Williamson County Regional Habitat Conservation Plan Leave No Trace for Twin Springs Preserve (and other Williamson County Preserve Areas) A Site Specific Adaptation of Leave No Trace Principles

Leave No Trace Outdoor Skills & Ethics Frontcountry Program Adapted for Twin Springs Preserve

Presentation Objectives  Provide an overview of the Leave No Trace program.  Illustrate differences between the formal LNT program and the site specific LNT plan for Twin Springs Preserve

Presentation Objectives (con’t)  Describe the non-profit Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics  Describe the mission of the Leave No Trace educational program and the Center for Outdoor Ethics  Provide for an LNT based permit for access to Twin Springs Preserve (and other Williamson County Preserve Areas)

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics  Partners with federal agencies, manufacturers, retailers and others to promote minimum impact messages.  A non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. Bureau of Land Management U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Park Service U.S. Forest Service

 LNT staff develop and distribute educational materials, promote LNT initiatives with federal agencies and cooperating organizations, and conduct fundraising.  For more information: or  The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is based in Boulder, Colorado. Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics

Leave No Trace Mission Statement The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship of the outdoors by all people, worldwide.

The Williamson County Conservation Foundation is a Leave No Trace Partner.

So, Why Does Williamson County Care about Preserves and LNT?

ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT PROVISIONS Section 9 prohibits “take” of listed wildlife species Section 10(a) permits authorize “take” for non-federal actions 10(a) Permit Process Preparation of habitat conservation plan (HCP) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Citizen Advisory Committee Biological Advisory Team Public comment Required elements of an HCP Identification of impacts Steps applicant will take to minimize and mitigate the impacts Funding sources Biological goals and objectives Monitoring Adaptive management... A Short Story about Williamson County and the Endangered Species Act...

REGIONAL HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS A Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is a mandatory component of an incidental take permit application. Required elements include a discussion of impacts, steps to minimize and mitigate impacts, funding sources, biological goals and objectives, compliance monitoring, and adaptive management. WILLIAMSON COUNTY RHCP Williamson County holds the Section 10(a) incidental take permit, and the Williamson County Conservation Foundation, Inc. administers the RHCP. The plan covers a 30-year period from 2008 to Participation in the RHCP is completely voluntary. So How Does the Endangered Species Act Affect Williamson County?

How does the Williamson County Regional Habitat Conservation Plan Benefit the Stakeholders of the County? By: Significantly reducing participant’s time and expense for ESA compliance compared to individual permits Coordinating and accelerating endangered species conservation efforts in the County Precluding future listing of additional species Providing for and preserving some of the natural character of Williamson County Providing additional recreational and natural assets to be enjoyed

State Highway 45 Ronald Reagan Boulevard and State Highway 195 O'Connor Road City of Round Rock road projects Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District County Road 175 and Pond Springs Road U.S. 183-A Leander Independent School District Round Rock ISD City of Georgetown road projects Examples of projects that have benefited from the RHCP include:

SPECIES INCLUDED IN THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY REGIONAL HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN Two federally endangered karst invertebrates Coffin Cave mold beetle (Batrisodes texanus)‏ Bone Cave harvestman (Texella reyesi)‏ Two federally endangered birds Golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia)‏ Black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla)‏ One candidate for federal listing Georgetown salamander (Eurycea naufragia)‏ Nineteen additional rare karst invertebrates and two additional rare salamanders Twin Springs Preserve is unique! Two endangered species are found here as well as the threatened Georgetown Salamander.

Coffin Cave mold beetle Photo by Kemble White Bone Cave harvestman Photo by William R. Elliott Golden Cheeked Warbler Photo by Steve Maslowski Georgetown Salamander Photo by Justyn Miller

Why a LNT Program for Twin Springs? Twin Springs is a key part of Williamson County’s Regional Habitat Conservation Plan. Under an agreement on an educational and permitting program with the US Fish & Wildlife Service Williamson County is able to offer public access to its preserve areas.

LNT practices are science-based: The LNT Message Recreation ecology research tells us about recreation impacts and how they can be reduced by managers and visitors. Social science research tells us about visitor attitudes, behaviors, and social norms.

Leave No Trace Core Values  Education is the best means to protect natural lands from recreational impacts while helping maintain access for recreation and enjoyment;  LNT is founded on outdoor ethics whereby a sense of stewardship is gained through understanding and connecting with the natural world;  Practicing the Leave No Trace principles is the most relevant and effective long-term solution to maintaining the beauty, health of, and access to natural lands;  LNT is science-based and builds ethical, pragmatic approaches to resource protection for varying types of outdoor recreation and enjoyment.

The Seven LNT Principles 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare 2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces 3. Dispose of Waste Properly 4. Leave What You Find 5. Minimize Campfire Impacts 6. Respect Wildlife 7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Twin Springs Site Specific LNT < Subtle, but important differences from the Seven LNT Principles < The Seven LNT principles can be applied anywhere < Twin Springs Site Specific Principles have additional restrictions. < The Center for Outdoor Ethics has reviewed the Twin Springs Principles; provides for use of the LNT logo and symbols.

What is Backcountry? Backcountry is defined as outdoor areas that are generally not accessible by vehicle and mostly visited by overnight users.

What is Frontcountry? Frontcountry is defined as outdoor areas that are easily accessible and mostly visited by day users. Twin Springs is a frontcountry day use area although it has aspects of backcounty and is bordered by a semi-primitive area, the Goodwater Trail around Lake Georgetown.

Twin Springs and the Goodwater Trail

Why do we need a Frontcountry Program?  The vast majority (over 85%) of recreation occurs near urban centers – day hiking, biking, bird watching, dog walking, jogging, bouldering, picnicking, overnight camping in developed camping areas, water sports, fishing, etc.  We need an effective educational program to reach this large population with the Leave No Trace message

Why do we need a Frontcountry Program?  There are specific recreation impacts unique to frontcountry areas that need to be effectively targeted – user crowding and conflict, pet management issues, graffiti and vandalism, pet waste, private property trespass, off-trail hiking, etc.  Although the seven principles are universal, there are instances where the use of modified language may be necessary to effectively reach frontcountry recreationists – for example, Twin Springs.

The Seven LNT Principles 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare 2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces 3. Dispose of Waste Properly 4. Leave What You Find 5. Minimize Campfire Impacts 6. Respect Wildlife 7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

The Seven LNT Principles for Twin Springs (site specific) 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare  2. Travel ___ ____ on _______ ______ Trails 3. Dispose of Waste Properly  4. Leave What You Find  5._________ NO Campfires _______ 6.Respect Wildlife - No Pets (except for service animals). 7.Be Considerate of Other Visitors 

The Seven LNT Principles changes for Twin Springs 1. Same 2. No camping in Twin Springs; trails only 3. Same 4. Same 5.No fires are allowed (including camp stoves) 6. No Pets, except for service animals. 7. Same

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare  Schedule your trip to avoid times of highest use.  The potential for social impacts (e.g., crowding and conflict) is far greater during peak use periods.  Schedule your trip to avoid times when resources are vulnerable.  Vegetation and soils are far more susceptible to degradation during wet periods.  Wildlife are more sensitive to disturbance during mating, nesting/birthing, and winter seasons. (Note: The Golden Cheeked Warbler nesting season is March 1 through August 31.)

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare  Schedule your trip to avoid times when resources are vulnerable.  Vegetation and soils are far more susceptible to degradation during wet periods.  Wildlife are more sensitive to disturbance during mating, nesting/birthing, and winter seasons.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare  Schedule your trip to avoid times of highest use.  New campsites are most frequently created on peak use weekends. More than a few nights camping each year prevents their recovery and results in a large inventory of campsites that aren’t really needed.  The potential for social impacts (e.g., crowding and conflict) is far greater during peak use periods.

The Seven LNT Principles for Twin Springs 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces  Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.  Concentrate use in popular areas, disperse use in pristine areas.  Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from water.

Durable Surfaces: Sand Previously Disturbed Surfaces Grass Rock/gravel

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces In popular areas:  Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.  Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.  Keep campsites small. Focus activities in areas where vegetation is absent. In pristine areas:  Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.  Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.

1000 passes Resistance and Resilience: Forbs 0 passes 250 passes 1 mo. later Forest forbs generally have low resistance and resilience.

1000 passes Resistance and Resilience: Grasses 0 passes 250 passes 1 mo. later Grasses generally have high resistance and resilience.

Temporal Trends: A Campsite Life-History Site Establishment Impact Time Site Closure Full Recovery Impacts occur quickly; recovery can require up to 30 years. Implication: rest-rotation schemes will be ineffective. 1 yr.

Respect Private Property   Respect “no trespassing” signs. If property boundaries are unclear, do not disturb the area. Treat another’s property as you would treat you own.

About Mountain Bikes   Research has shown that mountain bikes create significant trail wear and are detrimental to wildlife. Significant numbers of hikers are injured each year in accidents involving bikers. Current preserve rules do not permit bikes (including motorized).

The Seven LNT Principles for Twin Springs 2. Travel on Trails  Traveling on trail leaves room for wildlife and their homes. Short cutting trails causes erosion. Be ready to get muddy and step right through puddles. Boots dry overnight; plants take years to recover.

3. Dispose of Waste Properly  Studies have shown bacteria to be present one year after cat-hole waste burial. Decomposition is aided by stirring the waste together with soil and water – organic soils are not required.  Desiccation, high temperatures, and UV radiation are lethal to pathogens but are highly effective only for smeared surface-deposited waste.  Soils are effective pathogen filters (only 5 feet) provided they are not coarse-textured. [ Based on a paper by Cilimburg and others, 2000 ]

3. Dispose of Waste Properly  Recommendations: Use toilets, carry out or cat-hole wastes.  Surface deposition is problematic: aesthetics, animal and insect transmission of diseases, surface runoff and water contamination. Appropriate only in remote areas that lack adequate soils for burial.  Burial (6-8”) in fine-textured soil >200 ft from water.  Temporary group latrines not recommended – would slow decomposition time.  Snow and glaciers – carry out is the best option.

Trash Your Trash   Please take out all trash, yours and others. Even “biodegradable” materials such as orange peels, apple cores and food scraps can take years to break down, and attract scavengers that harm other wildlife.

The Seven LNT Principles for Twin Springs 3. Dispose of Waste Properly Use provided facilities Urinate in the middle of the trail in rocky areas Otherwise – pack it out – no catholes or group latrines

4. Leave What You Find  Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.  Seeds stuck to boots, hooves, and tents often germinate along trails and at campsites.  Most non-native plants are “disturbance-associated” species that remain in the vicinity of trails and campsites, e.g., dandelions and plantain. However, a few species are able to out-compete native vegetation in undisturbed environments.  Research has also documented the germination of non-native seeds that have passed through the intestines of pack stock.

4. Leave What You Find Leave flowers for others to see. Picking them prevents formation of seeds vital to their reproduction and survival. A Great Smoky Mtn. NP study documented significantly fewer orchids along trails in comparison to more distant areas.

Leave It as You Find It  Picking flowers, collecting rocks or taking arrowheads may not seem to be a big deal, but it means others won’t have a chance to enjoy them. With millions of people visiting Open Space, the less impact we each make, the longer we will enjoy what we have.

The Seven LNT Principles for Twin Springs 4. Leave What You Find

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts  Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Research shows that campfire-related impacts are both socially and ecologically significant.  Campfire sites remind others that the area is not pristine, large mounds of charcoal with trash are an eyesore, firewood depletion can leave a human “browse line” and tree damage and stumps represent acts of depreciative behavior  Fire wood depletion diminishes nutrient cycling and soil macro fauna; campfires produce long-term changes in soil physical and chemical properties

 Proliferation and migration of campfire sites. Problem: 5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

 Use a lightweight stove for cooking and a candle lantern for light.  Only build a campfire when permissible, in areas with an adequate wood supply, and if an existing fire site is present. 5. Minimize Campfire Impacts Solution: LNT “virtual” campfire!

The Seven LNT Principles for Twin Springs 5. No Fires. Period.

6. Respect Wildlife  Observe wildlife from a distance. You are too close if your presence or actions elicit a response from wildlife.  Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.  Never feed animals. Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.

6. Respect Wildlife  New habitats are unfamiliar, often have lower quality food and cover, or increased competition and predation. Displacement – animals are forced away from preferred habitats e.g., food/water sources or cover, either during certain times (temporal displacement) or in certain places (spatial displacement).

Keep Wildlife Wild  Natural areas are home to wildlife. As a visitor, you should respect wildlife by observing them from a distance and not feeding them.

Manage Your Dog  Keeping your dog in control keeps people, dogs, livestock and wildlife safe. Others may not appreciate your dogs company, therefore ask before allowing your dog to approach them. Keep your dog nearby and under control. Carry and use a leash as required. OR LEAVE THEM AT HOME.

Boulder, CO park – Dog waste sites

The Seven LNT Principles for Twin Springs 5. Respect Wildlife – NO Pets except for service animals

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors  Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.  Crowding and conflict can be avoided or minimized by traveling and camping in small groups, taking breaks and camping away from the trail and other visitors, by exercising considerate behavior, and by maintaining the natural quiet.

Worth Repeating - Respect Private Property   Respect “no trespassing” signs. If property boundaries are unclear, do not disturb the area. Treat another’s property as you would treat you own.

Share Our Trails Share Our Trails   We all enjoy Open Space in different ways. Pay attention, expect to encounter others and be courteous. Yield to all.

 Large groups can cause excessive impact at higher use levels if they cannot locate a sufficiently large site – in this instance they should split up and camp separately.  Large groups with horses have more potential to cause greater impact than hikers so limits should include horses or be lower for horse groups.  Large groups can reduce their impact by: 1) breaking into smaller groups to hike and camp, 2) confining their activities to already impacted areas away from other groups, 3) meeting infrequently as a large group and only on durable surfaces, and 4) practicing quiet and courteous behavior. Ecological Research on Group Size Ecological Research on Group Size

The Seven LNT Principles for Twin Springs 7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

The Seven LNT Principles for Twin Springs (site specific) 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare  2. Travel on Trails 3. Dispose of Waste Properly  4. Leave What You Find  5. NO Campfires 6. Respect Wildlife - No Pets (except for service animals). 7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors 

Special Note about Cultural Objects at Twin Springs Historic, archaeological and fossil sites are special places that tell the story of our past. These fragile, irreplaceable heritage resources may not be readily visible so be aware and practice Leave No Trace principles.

Outdoor Ethics for Heritage Sites – LNT Adaptations Climbing, sitting or walking on walls and other constructed features weakens them. Walls that are stressed may suddenly collapse. Avoid walking on artifacts and middens. Artifacts and fossils left where they are help tell the story of the past. Rearranging them limits their scientific value and the experience of future visitors. Educate others never to dig at sites or collect artifacts. There are severe federal and state penalties for disturbing or destroying historic and archaeological sites – Texas Antiquities Code.

Twin Springs LNT Access Passes Twin Springs LNT Access Passes Hang Tags Hang tag for each individual – must be current and visibly displayed

The Twin Springs Access Permit Twin Springs Access hang tags issued to individuals after taking Twin Springs LNT training. Children over 8 should have training. Children under 12 to be accompanied while on the Twin Springs Preserve. Issued annually – Failure to display & have current hang tag – warning and request to leave; citations and fines for subsequent offenses

The Seven LNT Principles for Twin Springs (review) 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare  2. Travel onTrails 3. Dispose of Waste Properly  4. Leave What You Find  5.NO Campfires (No fires. Period.) 6.Respect Wildlife - No Pets (except for service animals). 7.Be Considerate of Other Visitors 

A portion of this slide set was developed for the national Leave No Trace program. Copies may be obtained from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Developed by Jeff Marion, Ph.D. Leader, Cooperative Park Studies Unit, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA ,

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Gary Boyd Environmental Program Manager Williamson County Conservation Foundation 512/