING
THE SURFACE, THE VEGETATION CONSISTS OF PLANTS TOLERANT TO BOTH SALT AND
FRESH WATER, AND THE VEGETATION COVERAGE IS QUITE VARIABLE, DEPENDING UPON THE
LENGTH OF TIME AND NATURE OF WATER THAT COVERS THE SITE, MARSHY CORDGRASS,
CYPERACEAE, TOADRUSH, SEASHORE SALTGRASS, AND SEASHORE DROPSEED OCCUR MOST
COMMONLY. GULFDUNE PASPALUM OCCURS AT THE EDGES AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE
SALT MARSH. AREAS WHICH ARE UNDER WATER FOR LONG PERIODS MAY BE ALMOST BARE
EXCEPT FOR SHOREGRASS AND BUSHY SEAOXEYE. ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE ISLAND
THIS SALT MARSH GRADES INTO ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE NEXT TWO SITES DESCRIBED.
SALTY SANDS - THESE AREAS CONSIST OF LOW LYING FLATS ADJACENT TO AND IN
LAND FROM THE SAND DUNES ALONG THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE ISLAND. THEY ARE FRE
QUENTLY INUNDATED WITH SALT WATER. THIN LAYERS AND HUMMOCKS OF SAND A FEW
INCHES TO SEVERAL FEET DEEP HAVE ACCUMULATED ON AND AROUND PLANTS. WiND ERO
SION IS GENERALLY QUITE ACTIVE. VEGETATION IS PRIMARILY SCATTERED PLANTS OF
SALT TOLERANT SPECIES OF CYPERACEAE, JUNACEAE, SESUSIUM, SALT HELOPTROPE,
SUAEDA, SALICORNIA, SHOREGRASS, AND SEASHORE DROPSEED.
SHORFGRASS FLATS - THE SHOREGRASS FLATS CONSIST OF LOW-LYING FLATS ALONG
THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE ISLAND ADJACENT TO THE SALT FLATS OF THE LAGUNA MADRE.
^ ^
THE AREAS ARE OFTEN INUNDATED WITH SALT WATER FROM THE LAGUNA AND ARE THE
PRIMARY HATCHING AND BREEDING SITES FOR MANY SPECIES OF FISH AND SHRIMP OF
BOTH THE GULF AND THE LAGUNA MADRE. THE VEGETATION CONSISTS OF ALMOST A PURE
STAND OF SHOREGRASS,WITH SOME SUAEDA AND AN OCCASIONAL SUCCULENT.
WILDLIFE
ANOTHER NATURAL COMPONENT WHICH DESERVES PROTECTIVE CONSIDERATION IN
ISLAND DEVELOPMENT IS THE WILDLIFE ON AND OFFSHORE FROM PADRE. THE ANIMALS
OF THE ISLAND PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE ECOLOGICAL BALANCE AND MAINTENANCE OF
PADRE ISLAND AS WELL THE NEARBY COASTAL PLAINS. PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE
REPRESENTS A RATHER SEVERE ENVIRONMENT FOR MAMMALS, WITH ITS FEW TREES, HIGH
DAYTIME TEMPERATURES IN SUMMER (ESPECIALLY INLAND), STRONG WINDS AND OCCASIONAL
DROUGHTS. MOST OF THE LAND MAMMALS OF THE AREA ARE EITHER NOCTURNAL OR BUR
ROWING, OR BOTH, EXCEPTIONS ARE THE GROUND SQUIRREL, WHICH MAY BE SEEN ON THE
DUNES OR ROADS IN THE DAYTIME; ALSO THE COYOTE AND BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT CAN
BE SEEN IN THE EARLY MORNING OR AT DUSK.
ALL OF THE ANIMALS OF PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE ARE PROTECTED BY LAW,
AS ARE ALL PLANT LIFE. ANIMALS AND PLANTS MAY NOT BE INJURED OR DISTURBED AND
SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED FOR COLLECTING.
li
50
PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE CHECKLIST OF
MAMMALS, AMPHIBIANS, REPTILES, AND CRUSTACEANS
MAMMALS
THE FOLLOWING LIST OF MAMMALS HAS BEEN GROUPED IN ORDER FROM THE MOST
PRIMITIVE TO THE LEAST PRIMITIVE, AS NEARLY AS POSSIBLE,
MARSUPIALIA (POUCHED MAMMALS)
OPOSSUM (DIDELPHIS MARSUPIALIS TEXENSIS)
INSECTIVORA (INSECT-EATERS)
EASTERN MOLE (SCALOPUS AQUATICUS ALLENI)
CHTROPTERA (BATS)
YELLOW BAT (DASYPTERUS INTERMEDIUS)
MEXICAN FREE-TAILED BAT (TADARIDA BRASILINENSIS MEXICANA)
C&RNTvnRA (PIESH-EATERS)
RACCOON (PROCYON LOTOR FUSCIPES)
BADGER (TAXIDEA TAXUS BERLANDIERI)
STRIPED SKUNK (MEPHITIS MEPHITIS VARIANS)
COYOTE (CANIS LATRANS TEXENSIS)
GRAY FOX (UROCYON CINEREOARGENTEUS)
51
RODENTIA (GNAWING MAMMAIS)
SPOTTED GROUND SQUIRREL (CITELLUS SPILOSOMA ANNECTENS)
THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL (CITELLUS TRIDECEMILINEATUS)
TEXAS POCKET GOPHER (GEOMYS PERSONATUS PERSONATUS)
MERRIAM POCKET MOUSE (PEROGNATUS MERRIAMI MERRIAMI)
ORD KANGAROO RAT (DIPODOMYS ORDI COMPACTUS)
FULVOUS HARVEST MOUSE (REITHRODONTOMYS FULVESCENS)
GRASSHOPPER MOUSE (ONYCHOMYS LEUCOGASTER LONGIPES)
EASTERN RICE RAT (ORYZOMYS PALUSTRIS TEXENSIS)
COTTON RAT (SIGMODON HISPIDUS BERLANDIERI)
HOUSE MOUSE (MUS MUSCULUS)
lAflnMORPHA (PTKAS, HARES, AND RABBITS)
BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT (LEPUS CALIFORNICUS MERIAMI)
EASTERN COTTONTAIL (SYLVILAGUS FLORIDANUS CHAPMANI)
ARTTOnACTYlA (FVPN-TOFD HoOFED MAMMALS)
JAVELINA (PECARI ANGULATUS)
WHITE-TAILED DEER (ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS)
XFM&PTMRA (Sinmq AND ARMADILLOS)
NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO (DASYPUS NOVEMCINCTUS MEXICANUS)
52 TEXAS TORTOISE (GOPHERUS BERLANDIERI)
SNAPPING TURTLE (CHELYDRA SERPENTINA)
LOGGERHEAD TURTLE (CARETTA CARETTA)
LEATHERBACK TURTLE (DERMOCHELYS CORIACEA CORIACEA)
ATLANTIC RIDLEY (LEPIDOCHELYS KEMPII)
GREEN TURTLE (CHELONIA MYDAS MYDAS)
LIZARDS
KEEL-SCALED EARLESS LIZARD (HOLBROOKIA PROPINQUE)
SIX-LINED RACERUNNER (CNEMIDOPHORUS SEXLINEATUS)
EASTERN SPOTTED WHIPTAIL (CNEMIDOPHORUS SACKI GULARIS)
GROUND SKINK (LYGOSOMA LATERALE)
TEXAS HORNED LIZARD (PHRYNOSOMA CARNUTUM)
SLENDER GLASS LIZARD (OPHISAURUS ATTENUATUS)
SNAKES
PLAINS BLIND SNAKE (LEPTOTOTYHPLOPS DULCIS)
TEXAS BROWN SNAKE (STORERIA DEKAYI TEXANA)
DIAMOND-BACKED WATERSNAKE (NATRIX RHOMBIFERA)
EASTERN CHECKERED GARTER SNAKE (THAMNOPHIS MARCANUS NIGROLATERIS)
WESTERN RIBBON SNAKE (THAMNOPHIS SAURITUS)
53
EASTERN HOG-NOSED SNAKE (HETERDON PLATYRHINOS)
CoACHWHip (MASTICOPHIS FLAGELLUM TESTICUS)
GLOSSY SNAKE (ARIZONA ELEGANS ELEGANS)
TEXAS PATCH-NOSED SNAKE (SLAVADORA LINEATA)
BLACK RACER (COLUBER CONSTRICTOR)
MEXICAN MILK SNAKE (LAMPROPELTIS DOLIATA ANNULATA)
FLAT HEADED SNAKE (TANTILLA GRACILIS)
TEXAS CORLA SNAKE (MICRURUS FULVIUS FULVIUS) I
MASSASAUGA (SISTRURUS CATENATUS EDWARDS I)
WESTERN DIAMOND-BACKED RATTLESNAKE (CROTALUS ATROX)
CRUSTACEANS
ANOMURA (SHRIMP- LIKE CRAB)
MUD SHRIMP (CALLIANASSA STIMPSONI)
(CALLIANASSA AMAICENSE)
(UPOGLIA AFFINIS)
PORCELAIN CRABS (POCELLANA SORIATA)
(PORCELLANA SAYANA)
(PETROLISTHES ARMATUS)
(PETROLISTHES SEXPINOSUS)
(PETROLISTHES GALATHINUS)
111
54
MALE CRABS (EMERITA TALPOIDA)
(EMERITA PORTORICENSIS)
STRIPED HERMIT CRAB (CLIBANARIUS VITTATUS)
RED HERMIT CRAB (PETRO CHIRUS BAHAMEUSIS)
LONG-WRISTED HERMIT CRAB (PAGURUS LONGICARPUS)
HERMIT CRAB (PAGURUS POLLICARIS)
(PAGURUS FLORIDANUS)
(PAGURUS IMPRESSUS)
(SYMPAGURUS PICTUS)
(ISOCHLES WURDEMANNI)
BRACHYURA (TRUE CRABS)
FROG CRAB (RANINOIDES LOUISIANESIS)
(LYREIDUS BAIRDII)
CLAM SHELL HERMIT CRAB (DROMIDIA ANTILLENSIS)
(HYPOESNCHA SPINOSISSIA)
Box CRAB (CALAPPA FLAMMEA)
(CALAPPA SPRINGERI)
(CALAPPA SULEATA)
ROCK CRAB (ACANTHOCARPUS)
(ETHUSA MICROPHTHALAMA)
Mi
55
CALICO CRAB (HEPATUS EPALITICUS)
(HEPATUS PRINCEPS)
PURSE CRAB (PERSEPHONA PUNCTATA AQUILONARIS)
(PERSEPHONA CRINITIA)
(ILLIACANTHA IISDACTYLUS)
(MYROPSIS QUINQUESPINOSA)
BLUE CRAB (CALLINECTES SAPIDUS)
SWIMMING CRAB (CALLINECTES DANAE)
(CALLINECTES ORNATUS)
(CALLINECTES RATHBUNI)
(CALLINECTES EXASPERATUS)
GULF WEED CRAB (PORTUNUS GIBBESII)
(PORTUNUS SPINICARPUS)
(PORTUNUS SPINIMANUS)
SPECKLED CRAB (ARENANEUS CRIBARARIUS)
LADY CRAB (OVALIPES OCELLATUS GUADALUPENSIS)
MUD CRAB (GLYPTOXANTHUS EROJUS)
(PANSPEUS HERVSTII FORMA)
(NEOPANOPE TEXANA TEXANA)
(HEXAPANPEUS ANGUSTIFROMS)
56
(EURYPANOPEUS DEPRESSUS)
(RHITHROPANOPEUS HARRISSII)
(MENIPPE MERCANARIA)
(PiLUMNUS PANNOSUS)
GHOST CRAB (OCYPODE ALBICANS)
RED JOINTED FIDDLER CRAB (UCA MINAX)
SAND FIDDLER (UCA PUGILATOR)
MUD FIDDLER (UCA PUGNAX)
FIDDLER CRAB (UCA SUBCYLINDRICA)
(UCA SOINICARPA)
LAND CRAB (ICARDIOSOMA GUANHUMI)
MOTTLED SHORE CRAB (PACHYGRAPUSTRANSUERSUS)
WOOD CRAB (SESARMA RETICULATUM)
(SESARMA RETICULATUM)
OYSTER CRAB (PINNOTHERES OSTREUM)
MUSSEL CRAB (PINNOTHERES MACULATUS)
COMMENSAL CRAB (PINNOTHERES CRISTATA)
(PiNNIXA CHACEl)
LONG ARMED CRAB (LEIOLAMBRUS NITIDUS)
(PARENTHOPE SERRATA)
(PARENTHOPE POURTALESII)
Hi
PANTAGOE CRAB (HETEROCRYPTO GRANULATE)
SPIDER CRAB (PODOCHELA SIDNEYI)
(ANASIMUS LATUS)
(COLLODES LEPROCHELES)
(PYRORMAIC ARACHNA)
ARROW CRAB (STENORRYNCHUS SETICORNIS)
(ACANTHONYX PETIVERIL)
(LIBINIA DUBIA)
COMMON SPIDER CRAB (LIBINIA EMARGAINATA)
DECORATOR CRAB (STENOCIONOPS FURCATA)
(STENOCIONOPS SPINESISSMA)
MACRURA (SHRIMP)
BROWN SHRIMP (PENAEUS AZTECUS)
PINK SHRIMP (PENAEUS DUORARUM)
WHITE SHRIMP (PENAEUS SETIFERUS)
ROYAL RED SHRIMP (HYMENOPENAEUS ROBUSTUS)
SEABOB (XPHOPENEUS KRYERI)
BISHKEN-NECKED SHRIMP (TRACHUPENEUS)
57 • I
I
I
58
CETACEA (WHALES, DPI PHINS AND PnppnTSF.g)
BEAKED WHALE (MESOPLODON DENSIROSTRIS)
SPERM WHALE (PHYSETER CATODON)
PYGMY SPERM WHALE (KOGIA BREVICEPS)
ATLANTIC BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS)
SPOTTED DOLPHIN (STENELLA PLAGIODON)
ATLANTIC KILLER WHALE (ORCINUS ORCA)
SHORT-FINNED BLACKFISH (GLOBICEPHALA MACRORHYNCHA)
AMPHIBIANS
HURTER'S SPADEFOOT TOAD (SCAPHIOPUS HOLBROOKI HUTERI)
NORTHERN SONORA TOAD (BUFO COMPACTILIS SPECIOSOUS)
GREEN TREE FROG (HYLA CINEREA)
LEOPARD FROG (RANA PI PI ENS)
REPTILES
TURTLES
YELLOW MUD TURTLE (KINOSTERNAN FLAVESCENS FLAVESCENS)
TEXAS SLIDER (PSEUDEMYS CONCINNA HIEROGLYPHICA)
RED EARED TURTLE (PSEUDEMYS SCRIPTA ELEGANS)
60 rr?
-6
-5
- 2
1
result;ant: wind A R R O W S REFLECT M O N T H L Y WIIMO
O IRECT ION AIMO MET M O V E M E N T
I
20 10 " ^ 5 15 .25
wind and calm frequencies R A D I A T I N G L I N E S S H O W P E R C E N T OF
M O N T H T H A T W I N D S B L O W F R O M I N D I C A T E D D I R E C T I O N S . N U M B E R S R E P R E S E N T P E R C E N T T I M E OF C A L M .
OCT.
wlULY
M E A N MONTHLY WINDS
3 0 - 1 61
R E C O R D H I G H
1 5 -
1 0 -
inches
^ ^ M ^ * * * * *
I
I G H
\
;•;•;.; ;.;.;.;.
.......
:
^
^^rrr^n
Jiiviwivivl
M U ^ ^ ^ * * * ^ ^ ^ ^ M
IVIEAIM r—i M A M J J A
nnonths N
M O N T H L Y ^'PRECIPITATION I r III;
62
1 0 0
S O
8 0
7 0
B O
M E A N DAILY ..<-:-x:::; T E M P
degrees fahrenheit:
ao
3 0
so
i O
TEMPERATURES
• a •T1,
S O O ' ^
aoo—
3 0 0 -
s o o — X
1 0 0 -
t:ot:al hours
53
a
M J J months
M E A N - SUNSHINE
L" t i .
f¥'
SUN LOCATION TABLE : 64
M A N S F I E L O CHATUIUEL
A T . 26° 34' L O N G . 97"" 17
A Z
\A//N E / N
ni • u
UJ Q
A T.
I C.
16
5 5 E / S
27
46 E / S
I O
35
33 E / S E/a
N O O N
43
0 S
41
18 w / s
35
33 \A/ /s
27
46 w/s
16
55 W / s
on 0101 /: T.
* '.':\
1 7 . 5
57.5 E / S
28
48 E / S
37
35 E / S 1 9 - 3
46
0 S
44
19 \A//E
37
35 W / £
28
48 W / S
17.5
57.5 w / s
o)n rOl
•DM m U U.0
A T. 22
65 E / 3
33
55 E / S
43
42 e / s
52
2J
54
0 s
52
23 W / s
43
42 \A//£
33
55 W / S
22
65 \ W / S
S M A L L N U M B E R S REP'RiES'EKIT D E G R E E S
C sun locat ion tab le cont inued 3
65
rPJ cum
• •
din
J •
AP
RI
AU
G
nitu
n cu UJ
z 3 1
A L T .
A Z .
A L T .
A Z .
A L T .
A Z .
A L T .
A Z .
B
27
76 E / S
31
8 7 E / S
35
83 E / N
37
79 E / N
9
40
66 E / S
44
79 E / S
49
88 E / N
50
84 E / N
I D - . ,
51
53 E/i
58
68 1
62
84 E / 5
63
88 E / N
12/S
69
47 E / S
75
70 E / S
77
83 E / S
N O O N
64
0 S
75
0 S
85
0 S
96
0 N
1
60
32 W / S
69
4 7 W / S
75
70 \ A / / S
77
83 \ A / / S
s 51
53 W / S
58
6 8 w / s
62
84 W / s
63
88 \ A / / N
3
40
66 W / s
44
79 \ A / / s
49
88 \ A / / N
50
84 \ A / / N
4
•» 27
76 w / s
31
87 \ A / / S
35
83 W / N
37
79 W / N
66
GEOLOGY AND SOIL CONDITIONS
THE PADRE ISLAND SAND BODY OVERLIES PLEISTOCENE MUDS AND SANDS. THE TOP
OF THE PLEISTOCENE SEQUENCY IS MARKED BY A WEATHERED ZONE IN CENTRAL PADRE ISLAND
AND BY A SHELL LAYER IN THE SoUTH BiRD ISLAND QUADRANGLE (U.S.G.S. 7.5 MINUTE MAP).
THIS ZONE IS AT A RATHER UNIFORM DEPTH OF ABOUT 50 FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL IN THE
SOUTH BIRD ISLAND QUADRANGLE^ WHEREAS FARTHER SOUTH IN CENTRAL PADRE ISLAND^ IT
IS ONLY 25 TO 50 FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL. THE SAND BODY CONTINUES TO THIN SOUTHWARD^
AND MUDS THAT ARE PART OF THE PLEISTOCENE RiO GRANDE DELTA^ CROP OUT LOCALLY ON
SOUTHERN PADRE. IN CROSS SECTION, THE SAND BODY IS LENTICULAR, GRADING SEAWARD
INTO THE HOLOCENE MARINE MUDS THAT ARE PROBABLY VERY THIN AND GRADING LANDWARD
INTO THE HOLOCENE LAGOONAL MUDS AND SANDS THAT PINCH OUT AT THE MAINLAND SHORE
OF THE LAGUNA MADRE.
RADIOCARBON DATING OF SHELLS FROM PADRE ISLAND AND OTHER BARRIER ISLAND
SAND BODIES INDICATES THAT THE BARRIER ISLANDS ALONG THE TEXAS COAST BEGAN GROWING
ONLY ABOUT 5,000 YEARS AGO.^^BY THAT TIME, SEA LEVEL HAD REACHED TO WITHIN 20 FEET
OF ITS PRESENT DAY LEVEL. DURING THE LAST FEW THOUSAND YEARS, SOME PARTS OF THE
BARRIER CHAIN HAVE PROGRADED SEAWARD BY THE DEPOSITION OF SAND ON THEIR SHOREFACES,
WHERE AS OTHER PARTS HAVE REMAINED STATIONARY OR HAVE MOVED LANDWARD BY SHOREFACE
EROSION. ON THEIR LANDWARD SIDES, THE ISLANDS HAVE PROGRADED INTO THE LAGOONS BY
57
THE DEPOSITION OF SAND WASHED OR BLOWN ACROSS THE ISLAND.
SHORELINE EROSION OF 1,000 FEET IN LESS THAN A CENTURY CAN BE DOCUMENTED
IN SOUTHERN PADRE ISLAND.^^J^E QULF SHORELINE OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PADRE ISLAND
HAS BEEN RELATIVELY STABLE. No CONSISTENTLY MEASURABLE CHANGES ARE EVIDENT FROM
COMPARISONS OF THE FIRST U.S. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY CHART SURVEYED IN 1850 -
1882, AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN IN 1937, AND RECENT MAPS PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN IN 1937
AND RECENT MAPS PHOTOGRAPHS OF TODAY. THE VERTICAL UNIFORMITY OF THE SAND BODY
IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND, AS SHOWN BY SIZE ANALYSIS OF DRILLHOLE SAMPLES,
SUGGESTS A STABLE GULF SHORELINE SINCE THE ORIGIN OF THE ISLAND.
Hi. .•'I
J i J i ^ — ^ M i B
68 35.9
35.5
C 35.0 1 I
)
34.5
*
^
1
-
1— ^ ^
\
-
-
'
^- "
i
^
i 7 /
1
J F M A M J J A S O N D m o n t h s
MEAN GULF SURFACE
SALINITY
85
80
75
t 70 iii I Z 111 a z < u.
6 5
(0 Ul 111 H Q lU Q
6 0
— - M A X I M U
1
M \
1 i /
\/
f 1
l y i E A N ^ ^ ,
- - — -
j
•
1
1 ,
/
i
1
J^ " ^ \ \
f
/ \ \
\ \
\ \ ^
:
I 1
^ M i r j I M U
-
M
- -
1 —
•
- - -
J>
"
\ \,
\ 1 X 1 * ^
1 \
1 \
- - -
V
J F M A M J J A 5 0 N 0 m o n t h s
MEAN GULF SURFACE
TEMPERATUI^i::: w> \ it i
59
I e r c e n t f r e q \ faves 5 f t . i ind o v e r £
I-
I
ill i
WAVE HEIGHTS fc.—
, ^ \
I! v
I! '̂
i^Tr?^s7r5jw^*'5BErv?r^ ' JB* Jl> 5 ? "
S U M M E R * ,N"'^NOTS'~°'*"'^^ ~'^*'~ °'*^^° \ A / I N T E R
SURFACE CURRENTS
>^\^ j\\J\J(\Jr\jr'\Jr^ J •* •"'• i 2 3 4 5^ 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 J3 14 15 16 17
D A Y S
TIDE CURVE ^ P A D R E I S L A N D H A S A M I X E D T I D E ; T W O U N E Q U A L H I G H W A T E R S A N D / OR
T X A / O U N E Q U A L LO\W \WATEBS E A C H T I D A L D A Y .
m
71
OCEAN BEACH PBIWAftY TROUGH SECCWIDAlRY DITOE BA'YSHOR 'BW
SWO'MOVmEMT WLTsnwv
B I
LIMITING FACTOR GRAOIENTS
•Bag
72
ENVIRONMENTAL TOLERANCES TO DEVELOPMENT
ANALYSIS OF DEVELOPMENTAL TOLERANCES SHOWS BARRIER ISLANDS, SUCH AS PADRE
ISLAND/ TO CONSIST OF FIVE CHARACTERISTIC ZONES; THE BEACH/ PRIMARY DUNE/ TROUGH/
SECONDARY DUNE/ BACKDUNE/ BAUSHORE/ BAY. EACH ZONE HAS ITS OWN TOLERANCES AND
INTOLERANCES ACCORDING TO ITS NATURAL FUNCTION IN THE LIFE OF THE ISLAND.
THE FIRST ZONE IS UJE ££A£ii/ AND FORTUNATELY/ IT IS SURPRISINGLY TOLERANT.
IT IS CLEANED TWICE A DAY BY PADRE'S MIXED TIDE AND EVEN THE MOST VULGAR RESIDUES
OF MAN ACHIEVE BEAUTY WHEN HANDLED BY THE SEA. THE ANIMAL LIFE IN THIS AREA LIVE
MOSTLY IN THE SAND/ AND THUS ESCAPE DESTRUCTION FROM HUMANS. THE BEACH IS TOLER
ANT TO ALL THE HAPPIER USES/ SUCH AS: SWIMMING/ SURFING/ PICNICING/ THE MAKING
OF SAND CASTLES/ SUNBATHING/ AND FISHING.
THE NEXT ZONE/ THE PRIMARY DUNE/ IS THE REVERSE. THAT IS/ IT CANNOT STAND
ANY TRAMPLING AND MUST BE PROHIBITED TO USE. IF IT MUST BE CROSSED TO REACH THE
BEACH THEN THIS SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY BRIDGES. IN ADDITION/ IF THE DUNE IS
EXPECTED TO OFFER DEFENSES AGAINST STORMS AND FLOODS/ THEN IT SHOULD NOT BE
BREACHED. IN CONCLUSION/ NO DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE PERMITTED ON THE PRIMARY DUNE.
THE TROUGH is MUCH MORE TOLERANT; SLIGHT DEVELOPMENT MAY OCCUR HERE. IT IS
OF COURSE/ MORE PROTECTED THAN THE DUNE FROM STORMS AND BLOWING SANDS/ HOWEVER/
THE PROBLEM HERE IS GROUNDWATER. THE VEGETATION WHICH OCCUPIES THIS ZONE DEPEND
I «:„
73
ON THE RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF FRESH WATER. SHOULD THIS WATER LEVEL BE LOWERED
THE PLANTS WOULD DIE. THIS MIGHT HAPPEN BECAUSE OF WITHDRAWALS FROM SHALLOW
WELLS AND OR ROOFS AND PAVING THAT DIVERT RUNOFF INTO DRAINS AND PIPED WASTE
WATER SYSTEMS.
THE SECONDARY EiME. IS THE SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE AND IS EQUALLY VULNERABLE
AS THE PRIMARY DUNE FOR THE SAME REASONS.
THE WAVE LENGTH OF A DUNE TENDS TO BE A FUNCTION OF ITS HEIGHT AND ANGLE OF
REPOSE OF STABILIZED SAND. THEREFORE/ THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DUNES/ BEING
TALLER/ DON'T OCCUPY AS MUCH SPACE AS THE FLATTER BACKDUNE AREA. FOR THIS REASON/
AND THE FACT THAT FRESH WATER IS CLOSER TO THE SURFACE AND THAT THE VEGETATION
IS MORE STABLE/ THE BACKDUNE REVEALS A MORE PERMISSIVE LOCATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
BY MAN.
THE LAST ZONE IS THE M I WHICH INCLUDES THE SALT MARSH AND THE SHOREGRASS
FLATS. THIS ENVIRONMENT IS AMONG THE MOST PRODUCTIVE IN THE WORLD. IT IS IN
THESE NUTRIENT-RICH LOCATIONS THAT THE INFANTILE STAGE OF MANY IMPORTANT FISH
TAKES PLACE AND WHERE DWELL THE MOST VALUABLE SHELLFISH.13THEY ARE ALSO BREEDING
GROUNDS AND HOMES OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WILDFOWL. IT IS AN UNDESIRABLE ENVIRON
MENT FOR DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THESE LOW-LYING AREAS ARE OFTEN INUNDATED WITH
WATER.
74
OCEAN BEACH
TOLEHAMT IflHn
PRIMARY DUNF
INTOltHANT No
TROUGH SECONDARY DUNE
RELATIVELY INTOLERANT TOLERANT No Ptfnge. bRachint or buikjine
Limitad (Vcnstior LimiMd structmi
BACKDUNE
TOLERANT Most uiublt tor
BAYSHOHE
INTOLCRMMT
:3. 'i^'^J
I I
i
BARRIER ISLAND L O P M E N T TOLERANCES
5
75
VISITATION
VISITOR NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED A GREAT DEAL SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE NA
TIONAL SEASHORE AT PADRE ISLAND. THE INFLUENCE ON THE ISLAND CAN BE SEEN BY THE
HIGHER QUALITY OF VISITOR SERVICES/ FACILITIES/ AND PROTECTION. WiTH THE IMPROVED
EXTENSION OF THESE SERVICES TO THE MANSFIELD CHANNEL AREA/ AN INCREASE IN VISITORS
IS TO BE EXPECTED. HoWEVER/ IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PROJECT FUTURE VISITOR
USE. WEATHER/ ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS/ ECONOMIC CONDITIONS/ AND NEW VISITOR TRENDS
AFFECT THIS TREMENDOUSLY,
rr-rrs'^Ji^^P^^'C'
^
0
i >
OB)
l|L IQ
*•
lUI
It
1973 4F
T O T A L A T T E N D A N C E
77
I 9
'KllUWfl^l^ltl 'tTF 'lbWi*!&
UEINGTH OF viBmr
SBl
78
RECREATION
THE NATIONAL SEASHORE AT PADRE ISLAND OFFERS MANY VARIED RECREATIONAL OUTLETS
FOR YOUNG AND OLD/ LARGE GROUPS/ OR INDIVIDUALS, THE FOLLOWING IS AN OUTLINE OF
THE RECREATIONAL SERVICES AND FACILITIES/ AS WELL AS SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS AND
GENERAL POLICIES:
BEACH CAMPING - CAMPING IS PERMITTED ON THE BEACH ON THE SEAWARD SIDE OF THE
SAND DUNES ONLY, CAMPING IS NOT PERMITTED IN OR ON THE DUNES OR IN THE GRASSLANDS,
A ONE MILE STRETCH OF OPEN BEACH AT THE NORTH END OF THE SEASHORE IS PROVIDED WITH
CHEMICAL TOILETS AND TRASH RECEPTACLES. BELOW THIS THERE ARE FIVE MILES OF BEACH
OPEN TO PRIMITIVE CAMPING. CAMPING IS PERMITTED SOUTHWARD BEYOND THE MALAQUITE
BEACH AREA/ HOWEVER/ BEYOND FOUR MILES NORTH OF LITTLE SHELL AND SOUTH TO PORT
ISABEL/ 4-WHELLED DRIVE VEHICLES ARE REQUIRED TO REACH THESE RUGGED AREAS. CAMPING
IS NOT PERMITTED ON THE DESIGNATED SWIMMING BEACH NEAR THE MALAQUITE BEACH VISITOR
CENTER,
FIRES - FIRES ARE ALLOWED ON THE BEACHES BETWEEN THE WATER AND THE SAND DUNES.
FIRES ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THE DESIGNATED SWIMMING BEACH/ IN OR ON ANY OF THE ISLAND
DUNES OR GRASSLANDS/ AND ARE NOT ALLOWED IN OR NEAR ANY STRUCTURES, DRIFTWOOD MAY
BE COLLECTED AND USED AS FUEL; HOWEVER/ IT IS NOT OVERLY ABUNDANT IN HEAVILY USED
AREAS AND IS SOMETIMES WET.
79
PERMITS AND FEES - NONE REQUIRED IN THE NATIONAL SEASHORE.
TRAILER HOOKUPS - NUECES COUNTY PADRE ISLAND PARK, LOCATED TO THE NORTH OF
PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE, OFFERS TRAILER HOOKUPS WHICH INCLUDE WATER/ ELEC
TRICITY/ AND SEWAGE DUMP STATION.
WATER - AVAILABLE AT MALAQUITE BEACH AND EVENTUALLY AVAILABLE AT MANSFIELD
VISITOR CENTER.
SHOWERS - COLD WATER SHOWERS/ RENTED LOCKERS/ AND TOWELS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE
MALAQUITE BEACH VISITOR CENTER AND ARE AN ESSENTIAL DESIGN CRITERIA FOR THE PROPOSED
.MANSFIELD CHANNEL VISITOR CENTER.
GROCERIES - CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO GROCERY STORES IN NATIONAL SEASHORE/ BUT
THERE IS A DEFINITE NEED FOR SUCH A CONCESSION SERVICE AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A
FEASIBLE COMPONENT FOR THE MANSFIELD FACILITY, THE CLOSEST STORES ARE NOW LOCATED
APPROXIMATELY 10 - 16 MILES NORTH OF THE SEASHORE'S NORTHERN BOUNDARY ALONG PARK
ROAD 22,
GASOLINE - NONE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE N.ATIONAL SEASHORE. THE CLOSEST COMMERCIAL
GASOLINE IS AVAILABLE AT SEVERAL PLACES APPROXIMATELY 11 MILES NORTH OF THE SEA
SHORE 's NORTHERN BOUNDARY ALONG PARK ROAD 22.
Fnnn SERVICE - SNACK BAR AT THE CONCESSION FACILITY AT MALAQUITE BEACH,
WHITE GAS - WHITE GAS IS AVAILABLE AT VARIOUS STORES APPROXIMATELY 11 MILES
NORTH OF THE SEASHORE'S NORTHERN BOUNDARY ALONG PARK ROAD 22.
80
PROPANE GAS - PROPANE MUST BE OBTAINED FROM PROPANE DEALERS IN CORPUS CHRISTI.
SWIMMING - SWIMMING IS PERMITTED ANYWHERE ALONG THE GULF COAST/ AND THE COASTAL
WATER TEMPERATURES ARE WARM ENOUGH FOR SWIMMING ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS EXCEPT FOR
SHORT PERIODS OF COLD WEATHER IN THE WINTER, A SUPERVISED SWIMMING AREA/ PATROLLED
BY LIFEGUARDS IN THE SUMMER MONTHS/ IS LOCATED AT MALAQUITE BEACH.
HIKING - HIKING IS PERMITTED THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND. THE GRASSLANDS NATURE TRAIL
OFFERS A SUPERVISED 3/4 MILE LOOP WALK THROUGH THE INNER GRASSLANDS OF THE ISLAND.
THE HARSH ISLAND ENVIRONMENT MAKES IT ADVISABLE TO CHECK IN WITH THE RANGER STATION
IF ATTEMPTING TO HIKE THROUGH THE GRASSLANDS IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE ISLAND.
BEACH DRIVING - A STANDARD VEHICLE MAY BE DRIVEN ON SOUTH BEACH AS FAR AS THE
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE SIGN. BEYOND THAT POINT/ A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE SHOULD BE USED
BECAUSE OF THE SOFT CHARACTER OF THE BEACH WHICH STRETCHES FOR AN ADDITIONAL 50 MILES.
THE ONLY OTHER VEHICLES ALLOWED PAST THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE SIGN ARE MOTORCYCLES/ MINI-
BIKES/ TRAIL BIKES/ ETC. MANY OF THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES/ INCLUDING JEEPS ARE AVAIL
ABLE ON A RENTAL BASIS ABOUT 11 MILES NORTH OF THE PARK BOUNDARY. THE USE OF ALL
VEHICLES IS PROHIBITED IN THE DUNES AND GRASSLANDS. OFF ROAD USE IS PERMITTED ON THE
BEACH ONLY.
RpArHrnMRTNG AND TRFASURF HUNTING - THE ANTIQUITIES ACT OF 1906 PROHIBITS THE
REMOVAL OF HISTORIC OR ARCHEOLOGIC ITEMS FROM ALL FEDERAL LANDS. As AN AID TO EN
FORCING THIS ACT/ FEDERAL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT THE USE OR POSSESSION OF METAL
81
DETECTING DEVICES IN PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE. HoWEVER/ MATERIALS WHICH ARE
NOT OF HISTORIC OR ARCHEOLOGIC VALUE WHICH ARE OFTEN WASHED ASHORE BY THE RECURRING
TIDE/ MAY BE TAKEN AS BEACHCOMBING ITEMS. THESE INCLUDE SHELLS/ GLASS FLOATS/
BOTTLES/ DRIFTWOOD/ AND OTHER OBJECTS.
SCUBA DIVING - THE RELATIVELY SHALLOW WATER ALONG THE COAST IS NOT ATTRACTIVE
TO SCUBA DIVERS. HOWEVER/ DEEP WATER OFFSHORE IS EXCELLENT FOR SUCH SPORT. THE
BEST DIVING FOR LARGE FISH IS DONE JUST OFFSHORE AROUND THE OIL RIGS AND PLATFORMS.
SCUBA TANKS CAN BE REFILLED IN PORT ARANSAS OR CORPUS CHRISTI.
SPEARFISHING AND SKINDIVING - THESE ACTIVITIES ARE ATTRACTIONS AROUND THE PORT
ARANSAS AND PORT ISABEL JETTIES AND THE OFFSHORE OIL WELL PLATFORMS. DEPTHS NEAR
THE JETTIES RANGE UP TO 25 FEET AND VISABILITY UP TO 100 FEET, WATER DEPTHS NEAR
OFFSHORE OIL WELL PLATFORMS RANGE UP TO 55 FEET WITH VISABILITY UP TO 200 FEET.
BARRACUDA/ LING/ MACKERAL/ SHEEPSHEDD/ AND JEWFISH ARE COMMON,
FisHiNG/ GENERAL - THERE ARE NO CLOSED SEASONS ON FISHING IN THE PUBLIC WATERS
OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. A TEXAS STATE FISHING LICENSE IS REQUIRED FOR ALL FISHING
INCLUDING SALTWATER UNLESS YOU ARE UNDER 17 YEARS OF AGE OR OVER 65. FISHING IS
POPULAR IN THE LAGUNA MADRE, IN THE SURF OFF OF PIERS/ OFF OF THE JETTIES/ AND
OFFSHORE IN THE GULF.
RTRD OBSERVATIONS - PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE AND NORTH AND SOUTH BIRD
ISLANDS IN THE LAGUNA MADRE ARE IDEAL FOR BIRDWATCHING ENTHUSIASTS. THE BIRD
n
. I
82
ISLANDS ARE ACCESSIBLE BY BOAT ONLY AND SOUTH BIRD ISLAND IS OFF LIMITS DURING THE
SUMMER NESTING SEASON,
MEDICAL SERVICE - A FIRST AID STATION IS IN OPERATION AT THE MALAQUITE BEACH
VISITOR CENTER AND THERE ARE TWO MAJOR HOSPITALS IN CORPUS CHRISTI/ MEMORIAL AND
SPOHN.
EMERGENCIES - RANGERS WILL RECEIVE AND PROCESS ALL EMERGENCY MESSAGES.
MAIL - IF ONE WISHES TO RECEIVE MAIL WHILE STAYING ON THE ISLAND/ THEY MAY
HAVE IT SENT IN CARE OF GENERAL DELIVERY/ FLOUR BLUFF SUB-STATION/ CORPUS CHRISTI/
TEXAS 78418,
Q
-^^i^:^:
LD FACILITI , lES AN/
84
UNIT 5 WILL PRESENT AN ANALYSIS OF THE ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE
MANSFIELD VISITOR CENTER/RANGER STATION FOR SPECIFIC REFERENCE IN PROGRAMMING.
ZONE OF OPERATION
ALTHOUGH NO FIXED BOUNDARIES WILL EVER EXIST/ THE RANGERS OPERATING FROM
THE MANSFIELD FACILITY WILL PROVIDE VISITOR SERVICES AND PROTECTION NORTH FROM
THE MANSFIELD CHANNEL 30 MILES. THE EVENTUAL ACQUISITION OF LANDS SOUTH OF
THE MANSFIELD CHANNEL WILL EXTEND THEIR ZONE OF OPERATION SOUTHWARD. THIS FU
TURE EXPANSION SHOULD BE GIVEN PROPER:CONSIDERATION IN THE FACILITY DESIGN,
PORTIONS OF THE NATIONAL SEASHORE NORTH OF THE MANSFIELD ZONE WILL BE THE
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RANGERS OPERATING FROM THE MALAQUITE BEACH RANGER
STATION, HOWEVER/ IN EMERGENCIES OR IN CASES OF JUSTIFIED PERSONNEL OVERLOAD/
RANGERS FROM THE MANSFIELD FACILITIES MAY ASSIST RANGERS IN THE MALAQUITE ZONE
OR VICE VERSA,
VISITATION
BECAUSE OF ITS RUGGED ISOLATION/ VISITATION IN THE MANSFIELD ZONE OF OPER
ATION IS MUCH LESS DENSE COMPARED WITH NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE SEASHORE. THE
STATE-OPERATED FERRY SERVICE AT PORT ARANSAS AND THE KENNEDY CAUSEWAY ARE THE
ONLY EXISTING LINKS TO THIS AREA FROM THE MAINLAND AND THE CURRENT PADRE ISLAND
.J
85
SEASHORE PRELIMINARY MASTER PLAN HAS NO SCHEME FOR FUTURE TIES. THE CURRENT
PLANS FOR THE NATIONAL SEASHORE FAVOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE ISOLATED MANSFIELD
AREA FOR THE SAKE OF ECOLOGY AS WELL AS THE ENJOYMENT OF THE MORE SERIOUS CAM
PERS AND NATURALISTS.
PARK OFFICIALS ESTIMATE THAT DURING PEAK VISITOR USE PERIODS IN THE SUMMER
MONTHS OF THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS/ NO MORE THAN 150 VEHICLES OCCUPIED THE BEACH
BETWEEN,LITTLE SHELL BEACH AND THE MANSFIELD CHANNEL AT ANY ONE TIME. THE EX
TENSION OF VISITOR SERVICES AND VISITOR PROTECTION IN THE FORM OF THE MANSFIELD
CHANNEL FERRY AND THE MANSFIELD VISITOR CENTER/RANGER STATION ARE EXPECTED TO
INCREASE VISITATION GREATLY.
MANSFIELD RANGER STATION/VISITOR CENTER STAFF
THE MANSFIELD FACILITY WILL EMPLOY FOUR FULL TIME PERSONNEL DURING THE NON-
VACATION MONTHS (SEPTEMBER THROUGH APRIL) AND DURING THE SUMMER VACATION MONTHS.
TWO ADDITIONAL SEASONAL EMPLOYEES WILL BE TAKEN ON.
THE FOUR FULL-TIME PERSONNEL ARE THE MANSFIELD STATION SUPERVISOR/ THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT SPECIALIST/ THE INTERPRETIVE SPECIALIST/ AND THE MAINTENANCE TECH
NICIAN, EXCEPT FOR THE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN/ ALL OTHER PERSONNEL AT THE FA
CILITY ARE TRAINED PARK RANGERS AND POSSESS A THOROUGH BACKGROUND IN ALL ASPECTS
OF PARK SUPERVISION INCLUDING BOTH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTERPRETIVE DIALOG AND
PUBLIC RELATIONS,
.. ..••u v-.^«<g»»«Mtanj;»3»«:gj-jt-ar.uLaHLa«-..t«'>WttUii<»v>i aj—i..i«^-aMaaij»j.«».,., j^.„_ — — a a a n
85
ALL FOUR PERMANENT PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL RESIDE IN PORT
MANSFIELD/ RAYMONDVILLE/ OR ANY OTHER NEARBY LOCATION THEY CHOOSE ON THE MAIN
LAND/ PROVIDED THEY ARE IN COMMUNICATION BY TELEPHONE WITH THE MANSFIELD FA
CILITY, THEY WILL BE PROVIDED WITH TWO BOATS TO COMMUTE FROM PORT MANSFIELD
TO THE VISITOR CENTER/RANGER STATION, THE COMMUTING TIME FROM PORT MANSFIELD
TO THE MANSFIELD STATION WILL REQUIRE APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES UNDER FAVORABLE
WATER CONDITIONS.
\^ORK SCHEDULES ARE DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE PRESENCE OF A MINIMUM OF ONE RAN
GER ON DUTY 24 HOURS PER DAY/ SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK DURING THE WINTER SEASON.
DURING THE SUMMER SEASON WHEN TEMPORARY RANGERS ARE AVAILABLE THERE WILL BE A
MINIMUM OF TWO RANGERS ON DUTY AT ALL TIMES.
THE MANSFIELD STATION SUPERVISOR WILL WORK FOUR 10 HOUR DAYS/ FRIDAY THROUGH
MONDAY/ AND WILL BE OFF THREE DAYS/ TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. HE IS CHIEF CO
ORDINATOR OF THE MANSFIELD VISITOR CENTER/RANGER STATION OPERATION. ASIDE FROM
HIS REGULAR RANGER DUTIES LISTED ON PAGE 20/ THE STATION SUPERVISOR'S SPECIAL
RESPONSIBILITIES ARE THE FOLLOWING:
PREPARATION OF THE BUDGET
SUPERVISES CONCESSIONS WHICH MUST BE GOVERNMENT OWNED
REQUISITIONS ALL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED BY THE FACILITY
SUPERVISES ALL SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS IN THE .MANSFIELD ZONE OF OPERATION
07 .1 ' /
MANSFIELD STATION DUTY SCHEDULE
P O S I T I O I M
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P A R K R A N G E R t I M T E R P R E T I V E J
G S - 0 2 5 - 9
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88
RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING ALL SERIOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SUPERVISES EVACUATIONS IF NECESSARY
THE RANGER WITH SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING WILL BE ON DUTY 3h DAYS/
SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING/ AND BE OFF DUTY 3h DAYS.
SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES ASSIGNED TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SPECIALIST ARE
THE FOLLOWING:
THROROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAWS OF THE NATIONAL SEASHORE AND OF THE STATE AND COUNTY WHICH ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROSECUTION OF OFFENDERS
APPREHENSION AND ARREST OF LAWBREAKERS AND REMOVAL TO APPROPRIATE COUNTY JAIL FOR INCARCERATION
TRAINING OF TEMPORARY RANGERS IN METHODS OF APPREHENSION AND ARREST OF LAW BREAKERS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FILING OF ALL BEACH PATROL REPORTS
• THE RANGER SPECIALIZING IN PARK INTERPRETATION WILL ALSO WORK A 3h DAY
ON 3h DAY OFF SCHEDULE. HiS ON DUTY TIME WILL BEGIN WEDNESDAY EVENING AND RUN
THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES ASSIGNED TO HIM ARE THE
FOLLOWING:
COOPERATING WITH THE INTERPRETIVE DIVISION AT FLOUR BLUFF IN OBTAINING SCIENTIFIC DATA ABOUT PADRE ISLAND BY CARRYING OUT EXPERIMENTS AND MAKING RECORDED OBSERVATIONS.
UPDATE ALL CHECKLISTS ON WILDLIFE AND VEGETATION IN THE AREA
PREPARATION OF AUDIO-VISUAL PROGRAMS WITHIN THE VISITOR CENTER
RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING INFORMATIVE PUBLICATIONS/ MAPS/ AND BROCHURES AVAILABLE TO VISITORS
89
ORGANIZING OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WHICH CAN BE DONE WITHOUT ALTERATIONS TO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT/ SUCH AS HIKING ON NATURE TRAILS/ NATURE OBSERVATION/ AND WATER ORIENTED ACTIVITIES
TRAINING AND PROVIDING INTERPRETIVE BACKGROUND FOR SEASONAL RANGERS
THE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN WILL WORK A 40 HOUR WEEK, 8 HOURS PER DAY/ 5
DAYS PER WEEK/ MoNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. HE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTEN
ANCE OF THE VISITOR CENTER/RANGER STATION/ THE GOVERNMENT OWNED AND OPERATED
CONCESSION FACILITIES/ AND ALL EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES OPERATED BY THE VISITOR
CENTER/RANGER STATION, A SPECIFIC BREAKDOWN OF ITEMS REQUIRING MAINTENANCE
WITHIN THE FACILITY ARE AS FOLLOWS:
HEATING SYSTEMS
AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS
PLUMBING
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
PAINTING AND GENERAL REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS
MOTOR VEHICLES
BOATS/ BOAT ENGINES/ AND BOAT LIFTS
BULKHEADS/ IF REQUIRED
HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES WITHIN THE RANGERS QUARTERS SUCH AS REFRIGERATOR/ OVEN/ WASHERS/ DRYERS/ FREEZER/ DISHWASHER/ HOT WATER HEATER/ AND WATER SOFTENING EQUIPMENT
90
THE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN AN ORGANIZED TOOL
ROOM AND WORK ROOM/ AND MUST KEEP ACCURATE RECORDS ON FILE OF WORK DONE/ PARTS
AND EQUIPMENT PURCHASED/ AND OUTSIDE LABOR EXPENSES.
THE TWO SEASONAL RANGERS WILL WORK ON A STAGGERED 3h DAY ON AND 3̂ DAY
OFF SYSTEM DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. THESE TEMPORARY PERSONNEL ARE USUALLY
COLLEGE STUDENTS AND REQUIRE AN INITIAL ONE TO TWO WEEKS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
ASSISTANCE IN CARRYING OUT THE FUNCTIONS OF A RANGER STATION DURING THE PEAK
VISITOR SEASON. THEY WILL BE PROVIDED ROOM AND BOARD WHILE ON DUTY/ JUST AS
THE PERMANENT RANGERS ARE/ HOWEVER THE SEASONAL EMPLOYEES ARE ALSO EXTENDED ROOM
AND BOARD IF THEY WISH TO REMAIN AT THE MANSFIELD FACILITY ON THEIR OFF DUTY DAYS.
ALL FULL TIME RANGERS ARE PAID MONTHLY AND ALL MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AS
WELL AS TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES ARE PAID BIWEEKLY. PAYCHECKS AS WELL AS ALL OTHER
MAIL WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE POST OFFICE AT PoRT MANSFIELD.
ACTIVITIES
PATROLS - POLICING THE REMOTE STRETCHES OF BEACH IN THE MANSFIELD AREA IS
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS THAT THE RANGERS PERFORM. WHEN POSSIBLE/
SEASHORE OFFICIALS PREFER TO HAVE A RANGER ON DUTY AT THE RANGER STATION WHEN
A PATROL IS OUT ON THE BEACH. OFTEN DURING THE WINTER SEASON/ WHEN ONLY ONE
RANGER IS ON DUTY ON TUESDAY/ WEDNESDAY/ AND THURSDAY/ THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE.
ON FRIDAY/ SATURDAY/ SUNDAY/ AND MONDAY DURING THE WiNTER SEASON/ TWO TO THREE
91
PATROLS ARE MADE PER DAY. DuRING SUMMER SEASON A MINIMUM OF THREE PATROLS PER
DAY ARE MADE AND USUALLY TWO RANGERS WILL BE AVAILABLE.
THE JOURNEY UP THE ISLAND AND BACK REQUIRES FROM APPROXIMATELY Di HOURS
TO 4 HOURS DEPENDING ON MANY VARIABLES. AN UNINTERRUPTED DRIVE 30 MILES AND
BACK AT AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 25 M.P.H. WOULD REQUIRE 2 HOURS AND 24 MINUTES.
HOWEVER/ OFTEN STOPS ARE MADE TO MAKE OBSERVATIONS ON WILDLIFE OR VEGETATION
AND DATA MUST BE RECORDED FOR VARIOUS EXPERIMENTS ALONG THE ISLAND. DURING THE
BUSY SUMMER SEASON/ VISITORS OFTEN STOP THE RANGERS FOR INFORMATION OF JUST TO
CHAT. OFTEN STALLED OR STUCK VEHICLES ARE ENCOUNTERED AND RANGERS MUST TOW
THEM OUT OF THEIR PREDICAMENT. THE JEEPS WHICH THE RANGERS USE ARE PROVIDED
WITH CABLE TOW HOOKS ON THE FRONT END FOR THESE SITUATIONS. RANGERS OFTEN EN
COUNTER VISITORS BREAKING LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE SEASHORE AND MUST BE
INFORMED AND GIVEN WARNINGS ABOUT THEIR OFFENSES. ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES
CAN EASILY EXTEND THEIR PATROL TO FOUR HOURS.
EMERGENCY PATROLS - IN SPECIAL EMERGENCY SITUATIONSJHE RANGERS OF PADRE
ISLAND ARE TRAINED TO REACT IN AN ORGANIZED PROGRAM WHICH WILL OFFER MAXIMUM
PROTECTION POSSIBLE TO VISITORS.
IN CASES OF THREATENING WEATHER OR IMPENDING TROPICAL STORMS/ RANGERS WILL
WARN VISITORS ALONG THE ISLAND TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND BE PREPARED TO EVA
CUATE IF NECESSARY.
92
WHEN THE THREAT OF A TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE BECOMES A CLEAR POSSI
BILITY TO THE MANSFIELD AREA/ RANGERS WILL PATROL THE ISLAND TO INSURE THAT
ALL VISITORS ON THE ISLAND ARE EVACUATED TO THE MAINLAND. AT THIS POINT/
THE VISITOR CENTER/RANGER STATION OPERATION IS SHUT DOWN AND ALL ROAD VEHICLES/
BOATS/ AND REMAINING PERSONNEL ARE REMOVED TO PORT MANSFIELD AND HIGHER GROUND.
BECAUSE OF EXTREMELY HIGH TIDES ACCOMPANYING HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS
ALL NON^STATIONARY EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS SHOULD BE MOVED TO THE HIGHER
LEVELS OF THE FACILITY BEFORE EVACUATION.
IN CASES OF EMERGENCIES/ ILLNESSES/ AND ACCIDENTS/ RANGERS WILL ADMINISTER
FIRST AID IF POSSIBLE AND RADIO AHEAD FOR AN AMBULANCE TO BE MET AT PORT
MANSFIELD. IN EXTREME EMERGENCIES THE RANGER ON PATROL CAN RADIO THE COAST
GUARD STATION AT PORT ARANSAS AND HAVE A HELICOPTER TRANSPORT THE VICTIM TO
ANY ONE OF FOUR MAJOR HOSPITALS IN THE REGION (ST. MARY'S IN BROWNSVILLE/
MEMORIAL AND SPOHN HOSPITALS IN CORPUS CHRISTI/ AND FOR ANY MEMBERS OF THE U.S.
ARMED FORCES OR THEIR DEPENDENTS/ THE NAVAL AIR BASE HOSPITAL AT FLOUR BLUFF).
WHEN RANGERS ARE REQUIRED TO APPREHEND AND ARREST LAW BREAKERS, THEY FIRST
RADIO THE MANSFIELD FACILITY TO INSURE THAT A BOAT WILL BE READY AND WAITING
TO TRANSPORT THE SUSPECT TO PORT MANSFIELD. FROM THERE THEY ARE TAKEN TO THE
COUNTY IN WHICH THE OFFENSE TOOK PLACE AND TURNED OVER TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITIES FOR DUE PROCESS.
95.
IN CASES OF PROPERTY CONFISCATION/ SUCH AS NARCOTICS SEIZURES AND UN
LAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIREARMS/ THE CONFISCATED MATERIALS AS WELL AS THE
OFFENDERS ARE TURNED OVER THE THE APPROPRIATE FEDERAL/ STATE/ OR CoUNTY LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.
COMMUNICATIONS - THE VISITOR CENTER/RANGER STATION FACILITIES AT THE
MANSFIELD CHANNEL WILL REQUIRE TELEPHONE SERVICE FOR USE BY VISITORS/ CON
CESSIONAIRES/ AS WELL AS RANGERS. PORTABLE RADIO UNITS ARE INSTALLED IN BOTH
THE BOATS AND ROAD VEHICLES FOR TWO WAY COMMUNICATION WITH A RADIO DISPATCHER
OPERATION AT THE MANSFIELD FACILITIES.
VISITOR SERVICES - ALL VISITORS IN THE MANSFIELD AREA OF THE NATIONAL
SEASHORE WILL HAVE NUMEROUS SERVICES AND CONCESSIONS PROVIDED BY THE VISITOR
CENTER/ RANGER STATION.
PUBLIC SHOWERS, DRESSING ROOMS/ AND TOILET FACILITIES WILL BE PROVIDED TO
ACCOMMODATE AT LEAST EIGHT MEN AND EIGHT WOMEN AT A TIME. AT LEAST 100 RENT
ABLE -LOCKER SPACES SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN BOTH THE MEN AND WOMENS DRESSING ROOMS.
THESE ARE ESPECIALLY VALUABLE SERVICES TO CAMPERS IN THE MANSFIELD AREA BECAUSE
THEIR VISITS OFTEN EXTEND OVER MANY DAYS. VARIOUS LOCKER SIZES SHOULD BE OFFERED/
WITH THE LARGEST BEING BIG ENOUGH TO STORE A SIX FOOT LONG FISHING ROD. EIGHTY
PERCENT OF THE LOCKERS/ HOWEVER/ WILL BE LARGE ENOUGH TO STORE A FEW CLOTHES
ITEMS/ VALUABLE JEWELRY/ CASH/ CAMERAS/ AND AND OTHER SMALL MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
94
ANOTHER CONCESSION SERVICE WHICH THE VISITOR CENTER WILL HOUSE WILL
BE A LAUNDERETTE. SPACE SHOULD BE ALLOTTED FOR A FACILITY WITH FOUR WASHERS
AND FOUR DRYERS.
A SPACE ACCOMMODATING A MINIMUM AUDIENCE SIZE OF 30 PERSONS WILL BE
PROVIDED FOR INTERPRETIVE DIALOG/ INCLUDING THE USE OF AUDIO AND VISUAL AID
APPARATUS. WITH THE INDIVIDUAL PERMISSION OF THE RANGERS THIS SPACE MAY ALSO
BE USED ,BY SEASHORE VISITORS FOR PRIVATE MEETINGS.
MINOR FIRST AID WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE BY THE SEASHORE PERSONNEL.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY AID FOR SERIOUS INJURIES AND ILLNESSES WILL BE PROCESSED BY
RADIO TO THE COAST GUARD STATION AT PORT ARANSAS/ TEXAS.
A SMALL CONVENIENCE STORE OFFERING GROCERIES AND ESSENTIAL DRUG ITEMS
TO 'ISLAND VISITORS WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGH EITHER A PRIVATELY OWNED OR PARK
OPERATED CONCESSION.
GASOLINE AND OTHER VEHICLE ACCESSORIES WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH A
PRIVATELY OWNED OR PARK OPERATED CONCESSION. BECAUSE OF THE HIGHLY EROSIVE
ENVIRONMENT BOTH ABOVE AND BELOW THE GROUND AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THE RELATIVE
INACCESSABILITY OF THE SITE/ CONVENTIONAL BULK STORAGE/ AND WHOLESALE DIS
TRIBUTION METHODS ARE NOT FEASIBLE, A SYSTEM SHOULD BE STUDIED AND DESIGNED
WHICH WILL SOLVE THESE UNIQUE PROBLEMS IN A WAY THAT WILL OFFER GASOLINE AT
A REASONABLY ECONOMICAL RATE AND CAN BE STORED SAFELY.
^ssm
95
ALL CONCESSION ITEMS SUCH AS GROCERIES/ WATER/ DRUGS/ AND PETROLEUM
PRODUCTS WILL BE BROUGHT BY BOAT FROM PORT MANSFIELD.
BECAUSE OF THE RELATIVELY SMALL SCALE OF THE MANSFIELD VISITOR CENTER
OPERATIONS/ WITH RESPECT TO VISITOR NUMBERS/ THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPICAL
VISITOR CENTER ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE NOT FEASIBLE. THOSE ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL
BE ABSENT ARE MANNED INFORMATION DESKS/ LIFEGUARDS/ AND RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
RANGER QUARTERS - THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE RANGERS OPERATE SHOULD
BE MADE AS COMFORTABLE AND EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE/ SINCE THEY WILL OFTEN BE
WORKING/ EATING, AND SLEEPING THERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS AT A TIME. AN EVENTUAL
INCREASE IN PERSONNEL NUMBERS WILL REQUIRE PROVISIONS WHICH WILL ALLOW UP TO
FOUR RANGERS ROOM AND BOARD. MEALS WILL BE PREPARED BY THE RANGERS. ALL
HOUSEKEEPING CHORES SUCH AS DISHWASHING/ CLOTHES WASHING/ AND FLOOR CLEANING
WILL BE PERFORMED BY THE RANGERS ON DUTY.
RANGERS SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH A SPACE OR SPACES WHICH WILL ALLOW THEM TO
ENTERTAIN SPECIAL GUESTS SUCH AS THEIR FAMILY/ PERSONAL FRIENDS/ AND OTHER SEA
SHORE OFFICIALS, THIS AREA WOULD BE USED FOR CONVERSATION/ MUSIC/ OR POSSIBLY
TELEVISION,
IN THE EVENINGS/ AFTER THE RANGERS HAVE PERFORMED THEIR REQUIRED POLICING
ROUNDS/ PAPERWORK AND HAVE WASHED DOWN ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES/ THEY
WILL RETIRE TO THEIR QUARTERS. THEIR TIME AT THIS POINT MAY BE USED FOR RE
LAXATION AND REFRESHMENT BEFORE THE NEXT DAYS WORK. HoWEVER, THEY ARE STILL
ii 'i\
95
ON CALL AND MUST BE PREPARED TO BE AVAILABLE IF A SITUATION ARISES. DURING
THIS PERIOD OF RELAXATION RANGERS SHOULD HAVE A SPACE IN WHICH THEY MAY READ
OR STUDY COMFORTABLY AS WELL AS A SPACE FOR WORKING ON PERSONAL PROJECTS OR
HOBBIES.
BECAUSE THE RANGERS WILL BE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS EVERY DAY/ A SYSTEM IS
REQUIRED WHICH WOULD ALLOW VISITORS TO SUMMONS THE RANGER IN HIS LIVING QUAR
TERS/ EVEN IF THE RANGER IS ASLEEP. A SYSTEM IS ALSO NEEDED IN WHICH THE
RANGER MAY BE ALERTED IF A MESSAGE COMES THROUGH THE RADIO DISPATCHER UNIT.
OFFICE WORK SPACE SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH TWO DESKS AND SEPARATE FILES
FOR STORAGE OF PATROL REPORTS/ BUDGET RECORDS/ AND MAINTENANCE REPORTS. SPACE
SHOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE IN WHICH THE INTERPRETIVE RANGER MAY STORE AND TEST
SOIL SAMPLES/ STORE AND EXAMINE VEGETATION SAMPLES/ PERFORM VARIOUS SIMPLE
EXPERIMENTS/ AND RECORD AND FILE DATA.
ALL TOOLS/ EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM THE CORROSSIVE
ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS POSSIBLE, A COMPLETELY ENCLOSED SPACE IS NEEDED FOR UP
TO THREE VEHICLES, ONE JEEP CJ-5 AND ONE INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER TRAVELALL
WILL BE USED INITIALLY, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ADDITIONAL JEEP CJ-5 IF
EXPANSION OF SERVICES ARE NECESSARY. FLOOR DRAINS AND A HOSE BIB ARE NEEDED
IN THIS SPACE IN ORDER THAT THE VEHICLES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT MAY BE HOSED DOWN
EVERY EVENING TO REMOVE THE SALT.
1 . y ' I
97
THE RANGER STATION WILL MAINTAIN TWO BOATS. ONE BOAT WILL BE 20-21 FT.
IN LENGTH AND HAVE A DEEP-V FIBERGLASS HULL WHILE THE OTHER BOAT WILL BE
18-19 FT, IN LENGTH AND HAVE A CATHEDRAL FIBERGLASS HULL, THEY WILL BOTH BE
DRIVEN BY INBOARD-OUTBOARD DRIVE UNITS WITH FOUR CYCLE AUTOMOTIVE TYPE ENGINES,
WHEN NOT IN USE/ THE BOATS WILL BE REMOVED ABOVE WATER LEVEL INTO A SHELTER
BY THE USE OF A BELT LIFT, A HOSE BIB WILL BE NECESSARY IN THIS AREA ALSO/ IN
ORDER TO WASH BOATS AND EQUIPMENT FREE OF SALT ACCUMULATIONS, A STORAGE
SPACE NEARBY FOR EXTRA LIFE PRESERVERS/ DRAGGING NET, AND VARIOUS BOAT ACCESS
ORIES SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED,
ADDITIONAL DOCKING SPACE SHOULD PROVIDE FOR A MINIMUM OF SIX BOATS FOR
USE BY VISITORS, BOATERS MAY WANT TO DOCK TEMPORARILY AT THE MANSFIELD FACILITY
TO'FIND OUT WEATHER CONDITIONS/ TO REPORT ACCIDENTS OR DANGEROUS SITUATIONS/
OR TO DROP OFF MEMBERS OF THE BOATER'S PARTY ON THE ISLAND FOR BEACH RECREATION
WHILE HE IS FISHING IN THE GULF OR THE LAGUNA MADRE,
HY
'LU -" J III- isssmmimam
99
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS:
COLLIER/ W. P. AND SoN/ COLLIERS ENCYCLOPEDIA/ CROWELL-COLLIER PUBLISHING COM
PANY, NEW YORK/ NEW YORK/ 1955.
EvERHART/ WILLIAM C, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, PRAEGER LIBRARY OF U.S. GOVERN-
MENTS DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES/ NO. 31/ NEW YORK/ 1972.
GERLACH/ ARCH C./ ED., THF NATIONAI" ATI AS OF THF UNITED STATES. U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF THE INTERIOR/ WASHINGTON/ D.C./ 1970.
HARTZOG/ GEORGE B., ED., AND WALTER J. HICKEL/ ED./ ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES FOR
NATDRAI ARFA.<̂ OF THF N.ATinNAi PARK SYSTEM, U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE/
WASHINGTON/ D.C./ 1970.
HARTZOG/ GEORGE B./ ED., AND STEWART L. UDALL, ED., APMINISTRATIVF POLICIES FOR
RprPFATTON ARFA.q OF THF°NATTnN&i PARK SYSTFM, U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
WASHINGTON, D.C, 1968.
100
MAHAN/ WILLIAM, PADRE ISIAND. TEXIAN PRESS/ WACO/ TEXAS/ 1957,
MATHEWS/ WILLIAM H,/ A GUIDE TO THE NATIONAI PARKS: THFTR lANnsrAPF AND GpninGY.
THE NATURAL HISTORY PRESS/ GARDEN CITY/ NEW YORK/ 1968,
MCHARG/ IAN L./ DESIGN WITH NATIIRF. DOUBLEDAY AND COMPANY/ I N C , GARDEN CITY,
NEW YORK, 1971,
RAMSEY, GEORGE CHARLES, AND HAROLD REEVE SLEEPER, GRAPHIC STANDARDS/ JOHN WILEY
AND SONS, INC./ NEW YORK/ NEW YORK/ 1956,
SMYLIE/ VERNON/ CONQUISTADORES AND CANNTRALS/ TEXAS NEWS SYNDICATE PRESS/ CORPUS
CHRISTI/ TEXAS/ 1964,
SMYLIE, VERNON/ THIS IS PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS NEWS SYNDICATE PRESS/ CORPUS CHRISTI/
TEXAS/ 1964.
TILDEN, FREEMAN, THF NATIONAL PARKS, ALFRED A. KNOPF/ INC., NEW YORK, NEW YORK,
1951.
f
101
UDALL/ STEWART/ AMERICA'S NATURAI TRFASIIRFS. COUNTRY BEAUTIFUL CORPORATION/
WAUKESHA/ WISCONSIN/ 1955,
GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS:
DICINSON/ KENDALL A./ GARY W. HILL/ RALPH E. HUNTER, AND RICHARD L. WATSON./
STRUCTURE AND AGF OF PADRE ISLAND, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, CORPUS CHRISTI/
JEXAS/ 1950.
MORTON, ROGERS C. B., ED.. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE BRIEFING BOOK 1973/ U.S. DEPART
MENT OF THE INTERIOR, WASHINGTON, D.C./ 1973.
NATIONAL OCEAN SURVEY, NAUTICAL CHART 896-SC LAGUNA MADRF/ RINCON DE SAN JOSE TO
CHUBBY ISLAND TEXAS/ U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, WASHINGTON, D.C, 1973.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE/ PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR, WASHINGTON, D.C, 1972.
SOUTHWEST MONUMENTS ASSOCIATION, GRASSIANDS TRAIL, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
102
FOOTNOTES
^ROGERS.C. B. MORTON, ED.. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE BRIEFING BOOK 1973. U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR/ WASHINGTON/ D.C./ 1973, p.5.
^iMJi. / P. 7.
^WILLIAM C. EVERHART, THE NATIONAI PARK SERVICE, PRAEGER LIBRARY OF U.S.
GOVERNMENTS DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES, NO. 31, NEW YOR ,1972, P. 43.
"^IMH./ P. 65.
^FREEMAN TILDEN, THF NATIONAL PARKS, ALFRED A. KNOPF, INC., NEW YORK, NEW
YORK, 1951, PP. 14-17.
^EVERHART, P. 99-103. ^
^TILDEN, P. 26.
^WILLIAM MAHAN, PADRF ISLAND, TEXIAN PRESS, WACO, TEXAS, 1957, P. 38.
103
^IBID., P. 45.
^°l]mi.. p. 53.
•^•""KENDALL A. DICINSON, GARY W. HILL, RALPH E. HUNTER, AND RICHARD L. WATSON,
STRUCTURE AND AGE OF PADRE ISLAND, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, CORPUS CHRISTI,
TEXAS, I960.,p. 1-2.
12 iMn.^ p. 1.
•"•̂ IAN L. MCHARG, DESIGN WITH NATURE, DOUBLEDAY AND COMPANY, INC., GARDEN CITY,
N£w YORK, 1971. P. 21.
r '̂ CE
2123 -6th Street Lubbock, Xexaa 79401
Septeiober 26, 1973
Lower Rio Grande VaHey D e v e l o p m e n t Gounci Judge Bill Rapp, President Mayor Liiwrio Hinojosa, 1st Vice President Com..n. R.H."rtuss" Fowler, 2nd Vice President IMoyor Ed Vela. Secretary Comm. Filemon B. Vela, Treasurer Robert A. Chandler, Executive Director
Eobert At Chandler ce 207, First National Bank Building Uen, Texas 78501
r Hr. Cb«odler:
I An a 5th year architecture student at Texas Tech University aa working on the program for ay thesis. My thesis topic is a Itors Canter and Rangers Station for Padre Island National Sea-ra at the Mansfield Channel near the site of a proposed ferry ssing for 4 wheel drive vehicles.
The lower Rio Grande Valley ard prloarlly Port Mansfield would vide the primary service component for such a complex. I am rofora studying your rcstcjn and would appreciate any information c Che Lover Rio Grande Vallry Development Council might provide, the publications listed ad currently available, I am pritnarily ereatad \n your Regional l̂ iid Use Plan, Preliminary Regional Solid tea Plan, and the Open Spacs Pi.ans. If you know of any other data C could aid my study chty would be graatit appreciated. If a postage rge la nocaaoary, ploaso inforo me.
"Chank you very much for taking time to aid me in my research.
Sincerely you^s.
October 2, 1973
Mr. Gary L. Rogers 2123 Sixth Street Lubbock, Texas 79401
Dear Mr. Rogers:
I regret to inform you that the publications you requested are not available. The Solid Waste Plan and Open Space Plan are out of print, and the Land Use Plan is to be published in November.
However, I would suggest you contact Mr. Bob Mowery, Executive Director, South Plains Association of Governments, 514 Lubbock Nationoi Bank, Lubbock, Texas. They should have available for your use copies of the Solid Waste and Open Space Plans.
If we may be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Jody Ramsey Planning Research Assistant
JR/th
puriMF tAC 5 I? I 692*3^1} I M'AiiEN. ifXAs resoi
2123 6th Street Lubbock, Texas 79401
REFER TO:
K14-PA
National Park Service 801 19th, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006
Dear Sirs:
I am a 5th year architecture student at Texas Tech University and am working on the programming of my thesis. My thesis topic is a Visitor's Center and Ranger Station for Padre Island National Seasiiore at or near the location of a future ferry crossing at the Mansfield Channel.
I felt that a necessary factor in progranmiing such a topic would require u tliorougU background of the National Park Service itsnilf. If you could inform me or. the availability of any literature or brochures dealing with the National Park Service's origin, history, organizational structure, visitor centers, and rangers a.id i-.n^.'iT sti-.tione, I would greatly appreciate it.
Sincerely yo'
United States Department of the Interior NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Southwest Region P. 0. Box 728
Santa Pe, New Mexico 8750I
^ ^ ~ ^ te/'3 V ' . -
Mr. Gary L. Rogers 2123 6th Street Lubbock, Texas 79IOI
Dear Mr. Rogers:
Your interest in the National Park Senrioe and its progrEms Is appreciated.
For background material for your thesis, I am enclosing mlnifoljers on all of the areas administered by the National Park Service in the Southwest Region.
For backgrotmd material on the origin, history and organizational structure of the National Park Service, I would sugcest that you get a copy of the book, "The National Park Service," by Killia.7, Everhart. (Praeger Publisher, New York, I972, $9.00.) It can be found in most libraries.
Sincerely yours.
Ben Moffett Public Information Officer
Enclosures
U.S. OePAaTiVIENT OF COWMERCE rJational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraticn NATIONAL OCEAN SURVEY Rockvilla. Md. 20852
2123 6th Street Lubbock, Texas 79401
October 1, 1973
Environmental Science Services Administration Washington Science Center Rockville, Marylaiid 20852
Dear Sirs:
I am a 5th year architecture student at Texas Tech University and am working on the program for my thesis. My thesis topic is a Visitors Center .ind Rangers Station for Padre Island National Seashore at the I-;̂ nsfielu Channel.
I am in need 6f sone accurate and fairly up to date maps of the site which I have circled on an enclosed map. The 7.5 and 15 minute U.S.G.S. map "South of Potrero Lopeno, Texas" is dated 1952 and does not show the channel to be existing. I was told by personnel in the geoloay department, here at Texas Tech, that the U.S. Coas'ial and Geodetic Survey might be my best bet as a source.
Any Inforuatiou you might have about the availabilitj, costs, scales, or any references about other possible sources of information would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely yours,.
)V-x^|,( V̂ Gary L. Rogers
Mr. Gary L. Rogers 2123 6th Street Lubbock, Texas 79401
Dear Mr. Rogers:
In response to your letter of recent date, I am enclosing our nautical chart catalog depicting Small-craft chart (896-SC) which provides coverage of Port Mansfield at a scale of 1:40,000. This particular chart was printed during June of this year and is available at $2.20 per copy. Requests may be addressed to the Distribution Division (C44), National Ocean Survey, Riverdale, Maryland 20840 accompanied by your remittance made payable to the Department of Commerce, NOS.
If we can be of any further assistance, please let me know.
Sincerely,
V A ^ Os)jL(9.wt.lA,. William A. Stanley Chief, Physical Science Services Branch
Enclosure
Enclosure
'f*
lit, Cary L. Roger* 2123 - 6th Street Lubbock, Texas 7940X
Mr. Gary L. Sogers 2123 - 6th Street Lubbock, Texas 79401
October 9, 1973 October 9, 1973
Kr. Jody Ramsey 4th noor, Fl«st National Bank Bldg. McAllea, Taxas 78501
Dear Mr. Kamaay:
Thank you very much for Caking time to asdlst me In my studies of the Port Mansfield area. Mr. Bob Mowexy of the South Plains Association of Governments did indeed have copies of your Solid Waste Plan and Open Spaca Plan, and they have aided ay research well.
If it is possible, I would Ilka very much to be put on & list to receive a land Use Plan whan ic lA printed in Moveioiber. Thank you again for your assistance.
Sincerely yo
-^Car>^. Rogers
City Hall Port Mansfield, Texas
Dear Sirs:
I am a 5th year architecture student at Texas Tech University and am working on the program for my thesis. My thesis topic is a Visitors Center and Ranger Station for Padre Island Nationai Seashore at the Mansfield Channel near the site of s proposed ferry crossing for 4-wheel drive vehicles..
Port Mansfield would provide the primary service corr.poneata for such a complex. I am, therefore, studying Port Mansfield and neei to D£.Ka contact with someone (i.e. mayor) to discuss the city, its orieins, resources, etc.... If you can provide me with a few names, addresses, and phone numbers, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if you have any literature about your city available, please enclose it also.
GLR/slh
Thank you very
Sincerely yours
much for taking time to aid me in HQT research.
Gary L. Rogers
GLR/slh
jlNS
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 3
SITE SELECTION AND ORIENTATION ^
FACILITY LAYOUT 6
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM 12
14 MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
BIBLIOGRAPHY 15
PHOTOGRAPHIC PRESENTATION 17
ii^fil
INTRODUCTION
THE MANSFIELD FACILITY/ BECAUSE OF ITS RELATIVE ISOLATION IN A HARSH
ENVIRONMENT WITH NO COMMON MUNICIPAL UTILITIES OR RESOURCES AVAILABLE/ MUST
BE A SELF SUSTAINING OASIS. To THE VISITORS OF THIS REGION OF PADRE ISLAND/
THE FACILITY SHOULD REPRESENT/ NOT ONLY A NUCLEUS OF SERVICES/ BUT ALSO A
SOURCE OF RELIEF AND REFRESHMENT. WiTH THIS GENERAL CONCEPT IN MIND/ A DESIGN
SOLUTION WAS SYNTHESIZED AND THE CONSIDERATIONS AND ULTIMATE DESIGN DECISIONS
THAT WERE MADE WILL BE OUTLINED IN THIS THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE PROGRAM.
SITE SELECTION AND ORIENTATION
MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS GIVEN TO SITE SELECTION AND FACILITY-TO-SITE
ORIENTATION ARE PRESENTED IN THE FOLLOWING LIST.
1. AS A MEANS OF ECONOMY OF CONSTRUCTION/ A SITE WHICH OFFERS OPTI
MUM ACCESSIBILITY FOR DELIVERY OF BUILDING MATERIALS/ EQUIPMENT
AND LABOR TO THE ISLAND SITE.
2. THE SITE SHOULD OFFER THE BEST EVACUATION CAPABILITIES AS POSSIBLE.
EVACUATION WILL BE NECESSARY FOR VISITORS AND STAFF IN EMERGENCY
SITUATIONS SUCH AS HURRICANES/ ILLNESSES/ ACCIDENTAL INJURIES/ AND
THE PROCESSING OF LAW BREAKERS TO THE APPROPRIATE MAINLAND AUTHORITIES.
3. ACCESSIBILITY TO AND FROM THE ISLAND SITE FOR STAFF AND VISITORS
SHOULD BE AS EASY AS POSSIBLE,
A. A CONTIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP TO THE ISLAND DOMAIN SOUTH OF THE MANSFIELD
CHANNEL IS NECESSARY IN THE EVENT PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE
BORDERS AND SERVICES ARE EXTENDED.
5i THE OPTIMUM AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES/ SUCH AS WATER AND POWER/
WERE GIVEN CONSIDERATION.
6. VISTAS WERE ACHIEVED FROM TWO STAND POINTS, FIRST/ THE VISITOR CAN
EASILY ASCERTAIN THE FORM OF THE FACILITY FROM BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH
ALONG THE BEACH APPROACHES AS WELL AS FROM THE EAST AND WEST, AS THE
VISITOR APPROACHES FROM THE CHANNEL OR GULF OF MEXICO, SECONDLY
THE VISITOR HAS AN ELEVATED VIEW OF THE ISLAND IN ALL DIRECTIONS
FROM THE PICNIC AND OBSERVATION DECKS.
7, NATURAL VENTILATION WAS ACHIEVED BY ALLOWING A BREEZE AXIS TO OCCUR
WHICH RUNS IN A SOUTHEAST TO NORTHWEST DIRECTION (THE SAME DIRECTION
AS THE PREVAILING WINDS). THIS BREEZE IS CONTROLLED AT BOTH ENDS
OF THE FACILITY BY MEANS OF TRANSPARENT LOUVREI,
8. THE VISITOR CENTER/RANGER STATION WAS LOCATED AT A SITE WHICH WOULD
OFFER A MINIMUM OF DREDGING AND GRADEWORK.
FACILITY LAYOUT
THE MANSFIELD VISITOR CENTER/RANGER STATION WILL HAVE A CLOSED LAYOUT IN
WHICH M O S T OF THE ACTIVITIES WILL BE LOCATED ADJACENT TO ONE ANOTHER. THE
NEED FOR THE FUSION OF THE FUNCTIONS OF A RANGER STATION WITH THE SERVICES OF
A VISITOR CENTER/ IN AN ISOLATED PARK REGION SUCH AS THE MANSFIELD CHANNEL/ ARE
FAIRLY OBVIOUS.
1. COST - THE COMPARATIVELY LOW VISITATION RATES THAT ARE PREDICTED DO
NOT JUSTIFY A SERIES OF SITES.
2, LIMITED RESOURCES - A LACK OF MUNICIPAL UTILITIES SUCH AS WATER/
ELECTRICITY/ GAS/ AND SEWAGE TREATMENT MAKE IT ADVANTAGEOUS TO GROUP
THE PARK SERVICES TOGETHER.
3, COMMUNICATIONS - BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF COMMON COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
ON THE ISLAND AND BECAUSE OF THE REMOTENESS OF THE VISITOR AREA/ IT
IS DECIDEDLY IN THE VISITORS INTEREST TO PROMOTE A CENTER OF ACTIVITY
WHERE NOT ONLY WEATHER AND NEWS BULLETINS MIGHT BE POSTED/ BUT ALSO *
WHERE INTERPRETIVE LECTURES AND ORGANIZED RECREATION CAN BE SUPERVISED.
4. CONVENIENCE - A CLOSED ARRANGEMENT WILL MAKE FOR A MORE CONVENIENT AND
ECONOMICAL OPERATION. THE CONCESSIONS WILL NOT ONLY SERVE THE VISITORS
BUT WILL ALSO BE IMPORTANT IN MAINTAINING THE STAFF OF THE FACILITY WITH
EASILY ACCESSIBLE FOOD AND SUPPLIES. AT THE SAME TIME/ THE CONCESSION
FACILITIES WILL BENEFIT WITH EASILY OBTAINABLE WATER AND POWER WHICH WILL
BE PROVIDED BY THE STAFF OF THE FACILITY.
BECAUSE OF THE LOW ELEVATION OF THE SITE AND BECAUSE OF THE HIGH TIDES
WHICH ACCOMPANY THE FREQUENT TROPICAL STORMS AND HURRICANES/ THE VISITOR
CENTER/RANGER STATION WILL BE ELEVATED ABOVE THE SHIFTING SANDS OF THE BEACH.
ACCESS TO THESE ELEVATED AREAS IS ACHIEVED FROM TWO DIRECTIONS. FROM THE
BEACH A SERIES OF RAMPS WILL GENTLY LIFT THE VISITOR INTO THE FOYER AREA.
THE VISITOR MAY ALSO ARRIVE BY THESE SAME RAMPS ON AN ELEVATED VIADUCT FROM
THE BOAT DOCKING AREA. BECAUSE OF THE EXTREMELY SOFT SAND/ THE VIADUCT IS
NECESSARY FOR CARTING GROCERIES AND SUPPLIES TO THE FACILITY FROM THE BOAT
STORA<BE STRUCTURE.
THE FOYER WILL SERVE TO QUICKLY ORIENT THE VISITOR AND PROVIDE HIM OR HER
ACCESS TO THE NUMEROUS SERVICES AND ACCOMODATIONS AVAILABLE. FROM THE FOYER/
LARGE EASY TO READ GRAPHICS AT EACH ENTRY WAY CAN BE SEEN. NEAR THE CENTER
OF THE FOYER A BULLETIN DISPLAY WILL BE LOCATED WHICH WILL HAVE LATE WEATHER
AND NEWS BULLETINS/ SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES/ RULES AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE
FACILITY AND THE NATIONAL SEASHORE/ AND GENERAL INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION. VEN
TILATION FOR THE FOYER WILL BE CONTROLLED BY THE USE OF HINGED GLASS PARTITIONS
8
LOCATED ON THE PICNIC DECK AND AT THE AREA ADJACENT TO THE OBSERVATION TOWER.
THE RANGERS QUARTERS ARE ARRANGED IN A WAY WHICH OFFERS A GREAT DEAL OF
ACCESSIBILITY TO THE RANGER OFFICE. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR BECAUSE THE
RADIO COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT WILL BE LOCATED IN THE OFFICE AND A RANGER
WILL BE ON DUTY AT ALL TIMES.
THE FIRST LEVEL WILL PROVIDE A LIVING ROOM/ KITCHEN/ DINING ROOM/ UTILI
TIES ROOM/ AND BEDROOM AND BATH FOR THE FIRST TWO RANGERS ON DUTY. DURING THE
SUMMER SEASON WHEN MORE THAN TWO RANGERS ARE ON DUTY/ THEY WILL BE ACCOMODATED
IN THE UPPER LEVEL BEDROOM. ALSO ON THE UPPER LEVEL ARE A WORK ROOM-STUDY AND
THE MECHANICAL ROOM FOR THE SOUTH ZONE OF THE FACILITY. ALL SPACES IN THE
RANGERS QUARTERS WHICH FACE THE SOUTH WALL WILL HAVE COMPLETE GLASS ENCASED
OPENINGS, THE MAIN LEVEL WINDOWS WILL BE SHADED BY THE SECOND LEVEL BALCONIES
AND THE SECOND LEVEL GLASS DOORS WILL BE SHADED BY AN AWNING CONSISTING OF THE
EXTENDING CANT I LEVERED HOLLOWCORE STRUCTURAL MEMBERS.
THE INTERPRETIVE CLASSROOM IS ORIENTED IN A WAY WHICH ALLOWS THE SPEAKER
TO PRESENT AT THE SoUTH WALL. THE SOUTH WALL WILL BE FURNISHED WITH A BLACK
BOARD AND A HIDDEN MOTORIZED PROJECTION SCREEN, THE EAST WALL WILL BE USED •
PRIMARILY FOR PREPARED DISPLAYS AND MURALS. THE WEST WALL OF THE CLASSROOM
WILL HAVE WINDOW OPENINGS SIMILAR TO THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE RANGERS QUARTERS.
AN OBSERVATION TOWER WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE WEST END OF THE FACILITY
FOR VISITORS WHO WISH TO CLIMB ITS STAIRWAYS FOR A MAGNIFICENT VIEW OF THE
9 ISLAND AND GULF FROM 75 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL. THE TOWER ALSO HOUSES THE
RADIO ANTENNA AND/ IN ADDITION/ ITS BASE SERVES AS THE CONTAINER AND FILTER
FOR THE WATER SUPPLY WELL.
ADJACENT TO THE OBSERVATION TOWER IS THE WATER STORAGE ROOM IN WHICH
THE 4/700 GALLON PNEUMATIC HOUSE TANK/ ITS COMPRESSOR AND REGULATOR/ AND
THE WATER SOFTENING EQUIPMENT ARE LOCATED. WATER FROM THE WELL IS PUMPED
AND STORED HERE FOR DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT THE COMPLEX.
IN ORDER TO OFFER THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VIEW THE PICNIC DECK WAS LOCATED
ON THE EAST END OF THE COMPLEX OVERLOOKING THE GuLF OF MEXICO WITH THE r
VANISHING BEACH LINES TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH. BECAUSE OF THE PREVAILING
WINDS FROM THE EAST AND SOUTHEAST OFTEN BECOME UNCOMFORTABLY BRISK/ HINGED
6 U S S PARTITIONS ON TRACKS WILL BE PROVIDED WHICH CAN BE ADJUSTED TO CONTROL
THE AMOUNT OF VENTILATION NEEDED WITHOUT DISTURBING THE VIEW.
BECAUSE OF ADVANTAGEOUS RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE REQUIRED FLOOR SPACE
AND THE ELEVATED STRUCTURAL SYSTEM/ THE DRESSING ROOMS/ LAUNDERETTE/ AND
CONVENIENCE STORE WERE LOCATED ON THE NORTH END OF THE COMPLEX.
THE GARAGE WAS LOCATED ON A LOWER LEVEL FOR TWO PRIMARY REASONS; FiRST .
OF ALL THE LOWER HEIGHT WOULD REQUIRE A SHORTER RAMP TO THE BEACH LEVEL AND
SECONDLY/ BY USING THE TOP OF THE GARAGE FOR THE PICNIC DECK/ THE EXPENSE OF
AN ADDITIONAL ELEVATED STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT AN ADDITIONAL FLOOR DECK WAS
SAVED.
10
THE MAINTENANCE SHOP WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE GARAGE STRUCTURE IN ORDER TO
ISOLATE THE NOISE LEVEL GENERATED BY EQUIPMENT/ AND BECAUSE A GREAT DEAL OF
HIS MAINTENANCE WORK WILL BE SPENT ON THE STAFF VEHICLES/ AND ALSO BECAUSE THE
FUNCTION OF THIS SPACE HAD NO RELATIONSHIP WITH ANY OF THE VISITOR ORIENTED
SPACES.
THE BOAT STORAGE STRUCTURE WAS DESIGNED WITH EFFICIENCY IN MIND. FOR
STAFF USE ONLY/ THE BOAT STORAGE STRUCTURE CAN HOUSE UP TO FOUR VESSELS. AFTER
THE BOATS (23 FOOT MAX.) >IAVE ENTERED THE SEA LEVEL SERIES OF SLIPS/ TWO NYLON
BELTS ARE MANUEVERED UNDERNEATH THE BOAT AND IT IS THEN LIFTED BY A MOTORIZED
WENCH TO THE STORAGE LEVEL ABOVE. HERE THE BOATS ARE PROTECTED FROM THE SUN/
WIND/ AND EROSIVE SALT AIR. PASSENGERS MAY REMAIN ON BOARD THE VESSEL DURING
ITS ASSENTION TO THE STORAGE LEVEL AND LANDINGS MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO UNLOAD
SUPPLIES ANE EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS PASSENGERS AT THIS LEVEL. FROM HERE THEY
HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE VIADUCT AND THE CORE OF THE FACILITY.
ACCESS TO THE SITE BY WATER IS ACHIEVED BY UTILIZING A NATURAL LIP FORMED
ON THE NORTH BANK AT THE HEAD OF THE CHANNEL. THE BUILDING UP AND EXTENSION
OF THIS LIP TO FORM A CANAL INTO THE FACILITY AREA CAN BE DONE WITH A MINI
MUM OF DREDGING AND GRADE WORK. THE PRINCIPAL PURPOSE OF THIS LIP WILL BE TO
ACT AS A BREAK WATER TO BLOCK THE ENORMOUS SWELLS VWICH DEVELOP IN THE GuLF
AND THEREBY MAKE DOCKING AND REFUELING A SAFER PROCEDURE. BULKHEADS WILL BE
REQUIRED TO FORTIFY THE CANAL AGAINST EROSION.
11
FOR THE SAKE OF CONVENIENCE AS WELL AS A MEANS OF FIRE PREVENTION .AND
PROTECTION/ THE FUEL BARGE DOCKING STATION AS WELL AS THE FUEL STORAGE TANKS
AND PUMPING HOUSING WILL BE LOCATED NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE CANAL. THE CANAL/
VISITORS DOCK/ VEHICLE AND BOAT REFUELING PUMPS AND BOAT STORAGE STRUCTURE
WILL BE LOCATED AT A DISTANCE FROM THE CENTRAL STRUCTURE FOR THE SAME REASONS
OF SAFETY.
1\
V,
I
12
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
ENVIRONMENTAL TOLERANCES/ EASE OF TRANSPORTATION TO SITE/ QUICKNESS
OF ERECTION/ AND AESTHETIC VALUES WERE THE PRIMARY FACTORS USED IN DESIGNING
A STRUCTURAL SYSTEM FOR THE PADRE ISLAND VISITOR CENTER/RANGER STATION.
THE USE OF REINFORCED CONCRETE AS THE PRINCIPLE STRUCTURAL MATERIAL
WAS A LOGICAL CHOICE BECAUSE OF ITS RESISTANCE TO THE HARSH ENVIRONMENT, ITS
UNSUSEPTABILITY TO SALT AIR/ ALKALINE WATER/ DECAY DUE TO FUNGI/ MARINE BORERS/
AND INSECTS/ AND ITS MORE PERMANENT VALUE MAKE CONCRETE SUPERIOR TO BOTH WOOD
OR STEEL UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS.
BECAUSE OF THE RELATIVE INACCESSABILITY TF THE SITE AND THE HIGH COST OF
LABOR/ A SHORT ERECTION TIME IS ESSENTIAL. FOR THESE REASONS/ A PRECAST CON
CRETE FLOOR AND ROOF SYSTEM CONSISTING OF HOLLOW CORE CONCRETE UNITS/ WILL
BE USED. IN ADDITION/ THE HOLLOW CORE UNITS PROVIDE A DEGREE OF THERMAL IN
SULATION FOR THE ELEVATED STRUCTURE AND PROVIDE A FINISHED FLUSH CEILING IN
CERTAIN AREAS. THEY REQUIRE A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF FLOOR AND ROOF DEPTH/ AND
CANTILEVERS FOR THE BALCONIES AND OVERHANGS ARE EASILY ACCOMPLISHED. THE
CORES OF THE UNITS WILL BE USED TO DISTRIBUTE AIR AND PROVIDE RACEWAYS FOR
POWER AND COMMUNICATION WIRING. THE HOLLOW CORE UNITS ALSO GIVE EXCELLENT
SOUND CONTROL AND RESISTANCE TO VIBRATION,
II II
13 THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE ENTIRE COMPLEX WILL BE SUPPORTED AT THE BASE OF THE
COLUMNS BY REINFORCED CONCRETE DISTRIBUTION PADS WHICH WILL TRANSFER THE LOADS
TO MULTIPLE CONCRETE FRICTION PILES. UNSTABLE SOIL CONDITIONS IN THIS REGION
MAKE THIS FOUNDATION SYSTEM A NECESSITY.
BULKHEADS WILL BE REQUIRED ALONG BOTH SIDES OF THE CANAL LEADING TO THE
FACILITY IN ORDER TO PREVENT EROSION/ CREATED BY BOAT BACK-WASH AND THE
CHANGING TIDES, FROM FILLING IN DREDGED AREAS. AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE BULK
HEAD STRUCTURE CAN BE FOUND IN THE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRESENTATION PORTION OF THIS
TEXT. CONCRETE IS AGAIN, THE PRINCIPLE MATERIAL BECAUSE OF ITS ANTI EROSION
PROPERTIES.
I
14
MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
THE DESIGNING FOR COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE OF THE ISLAND FACILITY CREATED
SEVERAL SPECIAL PROBLEMS. BECAUSE OF THE SMALL SCALE OF THE OPERATION A S
SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM WAS REQUIRED WHICH COULD; FIRST OF ALL/ BE SERVICED
BY THE SINGLE MAINTENANCE MAN; SECONDLY/ BE ABLE TO HANDLE ALL WASTE VOLUME
POSSIBILITIES ON A DAILY BASIS; AND LASTLY/ IT SHOULD NOT HARM THE ENVIRON
MENT UPON DISCHARGE. BECAUSE THE PRIMARY WATER SUPPLY FOR THE FACILITY IS
DERIVED DIRECTLY BELOW TH^ SANDS SURFACE/ FROM A FLOATING LAYER OF FRESH
WATER/ THE NORMAL CESS POOL SYSTEM OF DISCHARGE WOULD BE DISASTEROUS.
TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS AN ANAEROBIC PORTABLE SCALE SYSTEM WILL BE USED
AND THE FOLLOWING IS A STEP BY STEP DESCRIPTION OF ITS OPERATION.
1. ALL WASTE FROM THE FACILITY ENTERS AN ANAEROBIC HOLDING TANK FOR
ODORLESS STORAGE UNTIL THE TIME FOR ITS DAILY TREATMENT ARRIVES.
THIS TANK AND ALL OTHER WASTE TREATMENT EQUIPMENT IS LOCATED ON THE
GARAGE LEVEL, ADJACENT TO THE MAINTENANCE SHOP.
2. AT A TIME/ SHORTLY BEFORE OR DURING THE CHANNEL TIDE OUTFLOW/ THE
WASTE IS TRANSFERRED TO A MOBILE TREATMENT PLANT WHERE IN APPROXI
MATELY 5 MINUTES IT WILL REACH AN APPROXIMATE 90% B,0,D. LEVEL,
3. WHEN THIS OCCURS/ THE EFFLUENT IS DISCHARGED AGAIN AND ALONG THE
WAY A LIQUID CHLORINE CONCENTRATE IS ADDED. THE WASTE IS TEMPORARILY
M
15
BACKED UP IN A CONTACT TANK WHERE IT WILL REACH A 100% B.O.D. LEVEL
AND AT THIS POINT/ IT FLOWS ON OUT THROUGH THE VIADUCT AND UNDER
NEATH THE SAND AND IS RELEASED IN THE CHANNEL. THE SYSTEM CREATES
AN EFFLUENT WHICH IS COMPLETELY HARMLESS TO THE ECOLOGY OF THE GULF.
THE AIR CONDITIONING OF THE FACILITY IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH 2 SEPARATE
SYSTEMS BECAUSE OF A FLUCTUATION IN SEASONAL VISITOR USE, BOTH SYSTEMS ARE
SINGLE DUCT VARIABLE VOLUME WITH RETURN AIR ACCOMPLISHED BY MEANS OF RETURN
PLENUMS. USING THE CARRIER ABC'S OF AIR CONDITIONING/ A FAN DUCT SIZE OF
23 INCHES DIAMETER MAXIMUM IS REQUIRED FOR THE ViSITOR SERVICES WING OF THE
FACILITY WITH A 22 INCH DIAMETER DUCT ON THE RANGER'S WING MECHANICAL ROOM.
SINCE BOTH SYSTEMS FUNCTION IN A WAY THAT REQUIRES A HALF AND HALF DUCT SPLIT
WITHIN THE MECHANICAL ROOMS/ THE MAXIMUM DESIGN WIDTH FOR EITHER FURR DOWNS
OR SUSPENDED CEILINGS WITHIN THE STRUCTURE IS 18 INCHES DIAMETER.
15
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CARRIER CORPORATION/ THE ABC's OF AIR CoNnTTrnMi^R^ CARRIER CORPORATION/
U.S./ 1972.
CASSIE/ W, FISHER/ FUNDAMENTAL FOUNDATIONS, ELSEVIER PUBLISHING CO./ NEW
YoRK/ NEW YORK, 1968.
CHANEY/ CHARLES A., MARINAS^ NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ENGINE AND BOAT MANU
FACTURERS/ INC./ NEW YORK, NEW YORK/ 1961,
LAWRENCE/ ANITA/ ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS/ ELSEVIER PUBLISHING Co./ NEW
YoRK/ NEW YORK/ 1970.
McGuiNEss/ WILLIAM J, AND BENJAMIN STEIN/ MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL EQUIP
MENT FOR BUILDINGS/ JOHN WILEY AND SONS/ INC./ NEW YORK/ NEW YORK/
1969.
SCHUSTER/ FRANZ/ BALCONIES/ STUTTGART PUBLISHING/ GERMANY/ 1962.
SWEETS ARCHITECTURAL CATALOG FILE/ MCGRAW-HILL INFORMATION SYSTEMS CO./
NEW YORK/ NEW YORK/ 1973.
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