The Austin ES Office hosted a workshop to discuss details regarding a Regional Habitat Conservation Plan (RHCP) for the San Antonio/Bexar County area on September 25, 2008, in San Antonio.  Representatives from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas General Land Office, City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Department of Defense, Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Farm Bureau, Comal County, Travis County, Williamson County, various consultants, non-governmental organizations, developers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service attended. 

Service, Travis County, and Williamson County staff presented various perspectives of the natural resource challenges facing the quickly urbanizing area of San Antonio, the 9th largest city in the U.S.  Travis and Williamson Counties presented their respective RHCPs and the challenges and rewards associated with each one.  The Service provided regulatory context and expertise and presented options available to the community to accomplish the overall strategy.  All participants supported the development of a Bexar County RHCP.  The plan would be designed and merged, as appropriate, to accommodate development and natural resource protection in the greater San Antonio area.  An executive session geared toward policy makers, decision makers, local leaders, and developers is scheduled for October 24, 2008, in San Antonio.  Many meetings have occurred over the last month to move this issue forward.  The Service continues to work closely with local leaders and Texas Parks and Wildlife to assess habitat conditions in the Bexar County area in preparation of the RHCP development process.