The 2008 SW PARC meeting will be held in Austin, Texas, June 5 through June 8, 2008

SW PARC meetings are for anyone interested in reptile or amphibian conservation. Individuals involved in SW PARC include private citizens, representatives from state and federal agencies, tribes, conservation organizations, museums, pet trade industry, nature centers, zoos, universities, herpetological organizations, research laboratories, forest industries, environmental consultants and power industry.

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Location

Meeting location

The meeting will be held at The Commons Center at the J. J. Pickle Research Campus of the University of Texas at Austin, Texas. The Commons Center is on a Research Campus in NW Austin.

Lodging

Reduced rate hotel rooms are available under the block, "Southwest PARC" at: Embassy Suites Arboretum, 9505 Stonelake Blvd., Austin, TX 78759. Please call 512-372-8771 or 800-EMBASSY to book your rooms under this block. We have received a reduced room rate of $109 per night, which includes (1) complimentary fresh cooked-to-order breakfast each morning, (2) nightly two hour reception featuring complimentary beverages and snacks, (3) complimentary shuttle service within three miles, including our meeting venue The Commons Center, (4) complimentary parking, and (5) complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access. Additionally, our auction will take place at the Embassy Suites Saturday evening. The deadline for reservations is May 22, 2008. For more information about the hotel, please visit Embassy Suites. Please alert Janet Wallace if you are looking to share a room/willing to share a room.

Embassy Suites Arboretum does not provide a shuttle to or from the airport. You can purchase a one way shuttle ticket for $25.75 or round trip shuttle tickets for $45.50 by visiting the Super Shuttle website, www.supershuttle.com, or calling 800-BLUE-VAN (800-258-3826) or 512-258-3826. Super Shuttle is a separate shuttle service from the complimentary one offered by Embassy Suites, which only travels within 3 miles of the hotel. You are encouraged to make a reservation online for transportation from and to the airport so they have enough vans scheduled.

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Agenda

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Thursday, June 5, 2008:

1000-1200: SW PARC Steering Committee Meeting

1330-1400: Welcome & Opening Remarks

1400-1430: Keynote: Texas Herpetofauna

1430-1500: Keynote: Herpetofauna Conservation on Private Lands

1500-1530: Break (Refreshments Provided)

1600-1630: Existing Working Group Updates, Discussion and Questions

1630-1730: Herpetofauna Conservation on Private Lands in Each State

1800: Museum Trip

1900: No-Host Social (Details Coming Soon)

Friday - June 6, 2008:

(Morning Refreshments Provided)

0800-1000: HLCS Presentations

1000-1030: Break (Refreshments Provided)

1030-1200: HLCS Presentations

1200-1330: Break

1330-1500: Herp Conservation on Private Lands - Round Table

1500-1530: Break (Refreshments Provided)

1530-1700: Identify Herp Conservation Priorities for Southwest Region for the Upcoming Year

1730: SW PARC - THS - HLCS Hosted Social at The Commons (hors devours will be served & a cash bar will be available) Poster Presentation

1830: Awards

Saturday, June 7, 2008:

(Morning Refreshments Provided)

0800-1000: THS Presentations

1000-1030: Break (Refreshments Provided)

1030-1200: THS Presentations

1200-1330: Break (lunch Provided)

1330-1445: Herpetofauna Conservation Break Out Groups

1445-1500: Update Entire Group

1500-1530: Break (Refreshments Provided)

1530-1630: SW PARC Organizational

1630-1700: Closing Comments

1730 Auction, refreshments and no-host dinner at Embassy Suites Arboretum

Sunday, June 8, 2008:

• Two field trips were offered:
  • Warbler Woods
  • City of Austin, Barton Spring Salamander

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Auction

Live Auction Saturday night June 7!

A LIVE auction will take place at the Embassy Suites Arboretum Saturday night, June 7, after the meeting. Shuttle service will be provided from The Commons Center to the Embassy Suites hotel. Come enjoy drinks, snacks, a no-host dinner at the hotel restaurant and a fun-loving auction! Proceeds from the auction will go towards future SW PARC meetings and activities as well as co-chair travel to represent SW PARC at national meetings. Everyone is encouraged to donate items - herp-related or otherwise - to the auction, including books, art, jewelry, photos, posters, knick-knacks, food/beverage items, shirts, and anything else. If you have any questions regarding the auction, please contact Polly Conrad. Arrangements can be made if you would like to ship items to Austin for the auction ahead of time. You must be present to bid and win items!

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Field Trips

On Sunday June 8th, there will be two options for field trips:

Barton Springs: Texas has a number of salamander species that are associated with small springs. Perhaps the most famous is the Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum), whose entire world range is limited to Barton Springs in downtown Austin (for more see www.ci.austin.tx.us/salamander/. This small, highly endangered amphibian is being actively protected and managed by the City of Austin, which also operated Zilker Park and Barton Springs as recreational areas. We have arranged to see both the habitat of this neotenic salamander and the breeding facility built especially for it. Our guide will be Dr. Laurie Dries, the City of Austin Environmental Scientist in charge of salamander research and management. We will be able to visit several places closed to the public - an unusual opportunity. WHEN: Sunday, 8 June, at 9 am. HOW MUCH: $7/person, including entrance to Barton Springs. Parking at Barton Springs is an extra $3/car - we recommend carpooling from the meeting place. WHERE: Meet at the breeding facility, located at the Zilker Park Nature Center. Following a short drive to the springs, participants will be allowed into Eliza Spring, where seeing a salamander is virtually guaranteed. Finally, everybody will see the primary habitat at Barton Springs themselves. COMMENTS: 1) Space is limited to 15 people. 2) Following the 1.5 hour tour, participants are welcome to remain and swim at Barton Springs. 3) for those interested, an opportunity to assist with restoring salamander habitat will be available immediately after the tour. Those interested should indicate so on their registration form and be prepared to get physical in the water. 4) there are many beautiful hiking trails located near the springs - Trail Map.

Warbler Woods: In keeping with the meeting theme of conservation on private lands, we made arrangements with the owners of Warbler Woods, a private preserve 60 miles south of Austin. The site is rich in wildlife, including a variety of amphibians and reptiles. The owners have agreed to provide an introduction to the site and their management objectives. WHEN: Sunday, 8 June, at 10 am. HOW MUCH: $10/person. WHERE: Meet at Warbler Woods. COMMENTS: 1) Space is limited to 20 people. 2) We can help arrange carpools - please state your interest when you register. 3) Herping is allowed and encouraged at WarblerWoods. You may stay and search for as long as you wish - we will compile a herp list for the owners afterwards. Please wear hiking boots - rattlesnakes are fairly common. 4) For participants or families wishing to visit the site during the meeting, private arrangements can be made by contacting the owners at Warblerwoods@gmail.com. Explain that you are with the meeting and would like to tour the place on your own - there will not be an organized tour.

Texas Natural History Collections: The University of Austin's herpetological collections are extensive, numbering over 75,000 specimens. The collections are located at the Pickle Research Center, near our meeting site. Assistant Curator Travis LaDuc will host a tour of the collections for all those interested. WHEN: Thursday, 5 June, at 6:00 pm. HOW MUCH: Free! WHERE: Carpool from the Commons. COMMENTS: 1) Space is limited to 50 people. Please register in advance.

Sign up for field trips when you register for the meeting. Space is limited and this will assist in planning transportation.

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Sponsors

Sponsors:

Special thanks to: Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Amphibian and Reptile Coordinator Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University Harris County Pct. 4 Parks Department, Jesse H Jones Park and Nature Center Nevada Department of Wildlife Texas Natural Science Center, Texas Natural History Collections, University of Texas at Austin U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Ecological Services Office

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Contacts

• Gad Perry (Texas Tech University - Lubbock, Texas)

• Wendy Hodges (The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Natural Science Center, Texas Natural History Collections)

• Travis LaDuc (The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Natural Science Center, Texas Natural History Collections)

• Janet Wallace (Texas Tech University - Lubbock, Texas)

• Laura Hines (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources - Salt Lake City, Utah)

• Matt Abernathy (Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center - Humble, Texas)

• Marty Tuegel (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Tucson, Arizona)

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2007 Meeting

SW PARC held its first regional meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 31 through June 2, 2007.

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