Land Committee Virtual Meeting June 5, 2012
June Land Conservation Activity (update via email)
Updates on Conservation Easement Preparation by RJ Taylor, Conservation Director
- Mill Branch Mitigation Bank in N/W Denton Co. ( 82 acres) Easement documents signed and recorded with County Clerk. Next steps would be observation of project site when stream mitigation activity takes place in the future. In the meantime, the Grantor/landowner is allowed to sell some mitigation credits based on a conservation easement being in place.
- Wilbarger Creek Mitigation Bank Project being evaluated and considered for conservation easement in Bastrop County. Although this project site is way outside of Connemara’s current service area, Connemara is considering it with an existing landowner partner due to the lack of support from other land trusts in that area and their lack of complete understanding of these mitigation projects. Conneamra is also planning on accepting approx. 458 additional easement acres with same client on three easements south of Dallas in the next year. Land Committee to vote on this project by Thursday, then recommendation will be taken to the Board for their concurrence.
- Montalcino Estates Conservation Subdivision in Flower Mound (140.326 net acres)
This easement project within a 280-acre conservation subdivision on the west end of Flower Mound is officially under a conservation easement as of June 1, 2012. Site clearing and roadway/infrastructure construction began on the residential project last month. Easement tracts have been flagged off with construction fencing. Clearing of actual residential lots will not until each lot is sold, since each homesite will need to be laid out and cleared according to their design to avoid trees. Native prairie plantings will take place on some degraded portions of easement tracts, but this will be a final step in the site construction phases.
- Martin Ranch in Parker Co. (120 acres) This project is ready to move ahead, but is on hold until Connemara staff have the time to work with the landowner on their final suggested changes to easement writing and proposed site subdivision allowances. Most of biological surveys have been completed, although RJ Taylor would like to have a survey performed on property for horny toads.
- Gainesville Site in Gainesville, TX (146.78 acres) Conservation easement drafts are still being reviewed between Oxy Chemical and Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) staff. The Trustees have been very busy dealing with the mitigation requirements for the BP oil spill, so they have had limited time to work on this project.
- Pittman Ranch (DWF) in Cooke Co. (790 acres) Dixon Water Foundation has given Connemara the go ahead to complete this project. It is being delayed to allow for work on the other above-mentioned easements.
- Kusin Tract in Melissa, TX (84 acres) – Property is on the market. St Alcuin school has been given the option of purchasing the nature preserve property, but seller is asking about $1 million. Another possible buyer has also shown interest in the property.
Other Outreach Activity by RJ Taylor, Conservation Director
- RJ Taylor is in discussion with Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) about new habitat mitigation project
opportunities in the counties near Texarkana. At least two or three projects might be in the works.
- RJ and Sandra planned a site visit to meet landowner near Mulberry in Fannin County.
- Requests for assistance with the protection of 5 acre natural site off Camp Wisdom Road in southern Dallas. RJ is providing the community association with information about non-profit conservation groups that have developed in the metroplex to use similar tracts as outdoor learning centers.
Action Items:
- Land Committee to vote on Wilbarger Creek Mitigation Site by Thurs. June 7
- CCF Board to vote on Wilbarger Creek Mitigation Site by Wed. June 13
- RJ Taylor to set up discussions with TPWD about possible habitat mitigation sites in northeast Texas (outside of current service area as originally mapped)
- RJ and Sandra to visit with landowner in Mulberry, Texas
- Proposed site visit to Martin Ranch easement site in Parker County to survey for horny toads
- Proposed evaluation of all easement sites with streams to evaluate for populations of freshwater mussels
- Proposed evaluation of Granek easement property north of Granbury for occurrences ofr golden cheeked warblers on the mapped habitat