Land For Critters May Cost Plenty

By Christopher Anderson
San Antonio Express-News

Web Posted : 11/29/2002 12:00 AM

How much does it cost to save nine blind cave creatures from extinction?

As much as $22.1 million over the next 10 years, according to a new federal report that examines the economics of protecting the endangered invertebrates that live exclusively in Bexar County caves.

After listing the three beetles, five spiders and one harvestman as endangered two years ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to designate 9,516 acres as critical habitat for the unusual species, which have been likened to creatures from a Tim Burton movie.

About half the land is state or federally owned. The rest belongs to private landowners.

Scientists say the cave creatures are an "indicator species" for the health of the Edwards Aquifer — the primary source of drinking water for 1.3 million people in the region. Trouble for the creatures could spell trouble for the aquifer.

The federal agency can halt or limit development of land that could harm endangered species. In some cases, it will allow some creatures to be destroyed by development if other lands containing the same species have been set aside.

Kyle Cunningham, one of the environmentalists who petitioned more than 10 years ago for the species to be listed as endangered, said she fears for the same creatures who live outside the designated critical habitat. That area includes 25 plots of land encompassing 57 caves known to contain one or more of the species.

"No matter where these species are, they ought to be protected," Cunningham said. "If we don't, we're not protecting our water supply."

The new economic analysis states that it expects most of the $22.1 million cost to fall on private landowners who would need to purchase and preserve additional land in exchange for permission to develop particular properties.

Gene Dawson Jr., president of Pape Dawson Engineering, which represents at least one property owner in most of the designated areas, said he thought the cost would be much higher than $22.1 million.

Dawson said he believes the government underestimated the number of landowners who will require consultants to obtain the needed federal permits to develop their property.

Although owners of large tracts of land containing the species could satisfy the service by setting aside part of their property without excessive financial sacrifice, owners of small plots could be thwarted from developing their land, Dawson said.

He said he and his clients have in many instances asked the government not to designate all or part of their properties as critical habitat.

"We're not necessarily saying they are not appropriate, but we question certain boundaries," he said.

The service is accepting public comment on its proposed designation of critical habitat until Dec. 23. It expects to make a decision on all properties included in its proposal in March.