October 18 View on HAS web site. Take Action to Protect Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary Bolivar Holdings, LLC proposes to build a 37.95 acre 150+ unit development on land surrounded by the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary. A permit application has been submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers outlining the wetland impacts of the development and proposed mitigation. Please consider writing a letter to the Corps of Engineers stating your concerns about the impact of the development on the sanctuary. Below you will find a list of concerns about the permit application and development. To access the Corps of Engineers permit application for the proposed development project SWG-2007-321, go to this link. Comment Letters are due on November 5, 2007. Letters should be sent to: Jayson Hudson Regulatory Branch, CESWG-PE-RB U.S. Army Corp of Engineers P.O. Box 1229 Galveston, Texas 77553-1229 In your correspondence with the Corps, please request that a public meeting be held. Bolivar Flats with the proposed development Bolivar Flats without the development List of On-site Wetland Concerns: Project would violate Section 404 (b)(1) Guidelines for the Clean Water Act as it is not a "water dependent" development. Storm water runoff from the proposed development will flow into sanctuary wetlands. This runoff may contain herbicides, automobile petroleum products, insecticides, fertilizers and pet waste leading to contamination of sanctuary wetlands and decreasing wetland productivity. Buildings, paving of streets and sidewalks will increase the amount and speed of storm water draining into sanctuary wetlands. The 6.02 acres of wetlands to be filled on site are part of the dune/swale complex which provides a clean freshwater supply for wildlife. The availability of clean freshwater in coastal systems is extremely difficult to replace. There is great potential that invasive exotics could be introduced into the construction site and then escape into the adjacent wildlife sanctuary. Placing the infrastructure along Rettilon Road will impact wetlands adjacent to road. These shallow wetlands are important wildlife habitat. Use of mosquito control chemicals in development would damage sanctuary wetland productivity eliminating food for birds. Secondary Impacts of Development: Endangered Species The Sanctuary beach has been designated as critical habitat for endangered over wintering Piping Plovers. Increased traffic on the beach (golf carts, dogs, and people) will result in increased disturbance of Piping Plovers and the thousands of other birds that use the beach. Endangered Kemp's Ridley Turtles have nested on the Bolivar Peninsula. Increased beach traffic and development lighting have the potential to negatively impact turtle nesting. Sanctuary and Wildlife Rettilon Rd is bordered by wetlands and regularly floods during extreme high tides and storm events. Development residents will find this inconvenient and ask that the road be elevated. Road construction will negatively impact adjacent wetlands. Wetlands wildlife frequently crosses Rettilon Rd. Heavy traffic will cause additional road kills. Off-site Mitigation Mitigation plan is inadequate as it only addresses eradicating two "noxious" plant species Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) and rattlepod (Sesbania drumondii). The plan should include removal of all invasive exotic species found on the site. Refer to: A Guide to Invasive Plants of the Galveston Bay Area For additional information, please contact Winnie Burkett, HAS Sanctuary Manager. Overview of Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary Houston Audubon Society's 1146 acre, Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary is an exceptionally productive complex of mud flats, salt marsh, uplands and gulf-front beach. This ideal combination of habitats provides resting, feeding and/or breeding sites for hundreds of thousands of birds each year. Bolivar Flats' special importance to 25 species of shorebirds prompted its designations as an "Important Bird Area" by the American Bird Conservancy and the National Audubon Society and a "Site of International Importance" by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. Of particular significance are the large numbers of endangered Piping Plovers and threatened Snowy Plovers which use this area as a migratory stop-over and wintering location. This area is also heavily used as a feeding area by thousands of wading birds including Reddish Egrets and Roseate Spoonbills. Large numbers of Brown Pelicans roost on the mud flats and feed in the adjacent waters. Nelson's Sharp tailed Sparrow and Seaside Sparrows, both on the Partners in Flight Watch List because of their restricted ranges, can be found in the sanctuary. The sanctuary uplands are made up of coastal prairie interspersed with many seasonal freshwater ponds. These areas provide good-quality habitat for grassland birds and nesting habitat for Mottled Ducks a National Audubon Watch List species. In addition to the value of this area as bird habitat, there is a significant contribution to the local economy by the thousands of bird watchers from all over the world who visit the area each year. Bolivar Flats' productive marshes also provide food for large numbers of fish and other sea life which provide recreational opportunities for fisherman who catch redfish, speckled trout and flounder and for families who come to catch blue crabs and enjoy the beach.

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