Transcript Williamson County Regional Habitat Conservation Plan

Williamson County Regional Habitat
Conservation Plan
The Williamson County Conservation Foundation (WCCF)
was established as a pro-active measure to further the
conservation of endangered species in Williamson County
while helping to further responsible development.
Williamson County Regional Habitat
Conservation Plan
The US Fish and Wildlife Service issued
Williamson County’s 10 (a) Permit on
October 21, 2008.
The Most Ecologically Diverse
State in the Nation
The #1 threat to wildlife today...
Texas now loses more than 1 acre of habitat
every 7 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Purpose and Need
Need for the Action
• Population expected to more than triple
over the next 30 years.
• Development activities could result in
the take of listed species
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THE RHCP?
Governmental entities:
Cities and towns
School districts
Political subdivisions (MUDs, PIDs)
State
Developers
Landowners
Citizens
The Williamson County RHCP
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RHCP to cover take of warbler, vireo, and two listed karst species
30 year term
Completely voluntary participation
Over the next 30 years, Mitigation efforts would include:
– Estimated 700+ acres of karst preserves
– Approximately 6,000 acres of mitigation on Golden Cheeked
Warbler
– Restoration and/or enhancement of Black-capped vireo habitat on
a rolling basis
– 5-year study for the Georgetown salamander
– Public outreach and endowment fund
How does the Williamson County Regional Habitat Conservation Plan
Benefit the Stakeholders of the County?
By:
 Significantly reducing participant’s time and expense for ESA compliance
compared to individual permits
 Coordinating and accelerating endangered species conservation efforts in the
County
 Precluding future listing of additional species
 Providing for and preserving some of the natural character of Williamson County
 Providing additional recreational and natural assets to be enjoyed
PERMIT AREA
All of Williamson County
 Primary focus is the Karst
Zone, which provides
habitat for the karst
invertebrates included in
the RHCP
 Most habitat for the karst
invertebrates and
endangered birds is west of
I-35
Coffin Cave mold beetle
Photo by Kemble White
Bone Cave harvestman
Photo by William R. Elliott
Twin Springs Preserve
Wilco and Millenium
Preserve at Southwest
Regional Park
Chaos Cave Preserve
(SH 45)
Cobb Cavern Preserve
Beck
Preserve
Pricilla’s Well
Preserve
Only one bird breeds only in
the Lone Star State…
The Golden-cheeked Warbler
(Dendroica crysoparia)
Total breeding
range of the
Golden-cheeked
Warbler
Golden-cheeked Warbler
Photo by Steve Maslowski
• Mitigation through purchase of
credits from existing conservation
bank and establishing preserves
within the County
• Participants pay a per-acre fee to
be authorized for take
BLACK-CAPPED VIREO
Photo by Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department
• Mitigation to be determined
annually and may include
habitat creation, restoration,
enhancement, or habitat
acquisition
• Participants pay per-acre fee to
be authorized for take
The Black-capped Vireo
Historical records show that
this bird once nested
throughout Central Texas and
as far as Oklahoma and central
Kansas.
Today, central Texas provides
habitat for remaining
populations of this species.
Habitat loss, cowbird
parasitism, and predation are
the primary threats to this
native songbird.
Breeding range of
black-capped
vireo
GEORGETOWN SALAMANDER
Photo by Justyn Miller
 Objective: Preclude need to list
No take under the RHCP
 Commit funding for a five year
study to gather additional
information on the species.
 At the end of year 2 begin
preparation of appropriate
conservation strategy.
Examples of projects that could have benefited
from the RHCP include:
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Ronald Reagan Boulevard and State Highway 195
Lake Georgetown
O'Connor Road
Silver Oak Property
Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District
Parmer Lane Extension
Shadow Canyon
Lakeline Mall
Buttercup Creek
U.S. 183-A, State Highway 45
Leander Independent School District
Russell Park Estates
Sultan and Kahn
Sun City Georgetown
WCCF Management Obligations
• Protect and Enhance populations of
listed species
• Research and Monitoring
• Habitat Management
• Law Enforcement
• Education and Outreach
Non-Native and Nuisance
Wildlife Management
• Brown-headed Cowbirds
• Red Imported Fire Ants
• Feral Hogs
• White-tailed Deer
Williamson County’s
Twin Springs Preserve
The Williamson
County Conservation
Foundation is a
Leave No Trace
Partner.
Why a LNT Program for Twin
Springs?
• Twin Springs is a key part of Williamson County’s
Regional Habitat Conservation Plan.
•Under an agreement on an educational and permitting
program with the US Fish & Wildlife Service Williamson
County is able to offer public access to its preserve areas.
Twin Springs and the Goodwater
Trail
The Seven LNT Principles for
Twin Springs (review)
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare 
2. Travel onTrails
3. Dispose of Waste Properly 
4. Leave What You Find 
5. NO Campfires (No fires. Period.)
6. Respect Wildlife - No Pets
(except for service animals).
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors 
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Williamson County Conservation Foundation
512.260.4226
[email protected]
www.wilcogov.org/wccf