I agree we should let Jim weigh in on the bat biology issues... or the impact the people could have on the bats.
But there are many other issues: 1. As George mentioned the subdivision is on the Edwards aquifer recharge zone. Much of the runoff will wind up in the Cibolo creek, which is a major sinking stream recharge location. Any contaminants will be quickly sent into the aquifer. 2. There is critical endangered bird habitat all over the property. Recent Bird Surveys have verified many locations where the birds are using the property. This property is also near a large military training facility whose mission is being limited due to their impact on the same endangered birds. It's not OK for the military to "bother" the birds with their training exercises but it is OK for a developer to mow down 1500 acres of critical habitat so they can build roads and houses. 3. Much of this subdivision will be high density middle income style housing which will appeal to lots of family with children and pets. Backyard interaction between the occasional downed bat and the children and pets won't be good. 4. The current flight path is directly over this property. Hawks, owls, and other predatory birds regularly hunt this area which could create numerous wounded and downed bats. 5. At any given time there will be 1000 or more middle and high school age children living in the area. Some of them will get curious and sneak over/under the fence to go check out the Bat Cave, or some of the other caves on the 700 acre BCI property. This poses a big liability risk for BCI, as well as an injury risk for the kids. 6. The lights from the subdivision will actually attract insects, which will in turn attract the bats, adding to the children & bat interactions. We all know bats are friendly, beneficial creatures, and they generally won't bother people. But we also know they do occasionally contract rabies, and in a population as large as Bracken Cave even million to one odds can occur frequently. In fact with 10 million bats coming and going each day for 5-6 months of the year that's possibly 3 Billion bat crossings over the subdivision each year. I personally think that would be cool. But not if I had 10000 neighbors. Kurt From: George Veni [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 2:31 PM To: [email protected]; Texas Cavers; New Mexico Cavers Subject: RE: [Texascavers] News report on threat to Bracken Bat Cave Mark, That's a good and fair question. It also ties more into biology so I'll defer to Jim Kennedy to answer more authoritatively than I can as a hydrogeologist. However, in the comments I sent to the San Antonio City Council I pointed out that the high-density development is also over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. Such developments have been demonstrated to diminish the volume of water replenishing the region's primary water supply as well as having a much greater risk of degrading the quality of the water. While bats are getting the emphasis, this type of development is also bad for people who rely on the Edwards. George ******************** George Veni, Ph.D. Executive Director National Cave and Karst Research Institute 400-1 Cascades Avenue Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220-6215 USA Office: 575-887-5517 Mobile: 210-863-5919 Fax: 575-887-5523 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> www.nckri.org<http://www.nckri.org> From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 1:15 PM To: George Veni; Texas Cavers; New Mexico Cavers Subject: RE: [Texascavers] News report on threat to Bracken Bat Cave Thanks for the interesting post, George. I do have one question, though, and I am NOT picking sides here: What's the difference between houses "800 to 900" yards away from the Bracken Cave entrance and bats living under the Congress Street Bridge in Austin, smack dab in the middle of downtown Austin? The Austin colony seems to be functioning fine and thriving, may I say, growing? And the buildings (read "high rises") are much closer than 800 to 900 yards. Just playing dumb here, so please don't advocate having me drawn and quartered and left in a pile of guano! Inquiring minds just want to know. Your thoughts? (I'm ducking under a table now) Mark Alman (not Minton) :) From: George Veni [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 12:09 PM To: Texas Cavers; New Mexico Cavers Subject: [Texascavers] News report on threat to Bracken Bat Cave http://www.kens5.com/news/Bracken-Bat-Cave-vs-Crescent-Hills--208381441.html For more information and to learn how to help, go to http://www.batcon.org/index.php/media-and-info/latest-news/714-save-bracken-cave-reserve.html?utm_campaign=education&utm_source=external&utm_medium=redirect. San Antonio City Council will meet to discuss and decide on this issue in one week. Sign the on-line petition but if you have time, remember that your letters and e-mails will have much greater impact, especially if received before the meeting on the 29th so the mayor, councilors, and their staff have time to read or at least review them. If you live in the San Antonio, your physical presence at the council meeting is also important. Please share this message with anyone you think may be interested. George ******************** George Veni, Ph.D. Executive Director National Cave and Karst Research Institute 400-1 Cascades Avenue Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220-6215 USA Office: 575-887-5517 Mobile: 210-863-5919 Fax: 575-887-5523 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> www.nckri.org<http://www.nckri.org>
