WILLIAMSON COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

WILLIAMSON COUNTY CONSERVATION FOUNDATION RECEIVES $2,358,750 IN GRANTS FOR CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES & ENDANGERED SPECIES PRESERVATION

September 23, 2004 (Williamson County, TX) -- Interior Secretary Gale Norton today announced more than $70 million in grants to 28 states and one territory to support conservation planning and acquisition of vital habitat for threatened and endangered fish, wildlife and plant species.

 

"Today’s grant awards support state efforts to build and strengthen important cost-effective conservation partnerships with local groups and private landowners to benefit wildlife," commented Secretary Norton.

Funded through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, and authorized by Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act, the grants enable work with private landowners, conservation groups and other agencies to initiate conservation planning efforts and acquire and protect habitat to support the conservation of threatened and endangered species. The Cooperative Endangered Species Fund this year provides $49 million through the Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants Program, $8.6 million through the Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance Grants Program and $13.5 million through the Recovery Land Acquisition Grants Program. The three programs were established to help reduce potential conflicts between the conservation of threatened and endangered species and land development and use.

The Williamson County Conservation Foundation (Foundation) was awarded a total of $2,358,750 in federal funds for species recovery, preservation, and conservation efforts of a number of endangered and candidate species.

Congressman John Carter congratulated the Foundation, "I am pleased with today's announcement as it recognizes the important work that the Williamson County Conservation Foundation is doing to conserve and recover threatened and endangered species. The goal of this funding is not only to preserve these species, but to help developers, farmers and landowners handle them when they are found on land."

One of the two grants awarded to the Foundation provided $1,353,750.00 from the Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition program. These funds are targeted for the acquisition and conservation of a 40-acre tract currently owned by the Round Rock Independent School District. The tract contains 9 caves that are habitat for the Bone cave harvestman, an endangered karst species. The acquisition adds to the long-term success of the existing Brushy Creek MUD Preserve, as well as augments the conservation measures pursuant to the Sultan & Kahn Habitat Conservation Plan, and will contribute to the eventual recovery of the Bone cave harvestman. Under the Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Program, the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) provides grants to states to acquire lands associated with approved Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs). These do not fund the mitigation activities required, but instead support acquisitions of land by the state and local governments to compliment actions associated with HCPs.

The second grant awarded, in the amount of $1,005,000 will be used to continue the development of the Regional Habitat Conservation Plan (RHCP) for Williamson County, a process that was initiated in 2003. Establishment of the Williamson County RHCP will further help further recovery of three endangered karst species in Williamson County and provide a long-term method for conservation of the endangered karst species and other key species.

"The Austin Ecological Services Office is very pleased that the Williamson County Conservation Foundation was awarded section 6 money for two of its three proposals. The $1,353,750 awarded for purchase of the Bone Cave Harvestman Preserve will make a substantial contribution to the eventual recovery of the Bone Cave Harvestman. The $1,005,000 award for finalization of the Williamson County Habitat Conservation Plan will aid in the conservation and recovery of three endangered karst species, the golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, and the Georgetown salamander, a candidate for listing, while allowing an expedited process for permitting area activities," remarked Bob Pine, supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Ecological Services Office in Austin.

David Hays, chairman of the Foundation commented, "These grants are significant to the Williamson County Conservation Foundation because one, the planning grant will help us finish creating the RHCP for Williamson County, and two, the RHCP will protect endangered species and also streamline the process of dealing with environmental regulations. A regional HCP is a perfect example of how growth and economic development can occur while still protecting the quality of the surrounding environment."

The Williamson County Conservation Foundation, Inc. (Foundation), is a non profit 501(c)(3) organization formed in December 2002 for the purpose of providing for the conservation and perhaps eventual recovery of endangered and threatened species in Williamson County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States.

For more information on the Williamson County Conservation Foundation, Inc., please visit www.wilcokarst.org

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