BCRUA_R-12-09-19-5ARESOLUTION NO. R-12-09-19-5A
WHEREAS, on ~IJSI-22, 2.012. , the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
("Service") published a proposed rule to list the Georgetown salamander, Jollyville Plateau
salamander, and Salado salamander ("Salamanders") as endangered/threatened under the Federal
Endangered Species Act ("ESA"); and
WHEREAS, the Service states that populations of the Salamanders are declining and in
danger of extinction due to increased development, declining water quality, and declining water
quantity; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the RHCP conservation actions that benefit the species,
the Service had reduced the Georgetown salamander's Listing Priority Number from a 2 to an 8,
indicating that there is no imminent threat to the species; and
WHEREAS, listing the Salamanders under the ESA will result in additional federal
regulatory compliance requirements for development projects within Williamson County,
increasing the cost of development; and
WHEREAS, independent review of past and current Service and City of Austin
Salamander data demonstrates that prior theories of Salamander decline are not statistically
valid, and despite an increase in development throughout Central Texas, the Salamanders exist in
essentially all of their known historic range and new locations continue to be found; and
WHEREAS, independent testing has shown that water quality and stream sediment have
shown no degradation even in highly-developed areas; and
WHEREAS, there is substantial disagreement regarding the sufficiency or accuracy of
the available data, which warrants an extension of the one-year period before the Service
publishes a final listing decision; and
Z.\BCRUA\Board Packets\Packet Documents\201 2\09 19 12\Res, oppose us Fish and Wildlife Proposed Rule to list 3 endangered-threatened species (00258432).DOC/rmc
WHEREAS, as part of the Service-approved Williamson County Regional Habitat
Conservation Plan ("RHCP"), the Williamson County Conservation Foundation ("Foundation")
is in the middle of a 5-year study of the Georgetown salamander and will soon initiate a study of
the Jollyville Plateau salamander in the coming months; and
WHEREAS, based on the questionable sufficiency or accuracy of the studies the Service
is basing their decisions on, independent studies that show that water quality has not been
impacted and that there are healthily and numerous salamander populations in the County, and
that the Foundation's studies, which will generate statistically valid data on the Salamander
populations in Williamson County, have not been completed, Now Therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BRUSHY CREEK REGIONAL UTILITY
AUTHORITY,
That the Board of Directors of the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority opposes the
Service's proposed rule to list the Georgetown salamander, Jollyville Plateau salamander, and
Salado salamander as endangered/threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
The Board of Directors hereby finds and declares that written notice of the date, hour,
place and subject of the meeting at which this Resolution was adopted was posted and that such
meeting was open to the public as required by law at all times during which this Resolution and
the subject matter hereof were discussed, considered and formally acted upon, all as required by
the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, as amended.
fI
RESOLVED this 19th day of se7~ber,y.r;l~/l(
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C ISTOPI}ER FIELDER, President
Brushy Cr~ Regional Utility Authority
ATTEST:
2