The Dan A. Hughes Unit of Devils River State Natural Area was celebrated Friday, Oct. 9, with speeches, refreshments and a ribbon cutting at the unit's headquarters. Speakers included state Rep. Eddie Morales, Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman Paul Foster, former chairman Dan A. Hughes Jr., and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director David Yoskowitz.
The 18,000-acre unit is located about an hour north of Del Rio. Texas Parks and Wildlife said it brings the total protected land in the natural area to more than 37,000 acres, with access to the Devils River. The river connects the unit to the Del Norte Unit, which sits 13 miles upstream.
Yoskowitz said people were willing to listen, be flexible and commit to getting the work done. Hughes Jr., the unit's namesake's son, said his father would have been proud of the day. The original owner of the land donated a conservation easement through The Nature Conservancy, according to former director Carter Smith.
The unit offers primitive campsites along the river with no water or electricity, with composting toilets nearby. The agency said paddling from Del Norte to the unit can be strenuous and should be attempted only by experienced paddlers with three days of supplies. Access to the Devils Back area requires a Devils River Access Permit and an authorized guide or shuttle service.