NewsDrop-October-2024

EAHCP | CONTINUING A COMMITMENT TO CONSERVATION

By: Olivia Lopez HCP Coordinator II

Renewing the Edwards Aquifer HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN

Comal Springs riffle beetle

The Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (EAHCP) is a comprehensive plan designed to protect and conserve the threatened and endangered species that depend on the Edwards Aquifer and its associated ecosystems, particularly Comal and San Marcos spring systems.

Fountain darter

Texas wild-rice

The Incidental Take Permit is part of the EAHCP and was initially established in 2013 to safe guard species listed under the Endangered Spe cies Act (ESA) that depend on the aquifer and its associated ecosystems. The permit’s renewal is a pivotal step in ensuring the ongoing balance between activities like regional groundwater use and species conservation. The current ITP, which is set to expire in 2028, covers a 15-year period and has allowed for sus tainable management of the aquifer and spring systems while implementing measures to pro tect species such as the fountain darter, Texas

wild-rice, and the Comal Springs riffle beetle. As the renewal process progresses, the EAHCP, in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and other stakeholders, aim to extend the permit for another term, incorporating new scientific data, climate change projections, and lessons learned over the past decade. The permit renewal process, which began in 2022, is a four-phase process: 1) Listen and Learn, 2) Analyze, 3) Sign-Off, and 4) Document. Public involvement and stakeholder engage ment play a critical role in this process. “Trans parency is paramount in our efforts. We want

all stakeholders aware of what we are planning and we want their involvement in the process,” explained Scott Storment, EAHCP Program Manager. The EAHCP has been actively seek ing input from various stakeholders, includ ing municipalities, industries, environmental groups, and the general public, to ensure that the renewed permit, and accompanying Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), reflects a broad range of interests and concerns. Public meetings and provide opportunities for community members to voice their opinions and contribute to the deci sion-making process.

One of the primary goals of the renewal process is to develop conservation measures that support the implementation of biological objectives, aligning with the EAHCP’s overall biological goals. This approach forms part of the three-part conservation strategy used in HCPs. Currently, the EAHCP Conservation Measures Subcommittee is conducting a compre hensive review of the current conservation measures, assessing their effectiveness, and identifying areas for improvement. This includes revisiting key strate gies such as springflow protection measures, habitat protection measures, and measures that contribute to recovery. More importantly, “we are evaluating the lessons learned from 11.5 years of implementation

with the best available science to enhance the EAHCP Program and ensure the long-term sur vival of our threatened and endangered species,” explained Kristina Tolman, HCP Senior Coordinator The renewal of the ITP will also require the EAHCP to prepare an updated plan, which will outline the specific actions and commitments necessary to min imize and mitigate the impacts on the Covered Spe cies. This updated plan will be subject to rigorous review and approval by the USFWS, ensuring that it meets federal standards for species protection under the ESA.

As the EAHCP moves forward with the ITP renewal, the process underscores the importance of continued collaboration among stakeholders to safeguard the ecological health of the Edwards Aquifer system and the region’s most sensitive species.

To learn more about the EAHCP Permit Renewal Process, please visit: www.eahcprenewal.org.

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