Willacy eyes wildlife opportunities

RAYMONDVILLE - Willacy County Commissioners today will tour three wildlife areas to discuss promoting public uses and business opportunities on the land.

The tour and meeting with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service officials will take commissioners to Tenente, East Lake and Laguna Atascosa wildlife refuges.

"We want them to come in and help us market the county of Willacy," county consultant Sally Velasquez said.

Additionally, speakers from the Greater Rio Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce and South Texas Nature Marketing Coalition will talk to county leaders about promoting the nearly 12,350 wildlife tracts.

"The leadership is visionary and wants to engage in alternative revenue-generating services," Velasquez said.

Willacy County, Velasquez said, has a number of unknown gems.

According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the area is known for it's natural "pothole wetlands" that attract birds.

The problem is people don't know about the county's gems, like East Lake Refuge's hunting-permitted land, Velasquez said.

"This area is not highlighted and the refuge is not promoted for tourism purposes," she said.

Last year, the county did a community assessment for hotspots in the county for tourism opportunities. Already, the Port Mansfield area has seen a 40 percent decrease and county officials are scrambling for new ideas for revenue.

"It's not being promoted," she said. "I have a vision, we just need money to get to the next level."