Res 2013-096/Approving an Agreement of Sale with the Trust for Public Land for the city to purchase 93 acres of land for the expansion of Purgatory Creek

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imperiled species and their habitats will occur with the new nature center planned mm the far side o[u small portion of the mUuueotPCNA. Protection of the Barker tract will benefit nine (9) listed species with recovery plans. Two terrestrial species. the GCW and BCV, and seven listed Edwards Aquifer species (San Marcos /Conial Springs Recovery Plan): San Marcos salamander,'Vexas blind salamander, Fountain darter, San Marcos ganibusia, Comal Springs riffle beetle, Comal Springs dryopid beetle, and Texas wild rice will benefit from this conservation objective. The Hays County HCP will include another 51 species, as either-evaluation" or '.additional," likeiv to occur in the area, including Hill Country wild niercury (a NatureServe rank S2),, Zn reported to Occur oo the property. '['his project will L)rotect habitat for nine high priorit.N, federal ly listed species, six with ILtecovery Priorily Number of 2C, and one each with numbers I CI 5 and 5C. Protection of the Barker tract will secure known GCW (2C) and potential BCV (21C) habitat. It will also benefit seven listed Edwards Aquifer ecosystem species: Comal Springs dryopid beetle 00, San Marcos salamander (I2Q. Fountain darter (2C), Comal Springs riffle beetle (2Q, Texas wild-rice (2C). Texas blind salamander (5) and San Marcos gonbuSiu(55C). 4. Acq ' uisition of the Barker tract protects habitat that has a critical role in the life cycle of nine federa listed species. In addition to protecting nesting habitat for the GCW and BCV. this parcel is 100% Edwards Aquifer direct recharge land. thus enhancing aquatic habitat for sensitive Edwards Aquifer species., whose life cycle depends on the input of clean. unpolluted water into the aquifer through the recharge zone. 5. Thel'exos State Climatologist predicts temperatures in Texas could iuorcuae by as nouuh as 5 degrees Fahrenheit by mid-century, with changing precipitation patterns and increased evaporation. This acquisition will create iurAc protected block of forest habitat with resilience to c|innotc-driven atressoro, and will help maintain water flows and aquatic habitats in o more variable climate. 6. '['his project provides excel lent leverage of federal dollars by bringing forward $1.6 million in local public and private funds (used for the acquisition and conveyance of Barker Tract A) to advance the verall purchase of this s i gnifi cant-2' 89.5 3 -acre parcel for permanent protection of niultil2le listed species. An additional match of $148,74 1.00 froin the "I"Pl.. will join the FY "12 Section 6 RLA award of $l,342.ZOP. providing additional leverage tn the overall project. With the FY` lZ Section 6FlLAaward. and the additional gift from TPL, tile federal cost share will be approximately —63% of the Total Project Cost_ with —37Y6 non-Federal in-kind and cash match provided by the City of San Marcos and The Trust for Public Land. Approach The Trust for Public Land (TPL)|e collaborating with the City of San Marcos and other stakeholders to acquire the Barker Tract Q-\ parcel, totaling VZ.73acres situated along the north side of Purgatoij, Creek and contiguous to the existing City-owned 107.01 -acre Barker Tract &and the 463-acre Pu��N�� Area (pCN/\). Barker Tract B-lis the second o[ three proposed acquisitions that will serve to protect the entire 289.53 )-acre property.