In addition to the regional Section 10(a) permit, the City of Austin's authority and directive to manage the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP) include access and permitted activities, is derived from the following:

• The language of the 1992 bond ballot (see paragraph below) by which voters approved the purchase of land to become an endangered species preserve

• The Habitat Conservation Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement accompanying the 10(a) permit application

• The publicly approved Land Management Plans for the BCP

• Additional guidelines are provided by the BCCP Scientific Advisory Committee Recommendations Regarding Recreational Use of BCCP non-Grandfathered Preserves, November 1998.

Click here to view a policy statement approved on November 28, 2007

When the City began evaluating and purchasing lands for the BCP, it was recognized that portions of some of the City's parks contained habitat for the species protected under the BCCP. These areas of habitat were dedicated to the BCP, but are "grandfathered" meaning they retain some of their earlier rules for recreational access. These unique components of the BCP system have their management shared between the BCP program within the Austin Water Utility and the City's Parks and Recreation Department and are referred to as "dual-management lands". In these areas, unguided access is often allowed though visitors are asked to take special care to minimize noise and disturbance at specific times of year and are required to stay on the trails provided so new impacts to habitat are not created.

Ballot Language for Proposition No. 10 on the August 1992 Bond Election Ballot:
"Shall the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas, the authorized to issue and sell general obligation bonds of said city in the aggregate principal amount of $22,000,000, for the public purpose of paying costs incurred and to be incurred in the acquisition and improvement of land to protect water quality, conserve endangered species, including, but not limited to, the Tooth Cave Ground Beetle, the Tooth Cave Spider, the Kretschmarr Cave Mold Beetle, the Tooth Cave Pseudoscorpion, the Bee Creek Cave Harvestman, the Black-capped Vireo, and the Golden-cheeked Warbler, and providing open space for passive public use and other costs of implementing the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan when approved by the participating governmental entities; with said bonds to be issued in one or more series or issues, to mature serially or otherwise and bear interest at such rate or rates, not to exceed the respective limits prescribe by law at the time or issuance, and to be sold at such price or prices, as the City Council in its discretion shall determine; and shall there be levied and pledged, assessed and collected annually ad valorem taxes on all taxable property in said city in an amount sufficient to pay the annual interest on said bonds and provide a sinking fund to pay said bonds at maturity?"

Excerpt from the Habitat Conservation Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, March 1996
Page 2-31, e. Land Management Plans and Guidelines
"The BCCP preserve system is to be managed to permanently conserve and facilitate the recovery of the populations of target endangered species inhabiting western Travis County. This priority objective will govern preserve management activities to improve target species habitat, while protecting preserves against degradation caused by urbanization of surrounding lands and increased public demand for recreation usage within preserves.