The State of the Toad

When BT&C went to the Lost Pines Habitat Conservation Plan (LPHCP) for an update on the Houston toads, we thought we'd get some statistics on our local toad population Are their numbers up since the toads became protected in 1970? At that time there were only a couple hundred identified In 2019, the Austin Statesman quoted that there were about 3000 Houston toads according to Texas State University's Dr Michael Forstner The professor reportedly was spending about 200 days per year in the field surveying Houston toads LPHCP administrator Cari Croft lives in Tahitian Village on two acres in the plan area She knows full well that some Bastropians don't give a flip about toads Tracking the Houston Toad's ebb and flow in numbers is no easy task and the drought in 2022 took a toll

Even if toad numbers are down, she's encouraged by other statistics regarding the LPHCP efforts 11,700 acres have been enrolled in the program to date, with over 420 landowners benefitting from their participation Croft says participants range from owners who are just interested in a tax exemption, to Master Naturalists who are passionate about keeping Bastrop natural An important benefit to landowners is that they can go to our local LPHCP office rather than to the Federal Fish and Wildlife department when proposing development that would impact the toad And the LPHCP is a pathway to getting a wildlife exemption on as little as three acres, without it having been first under agricultural exemption There are fees involved which could range up to $2000 but the financial benefits are substantial when you consider the tax exemption and possible grants for enriching toad habitat LPHCP also works with businesses The Woody's gas station at the corner of McAllister Road and State Highway 71 was recently developed in the LPHC plan area They're open for business and have provided a nice buffer of toad-friendly habitat around their perimeter While not everyone is a toad enthusiast, protecting the toad habitat aligns nicely with protecting a lifestyle that most of us treasure here in Bastrop County

Croft says, "Think of the toad as the canary in the mine shaft " As the toad goes, so goes our natural beauty and outdoor lifestyle Besides encouraging habitat enhancement LPHCP has funded the expansion of Bastrop State Park - a nice perk for all of us

Bastrop Downtown Food Truck Park at 710 Chestnut is open. We've got a new place to lunch or snack or pick up dinner when in the historic downtown area So far Yolked is there and can be reached at YolkedFoodTruck com Also onsite is International Grub See their menu at InternatioinGrubFoodTruck com

Didyouknow?

BastropStateParkANDBuescherStateParklakeswhichhavebeen closedforreconstructionarescheduledtoreopenthissummer RadiantMamaJuiceisnowlocatedintheBastropFitnessProjectat 303MartinLutherKingDrBastrop

TheownersofKCOutfittershaveopenedSage&Coat913Mainin BastropwithalargerselectionofMissesandJuniorfashionincluding BucketListbrandwhichismadeintheUSA

LaurieBeckhasopenedMainStreetGalleryat200MainStin SmithvilleSeetheBT&Ccalendaronpage16forupcomingopenings

FriendsoftheLand&theSolarFarm

Amajorblowwasdealtbycitizenswhoralliedagainsta3000acre solarfarm,convincingElginISD schoolboardmemberstovote unanimouslyagainstgrantingthesolardevelopersalucrativetax incentive BT&CaskedCariCroftwithLPHCPtocommentonthe projectonthewestsideofthecountywhichwouldhaveclearcut

Texas Coffee Works has been selling coffee by the cup and by the pound , along with pastries baked in house for about a year now. Soon they will be moving their wholesale roasting operation from Austin torighthereat962Hwy71.

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