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Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Background 1.1.1 Endangered Species Compliance Through a deliberative process, stakeholders in the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program (EARIP) have recommended that the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA), the City of San Antonio, acting by and through its San Antonio Water System, (hereinafter SAWS), City of San Marcos, City of New Braunfels, and Texas State University (collectively hereinafter Applicants) apply for an Incidental Take Permit (ITP or Permit) under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is intended to support the issuance of incidental from the otherwise lawful activities involving regulating and pumping of groundwater from the Edwards Aquifer (Aquifer) within the boundaries of the EAA for beneficial use for irrigation, industrial, municipal and domestic and livestock uses, and the use of the Comal and San Marcos spring and river systems for recreational and other activities. The minimization and mitigation measures included in Chapter 5 of this HCP are designed to ensure that incidental take resulting from the Covered Activities will be minimized and mitigated to the maximum extent practicable and will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of covered species associated with the Aquifer and Comal and San Marcos springs and rivers ecosystems. The approach taken in this HCP incorporates a two-phased implementation strategy. Phase I of the strategy will involve implementation of a package of minimization and mitigation measures that will be implemented very quickly upon issuance of the permit. These measures (described in Chapter 5) provide protection for the species covered by the ITP and their associated ecosystems. An Adaptive Management Process (AMP) (described in Chapter 6) will use information from monitoring data collected during Phase I, along with evaluation of technical and engineering alternatives and improved groundwater, biological and ecological models, to make appropriate modifications, if any are needed, to the Phase I program. Specified additional measures, if necessary to achieve the biological goals, will be implemented during Phase II. 1.1.2 Description and Purpose of EARIP The EARIP is a collaborative, consensus-based stakeholder process in south-central Texas. This diverse group of stakeholders developed this plan to protect the federally-listed species potentially affected by the management and use of the Aquifer and certain other activities in the Comal and San Marcos ecosystems. In addition to meeting the legal requirements of Section 10(a) of the ESA, the Applicants have committed to benefit the Covered Species by contributing to their recovery. 1-1