Review of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan Report 3 (2018) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 15-28
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From page 15... ...
: the fountain darter, the San Marcos gambusia (which is presumed extinct) , the Texas blind salamander, the San Marcos salamander, the Comal Springs dryopid beetle, the Comal Springs riffle beetle (CSRB)
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From page 16... ...
The EAA implements the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) , which the U.S.
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At least six springs occur within the artesian zone, including the two largest in Texas, the San Marcos and Comal springs. The Edwards Aquifer is characterized by karst features, such as fractures, caves, and sinkholes, which transport large volumes of groundwater through the system on the order of several days.
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From page 18... ...
, and other factors, such as high nutrient loading and sedimentation that negatively affect water quality and TABLE 1-1 Common and scientific names of species proposed for coverage under the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan and their status according to the Endangered Species Act Common Name Scientific Name ESA Status Fountain darter Etheostoma fonticola Endangered Comal Springs riffle beetle Heterelmis comalensis Endangered San Marcos gambusia Gambusia georgei Endangered Comal Springs dryopid beetle Stygoparnus comalensis Endangered Peck's Cave amphipod Stygobromus pecki Endangered Texas wild rice Zizania texana Endangered Texas blind salamander Eurycea rathbuni Endangered San Marcos salamander Eurycea nana Threatened Edwards Aquifer diving beetle Haideoporus texanus Petitioneda Comal Springs salamander Eurycea sp. Petitioneda Texas troglobitic water slater Lirceolus smithii Petitioneda NOTE: Boldface indicates organisms that are the focus of this report, as discussed further in Chapter 2.
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From page 19... ...
The M&M measures that make up the HCP include four spring flow protection measures as well as other measures designed to maintain and restore the habitat of listed species at both Comal and San Marcos springs. A complete list of the measures can be found in NRC (2015)
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. Beyond the spring flow protection measures there are a variety of M&M measures designed to maintain and restore the habitat of listed species at both Comal and San Marcos springs.
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. The first task asks whether the biological objectives, which have flow, water quality, and habitat components, can meet the biological goals, which are often stated as population measures for the listed species.
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The third and final report will focus on the relationships among proposed conservation measures (including flow protection measures and habitat restoration) , biological objectives (such as water quality criteria, habitat condition, and specified spring flow rates)
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Spring Flow Protection Voluntary Irrigation Suspension Program Option 5.1.2 Regional Water Conservation Program 5.1.3 Critical period management 5.1.4 Aquifer storage and recovery 5.5.1 Water Quality Protection Decaying vegetation removal program 5.2.4 Management of floating vegetation mats and litter removal 5.3.3 and 5.4.3 Low-impact development/best management practices 5.7.3 Best management practices for stormwater control 5.7.6 SAV Management Landa Lake and Comal River aquatic vegetation restoration 5.2.2 and maintenance Old Channel Environmental Restoration and Protection Area 5.2.2.1 Texas wild rice enhancement and restoration 5.3.1, 5.4.1 SAV restoration (nonnative removal and native 5.3.8, 5.4.3, 5.4.12 reestablishment) /maintenance Recreation Management Recreation control in key areas 5.3.2, 5.4.2 Bank stabilization/permanent access points 5.3.7 Management of public recreational use 5.3.2.1 Boating in Spring Lake and Sewell Park 5.3.10 Diving classes in Spring Lake 5.4.7 Creation of scientific areas 5.6 Riparian Management Riparian improvements and sediment removal specific to the 5.2.8 Comal Springs riffle beetle Bank stabilization/permanent access points 5.3.7 Restoration of riparian zone with native vegetation 5.7.1 tection, (2)
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From page 24... ...
Red text indicates the flow component, blue text the water quality component, and green text the habitat component of the biological objectives. Note that Texas wild rice and the San Marcos salamander were not assigned a water quality component (and hence have no blue text)
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FIGURE 1-2 Linkages between the listed species, their biological goals, biological objectives, and the M&M measures. NOTE: LTBG = long-term biological goal; SAV = submerged aquatic vegetation.
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From page 26... ...
For example, the recreation management measures are intended to help achieve the habitat component of the biological objectives for Texas wild rice and the San Marcos salamander. The spring flow protection measures are intended to help achieve the flow component of the biological objectives for all species.
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From page 27... ...
For example, the biological goals were considered immovable for the purposes of this study, and so Chapter 2 does not critique the specific numeric goals. The flow objectives specify only minimum flow requirements for the listed species because a major goal of the HCP is to protect those species during a recurrence of the Drought of Record.
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From page 28... ...
2016. Evaluation of the Predictive Ecological Model for the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan: An Interim Report as Part of Phase 2.
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