News & Notices
June 13, 2008:
The BAT and CAC held meetings on June 3 and June 12, respectively, to review and comment on the Preliminary Draft Hays County Regional HCP and Funding Plan. The BAT recommended the addition of a cave-obligate blind leech to and the removal of the Cagle's Map Turtle from the the list of evaluation species included in the Plan. The BAT also discussed how to translate acres of warbler habitat to estiamtes of population size. The CAC heard detailed presentations regarding the propsed funding plan for the RHCP and discussed funding options. The CAC also discussed preserve size goals and conservation measures for karst and aquatic species. Individual comments from members of both committees are due to the consultant team by July 18, 2008 for incorporation into the next draft of the RHCP. The Hays County Commissioner's Court held a work session to discuss the Preliminary Draft RHCP and the Funding Plan on June 10, 2008. The Court also discussed the overall status of the project and the NEPA scoping meeting.
June 3, 2008:
The BAT met June 3, 2008 to discuss the species included in the HCP, the warbler habitat map and density estimates, and the preliminary first draft of the HCP document.
May 16, 2008:
The US Fish and Wildlife Service published a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement related to the Hays County RHCP. The notice announces a public scoping meeting to be held on June 18th in San Marcos. The deadline for submission of public comments to the Service is July 18, 2008.
April 26, 2008:
The County Commissioners, CAC, BAT, and other interested HCP participants were invited on a field trip highlighting the species, habitats, and other natural resources that are the center of the HCP effort. About 20 people caravanned to several properties across Hays County, including Halifax Ranch and Falls Ranch where the group observed golden-cheeked warblers (courtesy of Bill and Kate Johnson); Fern Bank Springs to observe aquatic habitat for Eurycea salamders and endangered invertebrates (courtesy of Brandi and Kent Keith); Ashmun 101 Ranch to crawl into the Taylor Bat Cave, look at one of the locations known to contain Eurycea salamders, and visit with a conservation easement owner (courtesy of Anne Ashmun); and Jacob's Well to see another of the important aquatic habitats in the county (courtesy of David Baker and the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association). Photos of the trip are posted on the Gallery page. Thank you to all that participated!
April 14, 2008:
The Citizens Advisory Committee on March 27, 2008 to discuss the recommended conservation strategy for the HCP. The CAC members reviewed three different approaches for structuring the conservation progam of the HCP and agreed by consensus to recommend a hybrid approach. The recommendation from the CAC was to pursue a conservation strategy that included a modestly sized initial preserve system and a rolling conservation bank with the ultimate goal of assembling a preserve system that includes approxiamtely 32,000 acres of habitat for the covered species. The Biological Advisory Team met on March 28, 2008 and provided comment on preserve design criteria, habitat determinations, and mitigation assessments. The consultant team will take the recommendations and comments from the committees and prepare a first draft of the HCP for review and comment by the County and the committees in June.
March 5, 2008:
The Citizens Advisory Committee met February 20, 2008 at the Wimberley Community Center and discussed a set of draft alternatives for the structure of the HCP, including preserve sizes, acquisition methods, and funding. These topics will be revisited at the next meeting, with potential action on choosing a preferred alternative for the plan. The Biological Advisory Team met on Feburary 28, 2008 in San Marcos. The BAT discussed how to address the San Marcos salamander and other federally listed aquatic species under the plan and draft alternatives for habitat determinations, mitigation assessments, and preserve design for the plan. The BAT will continue these discussions at the next meeting, with possible action on preliminary recommendations for the plan. The Hays County Commissioners Court held a work session related to the HCP at the court house on February 26, 2008. The Court recieved presentations from the project team regarding recommendations for species included under the plan, the draft habitat maps, and the draft alternatives for the structure of the plan, and funding options.
January 11, 2008:
The BAT met on January 8, 2008 and released draft recommendations for species to address in the HCP. The BAT recommended that the plan cover the golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo for incidental take. The BAT also recommended that the plan include karst species and the Cagle's map turtle as "evaluation species of concern", and several other species as "additional species of concern". The BAT also discussed biological considerations for species protection and preserve design. The CAC met on January 10, 2008 and discussed the BAT species recommendations and initial funding "guesstimates" and options for the HCP.
December 14, 2007:
The BAT met on December 6, 2007 in San Marcos to continue discussion on the species to address in the HCP and how to include them in the plan. The BAT also began discussion of possible conservation strategies and preserve design options.
November 13, 2007:
The Hays County Commissioners' Court approved a grant application to the US Fish and Wildlife Service prepared by Zara Environmental, Inc. requesting $54,063.75 in federal funds to research karst habitat in Hays County (Agenda Item 20). The research would support the conservation efforts of the HCP and help fill inforamtion gaps for karst species in Hays County. The County would provide a 25% match for the grant funds, for a total project budget of $72,085.
November 8, 2007:
The Biological Advisory Team and the Citizens Advisory Committee held meetings in early November to discuss which species should be included in the HCP and how to address them in the plan. The CAC also began discussions regarding potential conservation models for the Hays County HCP. Additional disucssion on both topics will continue at future meetings.
November 6, 2007:
The Hays County Commissioners' Court approved a contract for economist Joe Lessard to begin work on the Hays County HCP. More inforamtion about Mr. Lessard will be available on the Project Team page.
October 9, 2007:
Both the Biological Advisory Team and the Citizens Advisory Committee held meetings during the week of October 8, 2007. BAT members were introducted to the project and asked to make biological recommendations on which species should be addressed by the HCP and how they should be covered. The CAC also discussed the issue and heard presentations on other regional planning efforts. Meeting materials, including the agenda, handouts, and minutes are posted on the BAT and CAC pages.
September 13, 2007:
The Citizens Advisory Committee held a meeting September 13, 2007 in San Marcos. Landowner members of the CAC selected a representative for the BAT. Presentations were given to the CAC on the legal requirements of a regional HCP and preliminary analysis of the potential impacts of future population growth and land development on sensitive resources. Meeting materials, including the agenda and handouts, are posted on the CAC page. Meeting minutes will be posted once approved by the CAC.
August 7, 2007:
The Hays County Commissioners Court appointed 5 members to the Biological Advisory Team (BAT) during the August 7, 2007 court session. These 5 members are experts on the species and resources of Hays County, land management practices, and/or conservation biology, and will help evaluate the biological aspects of the HCP. The Commissioners Court also selected Mr. Joe Lessard as the Economist for the Project Team.
July 5, 2007:
The Citizens Advisory Committee held their first meeting on Thursday, July 5, 2007 in Dripping Springs (Dripping Springs Independent School District Board Room at 510 West Mercer, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620). Meeting materials, including the agenda and handouts, are posted on the CAC page. Meeting minutes will be posted once approved by the CAC.
June 27, 2007:
The Hays County Commissioners' Court appointed two additional members to the Citizens Advisory Committee (Agenda Item 29) during the June 26, 2007 session. The Court also approved an extension of the federal grant and interlocal agreement funding the development of the HCP from July 31, 2007 to July 30, 2009 (Agenda Item 5).
June 12, 2007:
Hays County Commissioners' Court took up two items related to the Habitat Conservation plan during the June 12, 2007 court session. The Court approved appointments to the HCP's Citizens Advisory Committee (Agenda Item 15). The Commissioners' Court also approved a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for an economist to assist with plan development (Agenda Item 19).
January 29, 2007:
Hays County Commissioners' Court held a work session to introduce the new Commissioners to the project. The Commissioners, County staff, and consultant team discussed progress made on the project, current tasks, and next steps. The current phase of the project involves forming advisory committees, analyzing baseline data, and developing initial options for the structure of the plan.
October 24, 2006:
Hays County Commissioners' Court unanimously approved a detailed Work Plan prepared by the consultant team to complete the Hays County Habitat Conservation Plan. The detailed Work Plan breaks the project into six phases, each concluding with a key project milestone.