On a bright sunny Friday afternoon, the City of Austin, Travis County, Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and others came together at Reicher Ranch to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP). Over 100 people attended the celebration.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Michael Bean represented the Department of the Interior/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the celebration. He commended the City of Austin and Travis County and other participants on what they have achieved over the last two decades and encouraged them to focus on what needs to be done during the remaining 10 years of the permit and beyond. He highlighted the positive impact that the BCCP has had for species and for the local economy.
“It was fitting that a Texan HCP took a “bigger is better” approach to addressing endangered species issues,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Bean. “Having a plan that covered multiple species across a large area also created certainty and efficiency for developers.”
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt and City of Austin Council Member Leslie Pool also spoke at the event. They focused on the importance of the BCCP in preserving the natural heritage of central Texas and the positive impact the preserves have had not only for the species but for residents and properties surrounding the preserve system. According to Judge Eckhardt properties adjacent to preserve lands are valued at 20% above similar properties not near the preserve. The BCCP is also providing outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities for the community and educational opportunities for youth in the area. After acquiring more than 31,000 acres the BCCP partners have exceeded their requirements under the permit and are now looking forward to determine how they build upon their accomplishments.
By creating a landscape-level plan to address development and species conservation in one of the nation’s fastest growing areas, the BCCP has helped reduced conflicts between endangered species and development. For two decades, residents of Austin and surrounding areas have enjoyed natural open spaces that would likely not have been available without the BCCP. As the first multi-species regional HCP permitted in the country, the BCCP has served as a model for other plans in Texas and across the nation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proud to be a partner in the BCCP.
For more information on the BCCP, please visit: https://www.austintexas.gov/page/what-bcp
