BCCP Mitigation Program

BCCP Mitigation Program
Processes and Procedures
for
Infrastructure Projects

 Infrastructure planning is critical to minimizing habitat
loss and fragmentation within the BCP
 The City of Austin manages the infrastructure
mitigation program
 Participation in the program will cover incidental take
of endangered species habitat, providing a
streamlined approach to comply with the Endangered
Species Act.
BCCP Infrastructure Mitigation
Program

Program Participation
Eligible if
 within BCCP
participation
area and
 outside BCP
 within
infrastructure
corridor
within BCP

Overview
Project Within
BCCP
Participation
Area?
Project Within
BCP?
Project Able to
Participate in
BCCP
Mitigation
Program?
Project Need
Construction
Approval?
Project
Mitigation
Ratio
Yes No Yes No 1:1
Yes Yes Yes Yes 5:1
**Non-BCCP participants can also work directly with USFWS
Program Participation

 Infrastructure Mitigation Process
 Vegetation Clearing Dates
 Vegetation Maintenance Plans
 Emergency Maintenance
 Oak Wilt Prevention Policy
 Wildfire Prevention Plan
 Scheduling BCP Access
Participating in the BCCP
Infrastructure Mitigation Program
Need to
Know

 Project Pre-Planning
 Submit Habitat Assessment Application
 Receive Mitigation Determination Letter and
Construction Approval Letter (if required)
 Satisfy Project Mitigation Requirement
 BCP signatories mitigate through BCCP mitigation
credits (mitigation bank)
 Non-BCCP participants purchase participation
certificates through Travis County BCCP Staff
Mitigation Process
Steps

Project Pre-Planning
Resources
 BCCP Infrastructure Workshop and Booklet
 City of Austin BCP Website www.balconescanyonlands.org
 Downloadable Documents
 Habitat Assessment Application
 Appendix B – Infrastructure Management Plan
 Wildfire Prevention Plan Template
 Preapproved Vegetation Maintenance Plan Template
 Mobile map application
 Interactive Map
 Search for project address to find BCCP information
pertinent to your project

 If the project is within the BCCP Mitigation
Program Participation Area
 If the project is within the Balcones
Canyonlands Preserve Acquisition Boundary
 If the project is within a Karst BCCP Mitigation
Zone
 If the project is within the Black-capped Vireo
BCCP Mitigation Zone
 If the project is within a Golden-cheeked
Warbler Mitigation Zone
 If a project inside of the BCP is in an already
established infrastructure corridor
 Who manages the BCP property of the project
 Contact information for the preserve manager
to schedule preserve access
Find out…
BCCP Interactive Map
https://austintexas.gov/department/wildland-maps

Habitat Assessment Application

1. Applicant Information
2. Landowner
3. Project Name
4. Brief Project Description
5. Description of Vegetation Disturbance
6. Dimensions of Disturbed Area
7. Total Acreage of Disturbed Area
8. Attachments
1. Maps & Spatial Data
9. USFWS Participation?
BCCP Habitat Assessment
Application Questions
Required
Information

 Review application
 Map the project impact area
 Overlay impact area onto BCP boundaries and Habitat
Mitigation Zones to calculate project mitigation
requirement
 Compose and distribute mitigation determination and
construction approval letter
Mitigation Analysis Process
Steps

Songbird Mitigation Zones
CWA Mitigation Zone 1 = $5,500 / ac
GCWA Mitigation Zone 2 = $2,750 / ac
BCVI Mitigation Zone = $5,500 / ac
Mitigation
Fees

Karst Mitigation Zones
Karst Mitigation Zone 1 & 2 = $1,000 / ac
Mitigation
Fees

USFWS Salamander Critical Habitat
Additional
USFWS
Consultation if
 project is within
USFWS Salamander
Critical Habitat
zone

 Clearing allowed September
through February.
 After March 1st work must cease
unless
 Bird-monitoring survey
conducted using USFWS
protocols
 No nesting birds within 300 feet
 Natural vegetation already
removed
Vegetation Clearing Dates
Photo by Amanda Aurora

 Vegetation Maintenance Activity
 Submit vegetation maintenance plan to BCCP Secretary
and Land Manager for review and approval
 Preapproved Maintenance Plans
 When vegetation maintenance work is repetitive
 Proposed vegetation maintenance plan and schedule
submitted to BCCP Secretary and Land Manager for review
and approval
 Work shall proceed under negotiated terms
 Submit notification when ready to proceed with maintenance
Vegetation Maintenance Plans

Vegetation Maintenance Plans
Segment*
Danger
Zone**
Maximum
Vegetation
Height**
Maintenance
Frequency
(years)
Date Last
Maintained Trees to Remove*** Describe maintenance methodology****
*Expand the table on this form as needed to include all segments. Segments will be defined between each tower or valve.
** Height above ground surface ***List by species and number
****Manual or mechanical (if mechanical give detailed description of equipment and methodology.
Infrastructure Corridor:
Landowner/managing entity:
Infrastructure Owner:
Infrastructure Description
Type (electric, water, wastewater, other):
Length: Width:
Description (Voltage, pipe size, other):
Required
Information
**BCP Staff can meet onsite for guidance on best practices

 Closed canopy minimizes
fragmentation
 Leaving native shrubs & grasses
 Minimal & strategic pruning
 Removal of non-native trees
 Special techniques for oak wilt
 Measures to control
sedimentation
 Revegetation with
appropriate natives
 Avoid critical nesting season
(March 1-Sept 1)
Best Practices for Vegetation
Maintenance in the BCP

Best Practices for Vegetation
Maintenance in the BCP
 Closed canopy minimizes
fragmentation
 Leaving native shrubs & grasses
 Minimal & strategic pruning
 Removal of non-native trees
 Special techniques for oak wilt
 Measures to control
sedimentation
 Revegetation with
appropriate natives
 Avoid critical nesting season
(March 1-Sept 1)

 When there is an existing
condition of, or
imminent threat to
 public health
 safety
 property damage
 loss of service
Emergency Maintenance
When does
it apply?

 Eliminate emergency condition
 Work still be performed in such manner to minimize
habitat destruction
 Contact Coordinating Committee Secretary for
advice/guidance
 Submit final incident report to Coordinating
Committee Secretary within 5 days, describing
emergency maintenance work completed
Emergency Maintenance
Expectations

Oak Wilt Prevention Policy
 Avoid wounds
 Paint wounds
 Sanitize tools
 Destroy diseased red oaks
Main
Components
Necessary to strictly adhere
to the City of Austin, Travis
County, and LCRA Oak Wilt
Prevention Policies.

 A preaction plan used to
help prevent accidental
wildfire ignitions on
wildlands and to provide
initial response when
ignitions are
encountered
Wildfire Prevention Plan
What is it?

 Required for all activities conducted by contractors,
consultants, and infrastructure providers on City of
Austin BCP
 To reduce the risk to employees, the public,
emergency responders, and resources
 Support City of Austin, Fire Adapted Community goals
Why do it?

 Accurate description of the area and duration of the work.
 Identification of the nearest entry point for emergency
responders.
 Expectations for personnel and equipment to prevent,
spot, and extinguish ignitions.
 Contact information for partner field staff and BCP/WCD
staff.
Elements

 Accurate description of the area and duration of the work.
 Identification of the nearest entry point for emergency
responders.
 Expectations for personnel and equipment to prevent,
spot, and extinguish ignitions.
 Contact information for partner field staff and BCP/WCD
staff.
Expectations

Lucien (Luke) Ball
Lucien.Ball@austintexas.gov
(512) 972-1683 desk
(512) 940-3452 cell
Additional
Information

 Call or email BCCP Infrastructure
Coordinator
 Provide BCP location information
 Provide reason for requested access
 BCP staff may need to accompany work
crew
 Provide preferred access date and time
 BCP staff can generally accommodate
access requests within 3 business days
Scheduling BCP Access
Do…

 Show up unexpectedly at BCP gate and
expect to call and get gate codes and
immediate access
 We will only accommodate same day
emergency maintenance access
 Jump fences to gain access to BCP
 Safety issue – animal management practices
in BCP
 Trespassers will be prosecuted
 Waste time and money by not scheduling
access in advance
 Infrastructure Providers – supply preserve
access information to your contractors
 Contractors – request preserve access
information from infrastructure providers
Scheduling BCP Access
Don’t…

Thank You for Participating
The BCCP Mitigation Program demonstrates
that economic growth and development,
and habitat protection
can coexist.

Questions?
Kimberlee Harvey
BCCP Infrastructure Coordinator
City of Austin
Austin Water Utility
Wildland Conservation Division
(512)972-1686
Kimberlee.Harvey@austintexas.gov

BCCP Mitigation Program

Recomendados

Recomendados

Mais conteúdo relacionado

Semelhante a BCCP Mitigation Program

Semelhante a BCCP Mitigation Program (20)

Mais de coawildlands

Mais de coawildlands (9)

Último

Último (20)

BCCP Mitigation Program