12.07.21 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes December 7, 2021 Vegetation and Sediment Management measures ❑ 1/2016: creation of the Restoration Reaches for fountain darter habitat ❑ 2/2016: adding fountain darter population counts for Texas wild rice and Potamogeton to fountain darter habitat goals. ❑ 3/2016: removal of non-native plant (Hygrophila) from goal species. ❑ 4/2017: Discontinue sediment removal and redirect funds to mitigate the sources upstream - Sessom Creek. ❑ 5/2017: Changed the two ponds originally identified in the EAHCP to the ponds prioritized by COSM - Downtown pond and City Park pond EAHCP Funding ❑Expended to date: $9,640,209 ❑ Projected total expenditure by end of this Incidental Take Permit: $13,126,586 These funds have been expended to increase the resilience of the San Marcos River and the public's understanding of these actions which are required by the Incidental Take Permit for the purpose of covering recreational activities, etc. Compliance ensures continual flows to the spring -fed San Marcos River through managed aquifer pumping. Mayor Hughson inquired about the extension of the EAHCP past 11135 to the city limits and Ms. Howard stated it occurred in 2019. The ILA with TxST to get the work done up to IH -35 and in 2019 Stokes Parks was added to accomplish the work of HCP. Mayor Pro Tem Scott asked when will the fences come down by the river? He is concerned about the vegetation that is growing out of control. Ms. Howard stated a riparian buffer has been created, the fence has been installed to protect the river, we want to avoid the process of human feet destroying the vegetation. She suggested a workshop to provide information to citizens to provide them the need for this type of buffer to clear up misinformation due to lack of understanding. They are trying for a balance between river protections and river use. There are multiple points of access, including new eight (8) ones. Ms. Howard stated the City is 100% reimbursed for HCP. Mayor Pro Tem Scott expressed concern that the fence is a way to kick people of out of the river and would like the City to take over this process and control our parks and river for our citizens. He inquired what would happen if we do not participate in the the HCP. Ms. Howard noted that if we are not part of the HCP process, we could be liable for take of the endangered species from recreation. This is a violation of the Endangered Species Act. Mr. Scott noted City of San Marcos Page 4