CPS Energy System-wide Habitat Conservation Plan Final FEBRUARY 2021 PREPARED FOR CPS Energy PREPARED BY SWCA Environmental Consultants CPS ENERGY SYSTEM-WIDE HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN Prepared for CPS Energy 145 Navarro Street San Antonio, Texas 78296 SWCA Environmental Consultants 4949 N Loop 1604 W, Suite 235 San Antonio, Texas 78249 www.swca.com SWCA Project No. 26001 FINAL February 2021 CPS Energy System-wide Habitat Conservation Plan FINAL February 2021 CONTENTS Glossary ....................................................................................................................................................... v 1 Introduction and Background ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Endangered Species Act ............................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Texas Parks and Wildlife Code – Chapter 83 ............................................................................... 5 1.2.1 Chapter 83 Landowner Provisions ...................................................................................... 5 1.2.2 Advisory Committees ......................................................................................................... 6 1.3 National Environmental Policy Act .............................................................................................. 8 1.4 Other Relevant Laws and Regulations ......................................................................................... 9 1.4.1 Public Utility Commission of Texas ................................................................................... 9 2 Plan Area ............................................................................................................................................. 10 2.1 Location and Extent .................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Ecoregions .................................................................................................................................. 12 2.2.1 Edwards Plateau Ecoregion .............................................................................................. 12 2.2.2 South Texas Plains Ecoregion .......................................................................................... 14 2.2.3 Texas Blackland Prairies Ecoregion ................................................................................. 14 2.2.4 Eastern Central Texas Plains Ecoregion ........................................................................... 14 2.2.5 Western Gulf Coastal Plain Ecoregion ............................................................................. 14 2.3 Land Use and Land Cover .......................................................................................................... 15 2.4 Geology ...................................................................................................................................... 17 2.5 Karst Zones and Karst Fauna Regions ........................................................................................ 20 2.6 Water Resources ......................................................................................................................... 22 2.6.1 Surface Water ................................................................................................................... 22 2.6.2 Groundwater ..................................................................................................................... 22 3 CPS Energy Activities and Covered Activities ................................................................................ 25 3.1 CPS Energy Network .................................................................................................................. 25 3.1.1 Electrical Facilities ........................................................................................................... 26 3.1.2 Natural Gas Facilities ........................................................................................................ 26 3.1.3 Public Roadway Lighting ................................................................................................. 26 3.2 CPS Energy Activities ................................................................................................................ 28 3.2.1 Typical Dimensions and Quantities .................................................................................. 28 3.2.2 New Construction ............................................................................................................. 30 3.2.3 Significant Upgrades ......................................................................................................... 32 3.2.4 Operations and Maintenance............................................................................................. 34 3.2.5 Emergency Responses ...................................................................................................... 36 3.2.6 Summary of the Geographic Extent of CPS Energy Activities ........................................ 36 3.2.7 Estimated Geographic Distribution of CPS Energy Activities ......................................... 37 4 Evaluation Species and Covered Species .......................................................................................... 40 4.1 Evaluation Species ...................................................................................................................... 40 4.1.1 Species List ....................................................................................................................... 40 4.1.2 Assessment Criteria .......................................................................................................... 40 4.1.3 Findings and Rationale for No Coverage .......................................................................... 41 i CPS Energy System-wide Habitat Conservation Plan FINAL February 2021 4.2 Covered Species ......................................................................................................................... 42 5 Effects, Take Estimates, and Impacts ............................................................................................... 43 5.1 Analysis Approach ..................................................................................................................... 43 5.1.1 Direct and Indirect Effects ................................................................................................ 43 5.1.2 Estimating Take ................................................................................................................ 44 5.1.3 Impact of the Taking ......................................................................................................... 45 5.2 Golden-Cheeked Warbler ........................................................................................................... 46 5.2.1 Biology, Life History, and Habitat ................................................................................... 46 5.2.2 Habitat Availability and Population within the Plan Area ................................................ 47 5.2.3 Effects of the Covered Activities ...................................................................................... 49 5.2.4 Estimated Take ................................................................................................................. 51 5.2.5 Impact of the Taking ......................................................................................................... 54 5.3 Covered Karst Invertebrates ....................................................................................................... 55 5.3.1 Biology, Life History, and Habitat ................................................................................... 55 5.3.2 Habitat Availability and Population within the Plan Area ................................................ 56 5.3.3 Effects of the Covered Activities ...................................................................................... 61 5.3.4 Estimated Take ................................................................................................................. 65 5.3.5 Impact of the Taking ......................................................................................................... 72 5.3.6 Karst Invertebrate Critical Habitat .................................................................................... 73 5.4 Summary of Requested Take ...................................................................................................... 76 6 Conservation Program ....................................................................................................................... 77 6.1 Overview .................................................................................................................................... 77 6.2 Biological Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................ 77 6.3 Evaluating CPS Energy Activities for Possible HCP Enrollment .............................................. 78 6.3.1 CPS Energy Environmental Checklist .............................................................................. 78 6.3.2 Alternate Means of ESA Compliance ............................................................................... 79 6.3.3 Documenting and Confirming HCP Enrollment ..............................................................