---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 698"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "698"
heading: "Big Thicket National Preserve"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/698"
units:
  - "Chapter 6 — Game and Bird Preserves; Protection"
---

# §698. Big Thicket National Preserve

- (a) **Establishment—** In order to assure the preservation, conservation, and protection of the natural, scenic, and recreational values of a significant portion of the Big Thicket [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Texas and to provide for the enhancement and public enjoyment thereof, the Big Thicket National [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) is hereby established.
- (b) **Location; boundaries; publication in Federal Register—** The Big Thicket National [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) (hereafter referred to as the “[preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2)”) shall include the [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) generally depicted on the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) entitled “Big Thicket National [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2)”, dated October 1992, and numbered 175–80008, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service, Department of the Interior, and the offices of the Superintendent of the [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2). After advising the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the United States House of Representatives, in writing, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior (hereafter referred to as the “[Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1)”) may make minor revisions of the boundaries of the [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) when necessary by publication of a revised drawing or other boundary description in the Federal Register. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall, as soon as practicable, but no later than six months after October 11, 1974, publish a detailed description of the boundaries of the [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) in the Federal Register. In establishing such boundaries, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall locate stream corridor [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) boundaries referenced from the stream bank on each side thereof and he shall further make every reasonable effort to exclude from the [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) hereafter described any improved year-round residential properties which he determines, in his discretion, are not necessary for the protection of the values of the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) or for its proper administration. The [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) shall consist of the following [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4):

  Big Sandy Creek [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Polk County, Texas, comprising approximately fourteen thousand three hundred acres;

  Menard Creek Corridor [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Polk, Hardin, and Liberty [Counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d), Texas, including a module at its confluence with the Trinity River, comprising approximately three thousand three hundred and fifty-nine acres;

  Hickory Creek Savannah [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Tyler County, Texas, comprising approximately six hundred and sixty-eight acres;

  Turkey Creek [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Tyler and Hardin [Counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d), Texas, comprising approximately seven thousand eight hundred acres;

  Beech Creek [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Tyler County, Texas, comprising approximately four thousand eight hundred and fifty-six acres;

  Upper Neches River corridor [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Jasper, Tyler, and Hardin [Counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d), Texas, including the Sally Withers [Addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2), comprising approximately three thousand seven hundred and seventy-five acres;

  Neches Bottom and Jack Gore Baygall [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Hardin and Jasper [Counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d), Texas, comprising approximately thirteen thousand three hundred acres;

  Lower Neches River corridor [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Hardin, Jasper, and Orange [Counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d), Texas, except for a one-mile segment on the east side of the river including the site of the papermill near Evandale, comprising approximately two thousand six hundred acres;

  Beaumont [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Orange, Hardin, and Jefferson [Counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d), Texas, comprising approximately six thousand two hundred and eighteen acres;

  Loblolly [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Liberty County, Texas, comprising approximately five hundred and fifty acres;

  Little Pine Island-Pine Island Bayou corridor [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Hardin and Jefferson [Counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d), Texas, comprising approximately two thousand one hundred acres;

  Lance Rosier [Unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Hardin County, Texas, comprising approximately twenty-five thousand and twenty-four acres;

  Village Creek Corridor [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Hardin County, Texas, comprising approximately four thousand seven hundred and ninety-three acres;

  Big Sandy Corridor [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Hardin, Polk, and Tyler [Counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d), Texas, comprising approximately four thousand four hundred and ninety-seven acres; and

  Canyonlands [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), Tyler County, Texas, comprising approximately one thousand four hundred and seventy-six acres.

- (c) **Methods of acquisition of land—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, transfer from any other Federal agency, or exchange, any lands, waters, or interests therein which are located within the boundaries of the [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2): Provided, That privately owned lands located within the Village Creek Corridor, Big Sandy Corridor, and Canyonlands [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) may be acquired only with the consent of the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4): Provided further, That the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) lands owned by commercial timber companies only by donation or exchange: Provided further, That any lands owned by the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Texas, or any political [subdivisions](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) thereof may be acquired by donation only. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may also [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1), by any of the above methods, approximately 15 acres of land outside of the boundaries of the [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) in the vicinity of the intersection of United States Highway 69 and [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) Farm-Market Road 420, in Hardin County, Texas, for purposes of a visitor contact and administrative site. After notifying the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, in writing, of his intention to do so and of the reasons therefor, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may, if he finds that such lands would make a significant contribution to the purposes for which the [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) was created, accept title to any lands, or interests in lands, located outside of the boundaries of the [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) which the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Texas or its political [subdivisions](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) may [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) and offer to donate to the United States or which any private [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b), organization, or public or private corporation may offer to donate to the United States and he may administer such lands as a part of the [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) after publishing notice to that effect in the Federal Register. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any federally owned lands within the [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) shall, with the concurrence of the head of the administering agency, be transferred to the administrative jurisdiction of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) for the purposes of sections 698 to [698e](/usc/16/698e.md) of this title, without transfer of funds.
- (d) **Exchanges of land—** Within sixty days after July 1, 1993, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) and the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Agriculture shall identify lands within their jurisdiction located within the vicinity of the [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) which may be suitable for exchange for commercial timber lands within the [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2). In so doing, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Agriculture shall seek to identify for exchange National [Forest lands](/usc/16/544.md?p=f) that are near or adjacent to [private lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=6) that are already owned by the commercial timber companies. Such National [Forest lands](/usc/16/544.md?p=f) shall be located in the Sabine National Forest in Sabine County, Texas, in the Davy Crockett National Forest south of Texas [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) Highway 7, or in other sites deemed mutually agreeable, and within reasonable distance of the timber companies’ existing mills. In exercising this exchange authority, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) and the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Agriculture may utilize any authorities or procedures otherwise available to them in connection with land exchanges, and which are not inconsistent with the purposes of sections 698 to [698e](/usc/16/698e.md) of this title. Land exchanges authorized pursuant to this subsection shall be of equal value and shall be completed as soon as possible, but no later than five years after July 1, 1993. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), in considering the values of the [private lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=6) to be exchanged under this subsection, shall consider independent appraisals submitted by the [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of the [private lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=6). The authority to exchange lands under this subsection shall expire on July 1, 1998.
- (e) **Indian Springs Youth Camp—** With respect to the thirty-seven-acre [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) owned by the Louisiana-Pacific Corporation or its subsidiary, Kirby Forest Industries, Inc., on Big Sandy Creek in Hardin County, Texas, and now utilized as part of the Indian Springs Youth Camp (H.G. King Abstract 822), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall not [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) such [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) without the consent of the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) so long as the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) is used exclusively as a youth camp.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–439, § 1, Oct. 11, 1974, 88 Stat. 1254; Pub. L. 98–489, § 1(a), Oct. 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 2267; Pub. L. 103–46, § 2(a), (b), July 1, 1993, 107 Stat. 229, 230; Pub. L. 103–437, § 6(a)(6), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4583; Pub. L. 104–333, div. I, title III, § 306(a)–(c), Nov. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 4132.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–333 substituted “five years after July 1, 1993” for “two years after July 1, 1993” and inserted at end “The Secretary, in considering the values of the private lands to be exchanged under this subsection, shall consider independent appraisals submitted by the owners of the private lands. The authority to exchange lands under this subsection shall expire on July 1, 1998.”

1994—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–437 substituted “Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives” for “Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs of the United States Congress”.

1993—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–46, § 2(a), substituted “map entitled ‘Big Thicket National Preserve’, dated October 1992, and numbered 175–80008, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and the offices of the Superintendent of the preserve. After advising the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the United States House of Representatives, in writing, the Secretary of the Interior (hereafter referred to as the ‘Secretary’) may make minor revisions of the boundaries of the preserve when necessary by publication of a revised drawing or other boundary description in the Federal Register. The Secretary” for “map entitled ‘Big Thicket National Preserve’, dated November 1973 and numbered NBR–BT 91,027 which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, District of Columbia, and shall be filed with appropriate offices of Tyler, Hardin, Jasper, Polk, Liberty, Jefferson, and Orange Counties in the State of Texas. The Secretary of the Interior (hereafter referred to as the ‘Secretary’)” and added undesignated pars. relating to Village Creek Corridor unit, Big Sandy Corridor unit, and Canyonlands unit.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–46, § 2(b)(1), inserted first sentence and struck out former first sentence which read as follows: “The Secretary is authorized to acquire by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, transfer from any other Federal agency, or exchange, any lands, waters, or interests therein which are located within the boundaries of the preserve: Provided, That any lands owned or acquired by the State of Texas, or any of its political subdivisions, may be acquired by donation only.”

Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 103–46, § 2(b)(2), added subsecs. (d) and (e).

1984—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–489 authorized acquisition of acreage for a visitor contact and administrative site outside the boundaries of the preserve.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Short Title of 1993 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–46, § 1, July 1, 1993, 107 Stat. 229, provided that: “This Act [amending this section and section 698e of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note below] may be referred to as the ‘Big Thicket National Preserve Addition Act of 1993’.”

### Reporting Requirement

Pub. L. 104–333, div. I, title III, § 306(d), Nov. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 4132, as amended by Pub. L. 106–176, title I, § 104(1), Mar. 10, 2000, 114 Stat. 25, provided that: “Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 12, 1996] and every 6 months thereafter until the earlier of the consummation of the exchange or July 1, 1998, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each submit a report to the Committee on Resources [now Committee on Natural Resources] of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate concerning the progress in consummating the land exchange authorized by the amendments made by the Big Thicket National Preserve Addition Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–46) [see Short Title of 1993 Amendment note above].”

### Land Exchange

Pub. L. 104–333, div. I, title III, § 306(e)–(g), Nov. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 4132, as amended by Pub. L. 106–176, title I, § 104(2), Mar. 10, 2000, 114 Stat. 25, provided that: Land Exchange in Liberty County, Texas.—If, within one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 12, 1996]— the owners of the private lands described in subsection (f)(1) offer to transfer all their right, title, and interest in and to such lands to the Secretary of the Interior, and Liberty County, Texas, agrees to accept the transfer of the Federal lands described in subsection (f)(2),the Secretary shall accept such offer of private lands and, in exchange and without additional consideration, transfer to Liberty County, Texas, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal lands described in subsection (f)(2).Lands Described.— Private lands.—The private lands described in this paragraph are approximately 3.76 acres of lands located in Liberty County, Texas, as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘Big Thicket Lake Estates Access—Proposed’. Federal lands.—The Federal lands described in this paragraph are approximately 2.38 acres of lands located in the Menard Creek Corridor Unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve, as generally depicted on the map referred to in paragraph (1). Administration of Lands Acquired by the United States.—The lands acquired by the Secretary under subsection (e) shall be added to and administered as part of the Menard Creek Corridor Unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve.”

### Publication of Boundary Description

Pub. L. 103–46, § 1, July 1, 1993, 107 Stat. 230, provided that: “Not later than six months after the date of enactment of this subsection [July 1, 1993], the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a detailed description of the boundary of the Village Creek Corridor unit, the Big Sandy Corridor unit, and the Canyonlands unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve.”