Golden Cheeked Warbler may hold up sewer plans
An environmental assessment for Golden Cheeked Warblers in the section of Blue Hole Regional Park being prepared for sewer line construction found what most expected – the area is prime for Golden Cheeked Warblers.
However, the study did not find Golden Cheeked Warblers in the specific area. There were multiple reports by other individuals of Golden Cheeked Warbler sightings near the specific area.
“We paid $10,000 to have a specialist come out and tell us that we have trees in the area,” Councilmember Gary Barchfeld said. “We could just empirically recognize that.”
The study was required by the Texas Water Development Board as a condition to finalize the change in scope for the city’s wastewater treatment plan.
The assessment recommended that construction not take place in the area until after August.
“Additionally, it is recommended that any construction, aside from the removal of trees, occur outside of the breeding season (March – August) to minimize impacts to (Golden Cheeked Warblers,)” the study from Zara Environmental said.
The question at this point is if that recommendation is a requirement, which could postpone the implementation of the new sewer plan even further. City Administrator Shawn Cox stated that he believed it would be a requirement during the last city council meeting. Wimberley Mayor Susan Jaggers questioned that assumption stating she did not believe the city had agreed to postponing construction if only Golden Cheeked Warbler habitat was found as opposed to actually finding the endangered birds.
The Golden Cheeked Warbler assessment was needed to complete the statement of findings for Environmental Review for the Texas Water Development Board.
“Once that (Environmental Review) goes out, there is a 30 day review process,” Cox said. “Texas Water Development Board will send it to all the agencies like Texas Parks and Wildlife and the General Land Office, anybody that might have a regulatory look at it. After a 30-day comment period, if no comments are received, we get a favorable Environmental Review.”
As of last week, Cox was not sure when the 30-day review period would begin. At earliest, the timeline means that construction within the specified section of Blue Hole Regional Park could not begin until early June. However, there is still a section of pipe that needs to be laid along FM 3237, which could be started once easement issues are resolved. The Texas Department of Transportation plans to widen the intersection of FM 3237 and Ranch Road 12 in the future. The city is working with the state to find the appropriate route for the line so the expanded roadway does not cover it in the future.