Williamson County Regional
Habitat Conservation Plan
Leave No Trace for Twin Springs
Preserve
(and other Williamson County Preserve Areas)
A Site Specific Adaptation of
Leave No Trace Principles
Leave No Trace
Outdoor Skills & Ethics
Frontcountry Program
Adapted for Twin Springs Preserve
Presentation Objectives
 Provide an overview of the Leave No Trace
program.
 Illustrate differences between the formal LNT
program and the site specific LNT plan for
Twin Springs Preserve
Presentation Objectives (con’t)
 Describe the non-profit Leave No Trace Center for
Outdoor Ethics
 Describe the mission of the Leave No Trace educational
program and the Center for Outdoor Ethics
 Provide for an LNT based permit for access to Twin
Springs Preserve (and other Williamson County
Preserve Areas)
Leave No Trace
Center for Outdoor Ethics
 A non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and
inspire responsible outdoor recreation through education,
research and partnerships.
 Partners with federal agencies, manufacturers, retailers
and others to promote minimum impact messages.
U.S. Forest
Service
National Park
Service
Bureau of
Land Management
U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service
Leave No Trace
Center for Outdoor Ethics
 The Leave No Trace Center for
Outdoor Ethics is based in Boulder,
Colorado.
 LNT staff develop and distribute
educational materials, promote LNT
initiatives with federal agencies and
cooperating organizations, and
conduct fundraising.
 For more information:
1-800-332-4100 or www.LNT.org
Leave No Trace
Mission Statement
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an
educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the
responsible enjoyment and active stewardship of the
outdoors by all people, worldwide.
The Williamson
County Conservation
Foundation is a
Leave No Trace
Partner.
So, Why Does Williamson County
Care about Preserves and LNT?
. . . A Short Story about Williamson County and the
Endangered Species Act . . .
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT PROVISIONS
Section 9 prohibits “take” of listed wildlife species
Section 10(a) permits authorize “take” for non-federal actions
10(a) Permit Process
•Preparation of habitat conservation plan (HCP)
•National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
•Citizen Advisory Committee
•Biological Advisory Team
•Public comment
Required elements of an HCP
•Identification of impacts
•Steps applicant will take to minimize and mitigate the impacts
•Funding sources
•Biological goals and objectives
•Monitoring
•Adaptive management
So How Does the Endangered Species Act Affect
Williamson County?
REGIONAL HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS
A Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is a mandatory component of
an incidental take permit application. Required elements include a
discussion of impacts, steps to minimize and mitigate impacts,
funding sources, biological goals and objectives, compliance
monitoring, and adaptive management.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY RHCP
Williamson County holds the Section 10(a) incidental take permit,
and the Williamson County Conservation Foundation, Inc.
administers the RHCP. The plan covers a 30-year period from
2008 to 2038. Participation in the RHCP is completely voluntary.
How does the Williamson County Regional Habitat Conservation Plan
Benefit the Stakeholders of the County?
By:
 Significantly reducing participant’s time and expense for ESA compliance
compared to individual permits
 Coordinating and accelerating endangered species conservation efforts in the
County
 Precluding future listing of additional species
 Providing for and preserving some of the natural character of Williamson County
 Providing additional recreational and natural assets to be enjoyed
Examples of projects that have benefited from the
RHCP include:
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State Highway 45
Ronald Reagan Boulevard and State Highway 195
O'Connor Road
City of Round Rock road projects
Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District
County Road 175 and Pond Springs Road
U.S. 183-A
Leander Independent School District
Round Rock ISD
City of Georgetown road projects
SPECIES INCLUDED IN THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY
REGIONAL HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN
Two federally endangered karst invertebrates
• Coffin Cave mold beetle (Batrisodes texanus)
• Bone Cave harvestman (Texella reyesi)
Two federally endangered birds
• Golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia)
• Black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla)
One candidate for federal listing
• Georgetown salamander (Eurycea naufragia)
Nineteen additional rare karst invertebrates and two additional
rare salamanders
Twin Springs Preserve is unique! Two endangered
species are found here as well as the threatened
Georgetown Salamander.
Coffin Cave mold beetle
Photo by Kemble White
Bone Cave harvestman
Photo by William R. Elliott
Golden Cheeked Warbler
Photo by Steve Maslowski
Georgetown Salamander
Photo by Justyn Miller
Why a LNT Program for Twin
Springs?
• Twin Springs is a key part of Williamson County’s
Regional Habitat Conservation Plan.
•Under an agreement on an educational and permitting
program with the US Fish & Wildlife Service Williamson
County is able to offer public access to its preserve areas.
The LNT Message
LNT practices are science-based:
Recreation ecology research tells us about
recreation impacts and how they can be
reduced by managers and visitors.
Social science research tells us about visitor
attitudes, behaviors, and social norms.
Leave No Trace Core Values
 Education is the best means to protect natural lands from recreational
impacts while helping maintain access for recreation and enjoyment;
 LNT is founded on outdoor ethics whereby a sense of stewardship is
gained through understanding and connecting with the natural world;
Practicing the Leave No Trace principles is the most relevant and
effective long-term solution to maintaining the beauty, health of, and
access to natural lands;
 LNT is science-based and builds ethical, pragmatic approaches to
resource protection for varying types of outdoor recreation and
enjoyment.
The Seven LNT Principles
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Twin Springs Site Specific LNT
< Subtle , but important differences from the Seven
LNT Principles
< The Seven LNT principles can be applied anywhere
< Twin Springs Site Specific Principles have
additional restrictions.
< The Center for Outdoor Ethics has reviewed the
Twin Springs Principles; provides for use of the
LNT logo and symbols.
What is Backcountry?
Backcountry is defined as outdoor areas that are
generally not accessible by vehicle and mostly visited
by overnight users.
What is Frontcountry?
Frontcountry is defined as outdoor areas that are easily
accessible and mostly visited by day users.
Twin Springs is a frontcountry day use area although it has
aspects of backcounty and is bordered by a semi-primitive area,
the Goodwater Trail around Lake Georgetown.
Twin Springs and the Goodwater Trail
Why do we need a Frontcountry
Program?
 The vast majority (over 85%) of recreation occurs
near urban centers – day hiking, biking, bird
watching, dog walking, jogging, bouldering,
picnicking, overnight camping in developed camping
areas, water sports, fishing, etc.
 We need an effective educational program to reach
this large population with the Leave No Trace
message
Why do we need a Frontcountry
Program?
 There are specific recreation impacts unique to
frontcountry areas that need to be effectively targeted
– user crowding and conflict, pet management issues,
graffiti and vandalism, pet waste, private property
trespass, off-trail hiking, etc.
 Although the seven principles are universal, there are
instances where the use of modified language may
be necessary to effectively reach frontcountry
recreationists – for example, Twin Springs.
The Seven LNT Principles
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
The Seven LNT Principles for
Twin Springs (site specific)
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare 
2. Travel ___ ____ on _______ ______ Trails
3. Dispose of Waste Properly 
4. Leave What You Find 
5. _________ NO Campfires _______
6. Respect Wildlife - No Pets
(except for service animals).
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors 
The Seven LNT Principles
changes for Twin Springs
1. Same
2. No camping in Twin Springs; trails only
3. Same
4. Same
5. No fires are allowed (including
camp stoves)
6. No Pets, except for service animals.
7. Same
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
 Schedule your trip to avoid times of highest use.
 The potential for social impacts (e.g., crowding and conflict)
is far greater during peak use periods.
 Schedule your trip to avoid times when resources are
vulnerable.
 Vegetation and soils are far more susceptible to
degradation during wet periods.
 Wildlife are more sensitive to disturbance during mating,
nesting/birthing, and winter seasons. (Note: The Golden
Cheeked Warbler nesting season is March 1 through August 31.)
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
 Schedule your trip to avoid times
when resources are vulnerable.
 Vegetation and soils are far
more susceptible to degradation
during wet periods.
 Wildlife are more sensitive to
disturbance during mating,
nesting/birthing, and winter
seasons.
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
 Schedule your trip to avoid times of highest use.
 New campsites are most frequently created on peak
use weekends. More than a few nights camping
each year prevents their recovery and results in a
large inventory of campsites that aren’t really
needed.
 The potential for social impacts (e.g., crowding and
conflict) is far greater during peak use periods.
The Seven LNT Principles for
Twin Springs
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on
Durable Surfaces
 Durable surfaces include established trails and
campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
 Concentrate use in popular areas, disperse use in
pristine areas.
 Protect riparian areas by
camping at least 200 feet
from water.
Durable Surfaces:
Rock/gravel
Sand
Grass
Previously Disturbed Surfaces
2. Travel and Camp on
Durable Surfaces
In popular areas:
 Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
 Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when
wet or muddy.
 Keep campsites small. Focus activities in areas where
vegetation is absent.
In pristine areas:
 Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and
trails.
 Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.
Resistance and Resilience:
Forbs
1000 passes
0 passes
1 mo. later
Forest forbs generally
have low resistance
and resilience.
250 passes
Resistance and Resilience: Grasses
1000 passes
0 passes
1 mo. later
Grasses generally
have high resistance
and resilience.
250 passes
Impact
Temporal Trends:
A Campsite Life-History
1 yr.
Time
Impacts occur quickly; recovery can require up to 30 years.
Implication: rest-rotation schemes will be ineffective.
Respect Private Property
 Respect “no trespassing”
signs. If property
boundaries are unclear, do
not disturb the area. Treat
another’s property as you
would treat you own.
About Mountain Bikes
 Research has shown that
mountain bikes create
significant trail wear and
are detrimental to wildlife.
Significant numbers of
hikers are injured each year
in accidents involving
bikers. Current preserve
rules do not permit bikes
(including motorized).
The Seven LNT Principles for
Twin Springs
2. Travel on Trails
 Traveling on trail leaves room for
wildlife and their homes. Short
cutting trails causes erosion. Be
ready to get muddy and step right
through puddles. Boots dry
overnight; plants take years to
recover.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
 Studies have shown bacteria to be present one year
after cat-hole waste burial. Decomposition is aided
by stirring the waste together with soil and water –
organic soils are not required.
 Desiccation, high temperatures, and UV radiation
are lethal to pathogens but are highly effective only
for smeared surface-deposited waste.
 Soils are effective pathogen filters (only 5 feet)
provided they are not coarse-textured.
[ Based on a paper by Cilimburg and others, 2000 ]
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
 Recommendations: Use toilets, carry out or cat-hole
wastes.
 Surface deposition is problematic: aesthetics, animal
and insect transmission of diseases, surface runoff and
water contamination. Appropriate only in remote
areas that lack adequate soils for burial.
 Burial (6-8”) in fine-textured soil >200 ft from water.
 Temporary group latrines not recommended – would
slow decomposition time.
 Snow and glaciers – carry out is the best option.
Trash Your Trash
 Please take out all trash,
yours and others. Even
“biodegradable” materials
such as orange peels, apple
cores and food scraps can
take years to break down,
and attract scavengers that
harm other wildlife.
The Seven LNT Principles for
Twin Springs
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
•Use provided facilities
•Urinate in the middle of the trail in rocky areas
•Otherwise – pack it out – no catholes or group
latrines
4. Leave What You Find
 Avoid introducing or transporting non-native
species.
 Seeds stuck to boots, hooves, and tents often germinate along
trails and at campsites.
 Most non-native plants are “disturbance-associated” species that
remain in the vicinity of trails and campsites, e.g., dandelions
and plantain. However, a few species are able to out-compete
native vegetation in undisturbed environments.
 Research has also documented the germination of non-native
seeds that have passed through the intestines of pack stock.
4. Leave What You Find
Leave flowers for others to see. Picking them prevents
formation of seeds vital to their reproduction and survival. A
Great Smoky Mtn. NP study documented significantly fewer
orchids along trails in comparison to more distant areas.
Leave It as You Find It
 Picking flowers, collecting
rocks or taking arrowheads
may not seem to be a big
deal, but it means others
won’t have a chance to enjoy
them. With millions of
people visiting Open Space,
the less impact we each
make, the longer we will
enjoy what we have.
The Seven LNT Principles for
Twin Springs
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
 Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the
backcountry. Research shows that campfire-related
impacts are both socially and ecologically significant.
 Campfire sites remind others that the area is not
pristine, large mounds of charcoal with trash are an
eyesore, firewood depletion can leave a human
“browse line” and tree damage and stumps
represent acts of depreciative behavior
 Fire wood depletion diminishes nutrient cycling and
soil macro fauna; campfires produce long-term
changes in soil physical and chemical properties
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
Problem:
 Proliferation and migration of campfire sites.
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
Solution:
 Use a lightweight stove for cooking and a candle lantern for
light.
 Only build a campfire when permissible, in areas with an
adequate wood supply, and if an existing fire site is present.
LNT “virtual” campfire!
The Seven LNT Principles for
Twin Springs
5. No Fires.
Period.
6. Respect Wildlife
 Observe wildlife from a distance. You are too close if
your presence or actions elicit a response from wildlife.
 Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
 Never feed animals. Protect wildlife and your food by
storing rations and trash securely.
6. Respect Wildlife
Displacement – animals are forced away from preferred habitats
e.g., food/water sources or cover, either during certain times
(temporal displacement) or in certain places (spatial
displacement).
 New habitats are
unfamiliar, often have
lower quality food and
cover, or increased
competition and
predation.
Keep Wildlife Wild
 Natural areas are home to
wildlife. As a visitor, you
should respect wildlife by
observing them from a
distance and not feeding
them.
Manage Your Dog
 Keeping your dog in control
keeps people, dogs, livestock
and wildlife safe. Others may
not appreciate your dogs
company, therefore ask before
allowing your dog to approach
them. Keep your dog nearby
and under control. Carry and
use a leash as required. OR
LEAVE THEM AT HOME.
Boulder, CO park – Dog waste
sites
The Seven LNT Principles for
Twin Springs
5. Respect Wildlife – NO Pets
except for service animals
7. Be Considerate of
Other Visitors
 Respect other visitors and protect the quality of
their experience.
 Crowding and conflict can be avoided or
minimized by traveling and camping in small
groups, taking breaks and camping away from
the trail and other visitors, by exercising
considerate behavior, and by maintaining the
natural quiet.
Worth Repeating - Respect Private
Property
 Respect “no trespassing”
signs. If property
boundaries are unclear, do
not disturb the area. Treat
another’s property as you
would treat you own.
Share Our Trails
 We all enjoy Open Space
in different ways. Pay
attention, expect to
encounter others and be
courteous. Yield to all.
Ecological Research on
Group Size
 Large groups can cause excessive impact at higher use
levels if they cannot locate a sufficiently large site – in this
instance they should split up and camp separately.
 Large groups with horses have more potential to cause
greater impact than hikers so limits should include horses
or be lower for horse groups.
 Large groups can reduce their impact by: 1) breaking
into smaller groups to hike and camp, 2) confining their
activities to already impacted areas away from other
groups, 3) meeting infrequently as a large group and only
on durable surfaces, and 4) practicing quiet and
courteous behavior.
The Seven LNT Principles for
Twin Springs
7. Be Considerate of Other
Visitors
The Seven LNT Principles for
Twin Springs (site specific)
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare 
2. Travel on Trails
3. Dispose of Waste Properly 
4. Leave What You Find 
5. NO Campfires
6. Respect Wildlife - No Pets
(except for service animals).
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors 
Special Note about Cultural Objects
at Twin Springs
Historic, archaeological and fossil sites are special places that
tell the story of our past. These fragile, irreplaceable heritage
resources may not be readily visible so be aware and practice
Leave No Trace principles.
Outdoor Ethics for Heritage Sites –
LNT Adaptations
•Climbing, sitting or walking on walls and other constructed features
weakens them. Walls that are stressed may suddenly collapse.
•Avoid walking on artifacts and middens.
•Artifacts and fossils left where they are help tell the story of the past.
Rearranging them limits their scientific value and the experience of
future visitors.
•Educate others never to dig at sites or collect artifacts.
•There are severe federal and state penalties for disturbing or destroying
historic and archaeological sites – Texas Antiquities Code.
Twin Springs LNT Access Passes
Hang Tags
Hang tag for
each
individual –
must be
current and
visibly
displayed
The Twin Springs Access Permit
•
•
Twin Springs Access hang tags issued to individuals after taking Twin
Springs LNT training. Children over 8 should have training. Children
under 12 to be accompanied while on the Twin Springs Preserve.
 Issued annually –
Failure to display & have current hang tag – warning and request to
leave; citations and fines for subsequent offenses
The Seven LNT Principles for
Twin Springs (review)
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare 
2. Travel onTrails
3. Dispose of Waste Properly 
4. Leave What You Find 
5. NO Campfires (No fires. Period.)
6. Respect Wildlife - No Pets
(except for service animals).
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors 
A portion of this slide set was developed for the national Leave
No Trace program. Copies may be obtained from the Leave
No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.
Developed by Jeff Marion, Ph.D.
Leader, Cooperative Park Studies
Unit, Virginia Tech,
Blacksburg, VA
540-231-6603, jmarion@vt.edu
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Gary Boyd
Environmental Program Manager
Williamson County Conservation Foundation
512/260-4226
www.wilcogov.org/wccf
gboyd@wilco.org