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EVERYONE, IT'S GREAT TO SEE SUCH LOVELY FACES HERE IN OUR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
I AM COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS, AND I AM THE CITY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BCCP COORDINATING COMMITTEE.
I'M JOINED HERE BY COMMISSIONER SHEA, WHO IS THE COUNTY REP FOR THIS COMMITTEE.
IT IS MAY 1ST, 2026, AND IT IS 1:12 PM WE ARE MEETING HERE IN CITY HALL CHAMBERS.
UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
I WAS HANDED A SHEET THAT CONFIRMS THAT.
SO SOMEONE CORRECT ME IF, UH, WE SHOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT ITEM, BUT IF THERE'S NO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP, ELLER BUELLER? NO, I DON'T SEE ANYONE RAISING THEIR HAND IN CHAMBERS EITHER.
[1. Approve Record of Decisions for November 14, 2025 Regular Meeting]
SO LET'S GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER ONE.APPROVE RECORD OF DECISIONS FOR NOVEMBER 14TH, 2025.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? UH, MOVE APPROVAL.
ALL RIGHT, MOVED BY COMMISSIONER SHEA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THAT IS UNANIMOUS FOR THE TWO OF US ON THE DAIS.
[2. Announcement: BCP Partner Reports Posted and Available for Review]
ITEM NUMBER TWO, ANNOUNCEMENT BCP PARTNER REPORTS POSTED AND AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW.AND I JUST, UM, WANTED TO ANNOUNCE, EXCUSE ME, THAT THEY'VE BEEN POSTED WITH THE MEETING MATERIALS.
UH, THEY COVER OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH.
ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE HAPPENED ON THE PRESERVE AND SOME OF THE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.
SO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE, THERE'S A QR CODE OVER THERE THAT YOU CAN SCAN THAT WILL POP UP THE MEETING PACKET FOR YOU.
AND THAT WAS FROM KIMBERLY HARVEY, OUR BCCP OFFICER, AND YOU'LL ALSO SEE UP HERE WE ARE JOINED BY US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICES.
MARK FISHER, WHO IS OUR EX OFFICIO MEMBER FOR THIS MEETING.
[3. BCCP at 30 Presentation]
THE NEXT ITEM WILL BE NUMBER THREE, THE BCCP AT 30 PRESENTATION.WHAT AN EXCITING MOMENT TO GET TO CELEBRATE 30 YEARS OF THE BCCP.
I AM THE BCCP SECRETARY, WHICH IS A JOINTLY FUNDED POSITION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
AND I'M HERE WITH A COUPLE FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, AND I'LL LET THEM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
UM, HI, MY NAME IS OLIVIA LOPEZ AND I AM THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM MANAGER OVERSEEING THE MANAGEMENT AND IMPLE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S COMMITMENT TO THE BA BAS CANYON LAND PRESERVE.
AND I'M JEREMY HULL, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR TRAVIS COUNTY.
WE MANAGE THE COUNTY'S PORTION OF THE BCP, AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE BCCP AT 30, WHAT IT'S BUILDING, WHAT IT'S SAVING, AND WHAT COMES NEXT.
WE'RE GOING TO TELL THE STORY SO FAR AND GIVE A LOOK AT WHAT'S TO COME.
SO THE BCCP STORY BEGINS IN 1973 WHEN THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY RICHARD NIXON.
IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS IN THE WORLD WITH A SIMPLE BUT PROFOUND PURPOSE, PREVENT EXTINCTION AND RECOVER SPECIES BY PROTECTING BOTH THE SPECIES AND THEIR HABITATS.
THE ESA PROHIBITS HARM TO SPECIES, INCLUDING ALTERATION OF HABITAT THAT RESULTS IN INJURY TO OR DEATH OF ANY LISTED SPECIES BY PREVENTING ESSENTIAL BEHAVIOR SUCH AS BREEDING, FEEDING, OR SHELTERING.
WHILE EFFECTIVE, THE ESA OFTEN CREATED TENSION BETWEEN CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT LEADING TO INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS LIKE HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS.
HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS WERE INTRODUCED IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES UNDER SECTION 10 OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT AS A WAY TO BALANCE CONSERVATION WITH ECONOMIC GROWTH.
THEY ALLOW LANDOWNERS AND COMMUNITIES TO PROCEED WITH DEVELOPMENT IF THEY MINIMIZE AND MITIGATE IMPACTS TO ENDANGERED SPECIES BY GETTING AN INCIDENTAL TAKE PERMIT, OR ITP AN ITP IS A PERMIT ISSUED UNDER SECTION 10 OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT THAT ALLOWS TAKE OF A LISTED SPECIES INCIDENTALLY TO AN OTHERWISE LAWFUL ACTIVITY LIKE DEVELOPMENT OR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AN HCP INCLUDES BIOLOGICAL GOALS, A PERMIT FOR INCIDENTAL TAKE, AND A COMMITMENT TO LONG-TERM CONSERVATION MEASURES.
INSTEAD OF HANDLING ESA COMPLIANCE PROJECT BY PROJECT HCPS ENABLE REGIONAL PLANNING LIKE THE BCCP,
[00:05:01]
WHICH IS ONE OF THE FIRST MULTI-SPECIES MULTI-AGENCY PLANS IN THE COUNTRY.HCPS ALLOW COMMUNITIES TO GROW WITHOUT SACRIFICING ENDANGERED SPECIES.
THEY PROVIDE A LEGAL AND PRACTICAL FRAMEWORK FOR COEXISTENCE.
IN THE EIGHTIES, AUSTIN'S RAPID GROWTH COLLIDED WITH SENSITIVE HILL COUNTRY ECOSYSTEMS, SPARKING A WAVE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM THAT LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE BCCP GROUPS LIKE EARTH FIRST AND SAVE OUR SPRINGS EXPOSE SEWAGE SPILLS, KARST CAVE DESTRUCTION, AND HABITAT LOSS THROUGH DIRECT ACTION IN PUBLIC CAMPAIGNS, PRESSURING LOCAL AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES.
THEIR EFFORTS HELP TO DRIVE SPECIES LISTINGS UNDER THE SA AND PUSHED POLICY MAKERS TOWARDS A REGIONAL SOLUTION, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO THE CREATION OF THE BCCP.
I, I THINK THE, UH, ONE OF THE PEOPLE, UH, FEATURED IN THIS PHOTO IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
MARK, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND UP AND TAKE A BOW?
UM, THERE WAS A BIG EVENT AT LIBERTY LUNCH, AND THEY HAD ALL THESE PRESS CLIPPINGS AND, UM, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH ALL THE WORK THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD DONE AND THE NEWS COVERAGE THAT THEY'D GOTTEN.
WELL, BOTH OF THE PEOPLE UP THERE ARE STILL ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THE BCP, YOU SEE BARBARA DOUGLE BE, AND THEN ALSO MARK SANDERS.
OF COURSE, IT'S, IT'S AMAZING.
WE HAVE STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THE ENTIRE TERM OF THE PERMIT.
BETWEEN 1987 AND 1998 SPECIES IN WESTERN TRAVIS COUNTY WERE LISTED AS ENDANGERED ACTIVATING FEDERAL PROTECTION UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.
SO HERE YOU SEE A PICTURE OF THE SIGNING OF THE BCCP ON MAY 2ND, 1996, AND THE BCCP WAS THE CULMINATION OF YEARS OF NEGOTIATION, SCIENTIFIC STUDY AND COLLABORATION AMONG LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS.
AFTER EXTENSIVE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND LEGAL GROUNDWORK, THE BCCP WAS OFFICIALLY SIGNED IN 1996, ESTABLISHING A 30 YEAR PERMIT, AND CREATED A FRAMEWORK FOR CONSERVING THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF HILL COUNTRY ECOSYSTEMS WHILE PROVIDING A PREDICTABLE PATH FOR DEVELOPMENT.
IT WAS A PIONEERING MODEL FOR MULTI-SPECIES MULTI-AGENCY CONSERVATION PLANNING.
THE BCPS MITIGATION COMMITMENTS WERE EXTENSIVE AND SCIENCE DRIVEN.
THE PLAN REQUIRES PROTECTING AND MANAGING 28,428 ACRES OF GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER HABITAT, AND 2000 ACRES FOR THE BLACK CAP.
RIO ORGANIZED INTO SEVEN LARGE PLANNING UNITS CALLED MACROS SITES WITH MINIMUM SIZE AND EDGE TO AREA RATIOS TO MAINTAIN ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY.
IT ALSO INCLUDED ACQUIRING OR MANAGING 35 NAMED CAVES FOR LISTED KARST IN VERTEBRATES AND 27 ADDITIONAL CAVES FOR SPECIES OF CONCERN, ALONG WITH SAFEGUARDING RARE PLANTS LIKE THE CANYON MOCK ORANGE AND TBA CROTTIN WITHIN THE PRESERVE.
THESE OBLIGATIONS FORM THE BACKBONE OF THE BCCP STRATEGY TO ENSURE SPECIES RECOVERY AND ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE OVER THE LONG TERM.
AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OLIVIA TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT'S BUILDING.
SO WHAT HAVE WE BUILT IN THE PAST 30 YEARS OF THE BALCON CANYON LAND CONSERVATION PLAN? UM, I'M GOING TO DISCUSS THREE MAJOR ELEMENTS OF WHAT THE BCCP HAS ESTABLISHED AND CONTINUES TO BUILD COMMUNITY, LOCAL AND PREDICTABLE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, SAFE AND RELIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN WAS A LANDMARK DEAL, THE FIRST MULTI-SPECIES MULTI-AGENCY REGIONAL HCP IN THE COUNTRY, AND HAS SERVED AS A MODEL ACROSS THE NATION.
THE HCP REQUIRED US TO ACQUIRE AND PROTECT IN PERPETUITY A SYSTEM OF PRESERVES CALLED THE BE CANYON LAND PRESERVE.
TODAY, MANY HAVE FORGOTTEN THE ISSUES THAT DROVE THE HCP DEVELOPMENT PERMANENT UNCERTAINTY, COUPLED WITH EXTREMELY FAST DEVELOPMENT IN TRAVIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUN COUNTRY NOW USE HCPS ROUTINELY, AND WE WILL HAVE THE LEGACY OF THE BCP FOREVER PROVIDING UNINTERRUPTED AREAS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT IN WESTERN TRAVIS COUNTY.
THE BCP IS NOT A SINGLE PRESERVE, BUT A SYSTEM OF PRESERVES OWNED AND MANAGED BY THESE PARTNERS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, LCRA, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY, TEXAS CAVE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, CITY OF LAKEWAY, SUNSET VALLEY, AND NUMEROUS PRIVATE OWNED LANDOWNERS OWN AND MANAGE THIS PRESERVED SYSTEM OF OVER 33,000 ACRES
[00:10:01]
AND 62 CAVES IN WESTERN TRAVIS COUNTY.THIS IS ABOVE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH BY THE HCP, AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE BIRDS.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO ALL OF US NOW AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S OFTEN OVERLOOKED IS THAT THE BCP IST ENTIRELY RESTRICTED SOME OF THE REGION'S MOST ICONIC OUTDOOR SPACES ARE PART OF THE B COUNTY'S CANYON LAMP RESERVE AND REMAIN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR SELF-GUIDED HIKING AND RECREATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, BARTON CREEK GREENBELT AND MALONG METRO PARK AND MOUNT BONNE ARE JUST SOME OF THESE ICONIC SPACES THAT ARE PART OF THE COES CANYONLAND PRESERVE THROUGH THE SAL TAKE PIT PERMIT ISSUED BY THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.
THE BCP OFFERS A STREAMLINED ALTERNATIVE TO MEETING MITIGATION MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR CAREFUL STEWARDSHIP OF BCP LANDS.
THE PLAN ENABLES DEVELOPMENT IN WESTERN TRAVIS COUNTY THROUGH A STREAMLINED PERMITTING PROCESS THAT PROVIDES REGULATORY CERTAINTY, OFTEN WITH APPROVALS IN FOUR TO SIX WEEKS OR LESS.
THE BBC P THE BCPS ABILITY TO BALANCE ECONOMIC GROWTH WITH HABITAT CONSERVATION HAS EARNED BROADENED SUPPORT FROM LANDOWNERS AND DEVELOPERS TO ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND PARTNERS ACROSS LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES.
IN THE 29 PLUS YEARS SINCE THE BCCP WAS CREATED, MORE THAN 1500 PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND DEVELOPERS AND MORE THAN 400 PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS HAVE RECEIVED BCP PERMITS.
THIS MAP ON THE RIGHT SHOWS, UH, PURPLE POLYGONS THAT ILLUSTRATE THOSE BCCP PER PERMITS THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED GROWTH BY YEAR.
SO HERE WE ARE, FLASHBACK TO 1996.
THIS MAP ILLUSTRATES THE PRESERVE, LAND AND DEVELOPED AREAS AT THE TIME OF ISSUANCE OF THE BCP.
IN 2005, THE HOMEOWNERS, THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER AUSTIN, ENDORSED THE BCCP AS A WIN-WIN HIGHLIGHTING ITS DUAL EFFORTS, PROTECTING LARGE CONTINUOUS HABITAT PRESERVES, WHILE ALLOWING DEVELOPERS TO CONTINUE TO THE CON, EXCUSE ME, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PLAN IN EXCHANGE FOR DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS IN APPROPRIATE AREAS.
THIS, THIS MAP SHOWS TODAY 2026.
THE MAP ILLUSTRATES THE DRAMATIC DICHOTOMY OF PRESERVED LAND AND DEVELOPED LAND.
OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, RAPID DEVELOPMENT HAS GROWN AROUND THE PRESERVES DEMONSTRATING IT'S NOT CONSERVATION OR DEVELOPMENT, BUT CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
THE BCCP SUPPORTS CLEAN AIR, WATER AND REDUCES FLOODING AND EROSION, OFFERS RECREATION AND SERVES AS A LIVING LABORATORY, PROTECTING VULNERABLE SPECIES, AND IN TURN, THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM WITHOUT IT, MUCH OF THE GREEN SPACE, INCLUDING SOME OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER AND BLACK CAT VERIO AND CARS HABITAT IN TRAVIS COUNTY WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED.
LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, THE BCCP HAS CONTINUED AND HAS AND CONTINUES TO BUILD COMMUNITY.
THE PRESERVE REQUIRES ACTIVE MANAGEMENT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN SIMPLY FENCE OFF AND LEAVE ALONE, AND THAT'S WHERE STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND THE PUBLIC PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE.
DEDICATED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT EVERYTHING FROM RESTORATION AND SPECIES MONITORING TO RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY SCIENCE.
IN 2005 ALONE, BCP PARTNERS HOSTED OVER 2000 EVENTS AND LOGGED NEARLY 11,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS, MANY OF WHICH DIRECTLY SUPPORT OUR BIOLOGISTS WORK.
SO THAT'S A LOOK AT WHAT THE BCP HAS BUILT OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS AND THE STRONG FOUNDATION THAT IT PROVIDES FOR THE FUTURE.
NEXT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JEREMY HALL TO DISCUSS WHAT THE BCCP IS SAVING.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAVE WE SAVED OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS? UM, WE HAVE TO REMIND OURSELF THAT THE BCCP ISN'T JUST ABOUT COMPLIANCE AND PERMITTING, RIGHT? IT'S ABOUT CONSERVING THOSE SPECIES AND HABITATS THAT MAKE CENTRAL TEXAS SO UNIQUE.
SO I'M GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME HERE AND TALK ABOUT THE SPECIES AND THE HABITATS THAT WE PROTECT.
I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AS A WHOLE, AND THEN JUST OUR GENERAL REGIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO I'M GONNA GO THROUGH EACH OF ONE OF OUR SPECIES EACH, EACH ONE GETS A SLIDE.
UM, WE'RE NOT GONNA TRY TO LUMP 'EM ALL UP TOGETHER.
AND, UM, I'M JUST GONNA HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE, UM, UNIQUE SUCCESS STORIES THAT WE'VE SEEN, UM, OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE ICONIC GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER.
IF YOU'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME, YOU'VE LIKELY HEARD OF THIS LITTLE SONGBIRD, UM, LISTED ENDANGERED IN 1990.
UM, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS BORN RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
THEY BLEED EXCLUSIVELY IN CENTRAL TEXAS AND THEY REQUIRE THAT CLOSED CANOPY, OAK, JUNIPER, WOODLAND THAT SURROUNDS THE HILLS OF WESTERN TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, THROUGHOUT THE PRESERVE, WE HAVE VERY STABLE POPULATIONS OF GOLDEN CHEEK GOBBLERS.
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THAT GOES OUT ALL THE TIME SERVING AND MONITORING THE TERRITORIES OF NESTING SUCCESS FOR THESE BIRDS.UM, WE HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST DENSITY, HIGHEST POPULATION DENSITY HABITAT FOR THE GOLDEN SHEIK WARBLER, ESPECIALLY IN TRAVIS COUNTY, IF NOT OVER ITS ENTIRE BREEDING RANGE.
THE BLACK CAT VERIO, UM, THIS ONE WAS ORIGINALLY LISTED IN 1987, BUT IT HAS SINCE BEEN DELISTED IN 2018 BECAUSE OF SUCH AMAZING CONSERVATION EFFORTS BY SO MANY PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE BCCP AND OTHERS.
BUT PART OF THIS BIRD STAYING REMOVED FROM THE LIST IS THAT CONTINUED EFFORT TO MONITOR AND CREATE THE HABITAT NEEDED FOR THIS SPECIES.
BECAUSE OF OUR ACTIVE MANAGEMENT ON THE BCP, WE HAVE SEEN TREMENDOUS GROWTH OF THIS SPECIES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
AS AN EXAMPLE, IN 2006, STAFF HAD 13 CONFIRMED INDIVIDUALS OVER NINE DIFFERENT TERRITORIES.
AND 2025, THAT NUMBER GREW TO 73 CONFIRMED INDIVIDUALS OVER 57 TERRITORIES.
A HUGE INCREASE AND IT'S A, IT'S A DIRECT RESULT AGAIN, OF OUR ACTIVE MANAGEMENT.
THIS BIRD REQUIRES AN EARLIER SUCCESSION HABITAT, A LOWER SHRUBBY HABITAT THAN THE GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER, UM, REQUIRES.
AND SO YOU CAN'T JUST, UM, ACQUIRE THIS LAND AND FENCE IT OFF AND WALK AWAY FROM IT.
YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY SET IT BACK TO SUSTAIN BOTH OF THOSE BIRDS WITH COMPETING PRIORITIES.
BUT OUR MANAGEMENT IS WORKING AND THEIR POPULATION IS GROWING.
OUR CARSON VERTEBRATES, THERE'S SIX OF THEM LISTED ON OUR PERMANENT, UM, ALL OF 'EM ARE CHAR FORBIDDED.
THEY LIVE IN CAVES, UM, THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.
THEY DO NOT COME TO THE SURFACE.
AND SOME OF THESE HAVE EXTREMELY SMALL RANGES, JUST A COU COUPLE OF CAVES, AND THEY'RE FOUND NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.
AND YOU KNOW, WE MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE HAVE PRO, UM, ESTABLISHED PROTECTIONS FOR AT LEAST 52 OF THOSE 62 NAME CAVES IN OUR ORIGINAL PERMIT.
AND WE ARE WORKING ON MULTIPLE SUBSTITUTIONS FOR OTHERS.
UM, THESE SPECIES ARE NEVER FOUND IN HIGH NUMBERS, UM, BECAUSE THEY ARE SO CRYPTIC AND HARD TO FIND, BUT WHERE THEY ARE FOUND, THEY'RE RELATIVELY STABLE.
THE BE CREEK CAVE HARVESTMAN, UM, IS ONE, THIS ONE IS ONLY FOUND SOUTH OF THE COLORADO, COLORADO RIVER.
IT HAS AN EXTREMELY LIMITED RANGE IN JUST THE ROLLING WOOD AREA, WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY HIGHLY DEVELOPED AREA, UM, OF THE COUNTY.
AND SO THIS IS, UM, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE MAINTAIN THOSE CAVES FOR, FOR THIS PARTICULAR SPECIES.
THE BONE CAVE HARVESTMAN LISTED IN 1998, THIS ONE, OTHER THAN THAN THE OTHER HARVESTMAN SPECIES, IS ONLY FOUND NORTH OF THE COLORADO RIVER, AND IT ACTUALLY GOES UP INTO WILLIAMSON COUNTY AS WELL.
UM, AND THERE'S A HCP UP THERE THAT, UH, INCLUDES THE SPECIES, THE CRUTCH MARK CAVE MOLE BEETLE.
ANOTHER ONE THAT HAS AN EXTREMELY LIMITED RANGE IN THE FOUR POINTS AREA.
UM, IT'S A LITTLE FAST MOVING CRITTER IS WHAT I'M TOLD.
AND, UM, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, A COR EIGHT EIGHTH THEM AN INCH.
WE'RE TALKING A GRAIN OF RICE HERE MOVING ACROSS THE GROUND.
SO VERY, VERY SMALL, UH, SMALL SPECIES.
THE TOOTH CRAVE GROUND BEETLE, UM, A QUARTER INCH LONG.
OKAY, SO WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.
UM, BUT THEY STILL HAVE REDUCED EYES LIKE MOST OF THESE THINGS AND THEY RELY ON OTHER SENSES.
THESE FEED ON SMALL CAVE CRICKET EGGS THROUGHOUT THE, UM, THE, UH, THE CAVE ECOSYSTEM.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY THE LARGEST OF THE SIX, UM, CARVERS THAT WE HAVE.
THE TOOTH CAVE SERIES SCORPION MY FAVORITE, JUST 'CAUSE HE LOOKS SO VICIOUS, UM, LISTED IN 1988.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEIR TAIL IS THEIR EYE LIST.
THEIR BODY HAS ALL THESE COOL HAIRS IN 'EM TO HELP THEM SINCE MOVE AROUND AND, AND HUNT FOR PREY.
AND THEY DO USE THOSE PINCHERS TO CAPTURE SMALL INVERTEBRATES SUCH AS LITTLE CAVE CRICKET NYMPHS.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE TOOTH CAVE SPIDER.
UM, TINY, VERY, THE SMALLEST OF OUR SPECIES, ONE 16TH OF AN INCH.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY SEE THEM WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING THESE SURVEYS, UM, BUT THEY HAVE THIS AMAZING RE REFLECTIVE BLUE LIGHT THAT YOU COULD SEE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH THERE WHEN THEY'RE, UM, WHEN YOU SHINE LIGHT ON THEM, ALONG WITH MONITORING THESE CAVE SPECIES.
OUR TEAMS DO A LOT OF FANTASTIC CAVE RESTORATION THROUGHOUT THE PRESERVE.
UM, I MENTIONED ALREADY THAT WE'VE PROTECTED 52 OF THOSE CAVES.
HISTORICALLY, CAVES WERE FILLED, UM, BY LANDOWNERS TO REDUCE HAZARDS TO LIVESTOCK, DISPOSE OF TRASH, AND MAKE LAND, UM, TO THEIR EYES MORE MARKETABLE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, THESE PHOTOS THAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT HERE, THE STRIKING IMAGES ARE FROM MIDNIGHT CAVE IN WHICH BCP BIOLOGISTS WORKED WITH VOLUNTEERS FOR OVER SIX YEARS TO REMOVE TRASH AND DEBRIS FROM THIS CAVE AND RESTORE IT TO ITS, UM, CURRENT STATE.
UM, OUR STAFFS ON BOTH SIDES SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT RESTORING AND DIGGING OUT CAVES.
AND IT LIKE THE OTHER ACTIVE MANAGEMENT WE WE DO IN THESE RESTORED CAVES,
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WE'VE SEEN SPECIES ABUNDANCE INCREASE AND WE'VE SEEN THE, THE SPECIES COME TO THESE CAVES THAT WE'VE RESTORED OVER TIME.JEREMY, I'M TAKING IT THAT THESE TWO PHOTOS ARE, UH, BEFORE WITH ALL THE TRASH AND THE ONE ON THE RIGHT WITH THE WATER AND THE BEAUTIFUL LIGHT COMING THROUGH YEP.
AND IT TOOK SIX YEARS TO REMOVE ALL THAT TRASH.
SIX, SIX YEARS WITH A, WITH STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.
AND YOU KNOW, THIS ALSO STORES THAT THESE RESTORED CAVES, NOT ONLY, UM, HELP BRING SPECIES IN, RIGHT? THEY'VE SEEN SPECIES DIVERSITY INCREASE IN THESE CAVES, BUT THEY ALSO PROVIDE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE TO EVERYONE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE CAVE EXISTS.
AND THAT'S BY INCREASING AQUIFER RECHARGE AND OUR WATER STORAGE CAPACITY IN THE AREA.
SO THESE HAVE A TREMENDOUS EFFECT ON EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY, NO MATTER IF YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE CONSERVING THEM OR THEY EXIST, UM, THEY'RE IMPORTANT FOR YOUR HEALTH.
FINALLY, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT REGIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, THE LANDSCAPES OF THE PRESERVE ARE PRIMARILY THE CLOSED CANOPY, MIXED OAK, JUNIPER FOREST, LIKE YOU SEE ON THE TOP RIGHT THERE.
BUT THERE ARE MANY, MANY HIDDEN GEMS IN THE BCP WITH SPRING FED CREEKS AND POOLS THROUGHOUT, LIKE THE ICONIC HAMILTON POOL IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT THERE, OR BOTTOM LEFT, I'M SORRY.
UM, THOSE OAK JUNIPER WOODLANDS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR WARBLER HABITAT.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE CAR LANDSCAPES THAT SERVE AS RECHARGE ZONES FOR AQUIFERS AND IN THE NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES.
THROUGHOUT THAT SUPPORT TREMENDOUS BIODIVERSITY AND RESILIENCE AT A LANDSCAPE LEVEL, FOUND NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
WE HAVE TO TAKE A SECOND RIGHT NOW AND REMIND OURSELVES THAT CON CONSERVATION ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE WILDLIFE OR PERMIT COMPLIANCE, IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS AREA.
THESE PROTECTED LANDS PROVIDE CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, REDUCE FLOODING RISK, REDUCE EROSION RISKS, REDUCE HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS WHILE STORING AN, UH, AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF CARBON.
UM, THEY ALSO SUPPORT OUR MENTAL HEALTH BY GIVING US PLACES TO HIKE, CONNECT WITH NATURE, OR JUST LOOK AT ALL THE GREEN SPACE THAT MAKES TRAVIS COUNTY AND CITY OF AUSTIN SO UNIQUE.
YOU ASK ANYONE THAT LIVES HERE, WHAT IS SO COOL ABOUT THE CITY? AND ONE OF THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS ALL OF THE GREEN SPACE THAT WE HAVE AND SHARE ALL OVER THE PLACE THAT IS TRULY SPECIAL AND IT MAKES OUR AREA TRULY UNIQUE.
AND WITHOUT THE BCCP, AS YOU SAW ON THAT ONE MAP, EVERY BIT OF THIS LAND WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS PLAN.
LASTLY, I WANNA SAY BEFORE WE LOOK AHEAD TO START THE FUTURE AND PERMIT RENEWAL, WE NEED TO TAKE A MINUTE, UH, TO REFLECT ON THE PATH THAT GOT US HERE.
THE BCCP IS A RESULT OF DECADES OF COLLABORATION ACROSS AGENCIES, PARTNER LANDOWNERS, SCIENTISTS, POLICYMAKERS, AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE.
THIS PROGRAM EXISTS BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN THE VISION EARLY ON, WHO NAVIGATED TREMENDOUS OBSTACLES AND INVESTED THEIR TIME, EXPERTISE, AND TRUST INTO THIS UNPRECEDENTED CONSERVATION EFFORT.
OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS HAVE SHAPED THE PROGRAM THROUGH PLANNING RESEARCH ON THE GROUND STEWARDSHIP, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND ONGOING COMMITMENT TO THE PERMITS INTEGRITY.
I'M GONNA TAKE A SECOND TO HIGHLIGHT OUR FANTASTIC STAFF.
SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN WITH US, AS WE SAID EARLIER, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, AND ARE STILL ON THE GROUND WORKING TODAY.
THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE AND THEIR WORK BUILT THE FRAMEWORK THAT ALLOWS US TO STAND HERE TODAY AND CONTINUE THIS MISSION WITH CONFIDENCE AND PURPOSE.
AS WE MOVE INTO A RENEWAL, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE WILL NEED EVERYONE'S CONTINUED SUPPORT.
UM, AS WE LOOK TO THE NEXT 30 YEARS, ALONG WITH THE CONTRIBUTION OF MANY NEW PARTNERS AND POTENTIALLY NEW STAFF COMING IN, ALL OF IT WILL BE ESSENTIAL TO CARRYING THE BCCP FORWARD OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
SO I WANNA SAY TO EVERYONE WHO PLAYED A ROLE IN BUILDING, GUIDING, AND SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE DECADES, THANK YOU.
THE BCCP STORY IS YOUR LEGACY.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO KIMBERLY TO TALK ABOUT OUR FUTURE.
BUT WHAT COMES NEXT? WE HAD TO ADAPT TO NEW REALITIES.
WE'RE MODERNIZING FOR THE FUTURE AND WE'RE WORKING TO COMPLETE THE VISION.
ONE OF THOSE NEW REALITIES WE HAD TO ADAPT TO, UM, SOME GUIDANCE FROM THE SERVICE MADE IT CLEAR.
PER CURRENT REGULATIONS, ANY AMENDMENT OR RENEWAL OF AN EXISTING PERMIT IS A NEW SERVICE DECISION AND IS SUBJECT TO ALL CURRENT RELEVANT LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
FURTHERMORE, THE SERVICE WILL EVALUATE THE APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL BASED ON CURRENT POLICIES AND GUIDANCE, AND WE MUST MEET ISSUANCE CRITERIA BASED ON THE CURRENT BEST AVAILABLE SCIENTIFIC DATA.
THE UPDATE TO SECTION 10 REGULATIONS CODIFIED RECENT POLICY CHANGES MADE BY THE SERVICE EXPANDING THE LIST OF REQUIREMENTS THAT A CONSERVATION PLAN MUST HAVE FOR AN INCIDENTAL TAKE PERMIT APPLICATION.
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COMPLETE EVALUATION TO DETERMINE WAYS THAT IT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED TO CONFORM TO CURRENT SERVICE POLICY, AND TO INCORPORATE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENTIFIC DATA.SO THE BCCP REMAINS FULLY AUTHORIZED DURING THIS RENEWAL PROCESS.
THERE WILL BE NO DISRUPTION TO BCCP PERMITTING SERVICES.
SO STREAMLINED DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE PERMITTING WILL BE ONGOING THROUGH THE RENEWAL PROCESS.
MODERNIZING FOR THE FUTURE, THE BCCP PERMIT RENEWAL IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MODERNIZE AND STRENGTHEN THE PLAN.
WE'LL REVISIT SPECIES RECOVERY TARGETS AND HABITAT OBJECTIVES TO REFLECT NEW SCIENCE AND PROGRESS SINCE 1996.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO USE MORE ADVANCED TOOLS AND IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND ACCURACY.
WE'LL STREAMLINE PERMITTING AND COMPLIANCE REPORTING TO MAKE THE INCIDENTAL TAKE PERMITTING PROCESS MORE TRANSPARENT AND USER-FRIENDLY.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS NEW PRIORITIES AND ISSUES THAT WEREN'T FRONT AND CENTER 30 YEARS AGO, INCLUDING CLIMATE ADAPTION AND WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT.
SINCE THE ORIGINAL PERMIT, MORE SPECIES HAVE BEEN LISTED OR ARE PROPOSED FOR LISTING, THE UPDATED PLAN WILL EVALUATE THESE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE AND ECOSYSTEM INTEGRITY.
THESE CHANGES REFLECT HOW MUCH HAS EVOLVED SINCE 1996 AND HOW MUCH MORE WE NEED TO DO TO PREPARE FOR FUTURE CHALLENGES.
TRAVIS COUNTY IS BUILDING A NEW BALCONES CANYON LANDS PRESERVE VISITOR CENTER, A 60,000 SQUARE FOOT THREE STORY FACILITY ON A 93 ACRE SITE NEAR SIX 20.
AND THE SITE IS ADJACENT TO ADDITIONAL BCP LAND.
IT WILL FEATURE IMMERSIVE EXHIBITS LIKE A WALKTHROUGH 3D CAVE, NATIVE PLANT GARDENS, A DA ACCESSIBLE TRAILS, AN AMPHITHEATER CONFERENCE AND EVENT SPACE.
THE CENTER WILL SERVE AS BOTH AN EDUCATIONAL HUB AND OFFICE SPACE FOR NATURAL RESOURCES STAFF AT TRAVIS COUNTY, CREATING A COMMUNITY GATEWAY TO CONSERVATION IN THE HILL COUNTRY.
IT'S EXPECTED TO OPEN IN 2028, AND WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED.
SO COMPLETING THE VISION, THIS IS THE EXCITING PART.
THE BCCP CAN INTEGRATE CLIMATE ADAPTION STRATEGIES, ADVANCED MONITORING TECHNOLOGY, AND DEEPEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
IT'S A CHANCE TO BUILD A NEXT GENERATION CONSERVATION PLAN.
RENEWING THE BCCP ISN'T A ONE STEP PROCESS.
IT'S A MULTI-YEAR EFFORT WITH DISTINCT PHASES AND EACH PHASE BUILDS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE NEXT PHASE.
ONE HAS SET UP THE RESOURCES AND AGREEMENTS NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD, AND SOME OF THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED, INCLUDING THE CITY COUNTY APPROVALS AND THE UPDATED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
WE ARE ALSO CURRENTLY IN THE CONSULTANT PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND HOPE TO HAVE AN EXECUTED CONTRACT FOR THAT SCOPE OF WORK IN THE COMING MONTHS.
PHASE TWO IS WHERE WE ALIGN SCIENCE POLICY AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT.
WE ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING EXISTING BCCP DATA AND IDENTIFYING SPECIES AND ACTIVITY COVERAGE NEEDS.
THIS PHASE MAKES SURE THE UPDATED BCCP REFLECTS CURRENT CONDITIONS AND PRIORITIES.
COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT STARTS IN PHASE TWO AND CONTINUES THROUGH DRAFTING AND REVIEW.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IS CRITICAL.
IT FOSTERS SHARED OWNERSHIP THAT BUILDS TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY AMONG PARTNERS AND THE PUBLIC.
IT LEADS TO BETTER DECISIONS BY INCORPORATING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE.
IT SUPPORTS TRANSPARENCY AND COMPLIANCE AND IS REQUIRED UNDER NEPA AND ESA.
IT ALSO HELPS WITH CONFLICT PREVENTION BY REDUCING SURPRISES AND OPPOSITION THROUGH EARLY INVOLVEMENT.
WE WILL ENGAGE THROUGH WORKSHOPS, PUBLIC MEETINGS, SURVEYS, AND TARGETED OUTREACH.
THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE VOICES ARE HEARD AND INCORPORATED EARLY.
PHASE THREE IS THE HEAVY LIFT, TURNING RESEARCH AND INPUT INTO A WORKABLE PLAN.
THIS IS WHERE WE START WRITING THE UPDATED HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN.
WE REFINE THE DRAFT ADDRESS EFFECTS, ANALYSIS, MITIGATION STRATEGIES, AND IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS.
WE ENGAGE WITH ADVISORY COMMITTEES LIKE THE BIOLOGICAL ADVISORY TEAM AND THE CITIZENS ADVISORY TEAM, AND WORK CLOSELY WITH THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE.
THIS IS ALSO THE POINT WHERE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY GOVERNING BODIES GIVE THEIR OFFICIAL APPROVAL OF THE RENEWED BCCP AND HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN PLAN.
THAT APPROVAL IS REQUIRED BEFORE WE SUBMIT THE FINAL DRAFT TO THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE FOR FEDERAL REVIEW.
ONCE APPROVED LOCALLY, WE MOVE INTO PHASE FOUR.
PHASE FOUR ENSURES TRANSPARENCY AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE BEFORE THE PERMIT IS FINALIZED.
THE DRAFT GOES THROUGH FEDERAL REVIEW WHERE WE PAIR NEPA
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DOCUMENTATION, WHICH GOES THROUGH A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND REVISIONS.PHASE FIVE IS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN PLANNING AND ACTION AFTER YEARS OF PLANNING, DRAFTING, AND REVIEW.
PHASE FIVE IS WHERE THE UPDATED BCCP AND HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN BECOME OFFICIAL AND THE PERMIT AND ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ARE FINALIZED WITH THE SERVICE.
A RENEWED PERMIT IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS ROLLOUT.
SO CITY AND COUNTY STAFF, CONSULTANTS AND STAKEHOLDERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE NEW PROCESS AND TRAINING, ENSURES SMOOTH IMPLEMENTATION AND COMPLIANCE FROM DAY ONE.
WE'VE LISTED SOME RESOURCES UP HERE TO HELP EVERYBODY STAY CONNECTED AND TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH OUR STORY AS WE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL END JUST LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE A SMALL RECEPTION IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS MEETING IN THE ATRIUM.
AND WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US TO SPEND SOME TIME TALKING AND CONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER TO SHARE STORIES AND CELEBRATE THE BCCP.
AND WHILE THIS 30TH ANNIVERSARY IS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING A LARGER CELEBRATION ONCE THE RENEWED BCCP PERMIT AND HCP ARE IN PLACE.
AND WE'RE HOPING TO DO THAT AT THE NEW VISITOR CENTER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
AND I HATE TO PUT ANYONE ON THE SPOT, BUT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANY WORDS ON US FISH AND WILDLIFE'S BEHALF ABOUT, UM, WHERE WE'VE COME FROM AND WHERE WE'RE GOING? I DON'T KNOW.
I CAN SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE OF THE SERVICE, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY SAY IT'S A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF SUCCESS.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
YEAH, I, I ALSO WANNA, UM, JUST ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYONE, UM, UH, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE HERE,
UM, PRESERVE NATURE FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR RESIDENTS.
UM, AND IT CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS, UM, BOTH IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
SO, UH, IT'S FITTING THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING IT ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY.
UM, AND I HOPE, UH, AT THE RECEPTION, I DON'T, DO WE HAVE MICROPHONES IN THE, IN THE CITY HALL ATRIUM? WE'LL, 'CAUSE I'D LOVE TO HEAR PEOPLE'S STORIES.
I I KNOW MARK IN PARTICULAR,
UM, TRAVIS AUDUBON AND, UM, SO MANY ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS REALLY WERE THE IMPETUS FOR GETTING THE BIRD SPECIES LISTED.
THEY AS BIRD LOVERS, UM, KNEW HOW THREATENED THESE SPECIES WERE AND BEGAN THE, THE SCIENTIFIC DOCUMENTATION OF THE THREAT TO THEM.
AND THEN A, A COMMUNITY-WIDE, UH, POSTCARD CAMPAIGN.
AGAIN, WHEN I GOT HERE IN SEPTEMBER OF 1988, THESE THINGS WERE BEGINNING AND UNDERWAY.
AND IT WAS A REMARKABLE THING TO SEE, UM, WHAT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY FOUGHT FOR AND HOW SMART AND CREATIVE PEOPLE WERE ABOUT CREATING A, A STRUCTURE TO BOTH HAVE THE REVENUE TO PURCHASE THE LAND AND PERMANENTLY PROTECT IT, UM, BUT ALSO CREATE A BENEFIT FOR DEVELOPERS, UM, SO THAT THEY SAW THAT THEY, THEY WANTED TO SUPPORT THIS AS WELL INSTEAD OF CONTINUING THE KINDS OF FIGHTS THAT WE WERE SEEING.
I MEAN, PEOPLE, UH, WHO WERE HERE KNOW THIS, BUT, UH, MANY DON'T.
BUT PEOPLE WERE CHAINING THEMSELVES TO TREES, TO BULLDOZERS, UH, AND DOING ALL KINDS OF PROTESTS TO PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF, UH, LAND THAT CONTAINED THESE BEAUTIFUL CAVES.
UM, AND THAT, UH, HAD, UM, HABITAT FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES.
SO THERE WERE REALLY SIGNIFICANT FIGHTS UNDERWAY.
AND HUGE CREDIT GOES OUT TO, AGAIN, SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.
UM, BUT FOLKS WHO AREN'T HERE AS WELL.
UH, FORMER TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER VALERIE BRISTOL AND BARBARA CARLSON AND THEIR STAFFS I THINK WERE SOME OF THE KEY, UH, PARTICIPANTS, BUT FILL US IN AND THE ATRIUM WHEN WE TELL STORIES.
BUT I THINK THEY WERE, THEY WERE SOME OF THE KEY ARCHITECTS OF THE FINANCING TOOL THAT, UM, I THINK IS BRILLIANT.
IT, UH, RECOGNIZES HOW THIS KIND OF BEAUTIFUL PRESERVATION OF LAND ENHANCES THE VALUE OF PROPERTY NEAR IT AND, UH, DESIGNED THE, THE, THE FUNDING MECHANISM SUCH THAT THE INCREASE IN THE TAXABLE VALUE OF THAT ADJACENT LAND, WHICH COULD BE DEVELOPED, UM, FUNDED THE CONTINUED,
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UH, PRESERVATION AND PURCHASE OF LAND SO THAT IT'S PERMANENTLY PROTECTED.UM, AND THE MAINTENANCE OF IT, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO JUST BUY THE LAND.
WE ALSO HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT, MAINTAIN THE FENCES, MAKE SURE PEOPLE AREN'T CONTINUING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY TRAMPLE THE FENCES AND, AND GO INTO THE PRESERVES AND, UH, DO THINGS WE REALLY DON'T WANT THEM TO DO.
UM, THERE'S ALSO A WILD BORE OR, OR PIG, I'M NOT SURE THE RIGHT HOG PROBLEM IN THE PRESERVES.
IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER, ALL OVER THE PLACE.
BUT, UM, IT'S, IT'S ALSO A PARTICULAR PROBLEM IN THE PRESERVES.
SO YOU NEED FUNDING TO MAINTAIN IT, UM, AND PRESERVE IT.
SO I JUST, I REALLY WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTIONS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE MADE.
AND I, I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO, TO TELL THOSE STORIES, UH, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A WAY TO CAPTURE THEM, UM, WHEN WE CELEBRATE MAY ATRIUM.
BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, AND THANK YOU.
I KNOW IN SOME OF MY EARLY DAYS WORKING IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING, I CAME IN ONE MORNING AND FOUND A STACK OF CASSETTE TAPES ON MY CHAIR, AND IT WAS BCCP TESTIMONY TAPES.
IT WAS HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS OF TESTIMONY THAT HAD BEEN CAPTURED ON CASSETTE TAPE.
AND MY BOSS AT THE TIME HAD PUT A NOTE ON IT THAT SAYS, PLEASE DIGITIZE
AND SO I SHEEPISHLY TOOK MY STACK OF CASSETTE TAPES UP TO HIS OFFICE AND I SAID, IS THIS A JOKE?
UM, BUT I LOVED BEING ABLE TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO ALL OF THE VOICES THAT WERE WANTING TO BE HEARD IN THAT MOMENT AND SHARING STORIES, WHETHER THEY WERE IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN, SOUTHWEST AUSTIN, YOU KNOW, CENTRAL SOUTH AUSTIN.
AS WE LOOK AT WHAT THIS CONSERVATION PLAN LOOKS AT, AND TO BE ABLE TO HEAR FOLKS TELL STORIES ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR BACKYARD, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN PARK SPACES RIGHT NEXT DOOR, AND WHAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE RESONATE WITH, IT'S WHY PEOPLE COME TO AUSTIN.
I SAY, EITHER YOU CAME HERE BECAUSE YOU WERE AN ENVIRONMENTALIST, OR IT TURNED YOU INTO AN ENVIRONMENTALIST, BUT THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT.
YOU, YOU HAVE TO PROTECT EVERYTHING THAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT CENTRAL TEXAS.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE ACTIVISM AND TESTIMONY AND WORK THAT'S GONE INTO CREATING THE PLAN AND PROTECTING THE PLAN FOR 30 YEARS.
AND A LOT OF SPECIES HAVE THRIVED BECAUSE OF THE PROTECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE.
AND YES, TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER SHAY MADE IT MORE DESIRABLE FOR THE FOLKS THAT DO WANNA BUILD THINGS HERE, TO BE ABLE TO BE NEAR THINGS THAT PEOPLE LOVE AND APPRECIATE AND ALLOW US TO DISCONNECT WHEN WE GET TIRED OF THE, THE HECTIC DAY-TO-DAY LIFE.
WE ALL LIKE TO GO FOR, FOR WALKS.
AND, UM, COMMISSIONER SHEA AND COMMISSIONER HOWARD AND I, AND A NUMBER OF YOU ALL GOT TO GO ON A FIRSTHAND TOUR AND REALLY GET INTO THE PRESERVE AND GO INTO SOME OF THE PROTECTED SPACES A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.
UM, BUT THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO START YOUR MORNING, I THINK, THAN GETTING OUT AND GETTING ON A HIKE AND GETTING TO ENGAGE WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES CENTRAL TEXAS SO SPECIAL.
DID YOU SAVE THOSE DIGITIZED, UH, TESTIMONIALS? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE ADDED TO SOME KIND OF ARCHIVES? HOPEFULLY, I CAN PROBABLY FIND THEM.
THE VISITOR CENTER WILL HAVE ARCHIVES OF THESE, OF THESE STORIES.
I KNOW WE'RE, THERE WERE SOME CASSETTE TAPES, SO I'M SURE I COULD ASK FOR THE DIGITIZED VERSION.
YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
YOU COULD PLAY 'EM IN THE ATRIUM AS PEOPLE WALK THROUGH ALL THIS TESTIMONY.
[4. Recognition of BCCP 30th Anniversary Proclamations by Travis County and City of Austin Designating May 2, 2026 as Endangered Species Conservation Day]
RECOGNITION OF BCCP 30TH ANNIVERSARY PROCLAMATIONS BY TRAVIS COUNTY AND CITY OF AUSTIN, DESIGNATING MAY 2ND, 2026 AS ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION CONSERVATION DAY.UM, I WOULD SAY I'M PLEASED TO SHARE THAT BOTH OF THESE ENTITIES HAVE, UH, ADVANCED PROCLAMATIONS TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THIS SPECIAL MOMENT.
THESE TWIN PROCLAMATIONS HIGHLIGHT THE LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND REFLECT THREE DECADES OF SHARED COMMITMENT TO CONSERVING HABITAT AND PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
SO FAR, IT'S BIRDS, SALAMANDERS, KARSTEN, VERTEBRATES, AND MAYBE SOME PLANTS IN THERE.
UM, BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY WELCOME THE BUTTERFLIES, THE BEES, AND THE FAT MUCKS
UM, FOR 30 YEARS, THE TWO JURISDICTIONS HAVE JOINTLY ADMINISTERED THE BCCP WORKING SIDE BY SIDE TO BUILD THE B COUNTY'S CANYON LAND PRESERVE TO PROTECT OVER 30,000 ACRES OF HABITAT AND CRITICAL CAVE SYSTEMS IN PERPETUITY.
OUR COORDINATION DECISION TO RENEW THE BCCP PERMIT FURTHER REAFFIRMS THE COMMITMENT, ENSURING THE, THE COLLABORATIVE STEWARDSHIP WILL CONTINUE WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
WE WILL BE HOSTING A RECEPTION, UH, FOLLOWING THIS MEETING WHERE BOTH TRAVIS
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COUNTY AND CITY OF AUSTIN PROCLAMATIONS WILL BE ON DISPLAY.I HAVE A FEW SHORT REMARKS AND I INVITE COMMISSIONER SHEA, UM, US FISH AND WILDLIFE, KIMBERLY, OUR BCCP OFFICER, AND ANY OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE IN HELPING SAVE AND PROTECT THIS LAND TO STEP UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND HELP SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES.
AND SO I HOPE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO READ THOSE PROCLAMATIONS ON YOUR OWN AS WE MOVE INTO THE RECEPTION AND RECOGNITION PORTION OF THE DAY.
IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO? UM, YOU JUST THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE NEXT BCCP MEETING.
THE NEXT BCCP MEETING WILL BE ON DECEMBER 11TH, 2026 FROM 1:00 PM TO 3:00 PM AT THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL AND LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO 30 YEARS OF B SIX P.
I'LL SAY THIS IS ONE OF THE HIGHER ATTENDANCE NUMBERS OF THE COMMITTEES THAT WE TEND TO HOST HERE IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
UM, BUT, BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN THE ATRIUM FOR A SPECIAL RECOGNITION IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
AND ON THAT NOTE, I WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 1:53 PM HOW I.