Welcome!
Located in the heart of central Texas and the Balcones Canyonlands region of the Edwards Plateau, Hays County is home to a diverse native wildlife and plant community. Dense woodlands and open savannas of live oak, Ashe juniper, and honey mesquite in the limestone hills and valleys of the area provide habitat for federally endangered golden-cheeked warblers (Dendroica chrysoparia) and black-capped vireos (Vireo atricapilla). Spring-fed waterways dissect the hills helping recharge the Edwards Aquifer. A wide variety of aquatic species depend on the water quality and quantity these drainages collect.
Midway between the City of Austin and the City of San Antonio, Hays County has experienced rapid population growth overflowing from these two major metropolitan areas during the past decade. Land development has and will continue to accompany population growth. The rural character of the county is already competing with new subdivisions, commercial property, and other types of urban development. Residential subdivision construction is quickly fragmenting the large and contiguous patches of juniper-oak woodland habitat that is valuable habitat for endangered wildlife.
Hays County must balance the needs of its growing constituency with responsible economic development and good public infrastructure, while also creating open space recreational opportunities. The citizens, landowners, and elected officials of Hays County also want to conserve habitat for endangered species and protect water resources. The County recognizes that a coordinated regional habitat conservation plan (HCP) will provide an effective tool in meeting the diverse needs of both people and sensitive wildlife. Toward this end, the Commissioners' Court approved a grant application to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for a HCP planning grant in April 2005.
The USFWS responded very favorably to the County's grant application, awarding $753,750 to the County to develop a regional HCP. The award,announced in September 2005, was the largest HCP planning grant awarded to a county government in 2005. The federal award requires a non-federal match of $251,250, which can be provided through County in-kind services and other local funds. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) administers the grant for the USFWS, under an interlocal agreement approved by the TPWD and Hays County in May 2006. Hays County is currently working with advisory committees and environmental, economic, and legal consultants to help prepare the HCP and other documents needed to obtain an Endangered Species Act incidental take permit.
Learn More!
Review the Hays County Conservation Plan Project Overview for a quick look at the project, sensitive wildlife in Hays County, and federal regulations regarding endangered species. Explore this website for more detailed information and project updates. 