Commissioners Court - Regular Session

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19.

Meeting Date:	02/23/2010
Submitted For:	Gary Boyd	Submitted By:	Gary Boyd, Parks
Department:	Parks

Information

Agenda Item

Discuss and take appropriate action on Work Authorization request (styled WCCF #2) covering Proposal for Georgetown Salamander (Eurycea naufragia) research for the Williamson County Conservation Foundation.

Background

As a part of the it's Habitat Conservation Plan the county's Williamson County Conservation Foundation (WCCF) is committed to a five-year research and monitoring project that focuses on better delineating the range of the salamander, gathering baseline data on water quality and quantity at salamander spring sites, and monitoring salamander presence/abundance at selected spring sites. After completion of the first two years of the program, a status review will be prepared describing an appropriate conservation strategy for the species. Water quality monitoring and salamander presence/abundance monitoring will continue through Year 6 of the plan to continue collecting baseline data. At the end of the five-year research and monitoring program, if the Georgetown salamander is still a candidate species, the Foundation will investigate the feasibility of developing a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances.

A Candidate Conservation Agreement with the US Fish and Wildlife Service provides for an agreed plan to keep the subject species from being listed as endangered.

Dr. Ben Pierce, Professor and holder of the Lillian Nelson Pratt Chair, Department of Biology, Southwestern University, will be the lead researcher for this research, to be assisted by SWCA Environmental Consultants.

A copy of the Proposal is attached. The WCCF board approved this agreement in its February 10 meeting.

Fiscal Impact

From/To	Acct No.	Description	Amount

Attachments
RHCP Salamander proposal

Form Review

Inbox	Reviewed By	Date
County Judge Exec Asst.	Wendy Coco	02/17/2010 02:37 PM
Form Started By: Gary Boyd		Started On: 02/17/2010 08:48 AM
Final Approval Date: 02/17/2010