GUADALUPE RIVER BASIN STRATEGIC CONSERVATION PLAN Produced for the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment ǁŝƚŚƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĨƌŽŵƚŚĞdĞdžĂƐWĂƌŬƐĂŶĚtŝůĚůŝĨĞĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚĂŶĚƚŚĞLJŶƚŚŝĂĂŶĚ'ĞŽƌŐĞDŝƚĐŚĞůů&ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ by Siglo Group Fall 2019 'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞZŝǀĞƌĂƐŝŶ^ƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶWůĂŶ WƌŽũĞĐƚdĞĂŵ͗ DĞĂĚŽǁƐĞŶƚĞƌ͗:ĞŶŶĂtĂůŬĞƌ͕ZLJĂŶ^ƉĞŶĐĞƌ͕ŵŝůLJtĂƌƌĞŶ͕ĂŶĚĂƌŽŶZĂƉĞƌ ^ŝŐůŽ'ƌŽƵƉ͗:ŽŶĂƚŚĂŶKŐƌĞŶ͕ůĂƌĞŽĂŬůĞLJ͕ĂǀĞWŝĞƚƌƵƐnjLJŶƐŬŝ͕:ĂĚĞ&ůŽƌĞŶĐĞ͕ĂŶĚ<ĂƌŝŶĂ'ŽŶnjĂůĞnj dĞdžĂƐWĂƌŬƐĂŶĚtŝůĚůŝĨĞ͗dƌĂǀŝƐdŝĚǁĞůůĂŶĚdŝŵŝƌĚƐŽŶŐ www.MeadowsWater.org, 512.245.9200 dŚĞŵŝƐƐŝŽŶŽĨƚŚĞDĞĂĚŽǁƐĞŶƚĞƌĨŽƌtĂƚĞƌĂŶĚƚŚĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚŝƐŝŶƐƉŝƌŝŶŐƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ͕ŝŶŶŽǀĂƟŽŶĂŶĚůĞĂĚĞƌƐŚŝƉƚŚĂƚĞŶƐƵƌĞƐĐůĞĂŶ͕ĂďƵŶĚĂŶƚ water for the environment and all humanity. www.siglogroup.com, [email protected], 512.699.5986 ^ŝŐůŽ'ƌŽƵƉƵƐĞƐƚŚĞƉŽǁĞƌŽĨŐĞŽŐƌĂƉŚŝĐŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶƚŽŚĞůƉĐůŝĞŶƚƐŝŶƚĞŐƌĂƚĞůĂŶĚƵƐĞǁŝƚŚŶĂƚƵƌĂůƐLJƐƚĞŵƐ͘^ŝŐůŽƐƉĞĐŝĂůŝnjĞƐŝŶĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ ƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐ͕ƌĞŐŝŽŶĂůĂŶĂůLJƐŝƐ͕ƐŝƚĞĂƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚ͕ĐĂƌƚŽŐƌĂƉŚLJ͕ĂŶĚƐƉĂƟĂůĂŶĂůLJƐŝƐ͘dŚĞŝƌǁŽƌŬŚĂƐĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚĞĚƚŽůĂŶĚďĞŝŶŐƐĞƚĂƐŝĚĞŝŶƉĞƌƉĞƚƵŝƚLJĨŽƌ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ͕ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ͕ĂŶĚƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐƚŚĂƚǁŽƌŬƚŽǁĂƌĚƐŵŽƌĞƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďůĞůĂŶĚƵƐĞ͕ŐŽŽĚĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ͕ĂŶĚĂŐƌĞĂƚĞƌƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐŽĨƚŚĞĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞƐ and value of land. www.tpwd.texas.gov The mission of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunt- ŝŶŐ͕ĮƐŚŝŶŐĂŶĚŽƵƚĚŽŽƌƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐĨŽƌƚŚĞƵƐĞĂŶĚĞŶũŽLJŵĞŶƚŽĨƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂŶĚĨƵƚƵƌĞŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ͘ www.cgmf.org dŚĞdĞdžĂƐͲďĂƐĞĚLJŶƚŚŝĂĂŶĚ'ĞŽƌŐĞDŝƚĐŚĞůů&ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶŝƐĂŐƌĂŶƚŵĂŬŝŶŐĨŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶƚŚĂƚƐĞĞŬƐŝŶŶŽǀĂƟǀĞ͕ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďůĞƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐĨŽƌŚƵŵĂŶĂŶĚ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůƉƌŽďůĞŵƐ͘dŚĞĨŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶǁŽƌŬƐĂƐĂŶĞŶŐŝŶĞŽĨĐŚĂŶŐĞŝŶďŽƚŚƉŽůŝĐLJĂŶĚƉƌĂĐƟĐĞŝŶdĞdžĂƐ͕ƐƵƉƉŽƌƟŶŐŚŝŐŚͲŝŵƉĂĐƚƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐĂŶĚ ƉƌĂĐƟĐĞƐĂƚƚŚĞŶĞdžƵƐŽĨĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶ͕ƐŽĐŝĂůĞƋƵŝƚLJ͕ĂŶĚĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐǀŝďƌĂŶĐLJ͘ ŽǀĞƌ/ŵĂŐĞ͗WŚŽƚŽĐŽƵƌƚĞƐLJdĞdžĂƐWĂƌŬƐĂŶĚtŝůĚůŝĨĞĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚΞϮϬϬϲ 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS ^hDDZz 5 /EdZKhd/KE 9 'h>hW^/E^dhzZ 11 Dd,K^ 23 FINDINGS 33 /^h^^/KEΘKE>h^/KE^ 39 ^KhZ^ 42 PROJECT GOALS 1. Provide an overview of the Guadalupe Basin, its relevant ŚŝƐƚŽƌLJ͕ůĂŶĚƵƐĞĐŚĂŶŐĞƐ͕ĂŶĚƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚŶĂƚƵƌĂůƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ƚŽŝŶĨŽƌŵĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĞīŽƌƚƐĂŶĚƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƚŚŽƵŐŚƞƵů decision making. 2. hƟůŝnjĞĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚĚĂƚĂĂŶĂůLJƐŝƐŵĞƚŚŽĚƐƚŽŝĚĞŶƟĨLJĂƌĞĂƐ ŽĨŚŝŐŚĞƐƚĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶǀĂůƵĞǁŝƚŚŝŶƚŚĞ'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞĂƐŝŶ͘ 3. /ĚĞŶƟĨLJĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐƚŚĂƚŚĞůƉƉƌŽƚĞĐƚƚŚĞ ǁĂƚĞƌƐƵƉƉůLJĂŶĚŶĂƚƵƌĂůƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐŽĨĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐĂŶĚ wildlife within the Guadalupe Basin. 4. ZĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚƉĂƚŚƐĨŽƌǁĂƌĚƚŚĂƚƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƚŚĞƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶ ĂŶĚĞĸĐŝĞŶƚƵƐĞŽĨǁĂƚĞƌ͕ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů͕ĂŶĚĞĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂů resources. 5. WƌŽǀŝĚĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶƚŚĂƚĨĂĐŝůŝƚĂƚĞƐŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ͕ ĨƵŶĚƌĂŝƐŝŶŐ͕ĂŶĚĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͕ĂƐǁĞůůĂƐŽŶƚŚĞŐƌŽƵŶĚ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĂŶĚƌĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐƚŚĂƚĂƌĞƚŚĞ outcome of the next phase of the project. Photo courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife Department © 2006 5 SUMMARY dŚĞ'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞZŝǀĞƌĂƐŝŶƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐĞĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂůǀĂůƵĞĂŶĚŶĂƚƵƌĂůƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ϯϬ͕ϱϭϱĂĐƌĞƐŝŶƚŚĞĚǁĂƌĚƐƋƵŝĨĞƌZĞĐŚĂƌŐĞŽŶĞƐƵƌƌŽƵŶĚŝŶŐ^ĂŶ to over 600,000 and growing basin residents. Ecologically, it is home to DĂƌĐŽƐĂŶĚEĞǁƌĂƵŶĨĞůƐ͖ numerous endemic species, along with Guadalupe bass and freshwater 31,273 acres of lands within the Western Gulf Coastal Plains. ŵƵƐƐĞůƐ͘&ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ŝƚĞŵƉƟĞƐŝŶƚŽƚŚĞ^ĂŶŶƚŽŶŝŽĂLJ͕ǁŚĞƌĞŽŶĞŽĨ the most endangered bird species in the world—the Whooping Crane— dŚĞŝĚĞŶƟĮĐĂƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞƐĞƚŽƉƉƌŝŽƌŝƚLJĂƌĞĂƐĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞƐĂĐƌŝƟĐĂůƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐ breeds every winter. The basin also provides ecosystem services that are ŐĂƉĨŽƌĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ͘WůĂŶŶŝŶŐŐĂƉƐĂƌĞĂƌĞĂƐĨŽƌǁŚŝĐŚĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŝƐƚƐ ǀŝƚĂůƚŽŚƵŵĂŶĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐ͘^ƵƌĨĂĐĞĂŶĚŐƌŽƵŶĚǁĂƚĞƌƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚƌŝŶŬŝŶŐ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůĚĂƚĂͲďĂƐĞĚƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚƌĞŐĂƌĚŝŶŐǁŚĞƌĞƚŽĞīĞĐƟǀĞůLJĂŶĚ water, while open, unpaved spaces have the demonstrated ability to ĞĸĐŝĞŶƚůLJĂƉƉůLJƚŚĞŝƌƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ͘ZĞƐĞĂƌĐŚƌĞƐƵůƚƐĂƌĞƚŚĞŶƵƟůŝnjĞĚĨŽƌŝŶƚĞƌͲ ŵŝƟŐĂƚĞŇŽŽĚĚĂŵĂŐĞ͘EƵŵĞƌŽƵƐĐƵůƚƵƌĂůƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐĂƌĞƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚďLJ ĂŶĚŝŶƚƌĂͲũƵƌŝƐĚŝĐƟŽŶĂůĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶŵĂŬŝŶŐ͘LJĐŽŶĚƵĐƟŶŐƚŚŝƐĞǀĂůƵĂƟŽŶ ƚŚĞďĂƐŝŶ͕ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐĨĂƌŵŝŶŐ͕ƌĂŶĐŚŝŶŐ͕ŚƵŶƟŶŐ͕ďŝƌĚǁĂƚĐŚŝŶŐ͕ĮƐŚŝŶŐ͕ ŽĨŵƵůƟƉůĞƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐĂĐƌŽƐƐƚŚĞůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞĂŶĚƚŚĞŝŵƉĂĐƚŽĨůĂŶĚƵƐĞ ĂŶĚƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶ͘,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ƌĂƉŝĚŐƌŽǁƚŚĂƌŽƵŶĚƐĞǀĞƌĂůŚŝŐŚǁĂLJĐŽƌƌŝĚŽƌƐ ƚƌĞŶĚƐŽŶƚŚĞŵ͕ƚŚŝƐƌĞƉŽƌƚƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƐĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŝƐƚƐŝŶƚŚĞ'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞ ƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶƐƚŽƐƵďƐƚĂŶƟĂůůLJĚĞŐƌĂĚĞƚŚĞ'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞĂƐŝŶ͕ůŝŵŝƟŶŐƚŚĞƌŝǀĞƌ͛Ɛ ĂƐŝŶŝŶĐůŽƐŝŶŐƚŚŝƐƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐŐĂƉ͘KŶĐĞƚŚĞĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶͲŵĂŬŝŶŐƉƌŽĐĞƐƐŝƐ ability to provide these services. ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ͕ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŝƐƚƐǁŝůůĂĚĚƌĞƐƐƚŚĞŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶŐĂƉ͕ǁŚŝĐŚ is the space between knowing what needs to be done and determining LJĂŶĂůLJnjŝŶŐƚŚĞĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞƐĞǀĂůƵĂďůĞŶĂƚƵƌĂůƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ͕ƚŚĞ ŚŽǁƚŽĚŽŝƚ͘dŚŝƐƐƚĂŐĞŽĨĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐŝŶǀŽůǀĞƐŝĚĞŶƟĨLJŝŶŐ 'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞZŝǀĞƌĂƐŝŶ^ƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶWůĂŶŝƐŝŶƚĞŶĚĞĚƚŽĂƐƐŝƐƚ ŵĞĐŚĂŶŝƐŵƐĨŽƌĐŽŵƉůĞƟŶŐƚŚĞǁŽƌŬ͕ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂůƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐ͕ĂŶĚŵĞƚŚŽĚƐƚŽ ƚŚĞDĞĂĚŽǁƐĞŶƚĞƌĨŽƌtĂƚĞƌĂŶĚƚŚĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂŶĚŝƚƐĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ ĨĂĐŝůŝƚĂƚĞĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟŽŶďĞƚǁĞĞŶƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐ͘/ŶĂĚĚƌĞƐƐŝŶŐƚŚĞƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐĂŶĚ ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐŝŶƚĂŬŝŶŐĂƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĐ͕ƉƌŽĂĐƟǀĞĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚ͘dŚĞŐŽĂůŽĨƚŚŝƐǁŽƌŬŝƐ ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶŐĂƉƐ͕ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŝƐƚƐĐĂŶƵƟůŝnjĞĂƉƌŽǀĞŶĨƌĂŵĞǁŽƌŬĨŽƌ ƚŽƐĂĨĞŐƵĂƌĚƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐŝŶƚŚĞƌĞŐŝŽŶďLJŝĚĞŶƟĨLJŝŶŐƚŚĞŵŽƐƚĂĚǀĂŶƚĂŐĞŽƵƐ ŵŽǀŝŶŐƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐĨƌŽŵĐŽŶĐĞƉƚƵĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶƚŽŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ͘dŚŝƐĂŶĂůLJƐŝƐ ůĂŶĚƐĨŽƌƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶ͘dŚŝƐƉƌŽũĞĐƚĂƐƐĞƐƐĞĚŽǀĞƌϯŵŝůůŝŽŶĂĐƌĞƐŽĨůĂŶĚŝŶ can serve as a catalyst for that work to begin. ƚŚĞ'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞĂƐŝŶƵƐŝŶŐĂŐĞŽŐƌĂƉŚŝĐƉƌŽĐĞĚƵƌĂůŵŽĚĞů͘DŽĚĞůŝŶƉƵƚƐ included variables associated with water, cultural, and ecological resources. dŚŝƐĂŶĂůLJƐŝƐŚĂƐŵƵůƟƉůĞƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĐĂĚǀĂŶƚĂŐĞƐ͘&ŝƌƐƚ͕ƚŚĞďƌĞĂĚƚŚŽĨ dŚĞƐĞŝŶƉƵƚƐǁĞƌĞƵƐĞĚƚŽŝĚĞŶƟĨLJĂŶĚƌĂŶŬƉŽƚĞŶƟĂůĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĂƌĞĂƐ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚďLJĂŶLJƉƌŝŽƌŝƟnjĞĚĂƌĞĂĂůůŽǁƐĨŽƌ ;&ŝŐƵƌĞϭͿ͘dŚŽƐĞĂƌĞĂƐǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŚŝŐŚĞƐƚƌĂŶŬƌĞŇĞĐƚĞĚƚŚĞĐŽŶŇƵĞŶĐĞŽĨ ĂǀĂƌŝĞƚLJŽĨĚŝƐƟŶĐƚĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶͲĨŽĐƵƐĞĚŐƌŽƵƉƐƚŽƉĂƌƚŶĞƌŝŶůĂŶĚ ŵƵůƟƉůĞ͕ŚŝŐŚͲǀĂůƵĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ͕ĂŶĚƚŚĞƌĞĨŽƌĞ͕ĂƌĞƉƌŝŵĞ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞƐ͘&ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ďLJĐŽŶƐĞƌǀŝŶŐĂŶLJƚŽƉƉƌŝŽƌŝƚLJĂƌĞĂ͕ ĂƌĞĂƐƚŽĞīĞĐƟǀĞůLJĂŶĚĞĸĐŝĞŶƚůLJĂƉƉůLJĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĚŽůůĂƌƐ͘dŚĞƚŽƉ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƉƌĂĐƟƟŽŶĞƌƐĂƌĞƉŽƐŝƟŽŶĞĚƚŽŵĞĞƚƚŚĞŝƌŽǁŶŽďũĞĐƟǀĞƐ ϭϬйŽĨƚŚĞƐĞƉƌŝŽƌŝƟnjĞĚůĂŶĚƐ;ĂƉƉƌŽdž͘ϯϴϬ͕ϬϬϬĂĐƌĞƐͿŝŶĐůƵĚĞŚĂďŝƚĂƚĨŽƌ along with numerous other ecological goals. Finally, top priority areas 'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞĂƐƐ͕ĨƌĞƐŚǁĂƚĞƌŵƵƐƐĞůƐ͕ŇŽŽĚŵŝƟŐĂƟŽŶůĂŶĚƐ͕ůĂŶĚƐĂĚũĂĐĞŶƚ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂŶĞĸĐŝĞŶƚƉĂƚŚǁĂLJƚŽĂƉƉůLJůŝŵŝƚĞĚĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐŝŶ ƚŽĞdžŝƐƟŶŐŽƉĞŶƐƉĂĐĞ͕ƌĂŶĐŚůĂŶĚƐ͕ĂƌĞĂƐƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶĞĚďLJĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ͕ ŽƌĚĞƌƚŽĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŚŝŐŚͲŝŵƉĂĐƚƌĞƐƵůƚƐ͘LJĨŽĐƵƐŝŶŐĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĞīŽƌƚƐŽŶ ĂŶĚƌŝƉĂƌŝĂŶĐŽƌƌŝĚŽƌƐ͕ĂƐǁĞůůĂƐŶƵŵĞƌŽƵƐŽƚŚĞƌĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ƚŚĞůĂŶĚƐƉƌŝŽƌŝƟnjĞĚŚĞƌĞ͕ƚŚĞDĞĂĚŽǁƐĞŶƚĞƌĂŶĚŝƚƐƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐǁŝůůďĞ ;&ŝŐƵƌĞϮͿ͘^ƉĞĐŝĮĐŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚƐŽĨƚŚĞĂƌĞĂƐŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚĂƐƚŽƉƉƌŝŽƌŝƚLJĨŽƌ ǁĞůůͲĞƋƵŝƉƉĞĚƚŽƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƚŚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŽĨǀĂůƵĂďůĞůĂŶĚƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŝŶĐůƵĚĞ͗ ƚŚĞ'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞZŝǀĞƌĂƐŝŶ͘/ŶĚŽŝŶŐƐŽ͕ƚŚĞDĞĂĚŽǁƐĞŶƚĞƌǁŝůůƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞůLJϯϱϬ͕ϬϬϬĂĐƌĞƐŽĨEĂƟǀĞ&ŝƐŚŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƌĞĂƐ͖ ƚŚĞďĂƐŝŶ͛ƐĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚŚĞĂůƚŚĂŶĚĞŶƐƵƌĞƚŚĂƚǀŝƚĂůŶĂƚƵƌĂůƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐĂƌĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞdžŽĨϰϬ͕ϬϬϬĂĐƌĞƐĂƚƚŚĞŚĞĂĚǁĂƚĞƌƐŽĨƚŚĞ'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞZŝǀĞƌ͖ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞĨŽƌĨƵƚƵƌĞŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ͘ ϲ'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞZŝǀĞƌĂƐŝŶ^ƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶWůĂŶ Austin PARCEL PRIORITIZATION Kerrville B la nc o Gu River ada P lupe San Marcos lu Riv m er S P a C e n a r c M e h e a k C r S a r New Braunfels co n s e R d e y k iv F er or Seguin k Gonzales San Antonio S a n d i es Cre ek G u a d a lu p e R iv er 0 20 Miles Victoria ^ƚƵĚLJƌĞĂŽƵŶĚƐ ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ>ĂŶĚƐ ŽƵŶƚLJ>ŝŶĞƐ ZŝǀĞƌƐĂŶĚƌĞĞŬƐ >ĂŶĚsĂůƵĞ/ŶĚĞdž ,ŝŐŚsĂůƵĞ >ŽǁsĂůƵĞ &ŝŐƵƌĞϭ͘WĂƌĐĞůƉƌŝŽƌŝƟnjĂƟŽŶďĂƐĞĚŽŶƚŚĞĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ>ĂŶĚsĂůƵĞ/ŶĚĞdžŽĨĞĂĐŚƉĂƌĐĞůŝŶƚŚĞWƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ^ĐĞŶĂƌŝŽ͘ 2019 7 Austin TOP PRIORITY PARCELS Kerrville B la nc G o River ua dal P upe San Marcos lu River m S P a C e n r a e c M h e k a C r S New Braunfels co a r s n e R d e y k iv F er or Seguin k Gonzales San Antonio S a n d i es Cre ek G u a d a lu p e R iv er Victoria 0 20 Miles ^ƚƵĚLJƌĞĂŽƵŶĚƐ ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ>ĂŶĚƐ ŽƵŶƚLJ>ŝŶĞƐ Top Priority Parcels ZŝǀĞƌƐĂŶĚƌĞĞŬƐ &ŝŐƵƌĞϮ͘dŽƉƉƌŝŽƌŝƚLJƉĂƌĐĞůƐĂƌĞƚŚĞƉĂƌĐĞůƐǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŚŝŐŚĞƐƚĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ>ĂŶĚsĂůƵĞ/ŶĚĞdžƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌƚŽƚĂůŝŶŐϭϬйŽĨƚŚĞƐƚƵĚLJĂƌĞĂ͘ ϴ'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞZŝǀĞƌĂƐŝŶ^ƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶWůĂŶ WŚŽƚŽĐŽƵƌƚĞƐLJŽĨƚŚĞDĞĂĚŽǁƐĞŶƚĞƌ 2019 9 INTRODUCTION ǁĞůůͲĨƵŶĐƟŽŶŝŶŐĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐƚŚĞ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚƐƚŽƉƌŽƚĞĐƚƚŚĞůĂŶĚƐĂĚũĂĐĞŶƚƚŽ partnerships with private landowners, these myriad services upon which community health ƚŚĞŝƌǁĂƚĞƌƐƵƉƉůLJƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ͘ƐĂƌĞƐƵůƚŽĨƚŚĞƐĞ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐŚĂǀĞĂůůŽǁĞĚĨŽƌƚŚĞƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶŽĨ ŝƐďƵŝůƚ͘dŚĞ'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞZŝǀĞƌĂŶĚŝƚƐƐƵƌƌŽƵŶĚŝŶŐ historic investments, basins in the Catskills, open lands while allowing the landowner to ďĂƐŝŶƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĨƌĞƐŚǁĂƚĞƌ͕ŇŽŽĚĐŽŶƚƌŽů͕ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ ^ŝĞƌƌĂƐ͕ĂƐĐĂĚĞƐ͕ĂŶĚƚŚĞŝƌĨŽŽƚŚŝůůƐĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĨĂƌŵŝŶŐĂŶĚƌĂŶĐŚŝŶŐ͕ƚŚƵƐŵĞĞƟŶŐĂ ŚĂďŝƚĂƚ͕ƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ͕ĂŶĚŶĂƚƵƌĂů to provide safe drinking water for millions of broader societal need. beauty.1ƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ͕ƚŚĞ'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞZŝǀĞƌŝƐĂ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶƐƚŽƚŚŝƐĚĂLJ͘3 This same process is healthy body of water, capable of providing these currently occurring throughout the country ĐƟŽŶͲŽƌŝĞŶƚĞĚĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞƐƐƵĐŚ services. However, ongoing growth around the and even in our own backyard. The City of San as these must strike a balance between the I-35, I-10, and 281 highway corridors threatens ŶƚŽŶŝŽ͛ƐĚǁĂƌĚƐƋƵŝĨĞƌWƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶWƌŽŐƌĂŵ4 ƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶŽĨŶĂƚƵƌĂůƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐĂŶĚĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƚŽĚĞĐƌĞĂƐĞƚŚĞďĂƐŝŶ͛ƐĂďŝůŝƚLJƚŽƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƚŚĞƐĞ ŝƐĂƉƌŝŵĞĞdžĂŵƉůĞŽĨǁĂƚĞƌͲĨŽĐƵƐĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ opportunity if they are to be successful. This vital services. Furthermore, the Texas Water in Texas and has led to more than 200,000 acres ƉƌŽũĞĐƚĂŝŵƐƚŽĂƐƐŝƐƚƚŚĞDĞĂĚŽǁƐĞŶƚĞƌĨŽƌ ĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚŽĂƌĚ;dtͿƉƌĞĚŝĐƚƐƚŚĂƚƚŚĞ being permanently conserved to date. Much of Water and the Environment and watershed ƐƚĞĂĚLJŐƌŽǁƚŚŽĨĐŝƟĞƐǁŝƚŚŝŶƚŚĞ'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞ ƚŚŝƐĂĐƌĞĂŐĞǁĂƐŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚƚŚƌŽƵŐŚĂŐĞŽŐƌĂƉŚŝĐ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐďLJƚĂŬŝŶŐĂƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĐ͕ ĂƐŝŶǁŝůůŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞǁĂƚĞƌĚĞŵĂŶĚďLJϯϯйŽǀĞƌ procedural model5ƐŝŵŝůĂƌƚŽƚŚĞŽŶĞƵƟůŝnjĞĚŝŶ ƉƌŽĂĐƟǀĞĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚƚŽĐŽŶƐĞƌǀŝŶŐƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ the next 50 years.2/ƚŝƐŝŵƉĞƌĂƟǀĞƚŚĂƚƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚƐ this study. ŝŶƚŚĞ'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞĂƐŝŶ͘dŚĞ'ƵĂĚĂůƵƉĞZŝǀĞƌ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚƚŽƚŚŝƐŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶĂŶĚĂĚũƵƐƚĐŽƵƌƐĞďLJ ĂƐŝŶ^ƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶWůĂŶŝƐŝŶƚĞŶĚĞĚƚŽ ƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐĂŶĚŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƟŶŐƐLJƐƚĞŵƐƚŚĂƚƵƟůŝnjĞ tŝƚŚĂǁŝĚĞƌůĞŶƐ͕EĂƟǀĞ&ŝƐŚŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ ƐĞƌǀĞĂƐĂŐƵŝĚĞƚŽĨƵƚƵƌĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĞīŽƌƚƐ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƚŽĞŶŚĂŶĐĞŚĞĂůƚŚĂŶĚůŝǀĂďŝůŝƚLJ͘