4-1-1 on US 281 EIS - The Karst and Bird Surveys are Underway!

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Disclaimer

Comments made on these sites (Twitter, Facebook, Socializer, blogs), herein called "social media sites" will not be included or evaluated as part of the ongoing Environmental Impact Statement decision-making process. Opinions expressed on these social media sites and any corresponding comments are the personal opinions of the original authors and do not represent the official opinion of the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority, board members, staff or consultants working on this project. All official documents addressing the Environmental Impact Statement may be accessed through the principle website established for the US 281 EIS itself.

These social media sites are available for and intended to encourage public dialogue about the project and are, as such, provided for outreach and informational purposes only.

To provide official comments for inclusion into the project record for the Environmental Impact Statement click here.

You may also submit your comments through the following methods:

Attend US 281 Public Meetings
Email the US 281 at US281EIS@AlamoRMA.org
Fax comments to
(210) 495-5403
Mail comments to:
Alamo RMA
1222 N Main Ave
Ste 1000
SATX 78212

The Karst and Bird Surveys are Underway!

You may have seen people walking around along US 281 in bright green vests or received a letter requesting permission for right-of-entry in the mail. We have started the biological surveys for the EIS, specifically the karst surveys and the bird surveys. The karst surveys involve experienced technicians and biologists looking for karst features. Karst is a word used to describe an area where water has dissolved part of the limestone bedrock, creating pathways in the rock (fissures, cracks, sinkholes, caves, etc.). These pathways connect the ground surface to the aquifer that San Antonio relies upon for its water supply. As a result, the water that flows through these pathways can contain contaminants that are not filtered out before reaching the aquifer.

Later this year you may see technicians and biologists digging away and crawling into these features. They are trying to determine the sensitivity of these features by looking for endangered species called karst invertebrates. Invertebrates are animals without internal skeletons or backbones similar to beetles or grasshoppers. Although, they are small and seldom seen, spending most of their lives underground, these invertebrates are biologically and ecologically unique.

The bird survey involves experienced biologists looking for and listening for the golden-cheeked warbler. This bird nests only in central Texas in mixed Ash-juniper and oak woodlands, ravines and canyons. They spend the winter in Mexico and Central America then come to Texas in March to nest and raise their young. The golden-cheeked warbler is the only species that nests exclusively in Texas. This species was listed as endangered in 1990 as a result of long-term habitat loss, as mature woodlands have been cleared for development or to grow crops or hay.

It is important to know if any of these endangered species would be affected by the improvements being considered for US 281. The results of these biological surveys will help us avoid threats to endangered species and ensure our drinking water remains safe and clean.

To learn more about the US 281 Environmental Impact Statement please visit our website at www.411on281.com/US281EIS and/or join us for Public Meeting #3 on April 29, 2010 at Summit Christian Center, 2575 Marshall Road, San Antonio, Texas 78259. While you're there, please let us know what you think about the karst and bird surveys and/or the US 281 EIS process.