The Collaborative Approach of Recovery Implementation

Programs

Todd Votteler, Ph.D.Todd Votteler, Ph.D.Guadalupe-Blanco Guadalupe-Blanco River AuthorityRiver Authority

(800) 413-4130(800) 413-4130www.gbra.orgwww.gbra.org

Incorporating Climate Change Science Incorporating Climate Change Science into the Endangered Species Act into the Endangered Species Act

Recovery Implementation Program for Recovery Implementation Program for the Texas Edwards Aquiferthe Texas Edwards Aquifer

OutlineOutline

• The Endangered Species ActThe Endangered Species Act• The Edwards Aquifer Region: A The Edwards Aquifer Region: A

Unique and Complicated Unique and Complicated EcosystemEcosystem

• State – Federal ChallengesState – Federal Challenges• Climate ChangeClimate Change• Tree-Ring ResearchTree-Ring Research

The Edwards Aquifer-San The Edwards Aquifer-San Antonio Segment Antonio Segment (Karst (Karst Aquifer)Aquifer)-Irrigation & recharge out Irrigation & recharge out WestWest-San Antonio in the CenterSan Antonio in the Center-Major Springs in the EastMajor Springs in the East

GuadalupeRiver

San Antonio

Bay

The Guadalupe River is the Primary Source The Guadalupe River is the Primary Source of Freshwater Inflows to San Antonio Bay…of Freshwater Inflows to San Antonio Bay…

2.2

2.3

2.42.5

2.6

2.7

2.82.9

3

1.03 1.

11.15

1.17 1.

21.25 1.

3

INFLOW (MILLIONS ACRE-FEET)

FIS

HE

RIE

S H

AR

VE

ST

(MIL

LIO

NS

LB

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TxEMPMODELSOLUTIONS

Brown Shrimp

Blue Crab

1.15MAF

WhoopingCrane

A Few FactsA Few Facts• San Antonio’s population is nearly 2 San Antonio’s population is nearly 2

million, up from 200,000 in 1940.million, up from 200,000 in 1940.• Population of Texas Projected to Population of Texas Projected to

Double by 2050.Double by 2050.• 95% of San Antonio’s water supply 95% of San Antonio’s water supply

comes from the Edwards Aquifer.comes from the Edwards Aquifer.• Edwards Aquifer springs provide 25% Edwards Aquifer springs provide 25%

of the flow in the Guadalupe River.of the flow in the Guadalupe River.• During droughts like 2005-2006 and During droughts like 2005-2006 and

2008-2009 as much 80% of the flow in 2008-2009 as much 80% of the flow in the Guadalupe River comes from the the Guadalupe River comes from the springs.springs.

Good Good TimeTime

ss

Bad TimesBad Times1956,1956,

Drought of Drought of Record.Record.

Fountain Fountain Darters Darters

Wiped Out Wiped Out at Comal at Comal Springs.Springs.

Texas Texas Begins Begins Water Water

Planning.Planning.

What is a Recovery What is a Recovery Implementation Program?Implementation Program?

• Recovery Implementation Programs (RIP) Recovery Implementation Programs (RIP) are an option under the Endangered are an option under the Endangered Species Act that bring together a broad Species Act that bring together a broad group of stakeholders including Federal, group of stakeholders including Federal, State, and private interests to work State, and private interests to work together to recover endangered species.together to recover endangered species.

• Through a RIP, federal funds can be passed Through a RIP, federal funds can be passed through a federal agency to accomplish through a federal agency to accomplish Program goals.Program goals.

• RIPs are a potential solution for intractable RIPs are a potential solution for intractable Endangered Species Act issues.Endangered Species Act issues.

Typical ActivitiesTypical Activities• Habitat restorationHabitat restoration

• Captive propagation and augmentationCaptive propagation and augmentation

• Research & monitoringResearch & monitoring

• Development of flow Development of flow recommendationsrecommendations

• Management of non-native speciesManagement of non-native species

• Education, and public involvementEducation, and public involvement

Edwards AquiferEdwards Aquifer

• The goal is to recover federally listed The goal is to recover federally listed species dependent on the Edwards species dependent on the Edwards Aquifer while water development Aquifer while water development proceeds in compliance with all proceeds in compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws.applicable Federal and State laws.

Recovery Implementation Program Recovery Implementation Program for the Edwards Aquiferfor the Edwards Aquifer

• The Texas Legislature created a RIP process The Texas Legislature created a RIP process in May 2007.in May 2007.

• The Texas Legislature’s RIP process may set The Texas Legislature’s RIP process may set a precedent for other states:a precedent for other states:

– Who governs the process;Who governs the process;

– What questions are considered; andWhat questions are considered; and

– The schedule and other guidelinesThe schedule and other guidelines

• Participants include state agencies, river Participants include state agencies, river authorities, groundwater districts, cities, authorities, groundwater districts, cities, industries, farmers, environmental industries, farmers, environmental organizations and others.organizations and others.

• Loaiciga et al (1996) identified Edwards as Loaiciga et al (1996) identified Edwards as one of the most vulnerable regional one of the most vulnerable regional watersheds to climate changewatersheds to climate change– Region is dependent on aquiferRegion is dependent on aquifer– Strong climate & hydrology linkStrong climate & hydrology link– Climate record shows large variabilityClimate record shows large variability– Groundwater pumping increasingGroundwater pumping increasing– Aquifer supports habitats & species facing Aquifer supports habitats & species facing

extinctionextinction– Water institutions mired in uncertaintyWater institutions mired in uncertainty

• ““If these models are correct, the levels of If these models are correct, the levels of aridity of the recent multiyear drought or aridity of the recent multiyear drought or the Dust Bowl and the 1950s droughts will the Dust Bowl and the 1950s droughts will become the new climatology of the become the new climatology of the American Southwest within a time frame of American Southwest within a time frame of years to decades (Seager et al, 2007).”years to decades (Seager et al, 2007).”

Climate Change & the EdwardsClimate Change & the Edwards

• Drought of Record is when Drought of Record is when natural hydrological conditions natural hydrological conditions provided the least amount of provided the least amount of water supply.water supply.

• For much of Texas the Drought For much of Texas the Drought of Record is drought from 1947 of Record is drought from 1947 to 1957.to 1957.

• State water plan must be based State water plan must be based on the Drought of Record.on the Drought of Record.

Texas Water Planning is Based Texas Water Planning is Based on the Drought of Recordon the Drought of Record

• The answer depends on the term of The answer depends on the term of the Incidental Take Permit resulting the Incidental Take Permit resulting from the RIP.from the RIP.

• If the term of the Incidental Take If the term of the Incidental Take Permit is less than 15 years, then Permit is less than 15 years, then climate change might not be climate change might not be considered.considered.

• However, if the term is less than 25 However, if the term is less than 25 years is the process worth the years is the process worth the effort?effort?

• This question faces those This question faces those developing HCPs across the country.developing HCPs across the country.

Will Climate Change be Will Climate Change be Incorporated into the Edwards Incorporated into the Edwards

RIP?RIP?

• Texas lawmakers and water Texas lawmakers and water managers are skeptical about managers are skeptical about climate change.climate change.

• Is there another way to incorporate Is there another way to incorporate climate variability into the RIP climate variability into the RIP without focusing on climate change?without focusing on climate change?

• Possibly, by focusing on historical Possibly, by focusing on historical variability.variability.

• Water managers rely upon historical Water managers rely upon historical drought and flood information.drought and flood information.

Will Climate Change be Will Climate Change be Incorporated into the Edwards Incorporated into the Edwards

RIP?RIP?

• Trees produce a narrow growth ring under Trees produce a narrow growth ring under drought conditions and a wider ring under drought conditions and a wider ring under normal and wet conditions. normal and wet conditions.

• Chronologies are based on small core samples Chronologies are based on small core samples extracted from living trees & cross-sections extracted from living trees & cross-sections cut from dead logs.cut from dead logs.

• The tree-ring record is compared to Weather The tree-ring record is compared to Weather Service climatic data to find out the seasonal Service climatic data to find out the seasonal response of the trees.response of the trees.

Tree-Ring StudyTree-Ring Study

Objectives for Tree-Ring StudyObjectives for Tree-Ring Study• Less is known about Texas in this field than Less is known about Texas in this field than

Eastern & Western US or Mexico.Eastern & Western US or Mexico.• Local chronologies better than distant Local chronologies better than distant

chronologies.chronologies.• We are focusing on baldcypress at several We are focusing on baldcypress at several

locations in south-central Texaslocations in south-central Texas..• We are hoping to produce a 500 year We are hoping to produce a 500 year

chronology for south-central Texas.chronology for south-central Texas.• Study Participants:Study Participants:

– Guadalupe-Blanco River AuthorityGuadalupe-Blanco River Authority– University of Arkansas, Tree-Ring LabUniversity of Arkansas, Tree-Ring Lab– University of Texas, School of GeosciencesUniversity of Texas, School of Geosciences– Texas Forest ServiceTexas Forest Service– Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Texas Parks & Wildlife Department – Individual Landowners Individual Landowners

SummarySummary

• The Edwards Aquifer Recovery The Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Plan is likely to provide a Implementation Plan is likely to provide a model that other states will follow to deal model that other states will follow to deal with their intractable Endangered Species with their intractable Endangered Species Act disputes.Act disputes.

• If the region focuses on preparing for If the region focuses on preparing for decade long droughts identified in the decade long droughts identified in the tree-ring study will the process satisfy a tree-ring study will the process satisfy a requirement that the plan account for requirement that the plan account for climate change?climate change?

Questions?Questions?

Previous Tree-Ring Study for Edwards Previous Tree-Ring Study for Edwards Aquifer Region; 1537-1995Aquifer Region; 1537-1995

““The 1950s drought was very bad, even The 1950s drought was very bad, even when viewed in a long-term context. The when viewed in a long-term context. The reconstructions also indicate that there reconstructions also indicate that there may have been periods when drought was may have been periods when drought was more protracted and the impact might more protracted and the impact might have been considerably worse. It would have been considerably worse. It would appear unwise for civil authorities to appear unwise for civil authorities to assume that the 1950s drought represents assume that the 1950s drought represents the worst case scenario to be used for the worst case scenario to be used for planning purposes in water resources planning purposes in water resources management in the South Central and management in the South Central and Edwards Plateau climate divisions of Edwards Plateau climate divisions of Texas.”Texas.”

Why this RIP UniqueWhy this RIP Unique

• First RIP First RIP fullyfully based on an HCP. based on an HCP.

• First RIP where federal water First RIP where federal water management is not part of the program.management is not part of the program.

• First RIP developed to address aquifer First RIP developed to address aquifer management.management.

• First RIP in a private lands state.First RIP in a private lands state.

• First RIP to include a coastal/estuary First RIP to include a coastal/estuary ecosystem in the project area.ecosystem in the project area.

• First RIP mandated in state legislation.First RIP mandated in state legislation.

Tree-Ring ChronologiesTree-Ring Chronologies

• 2 Baldcypress: LA: 996 –1988; Eastern 2 Baldcypress: LA: 996 –1988; Eastern TX: 1254 –1993TX: 1254 –1993

• 4 Douglas-fir: 2 TX: 1537–1992, 1473 –4 Douglas-fir: 2 TX: 1537–1992, 1473 –1992; 2 NM: 1362–1989, 137BC–1992 1992; 2 NM: 1362–1989, 137BC–1992

• 1 NM ponderosa pine: 1391–1987 1 NM ponderosa pine: 1391–1987 • 3 NM Pinyon pine: 1410 –1987; 1411–3 NM Pinyon pine: 1410 –1987; 1411–

1972; 1478 –1972 1972; 1478 –1972 • 6 post oak: 3 from living trees, 3 from 6 post oak: 3 from living trees, 3 from

historic buildings; 1648 –1995historic buildings; 1648 –1995

Current Water RIP ProgramsCurrent Water RIP Programs

• Middle Rio Grande ESA Collaborative Middle Rio Grande ESA Collaborative ProgramProgram

• Upper Colorado RIPUpper Colorado RIP• San Juan RIPSan Juan RIP• Platte River Endangered Species Platte River Endangered Species

PartnershipPartnership• Lower Colorado Multi-species Conservation Lower Colorado Multi-species Conservation

ProgramProgram• June Sucker RIPJune Sucker RIP