Item 04 - Wildland Conservation Presentation — original pdf

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Wildlands for Water, Wildlife, and People Water and Wastewater Commission June 18, 2025 Environmental Resource Office (ERO)  Wildland Conservation Division o Water Quality Protection Lands (WQPL) o Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP)  Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP)  Center for Environmental Research at Hornsby Bend  Climate Protection Austin: A biodiversity hotspot Austin’s population has doubled every 20-25 years Austin Austin Metro 87,930 214,603 186,545 301,261 345,890 585,051 656,562 1,249,763 961,855 2,283,371 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 Austin’s Wildlands: A Unique Gift  A 30-year, $250M+ commitment to protecting Austin’s unique landscapes  A large-scale network of conservation lands that benefit water, wildlife, and people • 49,000 acres and growing  Managed under goals of two programs: • Balcones Canyonlands Preserve • Water Quality Protection Lands  Intentionally placed with Austin Water to ensure support and stewardship into the future Balcones Canyonlands Preserve  Goal: Protect woodland and cave habitat for endangered species & species of concern  Provides mitigation for habitat loss from energy, communication and transportation infrastructure  Public areas of preserve include some of Austin’s favorite places: o Barton Creek o Mt. Bonnell o Bull Creek  Helps to protect quality of our water supply in Lake Travis & Lake Austin watersheds 33,000+ acres (COA + partners) Habitat Conservation Plan sets targets for size/configuration of land in each macrosite Protection of 62 named caves The BCCP facilitates development. 1,500+ landowners/ developers 400+ infrastructure projects 12,000+ acres Water Quality Protection Lands  Goal: Protect and restore native grassland savannas and creeks that provide the main source of water flowing from Barton Springs  Actively manage land over ¼ of the recharge zone to protect groundwater  Prescribed burn program carefully mimics natural fire cycle using highly trained wildland fire professionals Goal of 100,000 acres protected over Barton Springs Zone 12,000+ acres in fee 22,000+ acres in conservation easements Plus regulatory protection Wildland Conservation Ongoing Management Understand • • Intensive monitoring of endangered species and species of concern Vegetation transects • Oak wilt monitoring • • • • Invasive species monitoring/mapping Drought, winter storm impacts Live fuel moisture monitoring In-house and external research Protect • • • • Boundary patrols Fence construction and repair Facility management Invasive species management • Wildfire fuel mitigation • Conservation easement reviews Restore/Enhance • Grassland and forest restoration Prescribed fire Seed collection Nursery operations • • • • Oak wilt trenching • • Karst feature restoration Restoration of degraded sites Engage • Volunteer workdays • Guided hikes • Ongoing volunteer programs • • • • • • Individual volunteers Educational and outreach activities Social media Engagement with neighbors Project notifications Partnerships Liz Frank Looking Forward Climate Change & Wildfire  The good news: Austin is not California • Wetter weather • Different vegetation • Less wind  BUT conditions are changing • Drought and winter storm impacts • Changing climate  Looking forward • Quantify changing risks and mitigate where feasible • Understand potential ecosystem stressors and support resilient natural systems BCCP Permit Renewal  30-year Incidental Take Permit expires May 2026  City and County finalizing Interlocal Agreement for permit renewal consulting support  City and County will submit application for Permit Amendment with Changes • City/County take authority will remain in effect through permit renewal process • Any proposed amendments will be developed transparently and brought to BCCP Coordinating Committee and elected bodies for full review and public input  Permit renewal/update will need to meet current USFWS regulations and consider new species  Protected lands need to remain protected forever (serve as mitigation for development) Protecting Austin’s Special Places  Significant achievements have been made, but the work is not complete.  Balcones Canyonlands Preserve • 10 of 62 required caves remain unprotected • Additional acquisitions needed to advance acreage + configuration goals  Water Quality Protection Lands • 1/3 of the way to 100,000 acres protected • Significant development continues to occur in Barton Springs Zone • Legislative changes have reduced regulatory protection  Opportunities to acquire lands are dwindling while prices continue to increase Thank you! Sherri Kuhl Environmental Resource Officer sherri.kuhl@austintexas.gov Justin Bates Division Manager, Wildland Conservation justin.bates@austintexas.gov http://austintexas.gov/wildlands