news & events

BAT Meeting - August 25 The BAT met on August 25, 2010 to discuss management and monitoring priorities for species addressed by the plan. No actions were taken, but BAT members generally agreed that plan resources should be focused first on acquisition of habitats, then active management of preserves, and finally on monitoring activities to demonstrate compliance with the permit, assess the biological effectivness of the conservation program, and guide the adaptive mangement program. The agenda, meeting materials, and minutes are posted on the COMMITTEES page as they are available.

August 2, 2010 The CAC met on August 2, 2010 to continue discussions on the permit holder, including how to include other jurisdictions in the plan. The CAC also deliberated on a general conservation strategy and broad community-based goals and objectives for the plan. This general conservation strategy includes goals for regional conservation, supporting Camp Bullis, stakeholder involvement, streamlined permitting, sensitivity to local concerns, and leveraging resources. The CAC's strategy recommendations will help guide the formation of a specific conservation program that achieves protection of the SEP-HCP species and addresses community needs and concerns. The CAC also reviewed preliminary work by the BAT on a set of biological goals and species-specific biological objectives for the plan. CAC members were encouraged to send written comments on the proposals to the committee chairs. An agenda, minutes, and other meeting materials are posted on the COMMITTEES page as they become available.

July 28, 2010 The BAT met on July 28, 2010 and had detailed discussions on the species-specific biological goals and objectives for the plan. The BAT also discussed a draft proposal for broader community goals and objectives for the general conservation strategy. The BAT agreed to send their preliminary deliberations to the CAC for review and discussion, but did not make a formal recommendation. The agenda, materials, and minutes will be posted on the COMMITTEES page as they become available.

July 12, 2010 The CAC met on July 12, 2010 and voted to recommend that the duration of the SEP-HCP and associated permit be 30 years. The CAC also discussed issues concerning who the appropriate permit applicant should be and began discussions on the overall conservation strategy for the SEP-HCP, including the desired goals and objectives for the plan. The CAC also recieved information about the funding plans used in other local RHCPs. The agenda, materials, and minutes will be posted on the COMMITTEES page as they become available.

July 7, 2010 The BAT met on July 7, 2010 to discuss the resouce assessments and the overall biological goals and objectives for the SEPHCP, including standards for mitigation and preserve design. The BAT also revisted the species list for the plan, primarily involving how to address salamanders and other aquatic karst species. No formal action was taken on these topics. An agenda, materials, and minutes for this meeting will be posted on the COMMITTEES page as they become available.

June 18, 2010 The BAT met on June 18, 2010 and discussed the resouce assessments prepared by the consultant team and some of the early comments on these documents. BAT members revisited the species list for the SEPHCP, including how to address karst aquatic invertebrates and Eurycea salamanders. The BAT voted to not object to a possible 30-year duration for the incidental take permit, acknowledging that this decision is largely not a biological issue. Finally, the BAT discussed overall biological goals and objectives for the SEPHCP, including standards for mitigation and funding issues. An agenda, materials, and minutes for this meeting will be posted on the COMMITTEES page as they become available.

June 7, 2010 The CAC met on June 7, 2010 and heard presentations on the HCP process and karst species. CAC members discussed aquatic species issues and recommended the inclusion of 3 freshwater mussels as Category 3 (voluntarily conserved) species, with the rest of the rare aquatic species treated as Category 5 species (considered but not included). The CAC also voted to recommend draft language for covered activites that would broadly include coverage for any type of incidental take, with specific examples of common activities to aid understanding. The CAC also began discussions of the permit duration and permit applicant. An agenda, materials, and minutes for this meeting will be posted on the COMMITTEES page as they become available.