BALCONES CANYONLANDS PRESERVE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN TIER III TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY BAKER SANCTUARY CYPRESS CREEK MACROSITE August 2013 BCP Land Management Plan Tier III Baker Sanctuary Cypress Creek Macrosite TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 PERMIT REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................................ 1 2.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION .............................................................................................................. 1 2.1 Description of Tract ........................................................................................................ 2 2.1.1 Location of Tract...................................................................................................... 2 2.1.1.1 Inventory of Tract Features ............................................................................... 3 2.1.2 Ownership Status ..................................................................................................... 6 2.1.2.1 Easements, Restrictions, Special Agreements and In-holdings ........................ 6 2.1.2.2 Boundary Disputes ............................................................................................ 9 2.1.2.3 Regulatory Requirements.................................................................................. 9 2.1.2.4 Mineral Rights .................................................................................................. 9 2.1.2.5 Legal Issues ..................................................................................................... 10 2.1.2.6 Financial Issues ............................................................................................... 10 2.2 Land Uses...................................................................................................................... 10 2.2.1 Prehistoric Land Use .............................................................................................. 10 2.2.2 Historic Land Use .................................................................................................. 10 2.2.3 Recent Land Use .................................................................................................... 12 2.2.4 Adjacent Land Use ................................................................................................. 13 2.3 Physical Characteristics ................................................................................................ 13 2.3.1 Geology .................................................................................................................. 13 2.3.2 Hydrology .............................................................................................................. 14 2.3.2.1 Surface water .................................................................................................. 14 2.3.2.2 Groundwater ................................................................................................... 15 2.3.3 Soils........................................................................................................................ 16 2.3.4 Caves and Subsurface Features .............................................................................. 16 2.4 Biological Characteristics ............................................................................................. 17 2.4.1 Vegetation .............................................................................................................. 17 2.4.2 Animal Species ...................................................................................................... 18 2.4.3 Endangered Species and Species of Concern ........................................................ 19 2.4.3.1 Plants ............................................................................................................... 19 i BCP Land Management Plan Tier III Baker Sanctuary Cypress Creek Macrosite 2.4.3.2 Karst Species ................................................................................................... 20 2.4.3.3 Amphibians ..................................................................................................... 20 2.4.3.4 Birds ................................................................................................................ 21 3.0 MANAGEMENT PROGRAM .................................................................................................................... 22 3.1 Plan Administration ...................................................................................................... 22 3.1.1 Description of Managing Entity with Authority and Mission ............................... 22 3.1.2 Staffing ................................................................................................................... 23 3.1.3 Inventory of Equipment ......................................................................................... 23 3.1.4 Funding .................................................................................................................. 23 3.1.4.1 Current funding ............................................................................................... 23 3.1.4.2 Resources Needed in the Future ..................................................................... 23 3.1.5 Interagency Cooperation, Management Contracts, and Other Agreements .......... 23 3.1.6 Annual Reports ...................................................................................................... 24 3.2 Management Plan.......................................................................................................... 24 3.2.1 Species Management ............................................................................................. 28 3.2.1.3 Black-capped vireo. ........................................................................................ 33 3.2.1.4 Karst invertebrates .......................................................................................... 33 3.2.1.5 Species of concern .......................................................................................... 33 3.2.2 Tract Management ................................................................................................. 34 3.2.2.1 Vegetation Management ................................................................................. 34 3.2.2.2 Headquarters Tract .......................................................................................... 39 3.2.2.3 Physical and Cultural Management Procedures ............................................. 43 3.2.2.4 Outreach, Education and Public Access Management ................................... 43 4.0 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................................................ 47 4.1 Literature ....................................................................................................................... 47 4.2 Personal Communications ............................................................................................ 48 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Travis Audubon Society Sanctuaries………………………………………………2 Figure 2. Baker Sanctuary Site Map………………………………………………………….4 Figure 3. Jackie Arnold Education Center Site Map………………………………………....5 Figure 4. Steward’s Residence Site Map………………….………………………………….6 ii BCP Land Management Plan Tier III Baker Sanctuary Cypress Creek Macrosite Figure 5. Surface Water Map………………………..………………………………………15 Figure 6. Extent of Karst Surveys on Baker Sanctuary…………………………………..…17 Figure 7. Jollyville Plateau Salamander USFWS Designated Critical Habitat…………..…21 Figure 8. KEAs and Indicators by Targets…………………………………………………..26 Figure 9. June 2013 Viability Assessment…………………………………………………..27 Figure 10. Steward’s Residence Site MAST Eradication Zones……………………………40 Figure 11. JAEC Site MAST Control and Containment Zones……………………………..41 Figure 12. Point Count and Vegetation Monitoring Stations………………….…………….46 LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX A: Sarah Penn Harris Account APPENDIX B: Senate Bill 626 APPENDIX C: Baker Sanctuary Access Regulations APPENDIX D: 2012 BCP Map APPENDIX E: Baker Sanctuary Vegetation Map APPENDIX F: Baker Sanctuary Geology Map APPENDIX G: Baker Sanctuary Topography Map APPENDIX H: Baker Sanctuary Soils Map APPENDIX I: USFWS Karst Survey Protocol APPENDIX J: Vertebrate Species of the BCP and Baker Sanctuary APPENDIX K: 2012 Baker Sanctuary 100-acre Survey Results APPENDIX L: Baker Steward Job Description APPENDIX M: Baker Sanctuary Headquarters Envelope APPENDIX N: Brown-headed Cowbird Trapping Protocol APPENDIX O: Baker Sanctuary Wildfire Management Plan APPENDIX P: JAEC Limited Commercial Use Policy APPENDIX Q: Youth Education Strategy and Youth Education Programs APPENDIX R: Research Permit Application APPENDIX S: 100-acre Survey Protocol APPENDIX T: Breeding Bird Survey Protocol APPENDIX U: Long-term Vegetation Monitoring Protocol iii BCP Land Management Plan Tier III Baker Sanctuary Cypress Creek Macrosite 1.0 PERMIT REQUIREMENTS In May 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued the City of Austin and Travis County (Permit Holders) a 30-year 10(a)(1)(B) permit (Permit) to authorize “incidental take” of eight endangered species (golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, and six karst invertebrates) and 27 species of concern (2 plants and 25 karst invertebrates) associated with development activities in western Travis County (together, all previously described species are referred to as “Permitted Species”). This Permit