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 either ENV-Bio@txdot.gov or ENV-Water@txdot.gov.
View frequently asked questions at Online forms FAQs.
| Title | Date | Description |
Environmental
Handbook for Coastal Barrier Resources Act |
12/23 | 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 |
| Title | Date | Description |
Environmental
Handbook for Farmland Protection Policy Act |
12/23 | 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 |
| Title | Date | Description |
Standard
Operating Procedure: entering Into an agreement with a mitigation provider for Section 7 Conservation Measures |
03/24 | A standard operating procedure outlining the process for the department delegate to enter into an agreement with a mitigation partner. |
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:
Species Analysis |
08/24 | Used to complete the "Perform Species Analysis" Activity in ECOS |
| Species Analysis
Spreadsheet
|
07/24 | Used to complete the "Perform Species Analysis" Activity in ECOS |
Instructions:
Preparing a Species Analysis Spreadsheet |
08/24 | Detailed instructions on how to complete the TxDOT species analysis spreadsheet |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Beneficial
Management Practices: Avoiding, Minimizing, and Mitigating Impacts of Transportation Projects on State Natural Resources |
12/24 | 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. |
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 |
Form:
Documentation of Applicability of Programmatic Consultation with USFWS |
06/24 | 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. |
Environmental
Handbook: Ecological Resources |
11/24 | Provides a regulatory background for compliance with federal regulations, except for the Endangered Species Act |
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. |
Guidance:
Addressing the Monarch Butterfly in a TxDOT Species Analysis |
07/24 | This document provides guidance for addressing effects to the monarch butterfly in a TxDOT species analysis spreadsheet. |
Guidance:
Complying with Laws Protecting Birds and Managing Potential Violations |
01/23 | 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 |
Guidance:
Assessing Project Impacts to Eastern Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis ssp. jamaicensis) |
06/24 | Provides standards for habitat assessments, presence/absence surveys, and voluntary conservation measures for the federally threatened Eastern Black Rail. |
Guidance:
Texas Kangaroo Rat Survey Methodology Recommendations |
01/25 | Provides standards for habitat assessments and presence/absence surveys for the federally proposed endangered Texas kangaroo rat. |
| Title | Date | Description |
Endangered
Species Act Programmatic Consultation Agreement Covering Minor Projects for Eurycea Salamanders and Karst Invertebrates (WAC, AUS, SAT) |
05/23 | Address project effects to Eurycea salamanders and terrestrial karst invertebrates in WAC, AUS, and SAT Districts under the Endangered Species Act, for geotechnical boreholes, SUE test holes, and installation of traffic signal infrastructure, ITS, MBGF, headlight barriers, illumination poles, guardrail end treatments, cable barrier, small and large signs, illumination poles, noise wall columns, and joint-bid utility poles 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 |
| Title | Date | Description |
TxDOT
Water Submittal Geodatabase Template |
12/22 | Use when submitting delineated water features to TxDOT/ENV as laid out in the Instructions: Wetland and Streams Delineation Data document |
Instructions:
Wetland and Stream Delineation Data |
07/22 | Instructions for providing ENV with wetland and stream delineation data to be included in ENV’s statewide database (“TxDOT Waters”) |
Documentation
Standard for Interim Hydrogeomorphic Functional Assessment |
07/22 | Instructions for preparing an Interim Hydrogeomorphic (HGMi) Functional Assessment in accordance with guidance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) |
Documentation
Standard for Level 1 Stream Assessment |
07/22 | Instructions for preparing a Level 1 - Stream Condition Assessment |
Flowchart:
Water Process for Section 404 |
05/24 | Presents a roadmap for Section 404 ECOS steps and required documentation |
Flowchart:
Water Process for Section 401 Water Quality Certification |
05/24 | Presents a roadmap for obtaining TCEQ Section 401 Water Quality Certification |
Form:
Surface Water Analysis |
05/24 | Used to complete the "Perform Surface Water Analysis" Activity in ECOS |
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. |
Template:
Water Features Delineation Report |
10/24 | Used to complete the "Obtain Section 404/10 Permit" Activity in ECOS |
USACE
OMBIL Regulatory Module (ORM) |
02/23 | USACE requested table to be submitted with the Water Features Delineation. Information on all waters and aquatic features must be documented regardless of jurisdiction. |
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 USACE Pre-Construction Notification (PCN) |
07/22 | Used to prepare a PCN for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). |
Environmental
Handbook for Water Resources |
08/23 | 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. |
Standard
Operating Procedure: Acquiring and/or Purchasing Section 404 Compensatory Mitigation Credits |
03/24 | 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: Conducting Section 404 Compensatory Mitigation via Permittee Responsible Mitigation (PRM) |
11/24 | 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). |
Flowchart:
Section 404 Compensatory Mitigation |
11/24 | A flowchart to assist practitioners in determining the appropriate type of 404 compensatory mitigation and steps needed to satisfy the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) requirements. |
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) |
Best
Value Mitigation Table Template |
03/24 | Template used by the project sponsor or department delegate for the purpose of identifying all the USACE approved compensatory mitigation banks. |
Template:
USACE Regulatory Request System (RRS) Spreadsheet |
04/25 | Used to document permit information for the USACE Regulatory Request System |