AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Receive an update regarding implementation of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan and the permit renewal process.
Body
Meeting date: April 1, 2025
Department: Engineering/ CIP
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Habitat Conservation Master Plan
Background Information:
The work session and presentation will provide an overview of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (EAHCP) and EAHCP renewal process.
The City, along with several partners, is continuing to implement the EAHCP to protect endangered species within the Comal and San Marcos River systems. The EAHCP is the basis of an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) issued to several permittees by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the federal Endangered Species Act. Permittees include City of San Marcos, Texas State University, City of New Braunfels, Edwards Aquifer Authority and San Antonio Water System. The ITP legally protects permittees for “take” of endangered species caused by activities such as pumping from the Edwards Aquifer and river recreation so long as conservation strategies included in the EAHCP are implemented. The current EAHCP and ITP term is 2013-2027.
EAHCP implementation currently includes springflow protection, habitat protection, biological/ water quality monitoring and refugia. Springflow protection includes several regional initiatives to reduce pumping form the Edwards Aquifer during significant drought periods to meet minimum springflow objectives at Comal and San Marcos Springs needed to meet the biological needs of the spring-dependent endangered species. The springflow protection measures include EAA Critical Period Withdrawal Reductions (44%), Voluntary Irrigation Suspension Program Option, SAWS Aquifer Storage and Recovery, and Regional Water Conservation Program. Together, these springflow protection measures are design to achieve the minimum springflow objectives of 30cfs and 45cfs at Comal and San Marcos Springs, respectively. Habitat protection measures include, but are not limited to, aquatic/riparian vegetation restoration, river recreation management, non-native species control, water quality protection and litter management. Habitat protection measures are implemented to ensure that impacts caused to the endangered species by low-flow and river recreation are minimized and mitigated. The habitat protection measures are implemented by Texas State University, City of San Marcos, and City of New Braunfels within the Comal and San Marcos River systems.
EAHCP project partners are currently working together to revise the existing EAHCP to submit to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as part of an ITP application in order to obtain an ITP for presumably a 30-year term 2027-2057. The revised EAHCP will include refined Biological Goals and Objectives, revised Conservation Measures, Adaptive Management and Monitoring. It is anticipated that an ITP application, along with the revised draft EAHCP, will be submitted to USFWS in Spring of 2026 for review.
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