2025
Comparably’s Best Company Outlook
South Central • Williamson County, Texas
Southwest Bypass – Segment I – Natural and Cultural Resources Studies
SWCA performed a range of due diligence activities as part of the Southwest Bypass – Segment I project.
We Want to Hear From You
For questions or further information, please fill out the form below.
Austin
4407 Monterey Oaks Boulevard
Building 1, Suite 110
Austin, Texas 78749
Building 1, Suite 110
Austin, Texas 78749
Details
Description
SWCA performed a range of due diligence activities as part of the Southwest Bypass – Segment I project. Tasks included a geologic assessment, karst survey, jurisdictional waters delineation, Regional Habitat Conservation Plan (RHCP) preparation, and cultural resources surveys and reporting. SWCA encountered and excavated five caves during the geologic assessment. Full presence-absence surveys occurred in the caves, and the Bone Cave harvestman was located within one of them. Additionally, part of the proposed roadway traversed a portion of Inner Space Caverns. Therefore, SWCA assisted the County with enrolling two species caves into the RHCP.
Markets
Meet the Experts
Lead Project Manager
Stephen Van Kampen-Lewis
Stephen is a project manager with experience in karst biology, geology, hydrogeology, and endangered species issues. He currently performs various geologic and karst assessments, cave mapping, and cave biota collection surveys and has performed geologic assessments required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for compliance with Edwards Aquifer Protection regulations for transportation and land development projects in Williamson, Travis, and Hays Counties. He also conducts field monitoring within cave preserves in accordance with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) designated karst management and maintenance plans. He has performed field data collection for karst terrain feature surveys and also prepares annual activities reports for karst preserves as part of USFWS mandated monitoring efforts.
Stephen has authored several white papers regarding potential threats to karst invertebrates in Williamson County, including several that were utilized by the USFWS when preparing the 2018 Species Status Assessment for the Bone Cave harvestman (Texella reyesi). He was a co-author on a 2016 peer reviewed publication regarding cave crickets (Ceuthophilus secretus) and was lead author on a 2019 peer reviewed publication detailing a suggested recovery unit amendment for the endangered Inner Space Caverns mold beetle (Batrisodes texanus).
