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Potential for Impacts to Endangered Karst Invertebrates from the Proposed 183 North Mobility Project, Travis and Williamson Counties, Texas

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Potential for Impacts to Endangered Karst Invertebrates from the Proposed 183 North Mobility Project, Travis and Williamson Counties, Texas TECHNICAL REPORT Potential for Impacts to Endangered Karst Invertebrates from the Proposed 183 North Mobility Project, Travis and Williamson Counties, Texas Prepared for CP&Y, Inc. Prepared by Cambrian Environmental with SWCA Environmental Consultants SWCA Project No. 25572 September 9, 2015 This page left intentionally blank TECHNICAL REPORT OF THE POTENTIAL FOR IMPACTS TO ENDANGERED KARST INVERTEBRATES FROM THE PROPOSED 183 NORTH MOBILITY PROJECT, TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES, TEXAS Prepared for CP&Y, Inc. The Chase Bank Building Tower of the Hills 13809 Research Blvd, No. 300 Austin, Texas 78750 Attn: Andy Atlas Prepared by CAMBRIAN ENVIRONMENTAL 4422 Pack Saddle Pass No. 204 Austin, Texas 78745 with SWCA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS 4407 Monterey Oaks Blvd No. 110 Austin, Texas 78749 September 9, 2015 This page left intentionally blank TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Ecological Significance of Karst Invertebrates ......................................................................................... 3 Origin of Karst Invertebrate Habitat in the Project Area .......................................................................... 7 Environmental Baseline ............................................................................................................................ 8 Potential for Endangered Karst Invertebrates to Occur In the Project Area ........................................... 14 Potential Endangered Karst Invertebrates in the Project Area ................................................................ 19 Bee Creek Cave Harvestman ( Texella reddelli ) ................................................................... 19 Bone Cave Harvestman ( Texella reyesi ) ............................................................................... 19 Tooth Cave Ground Beetle ( Rhadine persephone ) ............................................................... 19 Tooth Cave Spider ( Tayshaneta “Neoleptoneta” myopica ) ................................................. 20 Potential for adverse affect on Endangered Karst Invertebrates ............................................................. 22 Direct and Indirect Effects .................................................................................................... 23 Interrelated and Interdependent Effects ................................................................................ 24 Incidental Take....................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................. 24 References ............................................................................................................................................... 26 FIGURES Figure 1. Project location ................................................................................................................ 2 Figure 2. Geologic map of the Project Area. .................................................................................. 9 Figure 3. Generalized Stratigraphy of the Project Area. ............................................................... 10 Figure 4. USFWS Karst Zones of the Project Area. ..................................................................... 11 Figure 5. Karst Fauna Regions (KFRs) of the Project Area. ........................................................ 12 Figure 6. Known Endangered Karst Invertebrate Caves Near the Northern End of the Proposed Project Area. .................................................................................................................. 16 Figure 7. Location Map of Fossil Cave Relative to Project Area. ................................................ 17 Figure 8. Location Map of Marquis Sink Relative to Project Area. ............................................. 18 Figure 9. Habitat Map Showing Known Distribution of Listed Karst Species Near Project Area (USFWS 1994a, 2009a,b). ............................................................................................. 21 i PHOTOGRAPHS Photograph 1. The vestigial eye of this central Texas Rhadine sp. beetle is an example of regressive troglomorphic traits exhibited by cave-adapted fauna................................................... 4 Photograph 2. Surface-adapted (left) and cave-adapted (right) spiders of the genus Cicurina show dramatic differences in eye development. Whereas the surface species Cicurina varians (left) has the normal 8-eyed configuration, the cave-adapted species C. vibora (right) lacks even the vestigial eyes exhibited by many troglobites. ........................................................................... 5 Photograph 3. The endangered Bone Cave harvestman (Texella reyesi ) exhibits elongated appendages and eyes that are reduced in number and size. Specimen pictured is partially dissected (legs removed for clear view of cephalothorax profile). ................................................. 6 Photograph 4. The millipedes of the genus Speodesmus lack eyes and pigment and exhibit elongated legs.................................................................................................................................. 6 Photograph 5. Interstitial void formed within the Edwards Limestone. A coating of mineral deposits has biologically isolated the void from other voids in the karst network which may be biologically active. .......................................................................................................................... 8 TABLES Table 1. Karst invertebrate habitat protected under the Williamson County Regional Habitat Conservation Plan to date. ............................................................................................................ 13 ATTACHMENTS Attachment A. Expected Bedrock Removal Quantities Within Project Area Attachment B. Location Maps For Expected Bedrock Removal Within Project Area ii INTRODUCTION The proposed 183 North Mobility Project (Project) is a cooperative effort by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to improve US 183 from State Highway (SH) 45/Ranch-to-Market Road (RM) 620 to Loop 1 (MoPac) (CSJ 0151-05-100 and 3136-01-185).Proposed Project activities involve a total of approximately 724.6 acres; 714.2 acres of existing right-of-way (ROW), 8.0 acres of proposed ROW, and 2.4 acres of existing easements, as shown in Figure 1 (Project Area). Construction activities are expected to include the reconfiguration of existing road surfaces and the addition of new lanes. This work will involve reconfiguration of some existing structures; surface grading (generally to a depth of three to four feet below existing grade); excavation for piers to support bridges, overpasses, or flyovers (generally to depths of between 10 and 45 feet); construction of new road surfaces and ancillary structures; the expansion or improvement of existing water quality controls; and the addition of new water quality controls, as needed. Attachment B contains a detailed estimate of bedrock excavation within the Project Area and Attachment C contains location maps for expected bedrock excavation. Seven species of invertebrates known only from caves and voids in Travis and Williamson counties, Texas, are listed by the USFWS as endangered species under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The seven listed species are: the Bee Creek Cave harvestman ( Texella reddelli ), Bone Cave harvestman ( Texella reyesi ), Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion ( Tartarocreagris texana ), Tooth Cave spider ( Neoleptoneta myopica ), Tooth Cave ground beetle ( Rhadine persephone ), Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle ( Texamaurops reddelli ), and Coffin Cave mold beetle ( Batrisodes texanus )1. 1 Chandler and Reddell (2001) described a new species of Batrisodes from Williamson County; Batrisodes cryptotexanus, based on a specimen that was previously thought to be Batrisodes texanus. While the USFWS does not recognize this taxonomic revision, Batrisodes cryptotexanus USFWS considers this species to be synonymous with B. texanus and is therefore listed as endangered and thus protected under the ESA (USFWS 2014c). For the purposes of this report, B. cryptotexanus will be considered synonymous with B. texanus and will not be discussed as a separate entity. 1 Figure 1. Project location 2 Even though the Project Area is generally heavily urbanized, unexpected impacts to karst fauna are possible occur due to the cryptic nature of their subterranean habitat. The proposed Project occurs entirely within the Balcones Escarpment in a geographic area (Travis and Williamson counties) known to be occupied by 7 species of endangered karst invertebrates. The purpose of this Technical Report is to assess the potential effects of the proposed Project on listed karst invertebrate species, evaluate if take of endangered taxa is likely to occur, and assess if the proposed Project is likely to jeopardize the continued survival and recovery of listed species. ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF KARST INVERTEBRATES Troglobites are obligate cave-dwelling organisms that include more than 1,200 species worldwide (Barr 1968). They are characterized by a number of anatomical and physiologic adaptations to cave life collectively referred to as troglomorphy.
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