Final ReportAssessing biodiversity concerns of urban sprawl and projecting smart growth in Hays County,

Texas

Final ReportAssessing biodiversity concerns of urban sprawl and projecting smart growth in Hays County,

Texas

Prepared by:Prepared by:

Project ManagerStephanie Rosson-Singleton

Assistant ManagerRyan Schmidt

Web MasterNoah Hopkins

GIS AnalystsCherrie-Lee PhillipMark Adair

07 December 200507 December 2005

Purpose Purpose

Identify where sprawl is occurring in Identify where sprawl is occurring in Hays County Hays County

Identify habitat requirements for Identify habitat requirements for concerned species in Hays Countyconcerned species in Hays County

Map out distribution of suitable habitats Map out distribution of suitable habitats Project an area of smart growth Project an area of smart growth Least adverse impact on these habitats Least adverse impact on these habitats

Identify where sprawl is occurring in Identify where sprawl is occurring in Hays County Hays County

Identify habitat requirements for Identify habitat requirements for concerned species in Hays Countyconcerned species in Hays County

Map out distribution of suitable habitats Map out distribution of suitable habitats Project an area of smart growth Project an area of smart growth Least adverse impact on these habitats Least adverse impact on these habitats

Scope Scope

Location: Hays County, Texas Location: Hays County, Texas Population = 114,193Population = 114,193Total areas = 693.5 square milesTotal areas = 693.5 square milesBordered by Edwards Plateau and Bordered by Edwards Plateau and

Southern Black Prairie Region Southern Black Prairie Region Over a 5 year period Over a 5 year period

Location: Hays County, Texas Location: Hays County, Texas Population = 114,193Population = 114,193Total areas = 693.5 square milesTotal areas = 693.5 square milesBordered by Edwards Plateau and Bordered by Edwards Plateau and

Southern Black Prairie Region Southern Black Prairie Region Over a 5 year period Over a 5 year period

Background Background

Juniper-Oak forests Juniper-Oak forests 35-100% Canopy 35-100% Canopy

Cover Cover Soils - rock outcrop, Soils - rock outcrop,

Loamy clay Loamy clay 164 Feet away from 164 Feet away from

Roads Roads 164 Feet nearby 164 Feet nearby

rivers and streams rivers and streams Endangered StatusEndangered Status

Juniper-Oak forests Juniper-Oak forests 35-100% Canopy 35-100% Canopy

Cover Cover Soils - rock outcrop, Soils - rock outcrop,

Loamy clay Loamy clay 164 Feet away from 164 Feet away from

Roads Roads 164 Feet nearby 164 Feet nearby

rivers and streams rivers and streams Endangered StatusEndangered Status

Literature Review Literature Review

Literature ReviewLiterature Review

Literature ReviewLiterature Review

Ewing, R., J. et al. “Endangered Ewing, R., J. et al. “Endangered by Sprawl: How Runaway by Sprawl: How Runaway Development Threatens America’s Development Threatens America’s Wildlife”.Wildlife”.

Shaw, D. “Applications of GIS Shaw, D. “Applications of GIS and remote sensing for the and remote sensing for the characterization of habitat for characterization of habitat for threatened and endangered threatened and endangered species”. species”.

Ewing, R., J. et al. “Endangered Ewing, R., J. et al. “Endangered by Sprawl: How Runaway by Sprawl: How Runaway Development Threatens America’s Development Threatens America’s Wildlife”.Wildlife”.

Shaw, D. “Applications of GIS Shaw, D. “Applications of GIS and remote sensing for the and remote sensing for the characterization of habitat for characterization of habitat for threatened and endangered threatened and endangered species”. species”.

Base Line DataBase Line Data

County Roads County Roads County Boundary County Boundary Digital Elevation Digital Elevation

Models - DEM Models - DEM

SourcesSources

Capital Area Council Capital Area Council of Governments of Governments Capco.orgCapco.org

Texas Natural Texas Natural Resource Information Resource Information System - TNRISSystem - TNRIS

Data and Sources Data and Sources

Data and Sources Data and Sources Environmental DataEnvironmental Data

HydrologyHydrology SoilsSoils SpeciesSpecies VegetationVegetation Building PermitsBuilding Permits

SourcesSources

Capitol Area Council of Capitol Area Council of Governments Governments

TX Parks and Wildlife TX Parks and Wildlife Hays County Appraisal Hays County Appraisal

District District City of Austin Webpage City of Austin Webpage Capital Area Metropolitan Capital Area Metropolitan

Planning Organization - Planning Organization - CAMPO CAMPO

Permit DataPermit Data

2001 1 2200 HARMON HILLS RD.DRIPPING

SPRINGS TX 78620- 1/3/2001

2001 3 206 CIRCLE DR. BUDA TX 78610- 1/3/2001

2001 4 2025 CRESTMONT LN. KYLE TX 78640- 1/4/2001

2001 5 2080 RIDGEMONT LN. KYLE TX 78640- 1/4/2001

2001 6 670 TOM SAWYER RD.DRIPPING

SPRINGS TX 78620- 1/4/2001

2001 7 2065 RIDGEMONTLN. KYLE TX 78640- 1/4/2001

2001 8 145 POLLY'S POINTDRIPPING

SPRINGS TX 78620- 1/4/2001

2001 9 204 BLANCO DR. WIMBERLEY TX 78676- 1/5/2001

2001 10 596 HILLS EDGE WIMBERLEY TX 78676- 1/8/2001

Excerpt of Permit DataExcerpt of Permit Data Excerpt of Permit DataExcerpt of Permit Data

Permit DataPermit Data

Permit DataPermit Data

Permit DataPermit Data

Methods Methods

Creation of personal GeodatabaseCreation of personal Geodatabase Geocoded Building permit data Geocoded Building permit data Areas of growth shown on maps Areas of growth shown on maps Reference information on species habitatsReference information on species habitats Created optimal species habitat Created optimal species habitat Maps of selected species overlayed on Maps of selected species overlayed on

growthgrowth Projection of smart growth Projection of smart growth

Creation of personal GeodatabaseCreation of personal Geodatabase Geocoded Building permit data Geocoded Building permit data Areas of growth shown on maps Areas of growth shown on maps Reference information on species habitatsReference information on species habitats Created optimal species habitat Created optimal species habitat Maps of selected species overlayed on Maps of selected species overlayed on

growthgrowth Projection of smart growth Projection of smart growth

Methods Methods

Methods Methods

Methods Methods

Methods Methods

Methods Methods

Methods Methods

Methods Methods

Methods Methods

Methods Continued Methods Continued

Vector analysisVector analysisBufferingBufferingRaster analysisRaster analysisRaster reclassificationRaster reclassificationSlope definitionSlope definition

Vector analysisVector analysisBufferingBufferingRaster analysisRaster analysisRaster reclassificationRaster reclassificationSlope definitionSlope definition

Flowchart Flowchart

ResultsResults

The final results were obtained by using a raster The final results were obtained by using a raster calculator expression to obtain areas of Hays County calculator expression to obtain areas of Hays County that offered optimal wildlife habitat.that offered optimal wildlife habitat.

The layers involved in the analysis included:The layers involved in the analysis included: -slopes > 5-slopes > 5 -vegetation that included juniper and oaks-vegetation that included juniper and oaks -a general soils map that would -a general soils map that would

accommodate the necessary vegetationaccommodate the necessary vegetation -a kernel density analysis of geo-referenced building -a kernel density analysis of geo-referenced building permits for the county from 2002-2005permits for the county from 2002-2005

The final results were obtained by using a raster The final results were obtained by using a raster calculator expression to obtain areas of Hays County calculator expression to obtain areas of Hays County that offered optimal wildlife habitat.that offered optimal wildlife habitat.

The layers involved in the analysis included:The layers involved in the analysis included: -slopes > 5-slopes > 5 -vegetation that included juniper and oaks-vegetation that included juniper and oaks -a general soils map that would -a general soils map that would

accommodate the necessary vegetationaccommodate the necessary vegetation -a kernel density analysis of geo-referenced building -a kernel density analysis of geo-referenced building permits for the county from 2002-2005permits for the county from 2002-2005

ResultsResults

Prior to creating the calculator Prior to creating the calculator expression we reclassified the slope of expression we reclassified the slope of the land to show sloped areas > 5 the land to show sloped areas > 5

* Maroon = > 5* Maroon = > 5

Prior to creating the calculator Prior to creating the calculator expression we reclassified the slope of expression we reclassified the slope of the land to show sloped areas > 5 the land to show sloped areas > 5

* Maroon = > 5* Maroon = > 5

ResultsResults

ResultsResults

To the reclassified slope layer we added the To the reclassified slope layer we added the optimal habitat density for Hays County.optimal habitat density for Hays County.

The resulting map is one that The resulting map is one that indicates optimal habitat and slopes.indicates optimal habitat and slopes.

To the reclassified slope layer we added the To the reclassified slope layer we added the optimal habitat density for Hays County.optimal habitat density for Hays County.

The resulting map is one that The resulting map is one that indicates optimal habitat and slopes.indicates optimal habitat and slopes.

Results Results Optimal habitat density of Hays in map follows from a low density green to high in yellow

Optimal habitat density of Hays in map follows from a low density green to high in yellow

Results Results The final mapThe final map• Is a result of raster calculator analysis.Is a result of raster calculator analysis.• This map indicates optimal habitat densityThis map indicates optimal habitat density

The expression used in the calculation involved:The expression used in the calculation involved:

• the reclassified slope analysis the reclassified slope analysis • optimal habitat for Hays Countyoptimal habitat for Hays County

• The Final map shows areas where development will be The Final map shows areas where development will be detrimental to these particular species,detrimental to these particular species,

• That sprawl is already encroaching on these sensitive areasThat sprawl is already encroaching on these sensitive areas

• Areas in blue on the eastern side of the county represent land Areas in blue on the eastern side of the county represent land that is best suitable for development or smart growth.that is best suitable for development or smart growth.

• There is still time to curb the growth that is starting to spread in There is still time to curb the growth that is starting to spread in the sensitive areasthe sensitive areas

The final mapThe final map• Is a result of raster calculator analysis.Is a result of raster calculator analysis.• This map indicates optimal habitat densityThis map indicates optimal habitat density

The expression used in the calculation involved:The expression used in the calculation involved:

• the reclassified slope analysis the reclassified slope analysis • optimal habitat for Hays Countyoptimal habitat for Hays County

• The Final map shows areas where development will be The Final map shows areas where development will be detrimental to these particular species,detrimental to these particular species,

• That sprawl is already encroaching on these sensitive areasThat sprawl is already encroaching on these sensitive areas

• Areas in blue on the eastern side of the county represent land Areas in blue on the eastern side of the county represent land that is best suitable for development or smart growth.that is best suitable for development or smart growth.

• There is still time to curb the growth that is starting to spread in There is still time to curb the growth that is starting to spread in the sensitive areasthe sensitive areas

Results Results

Areas of optimal habitat density are in green layered with areas of growth/ urban sprawl indicated by the use of geo-referenced building permits for the past 6 years

Areas of optimal habitat density are in green layered with areas of growth/ urban sprawl indicated by the use of geo-referenced building permits for the past 6 years

DiscussionDiscussion Building Permits as IndicatorsBuilding Permits as Indicators

First Analysis of this Type in Hays CountyFirst Analysis of this Type in Hays County

Balance of InterestsBalance of Interests Landowners & the EnvironmentLandowners & the Environment

Nature of Analysis & The Ground TruthNature of Analysis & The Ground Truth

Building Permits as IndicatorsBuilding Permits as Indicators First Analysis of this Type in Hays CountyFirst Analysis of this Type in Hays County

Balance of InterestsBalance of Interests Landowners & the EnvironmentLandowners & the Environment

Nature of Analysis & The Ground TruthNature of Analysis & The Ground Truth

ConclusionConclusion

Urban sprawl is a topic of concern in Urban sprawl is a topic of concern in Hays County Hays County

Our study is identifies where sprawl is Our study is identifies where sprawl is occurring occurring

Identifies habitat requirements for Identifies habitat requirements for species of concernspecies of concern

Exhibits an area for smart growth – i.e., Exhibits an area for smart growth – i.e., an area with least adverse impact from an area with least adverse impact from sprawl on species habitat.sprawl on species habitat.

Urban sprawl is a topic of concern in Urban sprawl is a topic of concern in Hays County Hays County

Our study is identifies where sprawl is Our study is identifies where sprawl is occurring occurring

Identifies habitat requirements for Identifies habitat requirements for species of concernspecies of concern

Exhibits an area for smart growth – i.e., Exhibits an area for smart growth – i.e., an area with least adverse impact from an area with least adverse impact from sprawl on species habitat.sprawl on species habitat.

Questions?Questions?