Williamson County Pct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey was named president of the National Habitat Conservation Plan Coalition (NHCPC) at the group’s meeting in October. The NHCPC was established to further the use, effectiveness of and support for large-scale Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) as local solutions to facilitate economic development and the conservation of threatened and endangered species and their habitats. Ms. Covey is also President of the Williamson County Conservation Foundation board.
A habitat conservation plan (HCP) is a planning document recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as part of the enforcement of the Endangered Species Act and is a requirement in an application to obtain an incidental take permit (ITP). An HCP identifies conservation measures developed and agreed on by local stakeholders to protect threatened and endangered species and their habitats.
Williamson County’s Regional Habitat Conservation Plan has been in place for ten years. The plan is designed so governmental entities including the State of Texas, Williamson County, cities and school districts, landowners, and developers can navigate the requirements of the Endangered Species Act in a more expedient and efficient manner. Prior to the establishment of the WCCF plan, all entities impacting endangered species needed to obtain an individual 10(a) permit from the USFWS.
Williamson County’s RHCP has allowed many important projects to move forward, such as the county’s projects to enhance RM 620, the state managed improvements to SH 195, the City of Georgetown’s Southwest Bypass, the City of Round Rock’s raw water supply line, and other numerous public and private developments.
For more on the RHCP and participation contact WCCF@Wilco.org or visit wccf.wilco.org.
The Williamson County Conservation Foundation was formed in 2002 to further responsible development in the county within the federal requirements of the Endangered Species Act. Establishing preserve lands allows development of vital regional projects—roads and schools—to proceed while protecting listed endangered species in environmentally sensitive areas.
