Essays from Friedrich

Protecting Our Water And Natural Heritage

On May 6, 2000, San Antonio voters approved a temporary 1/8^th cent sales tax to generate $45 million to protect the quantity and quality of water entering the Edwards Aquifer.  The funds are collected, properties protected and the project is nearing completion.  The results of this project are impressive and represent the most serious effort yet to preserve our primary source of water.

Of the $45 million, $38.4 million were allocated to land purchase; $1 million for appropriate development to allow public use; $1.1 million for financing the program ahead of schedule due to land prices escalating at 80% and more per year; and $4.5 million placed in escrow for maintenance and operations of acquired land.

Immediately following voter approval, two advisory boards and an acquisition team were created to guide the project and assist in implementation.  The Scientific Evaluation Team (SET) was composed of scientists and technician in fields of the natural sciences and computer modeling.  SET was charged with creating a computer spatial model that would identify and prioritize all lands in the Edwards Aquifers’ sensitive areas that might be purchased under the program.  The model created by SET evaluated all lands within the target area on a one square meter grid.  Multiple layers of data were grouped into three value classes, and each square meter of land received an overall value based on these three classes, with geology (recharge potential and sensitivity) given a weight of 50%, watershed (protecting larger portions of distinct drainage systems) given a weight of 30%, and biological (ecosystem health and potential presence of endangered species) given the remaining 20%.

The second board was named the Conservation Advisory Board (CAB).  Their membership was composed of community stakeholders concerned with water issues.  They included representatives from Texas Parks and Wildlife, Edwards Aquifer Authority, San Antonio Water System, San Antonio River Authority, City of San Antonio Departments of Parks and Recreation and Public Works, Open Space Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and a member of the business community.

The Acquisition Team was composed of three not-for-profit land conservation organizations (Bexar Land Trust, Texas Nature Conservancy and Trust for Public Land), the City’s Project Manager, and San Antonio River Authority staff.  This team helped target the prioritized land parcels, inspected the parcels, performed due diligence evaluations, and negotiated with owners.  At each step of the process, this teams information was provided to the CAB, which in turn evaluated the input to provide further directives to the acquisition team.

The geographic scope of potential protection was legally limited to within Bexar County and/or the City of San Antonio’s extra-territorial jurisdiction.  Land could be protected in three manners: fee simple purchase, donation, or perpetual conservation easements.

Twelve properties totaling over 6,050 acres have been protected.  Most were purchased fee simple, one property was protected under conservation easement, and several partial donations occurred.  One final transaction is pending which would add several hundred more acres to the total.  With property values escalating by triple digits, this is a truly remarkable achievement.

Effort was extended to purchase properties in clusters with the idea of an eastern, central and western preserve.  An Eastern Preserve was attempted, but conditions of development and land prices precluded this goal from becoming a reality.  Properties acquired were successfully clustered into two blocks, or preserves.  The Central Preserve is around Friedrich Wilderness Park, from just west of IH-10 to near Grey Forest.  The Western Preserve is made up of properties around Government Canyon State Natural Area.  Each individual property (or unit) protects the aquifer recharge zone proper and/or the immediate contributing zone supplying water to the recharge zone.  The properties possess distinct characters representing different aspects of the Balcones escarpment of the Texas Hill Country and are rich in a diversity of native flora and fauna, including many endangered and threatened species.

The Central Preserve has five units totaling just over 2,075 acres.  All units are currently identified by the name of their previous owner or the development project from which they were acquired. 

The 327-acre Woodland Hills unit was acquired December 30, 2003, and included a 40-acre donation.  This property was accepted by City Council as an addition to the existing 260-acre Friedrich Wilderness Park.  This unit extends the FWP boundaries to the north; to the south to Heuermann Road, across from the Crownridge Canyon unit; and to the west across Babcock Road to the Cedar Creek unit.  The property had been under development as a golf resort and some scarring of the land occurred prior to purchase; however, the property contains considerable Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat and some high potential Black-capped Vireo habitat.  This unit greatly expands and protects the original FWP property which is breeding habitat for both bird species.  The view sheds from existing hiking trails are significantly more protected to the north and west.  Protection of two of three watersheds within the park is also greatly increased.

Just south of Heuermann Road, adjacent to the above unit, is the 211-acre Crownridge Canyon unit, acquired April 2, 2001, with a $105,000 finding augmentation from a Council District Eight 1999 park bond.  The bulk of this unit fronts on Luskey Boulevard, near the intersection of Camp Bullis Road and Babcock Road.  It is a smaller, but exquisitely beautiful unit located on the contributing zone, just upgrade of the recharge zone.  This unit was soon targeted for improvements to allow public use as the “flagship” of the project.  Biological and geological investigations were performed to guide appropriate development, use and management.  Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat was identified and proven to be occupied.  Black-capped Vireo habitat was marginal at best, but the potential remains for one or two breeding pair.  Geological investigations identified numerous recharge features, and further investigations identified federally-listed endangered karst invertebrates in one feature.  One of the cave beetles, Rhadine infernalis infernalis was positively identified.  More intriguing was the potential identification of a listed cave spider, Cicurina madla.  The curious elements limiting positive identification of the spider are the specimen collected was male and immature.  Only females of the species have ever been positively identified and described.  So our troglodytic spider was reared and spent the remainder of his life span in a laboratory.  He has contributed his body to science and awaits DNA analysis to confirm or deny his true identity.  It is possible that Crownridge Canyon Natural Area will yield the first known scientific identification of a male Cicurina madla.  Crownridge Canyon Natural Area is currently undergoing construction of improvements for public access and is expected to open in spring of 2005.

Further west and connected to the Woodland Hills unit is the Cedar Creek unit.  These 242 acres were acquired May 4, 2001.  This unit has an eastern terminus at the intersection of Babcock Road and Kyle Seale Parkway, and then expands westward and southward to surround the Cedar Creek municipal golf course.  The land is mostly steep, easterly facing gradients with high potential for Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat.  The unit spans the contributing zone and recharge zone.  This unit also protects a part of the Babcock Creek watershed, and connects the previously mentioned units to the east with the large Thrift unit to the west.

The Thrift unit was acquired in three separate transactions.  On March 26, 2001, a 640-acre portion was acquired.  On March 11, 2002, the owners agreed to transfer an additional 434 acres, including a 31.3-acre donation.  And finally, the last 78.4 acres was acquired by donation.  Within the Grey Forest ETJ, the project was not allowed to expend funds toward acquisition of this last unit.  The Edwards Underground Water Authority and the San Antonio Water System worked together to acquire the property and on November 4, 2002, title ownership of the unit was transferred to the City.  The composite unit of just under 1,153 acres is truly the anchor for the Central Preserve.  It is large, it encompasses a large watershed, it spans contributing and recharge zones, seems to have some habitat occupied by Golden-cheeked Warblers, but is the mother lode of Black-capped Vireos, and has high potential for listed karst invertebrates.  A cursory inspection identified 32 singing male Black-capped Vireos, which exceeds the previously known population of this bird in Bexar, Comal, Kendall, and Medina counties combined!  Sharing an eastern boundary with the Cedar Creek unit, the Thrift unit expands west to Grey Forest.  The unit has an unusually interesting historical use and extensive structures dating back to the early 1900’s.  These structures and improvements center around Huesta springs, which still flow today, though their waters soon disappear into recharge features.

Just back to the east, north of 1604 and west of Babcock Road is the separate 145-acre Medallion unit, acquired November 4, 2002, and included a 14.85-acre donation.  This unit is entirely on the recharge zone, contains one large, gated recharge feature, and the certainty of many more features either expressed at the surface or not.  The unit is also adjacent to a previous karst preserve.  This unit is relatively small.  It likely contains no habitat for the Black-capped Vireo or the Golden-cheeked Warbler.  Only future investigations will determine presence or absence of listed karst species.  It is surrounded to a large extent by existing neighborhoods and perhaps has experienced more disturbance than any other acquisition.  Yet it remains a good example of Balcones Escarpment/Hill Country landscape with a good diversity of native flora and fauna.  It has significant value to the primary purpose of the project and potential to serve as a fine mini-preserve for public enjoyment.

The Western Preserve comprises seven units totaling 4,492 acres.  These units are clustered around Government Canyon State Natural Area (GCSNA).   

The 595-acre Iron Horse Canyon unit was purchased April 4, 2001.  It is adjacent to the northeast boundary of GCSNA and just west of Helotes.  This rugged tract has Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat and several known large karst features.  The terrain is steep and rugged and located on the recharge zone.  This and other units in the Western Preserve add to or buffer GCSNA from adjacent development and negative impacts.

The 1,164-acre Kallison Ranch unit became the southwest portion of GCSNA.  The project provided half the funds necessary to protect this property in return for a perpetual conservation easement.  The State through a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant provided the other half of the funds and received title and management responsibilities for the land as an addition to GCSNA.  The unit lies mostly on the recharge zone with a small portion extending southward onto the artesian zone.  A few older ranching structures are on the property, one of which may serve to house GCSNA interns or visiting researchers.  That portion of the property could also be developed for interpretation of ranching and other historical land uses.  In completing acquisition of this property, the State and City signed a joint agreement signifying a partnership relative to their respective adjoining lands, including master planning, programming and general management.

Immediately to the west, adjoining both Kallison and GCSNA is the 1,033-acre Windgate Ranch unit.  The property was acquired on December 28, 2000, with an included donation of just over 9 acres.  Another unit with steep, rugged terrain, Windgate Ranch has spectacular views to the south.  On exceptionally clear days one can see the cooling towers at Calaveras Lake.  Preliminary investigations show some Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat and expansive pre-historic quarry sites where Native Americans obtained stone for tools.  This unit is entirely on the recharge zone.

The 91-acre Schuchart unit ties on to the Windgate Ranch unit.  It was acquired April 22, 2003.  This transaction included a donation of almost 7 acres.  Located on the recharge zone, the Schuchart unit is part of the San Geronimo Creek watershed.

Three more tracts are located on the west side of Hwy. 211, across the road from the Windgate unit and GCSNA.  Acquired on April 17, 2002, the 345-acre Mayberry unit included a donation from Texas Nature Conservancy of 176 acres located in Medina County and therefore unavailable for purchase with program funds.  The Mayberry unit is quite distinct from other units with a segment of San Geronimo Creek running through the property.  The high cliffs on the eastern side of the creek and other portions of the valley have high potential for archaeological significance.  Some Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat is evident on this unit.  The entire unit is on the recharge zone.  San Geronimo Creek is a near perpetual stream north of the unit, but quickly disappears into recharge features in the vicinity of this property except when the creek is at higher than normal flow.

The 50-acre Hampton unit was added to the Mayberry unit on November 25, 2002.  Also located entirely on the recharge zone, this unit expands the Mayberry unit preserve and provides improved access.

The 710-acre Chris Hill unit was acquired October 23, 2003.  This unit is also entirely on the recharge zone and part of the San Geronimo Creek watershed.  It is mostly gently rolling uplands, a landscape not well represented on other units.  A windmill and other ranching structures are on the property. 

One final purchase is pending in order to finish the project.  Approximately 400 acres may be realized.  Additional federal grant funds and interagency agreements are being used to leverage the effectiveness of the projects remaining funds.  With much hard work and luck this final unit will close by the end of 2004.

With approval of the 2000 tax initiative to preserve Edwards Aquifer sensitive lands, voters charged the City with a daunting task.  The City, its agents and volunteers have met that challenge and produced outstanding results.  Although the primary focus was to preserve high quantities and quality of water entering the aquifer, by applying a small weight to biological considerations the City was able to further select those properties with high biological value as well.  What has resulted is not only a significant effort to protect our primary source of water, but also a de facto preservation of outstanding representations of our natural heritage.

In 2003 City Council adopted the “Land Use and Management Planning Guidelines for Natural Areas” as an addition to the San Antonio Parks and Recreation System Plan.  The “Guidelines” essentially mandate an initial comprehensive gathering of information related to biological, geological, and cultural resources for each property.  These data will then be modeled in a manner similar to the SET model used for targeting acquisitions.  The “Guidelines” model will assist in determining potential appropriate public use, locations for improvements needed to allow appropriate public use, and in preparation of land management plans for each property.  Other than Crownridge Canyon Natural Area, no openings of other units are anticipated in the near future.  Much work must be accomplished to meet the requirements of the “Guidelines” and future sources of funds must be identified for any improvements.  While the wait may be a bit discouraging, public access must wait upon the completion of necessary studies, planning and funding of improvements required to allow appropriate use.  The primary program purpose was to protect our water; and this has been accomplished.  In meeting the primary purpose we have also preserved the land and its natural systems for ourselves and future generations. 

Expected to come before the voters in May 2005 is a new proposition to continue this successful and vital program.  Changes will be proposed to allow protection of the aquifer beyond the limits of Bexar County and San Antonio’s ETJ.  Focus may shift westward, with more emphasis on conservation easements.  The aquifer flows from west to east and land prices generally decline in that direction.  It all makes sense for continuance of the program.  Please give approval for this proposition your consideration.