Besides the 30,428-acre Balcones plan, a separate national wildlife refuge is being acquired by the Interior Department in northwest Travis County . As part of its approval of the Balcones plan, the Interior Department has agreed to expand by 5,000 acres, to 46,000 acres, the eventual size of the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. All told, more than 76,000 acres are to be set aside for endangered wildlife in the Austin area. Not everyone speaks glowingly of the Balcones plan. Landowners whose property would be acquired for the preserve system say their rights are being violated.
Some environmentalists say the plan sacrifices too much habitat.
And even the plan's staunchest supporters acknowledge that the financial underpinnings are uncertain and the acquisition schedule up to 20 years too long. Still, the plan enjoys broad support among environmental and business groups and represents a surprising consensus on an important issue in a city that thrives on debate. For environmentalists , the Balcones plan offers the best hope for securing large, interconnected blocks of crucial species habitat. From the business point of view , it provides a simplified process for developing in some habitat areas. Up to now, developers have had to prepare smaller-scale conservation plans, often requiring the dedication of preserve lands to compensate, or mitigate, for the loss of species habitat.