Tyler Nature Center Draft Environmental Assessment

Draft Environmental Assessment Tyler Nature Center Regional Office Complex Replacement Project Smith County, Texas

Prepared by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and US Fish and Wildlife Service April 25, 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ...... 4 PURPOSE AND NEED ...... 4 PROPOSED ACTION and ALTERNATIVES ...... 5 Alternative A: Reconstruction of the Regional Office Complex (Proposed Action) ...... 5 Alternative B: No Action ...... 5 Other Alternatives Considered but Dismissed from Further Analysis ...... 6 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ...... 6 Physical Resources ...... 6 Air ...... 7 Soils ...... 7 Water/Wetlands ...... 7 Biological Resources ...... 8 Vegetation ...... 8 Federally Listed Species ...... 9 State Listed Species ...... 10 Historic and Cultural Resources ...... 13 Recreation...... 15 Social and Economic Factors ...... 15 Environmental Justice...... 16 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ...... 16 Alternative A (Proposed Action)...... 16 Physical Resources ...... 16 Air ...... 16 Soils ...... 17 Water/Wetlands ...... 17 Biological Resources ...... 17 Vegetation ...... 17 Federally Listed Species ...... 17 State Listed Species ...... 18 Other Wildlife Species ...... 19 Historic and Cultural Resources ...... 20 Recreation...... 20 Social and Economic Factors ...... 20

Environmental Justice...... 20 Alternative B: (No Action) ...... 20 Physical Resources ...... 21 Air ...... 21 Soils ...... 21 Water/Wetlands ...... 21 Biological Resources ...... 21 Vegetation ...... 21 Federally Listed Species ...... 21 State Listed Species ...... 21 Other Wildlife Species ...... 21 Historic and Cultural Resources ...... 21 Recreation...... 22 Social and Economic Factors ...... 22 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources of the Proposed Action ...... 22 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ...... 22 PUBLIC REVIEW ...... 23 PREPARERS ...... 24 REFERENCES ...... 24 Appendix A: Project Location Map ...... 26 Appendix B Site Plan ...... 27 Appendix C: Topographic Map ...... 28 Appendix D: Soils Map ...... 29 Appendix E: Water Resources Map ...... 30 Appendix F: Ecological Mapping Systems of Texas ...... 31 Appendix G: IPAC Trust Resources List...... 32 Appendix H: TPWD Smith County List ...... 39 Appendix I: Texas Historical Commission Concurrence ...... 50 Appendix J: USFWS Section 7 Consultation ...... 52 Appendix K: Section 106 Tribal Consultation...... 52 Appendix L: Texas Register Notice ...... 52 Appendix M: Commission Meeting Agenda ...... 52

INTRODUCTION

This Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared to analyze the environmental effects of reconstructing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) regional office complex at the existing Tyler Nature Center (TNC), which is owned and operated by TPWD. Because TPWD proposes to use Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) funds to reconstruct the regional office complex, the proposed project constitutes a Federal action that is subject to evaluation by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). This EA has been prepared following Department of Interior procedures for compliance with NEPA and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 C.F.R. 1500, et seq.).

PURPOSE AND NEED

The TNC is situated on 82 acres located just outside the city limits and southeast of Tyler, Smith County, Texas. The TNC includes public education areas and trails as well as regional offices for the TPWD Wildlife Division, Inland Fisheries Division, and State Parks Division. The TNC has a visitor center, indoor and outdoor classrooms with associated trails, a constructed pond and wetlands, grasslands, pine uplands, bottomland forest, and the TPWD regional office complex. The office complex is made up of separate office buildings, storage areas, maintenance areas, parking, and driveways. The structures are no longer meeting the needs of staff as an efficient work environment. Additionally, the site layout does not separate public access from employee access and lacks sufficient security for TPWD assets.

TPWD plans to demolish portions of the existing infrastructure (sidewalks, pavement, parking areas, etc.) in the footprint of the new building site and associated infrastructure, clear and grade approximately 17 acres of vegetation, and construct a unified regional office complex to provide offices, vehicle and equipment storage, maintenance workspace, and social infrastructure for the Wildlife Division, Inland Fisheries Division, State Parks Division, and Law Enforcement Division. Regional Law Enforcement Division staff are currently not operating from the TNC campus and will relocate to the new facility. The new construction would also include associated utilities, a public access driveway and parking, a public reception area within the office building, revegetation, and trail construction and renovation.

The proposed regional office complex buildings and facilities are essential to the management of regional TPWD employees, equipment and properties of different divisions, and are critical to the management, operations, social infrastructure, and security of the public use areas of the TNC. Modern design and construction of new office, storage, and maintenance spaces would meet the needs of the regional staff more effectively than the existing structures. The regional division staff have outgrown the current facilities and are in need of more space to support the functions and activities of current and future business operations.

PROPOSED ACTION and ALTERNATIVES

Alternative A: Reconstruction of the Regional Office Complex (Proposed Action)

The location of the proposed project is shown in Appendix A and described in detail in the Affected Environment section below. The reconstruction of the regional office complex would accommodate the relocation of approximately 20 staff to the TNC and would accommodate approximately 18 future, temporary, or vacant staff positions. The proposed project would entail:

• Demolition of portions of existing driveways, parking areas, a septic system, sidewalks, and trails in the footprint of the new building or infrastructure;

• The disturbance footprint for demolition, vegetation clearing, grading, and construction would occur on approximately 22 acres of the TNC which includes 10 acres of Disturbance/Tame Grassland, 6.5 acres of Upland Hardwood Forest, 0.5 acres Pine Forest, and 5 acres of existing paved or built areas;

• Construction will include approximately 58,000 square feet (sf) of new office building, storage, maintenance, and parking areas. The project would reconfigure the parking and driveways in the vicinity of the new building to clearly designate public visitor spaces, TPWD employee spaces, and shared spaces. Approximately 6,800 linear feet of six- to ten-foot wide decomposed granite trails with outdoor classrooms would be placed within the Upland Hardwood Forest, Disturbance/Tame Grassland, and Pine Forest and selectively placed to minimize disturbance to existing vegetation and to maximize use of existing pathways. The newly-constructed trails and classrooms would occupy approximately 2 acres.

TPWD proposes construction of a unified office building with a dedicated staff entrance (19,160 sf), parking, storage, maintenance yard and bays (32,200 sf), and a remote vehicle storage yard (6,674 sf). The project would also include construction of six- to ten-foot wide decomposed granite trails and outdoor classrooms (2 acres), a reconstructed public access driveway with parking, a new septic system, and associated amenities and utilities. To accommodate the new site plan, TPWD would demolish and remove portions of existing parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, vegetation, trails, and a septic system and would conduct site grading within the 22-acre project area. The demolition area and site plan are shown in Appendix B.

Alternative B: No Action

If no action is taken, then approximately 17 staff, as well as interns and volunteers, at the TNC would have inadequate office and laboratory space to conduct official business. Law Enforcement Division Staff would continue to rent office space at various locations throughout Tyler. Off-site or temporary office, maintenance, and storage solutions would become necessary. Otherwise, equipment would continue to be stored and maintained in sheds and outdoors at TNC or at other

TPWD properties and transported to the site on an as-needed basis. Lack of a suitable maintenance area would result in staff having to work in existing unsafe structures or outdoors. As such, management challenges associated with obtaining off-site or temporary office, storage, and maintenance spaces, poor existing facilities to store equipment, and lack of safe existing facilities to conduct maintenance operations would continue to exist.

Other Alternatives Considered but Dismissed from Further Analysis

• An alternative to renovate the State Parks Regional Office and Inland Fisheries Shop was considered, but dismissed from further analysis. Renovations would not resolve the need for additional office, storage, and maintenance space to support all Law Enforcement Division, Wildlife Division, Inland Fisheries Division, and State Parks Division regional staff. Renovation of the existing structures would not provide a cohesive work environment across divisions and would not provide shared-use spaces, thus reducing efficiency. Additionally, a goal to clearly designate public visitor spaces, TPWD employee spaces, and shared spaces was not satisfied when trying to incorporate renovation of the existing structures.

• An alternative to develop infrastructure on entirely undeveloped locations within the TNC was discussed but dismissed from further consideration. TPWD prefers to replace the existing infrastructure using the same footprints or adjacent previously-disturbed areas of the TNC to the extent feasible, thereby minimizing disturbance of undeveloped portions of the TNC.

• An alternative to develop a regional office by acquisition or lease on new location property was discussed but dismissed from further consideration. Developing the regional office on new property was not determined an efficient use of resources. Developing the regional office at an alternate location would separate regional staff from the nature center, trails, and classrooms, requiring inefficient use of the TNC and travel between the new location to the TNC to perform job duties associated with public meetings, training, school groups, and workshops at the TNC. Reconfiguring the existing TNC is more effective in merging different division staff onto one site while also retaining the ability to interface regularly with the public and manage the nature center.

AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

The existing TNC regional office complex is located on the west side of Farm-to-Market 848 approximately 3.7 miles southeast of Loop 323 and approximately one mile outside the city limits of Tyler, Smith County, Texas (Appendix A). The elevation of the TNC ranges from approximately 465 to 590 feet. A topographic map of the TNC, regional office complex and existing infrastructure is provided in Appendix C. The proposed regional office complex replacement would occur at the existing TNC site.

Physical Resources

Air

The Clean Air Act, which was last amended in 1990, requires Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. The EPA has set NAAQS for six principal criteria pollutants: ground-level ozone, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter. No later than one year after promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS for any pollutant, the governor must submit designation recommendations to the EPA for all areas of the state. The EPA must then promulgate the designations within two years of promulgation of the revised NAAQS. Areas that do not meet (or contribute to ambient air quality in a nearby area that does not meet) the NAAQS are designated nonattainment. Areas that meet the NAAQS are designated attainment; and areas that cannot be classified based on the available information are considered unclassifiable. As of February 28, 2019, Smith County is designated as in attainment/unclassifiable for all air quality criteria pollutants (EPA 2019).

Soils

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (USDA 2019), the TNC contains the following soil types (Appendix D): • Alto loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes (AoB), 13.2 acres (16.1 percent) • Attoyac fine sandy loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes (AtB), 0.3 acres (0.4 percent) • Briley loamy fine sand, 1 to 5 percent slopes (ByC), 2.9 acres (3.5 percent) • Cuthbert fine sandy loam, 5 to 20 percent slopes (CfE), 8.9 acres (10.8 percent) • Elrose fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes (ErD), 8.6 acres (10.5 percent) • Oakwood fine sandy loam, 1 to 5 percent slopes (OkB), 20.2 acres (24.5 percent) • Pickton loamy fine sand, 2 to 5 percent slopes (PkC), 7.2 acres (8.8 percent) • Pickton loamy fine sand, 8 to 15 percent slopes (PkE), 12.5 acres (15.2 percent) • Redsprings very gravelly sandy loam, 8 to 25 percent slopes (RdE), 7.2 acres (8.8 percent) • Wolfpen loamy fine sand, 1 to 5 percent slopes (WoC), 1.2 acres (1.4 percent)

However, the project site does not meet the criteria for Prime and Unique Farmland as the land in the action area is not currently being farmed nor has it been farmed in the past.

Water/Wetlands

A portion of the northern boundary of the TNC follows an unnamed tributary to Gilley Creek, with the unnamed tributary meandering on and off portions of the TNC property. The spring-fed creek flows year-round, originating on TNC property and flowing from the east to the west along portions of the northern property boundary. The creek has a ten- to twenty-foot wide eroded bank, a normal water width of approximately four feet, and a normal depth of two to three inches with occasional pools approximately one foot deep.

TNC also contains an existing constructed pond and its associated lacustrine fringe wetlands located east of the existing ecological education visitor center building (Appendix E; USGS 2019). The pond and its associated wetlands were constructed as a feature of the ecological education center to provide a setting for visitors to observe area birds and animals. The pond and wetlands

7 receive runoff from the surrounding TNC drainage area and are non-jurisdictional waters because they are off-channel and isolated from Waters of the United States.

Biological Resources

Vegetation

The TNC is located in the EPA Level III South Central Plains Ecoregion of Texas, mapped in the Texas Conservation Action Plan as the Western Gulf Coastal Plain Ecoregion, and commonly referred to as the Pineywoods Ecoregion. Portions of the action area have been previously disturbed by agricultural, silvicultural, and avicultural operations. All portions of the project development area are either developed, non-native manicured lawn, restored grassland, or regrowth upland hardwood forest. According to the Ecological Mapping Systems of Texas, the primary reconstruction areas of the action area are located mostly in Disturbance or Tame Grassland, Urban Low Intensity, and Upland Hardwood Forest vegetation types, with a small portion located in Pine Forest or Plantation. Ecological systems and vegetation types in the project area are shown in Appendix F, and their descriptions are provided below:

Pineywoods: Pine Forest or Plantation (Identifier: CES203.378.1 MoRAP Code: 3001): This represents the typical type for the West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine–Hardwood Forest system (which is an upland system) where the canopy is dominated by pines. Many sites actually represent pine plantations and managed forests, and discriminating between natural pine forest and plantation is problematic using mapping methods. More than half of the area mapped for this system is represented by this vegetation type, and Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) predominates. Forests with dense tree cover (especially evergreen cover), have reduced shrub and herbaceous cover. Herbaceous cover may be additionally limited by dense litter accumulation. Pine Forest or Plantation represents approximately 2.89 acres (3.5 percent) of the TNC.

Pineywoods: Upland Hardwood Forest (Identifier: CES203.378.4 MoRAP Code: 3004): This is a commonly encountered vegetation type of the West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine–Hardwood Forest system, making up about a third of the areal extent of the system. It is dominated by deciduous hardwoods, but may (and often does) have some cover of pine, usually Pinus taeda (loblolly pine). Typical deciduous hardwoods conspicuous in this system include Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum), Carya texana (black hickory), Quercus stellata (post oak), Quercus falcata (southern red oak), Quercus alba (white oak), Quercus nigra (water oak), Ulmus alata (winged elm), Ulmus crassifolia (cedar elm), and Nyssa sylvatica (blackgum). Some sites may be primarily deciduous, with 75 percent or more of the canopy cover occupied by hardwoods. Ilex vomitoria (yaupon), saplings and seedlings of overstory species, Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry), Morella cerifera (wax-myrtle), Vaccinium arboreum (farkleberry), and Cornus florida (flowering dogwood) commonly occupy the shrub layer, which may be well-developed, with understory canopy cover to 40 percent or more. Woody vines in this system may be conspicuous and often include Smilax bona-nox (saw greenbrier), Vitis spp. (grape, often Vitis rotundifolia (muscadine grape)), Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper), and Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy). The herbaceous layer is generally sparse (often < 20 percent cover), with Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem), Chasmanthium

laxum (slender woodoats), Chasmanthium sessiliflorum (narrowleaf woodoats), and Pteridium aquilinum (brackenfern) often present to dominant. Upland Hardwood Forest represents approximately 44.57 acres (54.2 percent) of the TNC.

Pineywoods: Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest (Identifier: CES203.280.4 MoRAP Code: 3304): The majority (~62 percent) of the West Gulf Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood Forest system is mapped as this primarily deciduous forest type. It occupies areas north of the range of Fagus grandifolia (American beech), and is dominated by hardwood species including Quercus falcata (southern red oak), Quercus alba (white oak), Nyssa sylvatica (blackgum), Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum), and Quercus nigra (water oak). Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) and/or Pinus echinata (shortleaf pine) may be present, but do not form conspicuous elements of the canopy. The West Gulf Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood Forest system typically occur in fairly rugged landscapes on ravines, steep slopes, and low landscape positions, often near streams. Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest represents approximately 9.88 acres (12 percent) of the TNC.

Pineywoods: Disturbance or Tame Grassland (MoRAP Code: 9197): This grass dominated vegetation type occurs within a landscape that would naturally be dominated by forest or woodland. Natural occurrences would be short-lived following natural disturbances, such as fire. The predominant cover often consists of non-native grass species such as Cynodon dactylon (bermudagrass), Paspalum notatum (Bahia grass), Lolium perenne (Italian ryegrass), Schedonorus phoenix (tall fescue), and/or Bromus catharticus (rescuegrass). However, native grasses such as Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) and Andropogon virginicus (broomsedge bluestem) may also have significant cover. Various forbs and some woody species may also be present. These sites will develop significant woody cover in the absence of active management. Disturbance or Tame Grassland represents approximately 21.1 acres (25.6 percent) of the TNC.

Urban Low Intensity (MoRAP Code: 9411): This type includes areas that are built-up but not entirely covered by impervious cover, including most of the area within cities and towns. Urban Low Intensity represents approximately 3.86 acres (4.7 percent) of the TNC.

Federally Listed Species

In accordance with Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, federally funded, constructed, permitted, or licensed projects must take into consideration impacts to federally listed and proposed threatened or endangered species. According to the USWFS Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPAC) System Trust Resources List (Appendix G), one listed endangered species, the least tern (Sterna antillarum), and two listed threatened species, the piping plover (Charadrius melodus) and red knot (Calidris canutus rufa), have the potential to be present in the project area (Table 1).

Table 1. Federally Listed Species Potentially in the Project Vicinity, Tyler Nature Center, Smith County Texas.

Species Listing Status Critical Habitat Least tern Endangered None designated (Sterna antillarum) Piping plover Threatened Designated, not in project area (Charadrius melodus) Red knot Threatened None designated (Calidris canutus rufa)

Least Tern The listing status applies to the interior population of least terns, which encompasses inland areas of Texas greater than 50 miles from the coast. This migratory species nests April-August along barren sand and gravel bars within braided streams, rivers, and along lake and reservoir shorelines. They are also known to nest on man-made structures (e.g. inland beaches, wastewater treatment plants, gravel and lignite mines). This bird feeds on small fish and crustaceans and forages within a few hundred feet of the nesting colony during breeding. Field habitat assessments indicate that suitable habitat for this species is not present at the TNC.

Piping Plover The piping plover is a wintering migrant along the Texas Gulf Coast and may pass over the TNC during migration. The piping plover is a long distance migrant that prefers shorelines of coastal beaches and bayside mud or salt flats. Critical habitat for the wintering population of piping plover is designated in coastal Texas counties. Designated critical habitat also occurs in other states within the Great Lakes watershed, within the Northern Great Plains, along the Atlantic Coast, and along the Gulf of Mexico. The nearest critical habitat for this species in relation to the TNC is 230 miles away in Galveston County, Texas. Field habitat assessments indicate that suitable habitat for this species is not present at the TNC.

Red Knot The red knot is a wintering migrant along the Texas Coast and may pass over the TNC during migration. The red knot is a long distance migrant that prefers coastal tidal flats and shorelines of beaches and bays. Field habitat assessments indicate that suitable habitat for this species is not present at the TNC.

State Listed Species

Based on the TPWD Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species of Texas by County (RTEST) online application, the following state-listed threatened species (excluding those that are also federally listed) have the potential to occur in Smith County (Appendix H):

• Bachman’s sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis) • Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) • Wood stork (Mycteria americana) • Swallow-tailed kite (Elanoides forficatus) • Sooty tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) • White-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi)

• Blue sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) • Western creek chubsucker (Erimyzon claviformis) • Louisiana pigtoe (Pleurobema riddellii) • Sandbank pocketbook (Lampsilis satura) • Southern hickorynut (Obovaria jacksoniana) • Texas heelsplitter (Potamilus amphichaenus) • Texas pigtoe (Fusconaia askewi) • Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) • Louisiana pine snake (Pituophis ruthveni)* • Northern scarlet snake (Cemophora coccinea copei) • Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) • Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

* Federally-listed threatened, though not considered by USFWS as occurring in Smith County.

The Bachman’s sparrow is a resident of the southeastern United States and occurs in Pineywoods region of Texas. Primary nesting habitat consists of open pine woods with scattered bushes and grassy understory, historically maintained by frequent fires. This species will also occur in brushy or overgrown grassy hillsides, in overgrown fields with thickets and brambles, in grassy orchards, in young clearcut areas, and in remnant native grasslands in the Post Oak Savanna region. Domed nests made of grasses are usually built on the ground near bunch grasses or low shrubs. Field evaluations indicate that small amounts of marginally-suitable habitat for this species are present at the TNC in unmaintained portions of Disturbance and Tame Grasslands that have some shrub component. This species has not been observed at TNC.

The bald eagle is found primarily near rivers and large lakes where it nests in tall trees or on cliffs and hunts from shoreline perches. The closest known nesting occurrence of the bald eagle to the project area is approximately 3.5 miles to the southeast at Lake Tyler. Field evaluations indicate that suitable habitat for this species is not present at the TNC. The on-site constructed pond is too small for eagle foraging and the trees at TNC are too far from Lake Tyler or other large lakes to accommodate eagle nesting.

In Texas, the wood stork forages in prairie ponds, flooded pastures or fields, ditches, and other shallow standing water, roosting in tall snags. Birds nesting in Mexico are seen in the Gulf States after the breeding season in search of mud flats and other wetlands for foraging. This species may occur at the constructed wetlands and pond at TNC as a post-breeding visitor.

Known historically for a more expansive breeding range across the southeastern United States, within the bottomlands of the Mississippi River Basin, and across Central America, the United States breeding range of the swallow-tailed kite has diminished to include primarily Florida and a few populations scattered across the southeastern coastal plain (Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2019). Within Texas, the swallow-tailed kite is currently considered to be a rare to locally uncommon summer resident with a reduced breeding range in southeast Texas near the coast and the lower Sabine River (Texas AgriLife Extension 2019). Habitats for the swallow-tailed kite include lowland forested regions, especially swampy areas, ranging into open woodlands. Habitat also includes marshes and along rivers, lakes, and ponds. Nesting occurs high in tall trees in clearings

11 or on forest woodland edges, usually in pine, cypress, or various deciduous trees. Lowland forests, open woodlands, and swamps are absent from the TNC, however marginal breeding habitat is available including tall pines and forest edges. The TNC is over 100 miles from known coastal breeding areas. The swallow-tailed kite is not likely to occur at TNC.

The sooty tern is pelagic and primarily an offshore bird of the tropical oceans, breeding on sandy beaches and islands of the equatorial zone. Suitable habitat for the sooty tern does not occur at TNC, and the sooty tern is not likely to occur at TNC.

The white-faced ibis prefers freshwater marshes, sloughs, and irrigated rice fields, but will attend brackish and saltwater habitats. Nesting occurs within near-coastal rookeries in prairie marshes in low trees, on the ground in bulrushes or reeds, or on floating mats. However, rare and localized inland breeding occurs as far north as the panhandle in shallow marshes with emergent vegetation or shrubs and low trees over shallow water. The TNC does not provide habitat suitable for breeding. This species may occur at the TNC constructed wetlands and pond during migration.

The blue sucker occurs in larger portions of major rivers in Texas, typically inhabiting channels and flowing pools with a moderate current, with bottoms of exposed bedrock, sometimes in combination with hard clay, sand, and gravel. They are generally intolerant of highly turbid conditions. Adults winter in deep pools and move upstream in spring to spawn on riffles. Suitable habitat for the blue sucker does not occur within or near the TNC.

The Western creek chubsucker occurs within Gulf Slope drainages from east Texas to the San Jacinto River. The Western creek chubsucker habitat includes silt-, sand-, and gravel-bottomed pools of clear headwaters, creeks, and small rivers, often near vegetation, and occasionally in lakes. This species prefers headwaters, but seldom occurs in springs. The young are typically found in headwater rivulets or marshes. Spawns in river mouths or pools, riffles, lake outlets, and upstream creeks. Although spring-fed, the small unnamed tributary to Gilley Creek, occurring at the northwest boundary of the TNC, is a headwater stream that could support this species.

The Louisiana pigtoe, sandbank pocketbook, Southern hickorynut, Texas heelsplitter, and Texas pigtoe are state-listed freshwater mussel species potentially occurring in Smith County. The Louisiana pigtoe inhabits mud, sand, and gravel substrates within streams and moderate sized rivers in the Sabine, Neches, and Trinity River basins, and not usually within impoundments. The sandbank pocketbook inhabits moderate flowing waters with swift currents with gravel, gravel- sand, and sand bottoms in small to large rivers from the Sulfur River south to the San Jacinto and Neches River basins. The southern hickorynut inhabits medium-sized gravel substrates with low to moderate currents in streams of the Neches, Sabine, and Cypress River basins. The Texas heelsplitter may be found in the calm waters or reservoirs along the Sabine, Neches, and Trinity River basins within with mud or sand substrates. The Texas pigtoe may be found in east Texas Rivers with mud, sand, and fine gravel, usually in areas protected by structures or fallen trees. Stream order is the relative size of streams with the smallest tributaries referred to as first order. The unnamed tributary to Gilley Creek at the northwest boundary of the TNC is a small, first order stream that lacks suitable habitat for these freshwater mussel species.

The alligator snapping turtle requires deep, permanent waters in rivers, lakes, oxbows and swamps which are not present at the TNC.

The Louisiana pine snake is recognized as one of the rarest snakes in North America, is known to or is believed to occur within Angelina, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Sabine, San Augustine, and Tyler Counties, Texas and four Louisiana Parishes and is federally-listed threatened wherever found. The USFWS does not consider Smith County as part of its range and indicates that this species has been extirpated from significant portions of its historical range including Hardin, Houston, Nacogdoches, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, Trinity and Wood Counties, Texas. This species is a large constrictor generally associated with sandy, well-drained soils of open pine forests, especially longleaf pine savannah, with a moderate to sparse midstory and a well- developed herbaceous understory dominated by grasses and forbs that are maintained by recurrent low-intensity ground fires. In the absence of fire, suitable habitat for this species is lost due to vegetative succession. The Bairds pocket gopher (Geomys breviceps) is their primary prey and creates a burrow system in which the Louisiana pine snake is most frequently found. The snake uses the burrows as nocturnal refugia, as hibernacula, and to escape from fire. Threats include loss and fragmentation of habitat. Restoration measures include prescribed burning, thinning and replanting of longleaf pine forest. Fire-maintained, open forests with a well-developed herbaceous understory are not present at TNC. The Louisiana pine snake is not likely to occur at TNC.

The Northern scarlet snake is semi-fossorial and prefers soft, sandy or loamy soils in mixed hardwood forest or scrub as well as open areas such as agricultural fields and along borders of swamps and stream banks. The TNC may provide suitable habitat for this species due to the predominance of sandy and loamy soils.

The Texas horned lizard can be found in open, arid and semi-arid regions with sparse vegetation, including grass, cactus, scattered brush or scrubby trees. Suitable habitat for this species is not present at the TNC.

The timber rattlesnake occurs in swamps, floodplains, upland pine and hardwood forests, riparian areas, and abandoned farmland. This species can be found in areas of limestone bluffs, sandy soils, or black clay. The TNC provides suitable habitat for this species in Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest, Pine Forest or Plantation, and Upland Hardwood Forest.

Historic and Cultural Resources

For compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act the project requires identifying historical properties, assessing impacts to historical properties, and tribal consultation to ensure protection of Native American historic and cultural resources.

Smith County is in the West Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic province with gently rolling terrain, although some areas are marked by rough terrain. The geology of the TNC is mapped as Queen City Sand, Weches, and Sparta Sand formations of the Eocene Series which is the second of five epochs in the Tertiary Period and the second of three epochs in the Paleogene Period (TNRIS 2019, USDA 2019, and USGS 2019). The Eocene formed roughly 55.8 to 33.9 million years ago.

The Queen City Sand Formation occurs in East Texas and Gulf Coast to Rio Grande and outcrops in 49 percent of Smith County. It contains quartz sand and clay, 100-400 feet thick. The sand is fine grained to locally medium grained, light gray to brownish-gray, and locally carbonaceous. The clay is gray to brown, silty, slightly lignitic and most abundant to the west. Weathers red and white mottled. Ironstone concretions and ledges are common. Local beds of glauconite-quartz greensand, crossbedded, weathers ferruginous ledges and rubble. In north, central, and south Texas including Quaternary for all of west Texas, it contains sandstone and siltstone, 250-500 feet thick. The sandstone is fine to medium grained, well sorted, noncalcareous, friable to indurated, massive, and laminated with local beds of glauconite-quartz greensand, crossbedded. The siltstone is light gray and friable with thin interbeds of clay.

The Weches Formation occurs in north, central, and south Texas including Quaternary for all of west Texas and outcrops in 13 percent of Smith County. The formation underlies the central part of the county and outcrops as a thin, circular belt around the overlying Sparta Sand Formation. It is resistant to erosion and forms small cuestas or escarpments. It contains greensand, sand, and clay, 30 +/- feet thick, range 0-70 feet. In East Texas and Gulf Coast to Rio Grande, it contains quartz sand, glaconitic sand, and clay interbeds. The sands are grayish green to grayish olive green, thinbedded, and locally crossbedded to lenticular. Clay interbeds are light brown to moderately light gray, silty, moscovitic, and thin-bedded. Weathers moderate to dark reddish brown. Contains local ironstone concretions. Marine megafossils appear in the southern part of Tyler Sheet.

The Sparta Sand formation outcrops in 25 percent of Smith County, in the central part of the county. It contains quartz sand, very fine to fine grained, light gray, very pale orange, grayish- brown to brownish-gray, slightly cohesive from silt and clay matrix, massive, locally crossbedded, well sorted, and micaceous with interbeds of sandy or silty clay or locally carbonaceous. Some hard, brown ferruginous sandstone near base. Lignite beds locally present near top, 130 +/-feet thick in San Antonio Sheet (1974), 130-150 feet in Seguin Sheet (1974), 150-250 feet in Crystal City-Eagle Pass Sheet (1976)170 +/-feet thick in Tyler Sheet (1964), and 50+/- feet in Texarkana Sheet (1966) (USGS 2019).

Of the soils identified at the TNC, the primary project actions would occur in soils mapped as Oakwood fine sandy loam, Pickton loamy fine sand (2 to 5 percent slopes), and Pickton loamy fine sand (8 to 15 percent slopes). The Oakwood series consists of very deep, moderately well drained, moderately slowly permeable soils that formed in loamy Coastal Plain sediment on broad gently sloping to moderately sloping uplands, mainly under hardwood forest and some pine. The Pickton series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils on uplands that formed in sandy and loamy deposits, mainly under hardwood forest and some pine.

Secondary project actions, such as educational trails, outdoor classrooms, and removal of an existing visitor parking area, would occur on the same soils as the primary project actions as well as soils mapped as Alto loam, Elrose fine sandy loam and Redsprings very gravelly sandy loam. The Alto series consists of deep, moderately well drained, moderately slowly permeable, loamy upland soils formed in marine sediments high in glauconitic materials. These soils are on nearly level to gently sloping toeslopes and concave areas. The Elrose series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils on uplands that were formed in marine sediments high in

14 glauconite, mainly under a mixed hardwood forest and some pine. The Redsprings series consists of soils that are deep to mixed marine sediments, mainly glauconitic. They are well drained, slowly to moderately slowly permeable soils on gently sloping to steep uplands, mainly under a mixed hardwood forest and some pine.

No project actions are planned on soils mapped as Attoyac fine sandy loam, Briley loamy fine sand, Cuthbert fine sandy loam, and Wolfpen loamy fine sand.

Based on a review of the soils and geology, the project area has a low probability for prehistoric cultural resources, and a very low probability for buried cultural resources. The presence of ranch structures within the project area suggests a moderate potential for historic-aged cultural resources.

The Texas Archaeological Sites Atlas database indicates that no previous archaeological survey has been conducted at the TNC, and there are no previously recorded archaeological sites within the TNC. However, records maintained by TPWD indicate that the entire TNC was surveyed in 1994 by Jeff Turpin with Galvan Eling Associates, Inc. prior to the renovations to convert the former Texas State Quail Farm into the current TPWD Management and Research Station (Turpin 1997). A total of 15 shovel tests were excavated, focusing on higher probability areas but scattered across the property; all tests were negative and no cultural resources were identified during this survey (Turpin 1997). It was recommended that the project be allowed to proceed as it would have no impact on cultural resources. In December 1996, a final version of the report was submitted to the Texas Historical Commission (THC) by TPWD for review, and THC concurred with the report’s recommendation that the development can proceed without further notice (Appendix I; THC 1996).

A request for an updated review of this project was submitted to THC on September 19, 2019 to verify the previous decision made in 1996 was still valid. Concurrence of no effect was received from THC on October 3, 2019.

Recreation

The TNC contains an ecological education center that is open to the public on weekdays. Indoor and outdoor meeting places are available by reservation for educators or other outdoor enthusiasts. The site offers a self-guided tour of the existing trails that access the pond, wetlands, stream, forests, and grasslands for wildlife viewing and educational opportunities regarding the natural environment.

Social and Economic Factors

The proposed regional office complex replacement site is located in the same general vicinity as the existing regional office complex, approximately one mile outside the city limits of Tyler, Texas. Tyler has a population of approximately 105,000 people. Lands in the area are primarily used for rural and suburban residential use, pasture and forestry agricultural use, and commercial and industrial use.

Environmental Justice

Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority and Low- Income Population; February 11, 1994) was designed to focus the attention of federal agencies on the human health and environmental conditions of minority and low-income communities. It requires federal agencies to adopt strategies to address environmental justice concerns within the context of agency operations and proposed actions.

The proposed project is located on State land, which is not a low-income or minority community. According to available population data for the TNC zip code (75707), the estimated population is 15,152 residents, with 16.9 percent of residents in the area having income below the poverty level in 2016 (City-Data.com 2019). Data for nearby Tyler, Texas indicate that 26.3 percent of the Tyler residents had income below the poverty level in 2016 (City-Data.com 2019).

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES

Alternative A (Proposed Action)

Under the preferred alternative the regional office complex would be replaced with new structures and a new layout, including demolition and removal of some paved areas, vegetation, and utilities. The operational challenges associated with structures that do not meet the needs or capacity of staff and the unorganized configuration of the existing site would be eliminated. With the preferred alternative, the efficiency of operation and management of the TNC would improve and a cohesive work environment for regional Wildlife, Fisheries, Law Enforcement, and Parks staff would be created while improving visitor circulation within the property.

Physical Resources

Air

A temporary impact on air quality in the construction area could result if disturbed soil becomes dry and the operation of the construction equipment creates dust. During construction, dust control practices would be employed such a spraying or misting exposed soils or demolition areas with water and temporarily covering debris or dirt piles.

After construction is complete, the TNC would see an increase in the number of TPWD vehicles and equipment due to the increased office capacity. An improved trail system could also attract a greater number of visitors. The presence of more TPWD personnel and visitors may result in a slight increase in vehicle emissions at the TNC. The increase in TPWD staff capacity could have a minor impact to air quality at the TNC. To reduce adverse impacts of the project on air quality, the proposed office complex will be built according to the energy code requirements for state buildings as set by the Texas Comptroller’s Office, State Energy Conservation Office. Additionally, a portion of the sustainable design includes numerous energy conservation practices as well as rough-in capacity and underground conduit for future electrical vehicle charging stations.

Soils

Temporary erosion and loss of soils may occur during construction due to exposure of disturbed soils to wind and rainfall. To minimize the loss of soils to erosion, construction practices would be employed to avoid or minimize erosion through the use of smart grading, spreader dams, silt fence, and other erosion control devices. Following construction, vegetation would be established in areas of disturbed soils which will prevent permanent erosion or loss of soils.

Water/Wetlands

There would be no adverse impacts to the unnamed tributary to Gilley Creek located at the northwest boundary of the TNC property because no construction would occur in the vicinity of this surface water. Construction of walking trails may occur in close proximity to the constructed wetland and pond near the education center: however water quality would be protected during and after construction by implementing a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan and associated best management practices. The project incorporates permanent check dams and a bioswale that will intercept runoff from the proposed office complex prior to discharge to the constructed pond. Replacement of the existing wastewater septic system will contribute to improved water quality in the general area. Additionally, the maintenance bays and wash down area will be equipped with a trench drain that extends to an oil/sand separator.

Biological Resources

Vegetation

Vegetation removal will be minimized in association with the site demolition and construction. The approximately 22-acre disturbance area includes approximately 10 acres of Disturbance or Tame Grassland, 6.5 acres of Upland Hardwood Forest, 0.5 acres of Pine Forest or Plantation, 5 acres of existing pavement, and less than 0.05 acre of Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest. Vegetation removal is necessary to allow access for demolition and to accommodate the new office building complex including offices, storage, maintenance areas, parking, driveways, vegetated/landscaped spaces, and trails. Trees species to be removed are consistent with the species identified for the different habitat types as presented in the Affected Environment section. Due to the abundance of woody vegetation near the project site, revegetation of woody species is not anticipated. However, there is potential for strategically planting a vegetation buffer along the east property boundary to serve as visual screening and to reduce noise from the adjacent highway. Where feasible, native grass and wildflower species would be established around the proposed developed areas to aid in the recovery of disturbed soils. Construction of the regional office complex would not impact the value or integrity of the vegetation community in the project area.

Federally Listed Species

As indicated in the Biological Resources section, suitable habitats for the federally-listed least tern, piping plover, and red knot do not occur at the TNC. An evaluation of the project indicates that the proposed reconstruction of the regional office complex at TNC would have no effect on the

17 least tern, piping plover, and red knot. USFWS Section 7 consultation documentation is presented in Appendix J. Table 2 summarizes of the effect determinations for the federally listed species.

Table 2. Effect Determinations on Listed Species in the Project Vicinity Species Effect Determination Critical Habitat Determination Least tern No Effect No Critical Habitat Designated (Sterna antillarum) Piping plover Not found in project area. No Effect (Charadrius melodus) No Effect Red knot No Effect No Critical Habitat Designated (Calidris canutus rufa)

State Listed Species

Of the state-listed species identified as potentially occurring in Smith County, the Bachman’s sparrow, wood stork, white-faced ibis, Western creek chubsucker, Northern scarlet snake, and timber rattlesnake were advanced for further evaluation in the Environmental Consequences section due to the TNC containing suitable habitat for these species.

A field evaluation of the TNC indicates that small amounts of marginally-suitable habitat for the Bachman’s sparrow are present in unmaintained portions of Disturbance and Tame Grasslands that contain some shrub component. The small amount of potentially suitable habitat minimizes the likelihood of occurrence of the Bachman’s sparrow at TNC. Also, this species has not been observed at TNC to-date. Impacts to the Bachman’s sparrow as a result of the project is not anticipated.

The wood stork and white-faced ibis may occur at the constructed pond and wetlands as a post- breeding visitors or migrants. Disturbance to the pond and wetlands will be avoided by project activities. The project will have no impact on the wood stork and white-faced ibis.

Although the Western creek chubsucker seldom occurs in springs, the small spring-fed tributary at TNC contains permanent water and could support this species. The proposed project amenities and disturbance areas have been placed to avoid disturbance in or near the tributary. The project will have no impact on the Western creek chubsucker.

Much of the TNC may provide suitable habitat for Northern scarlet snake which is primarily found in association with sandy or loamy soils. This species spends most of its time underground feeding on reptile eggs. This species could be encountered during ground disturbance or excavation for utility lines or footings and is susceptible to earth moving equipment and compaction. The project may impact the Northern scarlet snake. However, most of the project disturbance will occur in Disturbance or Tame Grassland or in areas already containing pavement, and the likelihood of occurrence of the Northern scarlet snake in these areas is low.

The TNC provides suitable habitat for timber rattlesnake in Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest, Upland Hardwood Forest, and Pine Forest. The timber rattlesnake is a slow-moving, cryptic species that is less able to readily escape from heavy machinery than other wildlife and is at risk

18 for being impacted by construction activities due to their limited mobility. The project may impact the timber rattlesnake. However, most of the project disturbance will occur in Disturbance or Tame Grassland or in areas already containing pavement, and the likelihood of occurrence of the timber rattlesnake in these areas is low.

Of the state-listed species potentially occurring in the project area, the state-listed threatened Northern scarlet snake and timber rattlesnake are more at risk to being impacted during construction due to their limited mobility. The project will incorporate the following best management practices to minimize potential impacts to these state threatened snakes:

• If the Northern scarlet snake or timber rattlesnake are encountered during construction, they will be allowed to safely leave the site or will be relocated by a permitted individual to a nearby area with similar habitat that would not be disturbed during construction. Translocations of reptiles should be the minimum distance possible no greater than one mile, preferably within 100-200 yards from the initial encounter location. For purposes of relocation, surveys, monitoring, and research, terrestrial state-listed species may only be handled by persons permitted by the TPWD Wildlife Permits Office.

• Because small vertebrates including snakes, lizards, toads and mice can become trapped in construction trenches and are susceptible to mortality from backfilling activities, exposure to elements, starvation, dehydration, and predation by other wildlife, TPWD or its contractors will inspect trenches each day and prior to backfilling to avoid impact to wildlife that may become trapped in construction trenches. Earthen or wooden plank ramps may be installed to allow wildlife to escape.

• TPWD employees and contractors will be made aware of the potential for the state threatened Northern scarlet snake and timber rattlesnake to occur in the project area. Contractors will be advised to avoid impacts to these and other snakes. Compared to other rattlesnakes, the timber rattlesnake is a rather docile species. Injury to humans usually occurs when the snake becomes agitated following harassment or when someone attempts to handle a recently dead snake that still contains its bite reflex. Therefore, contractors will avoid contact with the species if encountered.

• For soil stabilization and/or revegetation of disturbed areas within the proposed project area, TPWD will use erosion and seed/mulch stabilization materials that pose no entanglement hazards to snakes and other wildlife species, such as no-till drilling, hydromulching, hydroseeding, or wildlife-friendly erosion control blankets. If erosion control blankets or mats will be used, the product will contain no netting or contain loosely woven, natural fiber netting in which the mesh design allows the threads to move, therefore allowing expansion of the mesh openings. Plastic mesh matting will be avoided.

Other Wildlife Species

The reconstruction of the regional office complex may temporarily disturb and displace common native wildlife species if they are in the vicinity of the project area when construction is taking place. After construction is complete, wildlife that avoided the area are expected to return.

Historic and Cultural Resources

As discussed in the chapter on Affected Environment, no cultural resources were identified during an archaeological survey conducted across the entire TNC in 1997.

Section 106 tribal consultation was submitted to Region 2 USFWS, whom sent it out on April 4, 2019. The tribal consultation was completed on May 17, 2019. Excavation work will be monitored by a qualified archeologist and if any archeological sites are discovered during excavation or construction, all ground disturbing work will cease until the archeologist can delineate the nature of the discovery and assess the site boundaries.

Recreation

The reconstruction of the regional office complex would enhance recreational use of the TNC by improving existing trails and creating new trails and outdoor classroom space. Reconstruction of the regional office complex will help ensure the safety of users and security of the site as well as facilitate access to public-use spaces for outdoor education and recreation.

Social and Economic Factors

With the proposed project, social and economic benefits will result from reconstruction of the regional office complex and constructing new and improved public access areas that offer educational and passive recreational opportunities. Improvements to the regional office complex could benefit the State, county, and local communities through more efficient use of the TNC property for operation and maintenance of state resources and through improving avenues of communication and interaction between the different TPWD divisions that serve multi-county regions regarding fish and wildlife resources, state parks, wildlife management areas, and landowner services. The improvement to trails and outdoor educational space could result in increased use of the TNC by the public. Benefits would be in the form of increased access to outdoor educational resources and passive recreational trails that positively affect academic achievement and health in the community.

Environmental Justice

Although low-income populations occur near the project area, no minority or low-income populations have been identified that would be adversely impacted by the proposed project. The project may provide positive impacts to low-income populations through opportunity of public access to improved public outdoor education and passive recreational amenities. Therefore, the project would be in compliance with the provisions of NEPA and Executive Order12898 and no further analysis is required.

Alternative B: (No Action)

If the No Action alternative is implemented, there would be no reconstruction of the regional office complex at TNC, existing management actions would continue at the site, and the site would not

20 meet the needs of staff. Additional office and storage space would need to be pursued elsewhere, and Law Enforcement Division staff would continue to lease office spaces in Tyler.

Physical Resources

Air

Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no construction-related dust created at the project site.

Soils Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no construction-related soil disturbance at the project site.

Water/Wetlands

Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no construction-related impacts to water resources at the project site.

Biological Resources

Vegetation

Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no construction-related impacts to the existing vegetation at the project site.

Federally Listed Species

Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no impacts to federally-listed species at the project site.

State Listed Species

Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no construction-related impacts to state-listed species that may occur at the project site.

Other Wildlife Species

Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no temporary displacement of wildlife that may occur at the project site.

Historic and Cultural Resources

Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no construction-related impacts to historic and cultural resources that may occur at the project site.

Recreation

Under the No Action Alternative, existing management and operation of the public access areas would continue at the site including the ecological education area, indoor and outdoor meeting places, and self-guided trails to the pond, wetlands, stream, forests, and grasslands. However, new and improved outdoor educational and passive recreational amenities would not be provided.

Social and Economic Factors

Under the No Action Alternative, existing management and operation of the public access areas would continue at the site including the ecological education area, indoor and outdoor meeting places, and self-guided trails to the pond, wetlands, stream, forests, and grasslands. However, new and improved public outdoor educational and passive recreational amenities would not be provided and there would be no added health, outdoor educational, and passive recreational benefits for the public.

Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources of the Proposed Action

The implementation of this project would result in the commitment of resources such as fossil fuels and labor. In addition, federal funds would be expended for the implementation of the proposed project.

CUMULATIVE IMPACTS

Cumulative impacts are the consequences that may result from the effects of the proposed action when added to other past, present, and potential future actions. Consequences of future actions must be considered reasonable based on current information.

All new facility construction will take place within existing infrastructure footprints or within previously disturbed areas in both the distant and recent past. Several terraces transect the site indicating the area was cleared of trees and converted into pasturelands or crops (cir. 1930’s to 1950’s). This conclusion is supported by historical photographs, site descriptions, deeds, and operational plans. During initial operation by the Texas Game & Fish Commission and then TPWD from the 1950’s until the 1980’s the majority of the site that will receive disturbance from this project is with the footprint of the rearing pens and old aviaries. Once decommissioned in the 1990’s this location was allowed to reforest on its own therefore there is no ecological significance relative to species composition or habitat structure as described in the Affected Environment section.

Construction will also be limited the interior of the property allowing for protection of riparian corridors and visual screening from neighboring properties by preserving the integrity of boundary timber stands (Appendix B; Site Plan).

Newly-constructed trails, improvements to existing trails, and newly-constructed outdoor classroom space would improve the TNC for publicly-accessible outdoor educational and passive recreational use. Adding new trails and improving existing trails that are clearly identified and designated as access points will reduce or eliminate undesignated foot-trails, thus improving the TNC. Access will be improved to existing mature stands of native habitats in undisturbed areas enhancing the visitor experience.

Having an improved regional office complex would allow TPWD staff to effectively and efficiently manage the landowner services, fish and wildlife resources, state parks, and wildlife management areas of the multi-county TPWD regional area. The reconstruction of the regional office complex and construction of new and improved trails and outdoor classroom space would not significantly contribute to adverse cumulative impacts on physical resources, biological resources, historic and cultural resources, recreation, and social and economic factors. Overall, the cumulative impacts from the reconstruction of the regional office complex would be positive.

PUBLIC REVIEW

Contracting for a design firm to investigate the feasibility of this project began in 2017. A public notice for services describing the scope of work was processed through the Infrastructure Division of TPWD who is responsible for professional services and construction solicitations via the agency website and the Electronic State Business Daily in 2018. This online search engine is available to anyone and allows public searches to find bid opportunities by type, entity, vendor award or National Institute of Governmental Purchasing Codes. Design options were discussed internally amongst the four primary divisions of Wildlife, Inland Fisheries, Law Enforcement, and State Parks during calendar year 2018. Discussions also included informal talks with public friends groups such as the Texas Master Naturalist and formal presentations to local public constituents including the East Texas Woods & Waters Foundation (ETWWF). Through the State Parks Division, the proposed scope of work and expanded services this project would provide to the area was also presented to the University of Texas at Tyler, the City of Tyler Parks & Recreation Department, and other local community interests at the Active-Tyler Partnering Workshop held in May 2018. Formal presentations on the proposed renovations and scope of new construction was made to the ETWWF Board in July of 2018, to the general membership meeting in early October 2018, and a formal presentation at the ETWWF Fall Banquet discussing of the full project scope of work in mid-October 2018. Once the initial project and feasibility design was complete, the TPWD Infrastructure Division began contract solicitations for Design Build Services in December of 2018. A public notice for services was posted via the agency website and the Electronic State Business Daily in January 2019. A formal project presentation was made to the South Tyler Rotary Club business luncheon in March of 2019. Also, during this same period, the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) simultaneously conducted two public workshops in 2019 for the expansion of State Highway/Toll Road 49 (Segment 6) on the east side of Tyler. At the second public workshop in June 2019, this TPWD construction project was presented as a potential development adjacent to one of the six proposed route extensions of Toll 49. If authorized this TXDOT project would be adjacent to, and provide additional highway frontage at the TPWD Nature Center. These events document the level of exposure this project has had to the local public over the past two years. To date there have been no negative comments nor opposition to the proposed TPWD project.

TPWD will publish the draft EA on their website to notify constituents of the reconstruction of the regional office complex at Tyler Nature Center, offering the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed project. Public commenting will be open for a period of 30 days, after which all comments will be addressed in the Final EA to be approved by the USFWS. The public may find the opportunity for comment on the Department’s public comment page at: https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/feedback/public_comment/. TPWD will also explore social media avenues to post the public comment opportunity.

PREPARERS

▪ Karen Hardin, Program Specialist, Wildlife Habitat Assessment Program, TPWD • Laura Zebehazy, Program Leader, Wildlife Habitat Assessment Program, TPWD • Larry Lebeau, Tyler Nature Center Manger, TPWD • Stephen Lange, Wildlife Region III Director, TPWD ▪ Dennis Gissell, WMA Facilities Coordinator, TPWD ▪ John Lowe, Cultural Resource Specialist, TPWD

REFERENCES

City-Data.com. Tyler, Texas Poverty Rate Data and Detailed Profile for Zip Code 75707. http://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty-Tyler-Texas.html and http://www.city- data.com/zips/75707.html. Accessed March 22, 2019.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. All About Birds Online Bird Guide. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/. Accessed April 17, 2019.

Elliott, L.F., D.D. Diamond, C.D. True, C.F. Blodgett, D. Pursell, D. German, and A. Treuer-Kuehn. 2014. Ecological Mapping Systems of Texas. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Austin, Texas.

Environmental Protection Agency. Green Book. Current Nonattainment Counties for All Criteria Pollutants. https://www3.epa.gov/airquality/greenbook/ancl.html. Accessed March 21, 2019.

Texas AgriLife Extension. Texas Breeding Bird Atlas. https://txtbba.tamu.edu/species- accounts/swallow-tailed-kite/. Accessed April 17, 2019.

Texas Historical Commission, letter dated December 20, 1996. On file at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Texas Natural Resources Information System (TNRIS). Geologic Database of Texas Online Mapping Service. https://tnris.org/data-catalog/entry/geologic-database-of- texas/. Accessed March 21, 2019.

TPWD, Wildlife Division, Diversity and Habitat Assessment Programs. TPWD County Lists of Protected Species and Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Smith County. http://tpwd.texas.gov/gis/rtest/. Accessed April 17, 2019.

[Texas Register Docket number to be inserted here]

Turpin, J. 1997. A Cultural Resources Survey of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Management and Research Station. 1996 Annual Report to the Texas Historical Commission pp. 261- 271. Texas Parks and Wildlife Cultural Resources Program, Austin.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Soil Series Descriptions. https://soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/. Accessed March 22, 2109.

USDA, NRCS. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database for Smith County, Texas 20180917. http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/. Accessed March 21, 2019.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Information, Planning, and Conservation System. http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/. Accessed March 8, 2019.

United States Geological Survey (USGS). Geologic Units in Smith County, Texas. https://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/fips-unit.php?code=f48423. Accessed March 22, 2019.

USGS. National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). https://nhd.usgs.gov/. Accessed March 26, 2019.

Appendix A: Project Location Map

Appendix B Site Plan

Appendix C: Topographic Map

Appendix D: Soils Map

Appendix E: Water Resources Map

Appendix F: Ecological Mapping Systems of Texas

Appendix G: IPAC Trust Resources List

Appendix H: TPWD Smith County List

Appendix I: Texas Historical Commission Concurrence

Appendix J: USFWS Section 7 Consultation

[The Section 7 consultation was sent to WSFR 4/18/2019 and is pending concurrence and signature. The finalized Section 7 will be inserted into the final EA.]

Appendix K: Section 106 Tribal Consultation [The tribal consultation was sent out 4/4/2019 and is pending completion. Documentation of tribal consultation will be inserted into the final EA.]

Appendix L: Texas Register Notice

[The Texas Register public notice of the proposed project will take place after the draft EA is reviewed by the USFWS. The Texas Register public notice will be inserted into the final EA.]

Appendix M: Commission Meeting Agenda

[The TPWD Commission Meeting regarding this project will take place after the draft EA is reviewed by USFWS. The TPWD Commission Meeting Agenda will be inserted into the final EA.]