Contents
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
V | |
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
VII | |
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
1 | |
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
1 | |
Project Description ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
1 | |
Purpose of the Wyoming Toad Conservation Area ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
4 | |
Vision for the WTCA ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
4 | |
Purpose of the Existing National Wildlife Refuges ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
4 | |
Issues Identified and Selected for Analysis ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
4 | |
Public Review of and Comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment and Land Protection Plan ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
5 | |
National Wildlife Refuge System and Authorities ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
5 | |
Related Actions and Activities ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
6 | |
Habitat Protection and the Acquisition Process ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
6 | |
Conservation Easements ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
6 | |
Fee-title Acquisition ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
6 | |
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
7 | |
Physical Environment ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
7 | |
Climate ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
7 | |
Geology ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
8 | |
Minerals ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
8 | |
Water and Hydrology ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
8 | |
Biological Environment ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
8 | |
Plant Communities ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
8 | |
Wildlife ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
13 | |
Species of Special Concern ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
19 | |
Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
21 | |
Socioeconomic Environment ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
23 | |
Landownership ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
23 | |
Property Texas ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
23 | |
Public Use and Wildlife-dependent Recreational Activities ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
24 | |
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
25 | |
Threats to Resources ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
25 | |
Development ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
25 | |
Fragmentation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
26 | |
Invasive Species ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
26 | |
Water Use ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
26 | |
Climate Change ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
27 | |
Effects of the Wyoming Toad Conservation Area on the Natural and Human Environment ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
28 | |
Chapter 4—Project Implementation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
29 | |
Land Protection Options ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
29 | |
No-action Alternative ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
29 | |
Conservation Easements and Limited Fee-title Acquisition ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
30 |