1. Final Report Assessing biodiversity concerns of urban sprawl and projecting smart growth in Hays County, Texas Prepared by: Project Manager Stephanie Rosson- Singleton Assistant Manager Ryan Schmidt Web Master Noah Hopkins GIS Analysts Cherrie-Lee Phillip Mark Adair 07 December 2005

2. Purpose Identify where sprawl is occurring in Hays County Identify where sprawl is occurring in Hays County Identify habitat requirements for concerned species in Hays County Identify habitat requirements for concerned species in Hays County Map out distribution of suitable habitats Map out distribution of suitable habitats Project an area of smart growth Project an area of smart growth Least adverse impact on these habitats Least adverse impact on these habitats Identify where sprawl is occurring in Hays County Identify where sprawl is occurring in Hays County Identify habitat requirements for concerned species in Hays County Identify habitat requirements for concerned species in Hays County Map out distribution of suitable habitats Map out distribution of suitable habitats Project an area of smart growth Project an area of smart growth Least adverse impact on these habitats Least adverse impact on these habitats

3. Scope Location: Hays County, Texas Location: Hays County, Texas Population = 114,193 Population = 114,193 Total areas = 693.5 square miles Total areas = 693.5 square miles Bordered by Edwards Plateau and Southern Black Prairie Region Bordered by Edwards Plateau and Southern Black Prairie Region Over a 5 year period Over a 5 year period Location: Hays County, Texas Location: Hays County, Texas Population = 114,193 Population = 114,193 Total areas = 693.5 square miles Total areas = 693.5 square miles Bordered by Edwards Plateau and Southern Black Prairie Region Bordered by Edwards Plateau and Southern Black Prairie Region Over a 5 year period Over a 5 year period

4. Background Juniper-Oak forests Juniper-Oak forests 35-100% Canopy Cover 35-100% Canopy Cover Soils - rock outcrop, Loamy clay Soils - rock outcrop, Loamy clay 164 Feet away from Roads 164 Feet away from Roads 164 Feet nearby rivers and streams 164 Feet nearby rivers and streams Endangered Status Endangered Status Juniper-Oak forests Juniper-Oak forests 35-100% Canopy Cover 35-100% Canopy Cover Soils - rock outcrop, Loamy clay Soils - rock outcrop, Loamy clay 164 Feet away from Roads 164 Feet away from Roads 164 Feet nearby rivers and streams 164 Feet nearby rivers and streams Endangered Status Endangered Status

5. Literature Review

7. Ewing, R., J. et al. “Endangered by Sprawl: How Runaway Development Threatens America’s Wildlife”. Ewing, R., J. et al. “Endangered by Sprawl: How Runaway Development Threatens America’s Wildlife”. Shaw, D. “Applications of GIS and remote sensing for the characterization of habitat for threatened and endangered species”. Shaw, D. “Applications of GIS and remote sensing for the characterization of habitat for threatened and endangered species”. Ewing, R., J. et al. “Endangered by Sprawl: How Runaway Development Threatens America’s Wildlife”. Ewing, R., J. et al. “Endangered by Sprawl: How Runaway Development Threatens America’s Wildlife”. Shaw, D. “Applications of GIS and remote sensing for the characterization of habitat for threatened and endangered species”. Shaw, D. “Applications of GIS and remote sensing for the characterization of habitat for threatened and endangered species”.

8. Base Line Data County Roads County Roads County Boundary County Boundary Digital Elevation Models - DEM Digital Elevation Models - DEMSources Capital Area Council of Governments Capco.org Capital Area Council of Governments Capco.org Texas Natural Resource Information System - TNRIS Texas Natural Resource Information System - TNRIS Data and Sources

9. Environmental Data Hydrology Hydrology Soils Soils Species Species Vegetation Vegetation Building Permits Building PermitsSources Capitol Area Council of Governments Capitol Area Council of Governments TX Parks and Wildlife TX Parks and Wildlife Hays County Appraisal District Hays County Appraisal District City of Austin Webpage City of Austin Webpage Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization - CAMPO Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization - CAMPO

10. Permit Data 2001 12200 HARMON HILLS RD. DRIPPING SPRINGSTX78620-1/3/2001 2001 3206 CIRCLE DR.BUDATX78610-1/3/2001 2001 42025 CRESTMONT LN.KYLETX78640-1/4/2001 2001 52080 RIDGEMONT LN.KYLETX78640-1/4/2001 2001 6670 TOM SAWYER RD. DRIPPING SPRINGSTX78620-1/4/2001 2001 72065 RIDGEMONTLN.KYLETX78640-1/4/2001 2001 8145 POLLY'S POINT DRIPPING SPRINGSTX78620-1/4/2001 2001 9204 BLANCO DR.WIMBERLEYTX78676-1/5/2001 2001 10596 HILLS EDGEWIMBERLEYTX78676-1/8/2001 Excerpt of Permit Data

11. Permit Data

14. Methods Creation of personal Geodatabase Creation of personal Geodatabase Geocoded Building permit data Geocoded Building permit data Areas of growth shown on maps Areas of growth shown on maps Reference information on species habitats Reference information on species habitats Created optimal species habitat Created optimal species habitat Maps of selected species overlayed on growth Maps of selected species overlayed on growth Projection of smart growth Projection of smart growth Creation of personal Geodatabase Creation of personal Geodatabase Geocoded Building permit data Geocoded Building permit data Areas of growth shown on maps Areas of growth shown on maps Reference information on species habitats Reference information on species habitats Created optimal species habitat Created optimal species habitat Maps of selected species overlayed on growth Maps of selected species overlayed on growth Projection of smart growth Projection of smart growth

15. Methods

23. Methods Continued Vector analysis Vector analysis Buffering Buffering Raster analysis Raster analysis Raster reclassification Raster reclassification Slope definition Slope definition Vector analysis Vector analysis Buffering Buffering Raster analysis Raster analysis Raster reclassification Raster reclassification Slope definition Slope definition

24. Flowchart

25. Results The final results were obtained by using a raster calculator expression to obtain areas of Hays County that offered optimal wildlife habitat. The final results were obtained by using a raster calculator expression to obtain areas of Hays County that offered optimal wildlife habitat. The layers involved in the analysis included: The layers involved in the analysis included: -slopes > 5  -slopes > 5  -vegetation that included juniper and oaks -vegetation that included juniper and oaks -a general soils map that would -a general soils map that would accommodate the necessary vegetation accommodate the necessary vegetation -a kernel density analysis of geo-referenced building permits for the county from 2002-2005 -a kernel density analysis of geo-referenced building permits for the county from 2002-2005 The final results were obtained by using a raster calculator expression to obtain areas of Hays County that offered optimal wildlife habitat. The final results were obtained by using a raster calculator expression to obtain areas of Hays County that offered optimal wildlife habitat. The layers involved in the analysis included: The layers involved in the analysis included: -slopes > 5  -slopes > 5  -vegetation that included juniper and oaks -vegetation that included juniper and oaks -a general soils map that would -a general soils map that would accommodate the necessary vegetation accommodate the necessary vegetation -a kernel density analysis of geo-referenced building permits for the county from 2002-2005 -a kernel density analysis of geo-referenced building permits for the county from 2002-2005

26. Results Prior to creating the calculator expression we reclassified the slope of the land to show sloped areas > 5 * Maroon = > 5  Prior to creating the calculator expression we reclassified the slope of the land to show sloped areas > 5 * Maroon = > 5 

27. Results

28. To the reclassified slope layer we added the optimal habitat density for Hays County. To the reclassified slope layer we added the optimal habitat density for Hays County. The resulting map is one that The resulting map is one that indicates optimal habitat and slopes. indicates optimal habitat and slopes. To the reclassified slope layer we added the optimal habitat density for Hays County. To the reclassified slope layer we added the optimal habitat density for Hays County. The resulting map is one that The resulting map is one that indicates optimal habitat and slopes. indicates optimal habitat and slopes.

29. Results Optimal habitat density of Hays in map follows from a low density green to high in yellow

30. Results The final map Is a result of raster calculator analysis. Is a result of raster calculator analysis. This map indicates optimal habitat density This map indicates optimal habitat density The expression used in the calculation involved: The expression used in the calculation involved: the reclassified slope analysis the reclassified slope analysis optimal habitat for Hays County optimal habitat for Hays County The Final map shows areas where development will be detrimental to these particular species, The Final map shows areas where development will be detrimental to these particular species, That sprawl is already encroaching on these sensitive areas That sprawl is already encroaching on these sensitive areas Areas in blue on the eastern side of the county represent land that is best suitable for development or smart growth. Areas in blue on the eastern side of the county represent land that is best suitable for development or smart growth. There is still time to curb the growth that is starting to spread in the sensitive areas There is still time to curb the growth that is starting to spread in the sensitive areas The final map Is a result of raster calculator analysis. Is a result of raster calculator analysis. This map indicates optimal habitat density This map indicates optimal habitat density The expression used in the calculation involved: The expression used in the calculation involved: the reclassified slope analysis the reclassified slope analysis optimal habitat for Hays County optimal habitat for Hays County The Final map shows areas where development will be detrimental to these particular species, The Final map shows areas where development will be detrimental to these particular species, That sprawl is already encroaching on these sensitive areas That sprawl is already encroaching on these sensitive areas Areas in blue on the eastern side of the county represent land that is best suitable for development or smart growth. Areas in blue on the eastern side of the county represent land that is best suitable for development or smart growth. There is still time to curb the growth that is starting to spread in the sensitive areas There is still time to curb the growth that is starting to spread in the sensitive areas

31. Results Areas of optimal habitat density are in green layered with areas of growth/ urban sprawl indicated by the use of geo-referenced building permits for the past 6 years

32. Discussion Building Permits as Indicators Building Permits as Indicators First Analysis of this Type in Hays County First Analysis of this Type in Hays County Balance of Interests Balance of Interests Landowners & the Environment Landowners & the Environment Nature of Analysis & The Ground Truth Nature of Analysis & The Ground Truth Building Permits as Indicators Building Permits as Indicators First Analysis of this Type in Hays County First Analysis of this Type in Hays County Balance of Interests Balance of Interests Landowners & the Environment Landowners & the Environment Nature of Analysis & The Ground Truth Nature of Analysis & The Ground Truth

33. Conclusion Urban sprawl is a topic of concern in Hays County Urban sprawl is a topic of concern in Hays County Our study is identifies where sprawl is occurring Our study is identifies where sprawl is occurring Identifies habitat requirements for species of concern Identifies habitat requirements for species of concern Exhibits an area for smart growth – i.e., an area with least adverse impact from sprawl on species habitat. Exhibits an area for smart growth – i.e., an area with least adverse impact from sprawl on species habitat. Urban sprawl is a topic of concern in Hays County Urban sprawl is a topic of concern in Hays County Our study is identifies where sprawl is occurring Our study is identifies where sprawl is occurring Identifies habitat requirements for species of concern Identifies habitat requirements for species of concern Exhibits an area for smart growth – i.e., an area with least adverse impact from sprawl on species habitat. Exhibits an area for smart growth – i.e., an area with least adverse impact from sprawl on species habitat.

34. Questions?