Natural Resources Toolkit

Transportation projects must comply with federal regulations governing the method and requirements for protecting and managing many natural resources. TxDOT designed tools for environmental practitioners to use to meet these compliance obligations for the following laws and resources.

Questions? Contact the Natural Resources staff at (512) 416-2661.

You may download the software (Tools and Plug-ins) needed to access forms or view frequently asked questions (Online Forms FAQs).

Coastal Barrier Resources Act
Farmland Protection Policy Act
State and Federal Protected Species
Water Resources

Coastal Barrier Resources Act

Title	Date	Description	Format
Environmental Handbook for Coastal Barrier Resources Act	07/18	Provides a regulatory background and outlines the steps to document compliance with the CBRA
John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System: Texas		Provides the official CBRS map of Texas, depicting specific units of land and associated aquatic habitats that serve as barriers protecting the Gulf Coast
Coastal Barrier Resources System Mapper - Beta		An interactive, unofficial mapping tool to help determine if proposed project sites are within the CBRS and displays boundaries representative of the official maps but not considered authoritative
16 USC 3505: Exceptions to Limitations on Expenditures		Lists the requirements for the two types of CBRA exceptions applicable to transportation projects

Farmland Protection Policy Act

Title	Date	Description	Format
Environmental Handbook for Farmland Protection Policy Act	06/21	Outlines the regulatory background and documentation requirements necessary to prepare project-specific, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation compliant with the FPPA
U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmland Conversion Impact Rating (AD-1006)		Used to record and communicate project specific data for non‑corridor projects that impact potentially protected farmland
Farmland Conversion Impact Rating for Corridor Type Projects (NRCS-CPA-106)		Used to record and communicate project specific data for corridor type projects that impact potentially protected farmland
7 CFR 657: Prime and Unique Farmlands		Codifies, in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the NRCS regulations for determining the best land for producing food, feed, fiber forage and oilseed crop, and identifying prime and unique farmlands
7 CFR 658: Farmland Protection Policy Act		Requires federal agencies to use the criteria to identify and take into account the adverse effects of their programs on the preservation of farmland; consider alternative actions, as appropriate, to lessen adverse effects; and ensure that programs, to the extent practicable, are compatible with state and units of local government and private programs and policies to protect farmland
Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey		Provides an interactive mapping tool with soil data and information and provides access to the largest natural resource information system in the world
Soil Survey Manual		Provides the major principles and practices for making and using soil surveys and for assembling and using related data; primarily for use by soil scientists who classify and map soils and interpret soil surveys
Part 523 – Farmland Protection Policy Act Manual, Subpart A – General Information		Guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) FPPA Manual
National Soil Survey Handbook		Provides operational and procedural guidance for conducting the NRCS portion of the National Cooperative Soil Survey program

State and Federal Protected Species

Title	Date	Description	Format
Instructions: Preparing a Species Analysis Spreadsheet	09/21	Detailed instructions on how to complete the TxDOT species analysis spreadsheet
Species Analysis Spreadsheet	05/22	Used to complete the "Perform Species Analysis" Activity in ECOS
Form: Species Analysis	09/21	Used to complete the "Perform Species Analysis" Activity in ECOS
Guidance: Conducting Habitat Assessments and Presence/Absence Surveys	09/21	Used to standardize the minimum the minimum level of effort for conducting habitat assessments and presence/absence surveys
Guidance: Addressing the Monarch Butterfly in a TxDOT Species Analysis	04/22	This document provides guidance for addressing effects to the monarch butterfly in a TxDOT species analysis spreadsheet.
Flow Chart: TxDOT Process for Species/Habitat Analysis and Endangered Species Act Consultation	04/22	Outlines the process for completing a species analysis and ensuring compliance with ESA
Guidance: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coordination Under the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding	04/22	Used to standardize implementation of the 2021 MOU with TPWD for the review and coordination of transportation projects codified under Title 43, Texas Administrative Code, Part 1, Chapter 2, Subchapter G, §§2.201-2.207
Beneficial Management Practices: Avoiding, Minimizing, and Mitigating Impacts of Transportation Projects on State Natural Resources	09/21	Provides a list of TPWD best management practices to avoid or minimize potential impacts to natural resources. These practices should be considered for transportation projects per the 2021 TPWD MOU.
Form: Documentation of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Best Management Practices	04/22	Used in conjunction with coordination with TPWD under the 2021 MOU
Flow Chart: Texas Parks and Wildlife Coordination Process Figure	04/22	Outlines the process for coordinating with TPWD and implementing species BMPs
Environmental Handbook: Endangered Species Act	11/20	Provides a regulatory background on compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 and consideration of the protection and management of imperiled species and their ecosystems
Documentation Standard for Biological Assessment or a Biological Evaluation	01/21	Used to prepare a Biological Assessment (BA) for formal consultation or a Biological Evaluation (BE) for informal consultation with the USFWS.
Template for Biological Evaluation (BE) for Informal Consultation with the USFWS or Biological Assessment (BA) for Formal Consultation with the USFWS	01/21	Used in combination with the documentation standards to prepare a Biological Assessment (BA) for formal consultation or a Biological Evaluation (BE) for informal consultation with the USFWS. Required to complete the "Obtain ESA Consultation" Activity in ECOS.
Form: Documentation of Applicability of Programmatic Consultation with USFWS	05/22	Used to document applicability of a programmatic consultation in the "Obtain Endangered Species Act (ESA) Consultation" Activity in ECOS
Guidance: Voluntary Conservation Measures for Karst Invertebrates, Aquifer Invertebrates, and Salamanders for Biological Assessments and Biological Evaluations	05/22	Used in combination with the documentation standards to prepare a Biological Assessment (BA) for formal consultation or a Biological Evaluation (BE) for informal consultation for Karst Invertebrates, Aquifer Invertebrates, and Salamanders with the USFWS.
Guidance: Avoiding Migratory Birds and Handling Potential Violations	10/18	Describes TxDOT’s responsibilities to comply with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act 16 USC §703-711 and Parks and Wildlife Code Title 5, Subtitle B, Chapter 64, Birds
Environmental Handbook: Ecological Resources	10/18	Provides a regulatory background for compliance with federal regulations, except for the Endangered Species Act

Protected Species Agreements with Resource Agencies

Title	Date	Description	Format
Endangered Species Act Programmatic Consultation Agreement for Geotechnical Boreholes, Traffic Signals, and ITS (WAC, AUS, SAT)	04/22	This programmatic consultation addresses project effects to Eurycea salamanders and terrestrial karst invertebrates in WAC, AUS, and SAT Districts under the Endangered Species Act, for geotechnical boreholes, traffic signal, and ITS projects that “may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect” the species.
Endangered Species Act Programmatic Consultation Agreement for Houston Toad	02/21	This programmatic consultation addresses project effects to the Houston toad under the Endangered Species Act, for projects that “may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect” the species.
Endangered Species Act Programmatic Consultation Agreement for Red-cockaded Woodpecker	03/22	Provides a programmatic approach to address project effects to the Red-cockaded Woodpecker under the Endangered Species Act, for projects that “may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect” the species
Endangered Species Act Programmatic Consultation Agreement for the Black-Capped Vireo and Golden-Cheeked Warbler	07/17	Letter agreement provides a programmatic approach to address project effects to Black-Capped Vireo and Golden-Cheeked Warbler under the Endangered Species Act, for projects that “may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect” the species
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)	09/21	The purpose of this MOU is to define the process for coordinating transportation projects with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to facilitate the protection of the natural environment. It is found in Title 43, Part 1, Chapter 2, Subchapter G of the Texas Administrative Code

Water Resources

Title	Date	Description	Format
Environmental Handbook for Water Resources	01/19	Provides a regulatory background for and outlines the TxDOT process and steps necessary to document compliance with the regulations concerning the management of water resources
Water Resources Handbook Companion Viewer	09/21	Shows available water resources data that may be useful for compliance with regulations that are addressed, as applicable, during TxDOT’s environmental clearance process.
Form: Surface Water Analysis	09/21	Used to complete the "Perform Surface Water Analysis" Activity in ECOS
Flowchart: Water Process for Section 404	01/22	Presents a roadmap for Section 404 ECOS steps and required documentation
Instructions - Preparing a Section 404/10 Impacts Table	04/20	Used to complete the "Obtain Section 404/10 Permit" Activity in ECOS
Template: Section 404/10 Impacts Table	07/21	Used to complete the "Obtain Section 404/10 Permit" Activity in ECOS
Documentation Standard for Waters of the U.S. Delineation Report	08/19	Used to complete the "Obtain Section 404/10 Permit" Activity in ECOS
Template: Waters of the U.S. Delineation Report	12/19	Used to complete the "Obtain Section 404/10 Permit" Activity in ECOS
Documentation Standard for USACE Pre-Construction Notification (PCN)	04/20	Used to prepare a PCN for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
QA/QC Cover Sheet for SWG Jurisdictional Determination and/or Delineation Verification Actions	01/22	Used to document TxDOT’s QA/QC review of USACE-SWG jurisdictional determinations and/or delineation verifications prior to submittal
QA/QC Cover Sheet for SWG Permit Applications	01/22	Used to document TxDOT’s QA/QC review of USACE-SWG permit applications prior to submittal
Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) Vacatur Quick Guide	09/21	Provides a quick guide to implementing the pre-2015 practice following NWPR vacatur
Guidance: Reasonable Assurances for Water Resources Activities	06/22	Guidance and go bys for creating reasonable assurances for ECOS water resources activities when changing milestones.
Standard Operating Procedure: Purchasing Mitigation Credits for Section 404 Permits	08/19	Outlines the process for the TxDOT delegate to acquire wetland mitigation credits from TxDOT mitigation banks, or purchase wetland/stream mitigation credits from a third-party mitigation bank.
Standard Operating Procedure: Section 404 Compensatory Mitigation via Permittee Responsible Mitigation (PRM)	09/20	This standard operating procedure (SOP) outlines the process for a TxDOT district to fulfill the requirement of wetland/stream compensatory mitigation under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act via Permittee Responsible Mitigation (PRM).
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Sole Source Aquifers – Safe Drinking Water Act	06/18	MOU between TxDOT and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes the consultation and review process for Federal-aid highway projects which may affect water quality in designated sole source aquifers. This MOU is pursuant to Section 1424(e) of the Safe Drinking Water act (PL 93-523)