Draft Environmental Assessment/Habitat Conservation
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Draft EA/HCP November 20, 2007 DRAFT Environmental Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan for Issuance of an Endangered Species Act Section 10(a)(1)(B) Permit for Incidental Take of Golden-cheeked Warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia), Tooth Cave Pseudoscorpion (Tartarocreagris texana), Kretschmarr Cave Mold Beetle (Texamaurops reddelli), Bone Cave Harvestman (Texella reyesi), Tooth Cave Spider (Neoleptoneta myopica), and Tooth Cave Ground Beetle (Rhadine persephone) During the Construction and Operation of a Residential, Commercial, and/or Retail Development on Portions of the Approximately 70-acre GDF Realty, et al., Property, Austin, Travis County, Texas U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200 Austin, Texas 78758 November 20, 2007 - i - Draft EA/HCP November 20, 2007 COVER SHEET Title for Proposed Action: Issuance of an Endangered Species Act Section 10(a)(1)(B) permit for incidental take of the endangered golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia), Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion (Tartarocreagris texana), Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle (Texamaurops reddelli), Bone Cave harvestman (Texella reyesi), Tooth Cave spider (Neoleptoneta myopica), and Tooth Cave ground beetle (Rhadine persephone) during the construction and operation of a residential, commercial, and/or retail development with associated streets and utilities on portions of the approximately 70-acre property in Austin, Travis County, Texas. Unit of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposing the Action: Regional Director, Region 2, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Legal Mandate for Proposed Action: Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq.), as amended, section 10(a)(1)(B), as implemented by 50 CFR 17.22. Applicants: GDF Realty Investments, Inc., Parke Properties I, L.P., and Parke Properties II, L.P. Permit Number: TE-171255 Duration: 30 years Mitigation/Funding Plan: To ensure adequate funding is provided, a preserve operation, maintenance, and management budget with the receiving Managing Partner shall be drafted and agreed to by the Preserve Manager and the Applicants. Documentation of this agreement must be provided to the Service prior to issuance of the permit. The funds as agreed upon by the Preserve Manager and Applicants shall be delivered upon finalizing the transfer of the on-site and, if necessary, off-site mitigation lands, all of which must be completed prior to any vegetation clearing or construction activities. Documentation of the transfer of the mitigation lands and delivery of the agreed upon funds for operation and management must be provided to the Service within 30 days of its completion to ensure compliance with the permit. In the event these funds are not transferred, the Service may revoke the permit. Document Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758. - ii - Draft EA/HCP November 20, 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................1 2.0 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION...................................................................................3 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT...............................................................3 3.1 VEGETATION.............................................................................................................3 3.2 WILDLIFE....................................................................................................................4 3.3 LISTED, PROPOSED, AND CANDIDATE SPECIES...............................................5 3.3.1 Golden-cheeked Warbler ...............................................................................5 3.3.2 Karst Invertebrates.......................................................................................10 3.4 WETLANDS...............................................................................................................17 3.5 GEOLOGY AND SOILS ...........................................................................................17 3.6 LAND USE.................................................................................................................18 3.7 WATER RESOURCES ..............................................................................................18 3.8 AIR QUALITY...........................................................................................................18 3.9 WATER QUALITY....................................................................................................18 3.10 CULTURAL RESOURCES .....................................................................................18 3.11 SOCIOECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT...................................................................19 4.0 ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE .............................19 4.1 PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE .................................................................................20 4.2 PAST DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED...................................22 4.3 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE ................................................................................22 5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .............................................................................23 5.1 PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE, OPTIONS ONE, TWO AND THREE ..................23 5.1.1 Direct Impacts ............................................................................................23 5.1.1.1 Vegetation.....................................................................................23 5.1.1.2 Wildlife .........................................................................................23 5.1.1.3 Listed, Proposed, and Candidate Species .....................................24 Assessment of Take .......................................................................24 5.1.1.4 Wetlands .......................................................................................26 5.1.1.5 Geologic Features and Soils..........................................................26 5.1.1.6 Land Use .......................................................................................26 5.1.1.7 Water Resources ...........................................................................26 5.1.1.8 Air Quality ....................................................................................26 5.1.1.9 Water Quality................................................................................28 5.1.1.10 Cultural Resources......................................................................27 5.1.1.11 Socioeconomic Environment......................................................27 5.1.2 Indirect Impacts.........................................................................................27 5.1.2.1 Vegetation.....................................................................................27 5.1.2.2 Wildlife .........................................................................................27 5.1.2.3 Listed, Proposed, and Candidate Species .....................................28 5.1.2.4 Wetlands .......................................................................................30 - iii - Draft EA/HCP November 20, 2007 5.1.2.5 Geologic Features and Soils..........................................................30 5.1.2.6 Land Use .......................................................................................30 5.1.2.7 Water Resources ...........................................................................31 5.1.2.8 Air Quality ....................................................................................31 5.1.2.9 Water Quality................................................................................31 5.1.2.10 Cultural Resources......................................................................31 5.1.2.11 Socioeconomic Environment......................................................31 5.1.3 Cumulative Impacts...................................................................................31 5.1.3.1 Vegetation.....................................................................................31 5.1.3.2 Wildlife .........................................................................................32 5.1.3.3 Listed, Proposed, and Candidate Species .....................................32 5.1.3.4 Wetlands .......................................................................................34 5.1.3.5 Geologic Features and Soils..........................................................34 5.1.3.6 Land Use .......................................................................................34 5.1.3.7 Water Resources ...........................................................................34 5.1.3.8 Air Quality ....................................................................................34 5.1.3.9 Water Quality................................................................................34 5.1.3.10 Cultural Resources......................................................................34 5.1.3.11 Socioeconomic Environment......................................................35 5.2 PAST DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED...................................35 5.3 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE .................................................................................35 6.0 HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN ...................................................................................35 6.1 BIOLOGICAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES............................................................36