Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan

May 17th, 2011

Overview Overview of endangered species

regulations Purpose of Habitat Conservation

Plans Review Balcones Canyonlands

Conservation Plan (BCCP)

Overview Sunset Valley involvement with BCCP-

Gaines Greenbelt Benefits and Impacts of formal

partnership Planning and Environmental

Committee recommendation Next Step

Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973

Purpose• Provide a means

whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species may be conserved. Defines listing criteria,

recovery, prohibited acts, enforcement, and exceptions.

Applies to fish, plants, and wildlife.

Prohibited Acts: Take and Harm Unlawful for a person to take

a listed animal without a permit:• Defined as “to harass, harm,

pursue, hunt, shoot, trap, capture, or collect or attempt to engage in any such conduct.”

Harm is defined as “an act which actually kills or injures wildlife. This includes significant habitat modification or degradation that kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding, or sheltering.”

Section 10: Habitat Conservation Plans

ESA amended in 1982• Habitat

Conservation Plans Impact of activities Mitigation of impacts Alternatives

• Incidental Take Permits

Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP)

One of the first regional, multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan/Incidental Take Permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS).• 30 year permit issued

in 1996.• City of Austin and

Travis County are joint permit holders.

Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP)

• Allows for development outside of preserve land and covers mitigation for participating agencies.

• Requires preserving 30,428 acres of endangered species habitat.

• Ongoing monitoring, management, and patrol of preserved habitat.

• Protects 8 endangered species and 27 species of concern.

• Alternative to dealing with USFWS directly.

BCCP and Sunset Valley Since 1998 Sunset

Valley has consulted with BCCP representatives.

Managing Partner Agreement• LCRA

Gaines Greenbelt Gifted to the City in 1991. Property must be

dedicated as park, recreational, greenbelt and/or preserve purposes for use by the public.

Violations of deed results in land returning to previous property owners.

Habitat for the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler.

STEARNS

BCCP and Sunset Valley Proposal

• Gaines Greenbelt is included as part of the larger Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. Sunset Valley continues to own

and manage the land.• Manage lands under the

“Land Management Plans and Guidelines” of BCCP permit.

• Submit an annual summary of management activities.

Benefit to BCCP• Adds 21 acres to the over

28,000 acres of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve.

Benefits and Impacts to Sunset Valley

Sunset Valley would be part of the regional protection of endangered species.

The 21 acres of the Gaines Greenbelt could be used as a mitigation bank.

Access and trail use would remain the same.

Endangered Species Act-No Surprises

Benefits and Impacts to Sunset Valley

Management Activities• No additional funds for

management activities, because these are already being done.

• Staff time to attend land management meetings and submit reports.

• Additional assistance and support from BCCP partners would be available.

Greater support for continued tract protection.• Violet Crown Trail

Planning and Environmental Recommendations

Planning and Environmental Committee has recommended joining the BCCP.

Next Step Authorize staff to

meet with City of Austin and Travis County to pursue a Managing Partner Agreement.

Questions?