The Citizens Advisory Committee for the development of the Williamson County, Texas Regional Habitat Conservation Plan voted to approve taking the plan forward in a formal application to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The innovative plan contemplates the preservation of important bird and cave habitats and the establishment of an efficient alternative to individual Endangered Species Act permitting. Such a regional approach is critically needed in this rapidly growing area, as open space is quickly dwindling and individual permitting times are exceeding two years. The firm, along with SWCA Environmental Consultants, Prime Strategies, and Texas Perspectives, has been advising Williamson County and the Williamson County Conservation Foundation on the development of this plan. Plan development was made possible by a $1,000,000 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition to development of the regional plan, Williamson County has over the last few years successfully established several critical endangered species preserves, including the Wilco and Millennium Preserves in the Southwest Regional Park, the Beck Preserve acquired from the Round Rock Independent School District, Sunless Cave, and Cobb Cavern. The firm is currently also assisting Hays and Comal Counties, Texas in the development of regional HCPs. For more information, please contact Alan Glen or David Hartman.