On September 24, 2004, the United States Fish & Wildlife Service announced the award of over $2.3 million in federal Endangered Species Act grants to firm client The Williamson County Conservation Foundation.

One of the two grants awarded to the Foundation will provide $1,353,750 towards 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 cave species. The presence of an endangered species on the property in question has substantially impaired the ability of RRISD to use the site for its education mission and has placed an economic strain on RRISD.

The second grant in the amount of $1,000,000, will be used by the Foundation to continue development of a Regional Habitat Conservation Plan (RHCP) for Williamson County, a process that was initiated in 2003. This grant, which was the second largest such grant awarded in the nation out of a grant pool of only $8.6 million, will enable the Foundation and its partners to complete and process a final RHCP, Environmental Impact Statement, and section 10(a) permit. Establishment of the Williamson County RHCP 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, and other rare species, while allowing an expedited process for permitting area activities. The Foundation Board and the Williamson County Commissioners Court recently approved a detailed Work Plan that sets forth the primary schedules, tasks, and responsibilities to implement the RHCP, and designates firm partner, Alan Glen, as consultant team leader for the RHCP effort.

The Williamson County Conservation Foundation, Inc., 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 species in Williamson County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States.

For more information on the Foundation, please contact Alan Glen or see the Foundation’s website at www.wilcokarst.org.