Travis County and the City of Austin (collectively “BCCP Staff”) are seeking applications from interested and eligible individuals to serve on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP) Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC). This advisory group will provide important community input as Travis County and the City of Austin work to renew the BCCP and associated federal incidental take permit.
The Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP) is a regional Habitat Conservation Plan jointly implemented by Travis County and the City of Austin in compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The BCCP incidental take permit was issued in 1996, establishing a 30-year conservation program designed to permit regional growth while protecting endangered species. The BCCP currently remains active while it undergoes the renewal process.
CAC members will assist in the update of the BCCP. Members may expect a time commitment of approximately 5–8 hours per month during the BCCP renewal process, anticipated to run from December 2026 through mid-2029. Meetings will be scheduled to align with major planning, development, and public review milestones identified in the permit renewal schedule.
Committee members will be selected in accordance with TPWD Code, Chapter 83. The following criteria will be considered during the CAC selection process:
- Overall community representation and diversity of perspectives;
- Potential regulatory impacts to affected landowners or prospective landowners;
- Ability to regularly attend meetings and provide prompt, meaningful feedback;
- Location and size of prospective CAC member's property owned within Travis County. TPWD requirements state that the CAC must include a minimum of four landowners of undeveloped or agricultural land within the planning area (i.e., the whole of Travis County), representing at least 33% of the CAC.
- Presence of listed or at-risk species habitat on the prospective CAC member's property; and/or
- Understanding of endangered species and related conservation issues.
The BCCP Team is seeking individuals who reside in Travis County with relevant landowner, conservation, biological, ecological, scientific, community, or other stakeholder experience who are interested in incidental take coverage under the Endangered Species Act and/or contributing to the long-term conservation of Central Texas natural resources.
Interested Travis County residents are encouraged to submit an application providing their property ID number and describing their relevant experience and interest in serving on the CAC.
If you are interested in serving on the BCCP Citizen Advisory Committee, please submit your information below.
Note: Meetings of the Citizen Advisory Committee and Biological Advisory Team are subject to the Texas Open Meetings Act and the Texas Public Information Act.