Hicks & Company provided environmental and archeological services as prime provider to the City of San Marcos for the Wonder World Drive/FM 3407 Environmental Assessment in San Marcos, Hays County, Texas. The three-mile new location project was needed to provide the City's only connection with a railroad overpass. The project traversed endangered bird habitat, 150+ karst features over the Edwards Aquifer in the Purgatory Creek drainage basin, an National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)-eligible archeological site, relocations, extensive public involvement, conservation-oriented zoning, stringent water quality/hazardous materials Best Management Practices requirements, and proactive land acquisition by the City. The project was prepared to TxDOT Austin District standards since the District will ultimately build the roadway. Each of these environmental constraints issues had to be addressed in terms of timely communications and appropriate investment of effort to keep the project moving ahead.

Intensive field surveys for archeological resources took place in spring 2002 under a permit issued by the Texas Historical Commission. Hicks & Company staff prepared detailed reports to complete the survey phase, including identification of one property eligible for the NRHP. An Historic Resources Survey Report was prepared. Presence/absence surveys for endangered birds were undertaken, and intensive hydrogeological investigations were performed to assess potential endangered species impacts associated with karst features. These investigations formed the groundwork for the Biological Assessment in compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Several agency coordination meetings were held during the design process to determine avoidance options, and Hicks & Company’s GIS graphics were essential to conveying sensitive features. Maps were created showing karst feature and contour-based drainage contributing zones, Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo potential and occupied habitat locations, an NRCS flood control structure, aquifer contributing and recharge zone boundaries, archeological site boundaries, city jurisdictional areas, potential parkland acquisition areas, hazardous material trap locations, access points and proposed developments. Due to this detailed mapping and agency coordination, impacts to sensitive features were minimized in the final design, and the City of San Marcos initiated a proactive land acquisition program as part of the mitigation requirements. The Biological Opinion was issued by USFWS in spring of 2004. The EA received a FONSI in late 2004.