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<br /> FORESTRY
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<br /> INITIATIVE SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT
<br /> A TTA CHEMENT I
<br /> 1. Project Scope Alignment:
<br /> Describe the issues this project is seeking to address and how the project will contribute to the goals in this funding
<br /> opportunity,including congressional,Justice40, State Forest Action Plans,and Ten-Year tJrban and Coiuffu]uit}�
<br /> Foresity Action—P lnu_k_2QIh_-!Q20 priorities.
<br /> Background-The City of San Marcos is a small to mid-size city located in Central Texas approximately mid-way
<br /> between Austin and San Antonio along interstate highway(IH)35. Home to one of the state's largest public
<br /> universities,Texas State University,the City has a population of nearly 67,000. As a college town,the city has a
<br /> high number of renters and rental units. Only 29%of housing units are owner occupied. According to Census
<br /> Data,the median household income for the City is$42,030 and the per capita income is$21,920. This is a five-year
<br /> average represented in 2020 dollars. The median age is 23-25 years old.The race/ethnicity demographics indicate
<br /> the population identifies as follows: 45%white,41%Hispanic,7%black,and 7%other.
<br /> Need-Population Growth—In-Migration San Marcos is part of the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos Metropolitan
<br /> Statistical Areas(MSA)—one of the fastest growing regions in the country,especially over the last 3-5 years. With
<br /> this unprecedented growth comes an increased cost of living. Larger cities such as Austin have become
<br /> unaffordable resulting in outward migration of individuals and families to surrounding cities,such as San Marcos,
<br /> which have begun to realize a growth in population in the last 5 years. Much of the growth occurring is on the
<br /> outlying areas of the City's boundaries,to the far South and North,along IH 35 and the west,abutting natural
<br /> forested areas. These areas are becoming zoned and developed as new master planned communities to
<br /> accommodate the region's growth. This affects the amount of tree canopy and the surrounding natural resources
<br /> connected to those forests which directly impacts the health of our San Marcos Community,particularly in those
<br /> neighborhoods where most of this growth is occurring.
<br /> Tree Canopy At-Risk San Marcos community forest Tree Canopy Coverage(TCC),in accordance with the Texas
<br /> Forest Service Urban Tree Canopy analysis in 2012,was 16%. I-Tree analysis of 2017 satellite imagery puts the TTC
<br /> at 22%,with a margin of error+/- 1.33%.For this region,the ideal target would be 30%. Most trees grow on the
<br /> Edwards Plateau,which includes the Edwards Aquifer,not on the Blackland prairie. These trees are being impacted
<br /> by new development. It is important to protect them as their health impacts the quality of health and life in San
<br /> Marcos. According to the American Forest's website,Litps://www.american forestsor Y/tgpls-resgarclL-11�jp ts-and-
<br /> Lt ggid sr�q-qqq�y�,the San Marcos area scores an 85 on the Tree Equity score,while the block groups that
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<br /> overlap the CEJST scores lower than surrounding areas in the City. It is estimated 26,647 trees will be need to be
<br /> planted to get 6 of the block groups within San Marcos to a score of 85,by adding 2.7%canopy. Having such low
<br /> tree canopy coverage in certain areas,makes this area vulnerable to higher than average temperatures,prime for
<br /> increases in crime,public health issues, such as cardiovascular disease,asthma,anxiety,and stress.
<br /> It is estimated there are 4,280 acres of tree canopy cover,with$13.2 million dollars of ecosystem services value,and
<br /> 1,807 acres of canopy at risk. The City needs a plan to manage the growth of this region,as it is trending towards an
<br /> additional loss of 13%of canopy with the current pace of development. Preservation of existing trees,and planting
<br /> of non-treed areas can help mitigate this trend and assist in reaching target canopy levels in communities in need.
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<br /> Lack of Existing Urban Forest Strategic Plan The City has various type of plans that help guide its work:
<br /> Transportation Greenivays Master Plan,an Open Space Master Plan,a Sustainabilio)Plan,a Sidewalk Master Plan
<br /> and a Planning and Development Master Plan(that was recently updated). While these reference natural resources
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