Puzzle Pit Cave is reported to be one of Austin’s lost caves. Not too many people know about this particular cave or are even aware it exists. Puzzle Pit Cave is one of the many caves that are located in Austin and Travis County. Only so much history is known about this cave. Only cavers and spelunkers know about this cave. This news article will explore the biology, geology, history, and wildlife of Puzzle Pit Cave. 
Puzzle Pit Cave is and was also known as Puzzle Cave and Puzzle Pits Cave. Although Puzzle Pits Cave is the most common known name for this cave. Puzzle Pit Cave is and was part of the Four Points cave calluses at FM 2222 & RR 620.
Puzzle Pit Cave consisted of an irregularly shaped sink which is 8 feet deep. This sink was 3½ feet in diameter. The cave extended to 4 feet before splitting in directions. Puzzle Pit Cave was and is within the boundaries of the Jollyville Plateau. (Ref: ftp://ftp.austintexas.gov/wildland/Balcones_Canyonland_Preserve/BCCP/PRT-788841%2520Biological%2520Opinion%25205-2-1996.pdf)
Puzzle Pit Cave is and was one known site for the Tooth Cave ground beetle. USFWS confirmed that Puzzle Pit Cave is a site where Tooth Cave ground beetles can be found as Tooth Cave ground beetles inhabit Puzzle Pit Cave. Many Tooth Cave ground beetles have been discovered in and around this cave. (Ref: https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Water/Wildlands/Habitat_Conservation_Plan_Final_Environment_Impact_Statement.pdf)
Puzzle Pit Cave does not support a diverse fauna and contains the most widely distributed federally-listed karst invertebrates. So this cave does contain some karst features to some degree. Just not to an entire point. (Ref: https://www.americanstewards.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Complaint-ASL-et-al-v-FWS-et-al-F-M-copy.pdf)
Like many caves in Austin and Travis County, this cave is composed out of limestone and granite with steep drops inside. Rocky limestone formations are what can be found and discovered inside of this cave. Many caves in Central Texas have a rock formation of native limestone.
Here is what led to the destruction of Puzzle Pit Cave.
The lack of protection is what led to the destruction of Puzzle Pit Cave. BCCP had decided that Puzzle Pit Cave should not be protected. According to the 1996 BCP Land Management Plan, Puzzle Pit Cave was “Not Protected under BCCP”. BCCP’s decision making is what let to the destruction of Puzzle Pit Cave overall. (Ref: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=248368)
The reason why Puzzle Pit Cave was not protected by or under BCCP is because Puzzle Pit Cave did not support a diverse fauna and contain the most widely distributed federally-listed karst invertebrates. (Ref: ftp://ftp.austintexas.gov/wildland/Balcones_Canyonland_Preserve/BCCP/PRT-788841%20Biological%20Opinion%205-2-1996.pdf)
Four Points HCP was organized in 1994 because of the high density of caves in the Four Points area known as Four Points cave cluster. Four Points cave cluster is a high density cave area. This high density cave area was preserved as part of the Four Points Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). This HCP was created in support of issuance of an Endangered Species Act Section 10(a)(1)(B) incidental take permit for permit number PRT 808694. (Ref: https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Documents/R2ES/LitCited/4TX_Sal/HNTB_2005_Tooth_Cave_ground_beetle_summary.pdf)
Four Points HCP and BCCP authorized the destruction of Puzzle Pit Cave on the date of 12/7/1995 for WB Joint Ventures to construct commercial and residential development. (Ref: Federal Register, Vol. 60, No. 236, Friday, December 8, 1995)
WB Joint Venture plans to construct and operate 138 acres of mixed use and residential development on 333 acres in Austin, Travis County,Texas. This action will eliminate the habitat for 13 pairs of golden-cheeked warblers. The applicant proposed to compensate for this incidental take of golden-cheeked warbler habitat by preserving 135 acres of golden-cheeked warbler habitat and the preservation and maintenance of 52 acres with 5 caves containing the Tooth Cave ground beetle and the Bone Cave harvestman for the conservation of the golden-cheeked warbler and the cave invertebrates. Alternatives to this action were rejected because selling or not developing the subject property with federally listed species present was not economically feasible. (Ref: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1995-12-08/pdf/95-29943.pdf)
Four Points HCP (Service Permit PRT-808694) authorized destruction of one cave (Puzzle Pit) and impacts to the drainage area of another cave (Twisted Elm) and preserved five endangered species caves. (Ref: https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Documents/R2ES/BO_2222_620_Bypass_TravisCo_Mar2018.pdf)
However there was good news because 52 acres would be preserved and maintained as the Four Points cave cluster contains 5 caves known to be inhabited by Tooth Cave ground beetle and/or Bone Cave harvestman. (Ref: https://americanstewards.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Complaint-ASL-et-al-v-FWS-et-al-F-M-copy.pdf)
Puzzle Pit Cave would be covered over and surface water runoff into Twisted Elm Cave would be altered in quantity and quality. It appears that an assessment of Twisted Elm Cave and Puzzle Pit Cave were intended as a description of an impact, but the magnitude of the potential impact to the cave is not quantified. The biological opinion from USFWS in 1996 created in support of permit issuance is even more ambiguous when stating that the surface water runoff into Twisted Elm Cave “may be altered in quantity and in quality”. Though not specifically stated in the Four Points HCP or biological opinion, based on review of maps in the HCP it appears that Twisted Elm Cave is within an approximately 32-acre portion of the permit area that would be undeveloped and conserved as habitat or golden-cheeked warblers (Dendroicachrysoparia) Not to mention ground tooth cave beetles. (Ref: https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Documents/R2ES/LitCited/4TX_Sal/HNTB_2005_Tooth_Cave_ground_beetle_summary.pdf)
In 1996, the USFWS issued an ESA Section 10(a)(1)(B) incidental take permit (permit number PRT 808694) to WB Joint Venture in part to cover the potential incidental take of Tooth Cave ground beetles associated with development within an approximately 333-acre property in north-central Travis County, Texas. This HCP was created in support of permit issuance which called for the preservation of a 52-acre “high density cave area” containing 6 caves or prominent karst features including four of the Tooth Cave ground beetle confirmed collection sites. (Ref: https://digital.lib.usf.edu/content/SF/S0/05/47/42/00001/K26-04293-KIP-00011532.pdf)
On April 16, 1999, Federal Register announced and advised the the public that GDF Realty Investments, Ltd. (applicant), in conjunction with Mr. R. James George, Jr., Purcell Investments L.P., Parke Properties I, L.P., WB Joint Ventures, and Parke Properties II, L.P. planned to construct and operate commercial and/or residential developments on 216.4 acres of habitat in the area known as the Hart Triangle. The proposed incidental take would occur as a result of the construction and operation of these developments on FM 620 at Bullick Hollow Road (FM 2222) in Travis County, Texas. A Target store would be built here as well. (Ref: Federal Register, Volume 64, Number 73)
Each entity of Austin, Texas, had applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for seven incidental take permits pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The applications have been assigned application file numbers PRT-838754, PRT-841088, PRT-841090, PRT-841093, PRT-841117, PRT-841120 and PRT-841125. The requested, permits, if issued, would each be for a period of 30 years, and would authorize the incidental take of the endangered golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia), black-capped vireo (Vireo atriocapillus), Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion (Microcreagris texana), Tooth Cave spider (Leptoneta myopica), Tooth Cave ground beetle (Rhadine persephone), Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle (Texamaurops reddelli), Bee Cave Creek harvestman (Texella reddelli), and Bone Cave harvestman (Texella reyesi). The applicant plans to construct and operate commercial and/or residential developments on 216.4 acres of habitat in the area known as the Hart Triangle and used by the golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion, Tooth Cave spider, Tooth Cave ground beetle, Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle, Bee Cave Creek harvestman, and/or Bone Cave harvestman. (Ref: https://www.fws.gov/policy/library/1999/99fr18927.html)
Ownership of the permit and property were transferred to TPG Four Points Land, L.P in October 2001. This would allow TPG Four Points Land, L.P to continue their planned construction. (Ref: USFWS 2001b)
Construction for a shopping center, residential developments, and a Target store began in 2002 on top where Puzzle Pit Cave and Twisted Elm Cave were located. Both caves including Puzzle Pit Cave were destroyed in the process of construction.
Puzzle Pit Cave was reported to be “destroyed” along with Twisted Elm Cave in 2004. The way this cave was destroyed was by being “covered over”. Now the exact method of how Puzzle Pit Cave was covered over is unknown according to J.R. Reddell. Today Puzzle Pit Cave is considered destroyed and has been lost. (Ref: https://digital.lib.usf.edu/content/SF/S0/05/47/42/00001/K26-04293-KIP-00011532.pdf)
Puzzle Pit Cave is believed to be located on the Target property. Exactly where though is unknown. However their parking lot has paved over one of the cave entrances. (Ref: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=181340)
ACI (ACI Consulting Inc.) composed an 11 page permit compliance summary of Permit No. 808694 on the date of August 29, 2006. The report was updated in 2007. (Ref: https://esadocs.defenders-cci.org/ESAdocs/five_year_review/doc2011.pdf)
According to the 2007 BCP Land Management Plan, Puzzle Pit Cave was “Not Protected under BCCP”. The lack of protection is what led to the destruction of Puzzle Pit Cave even more. The cave had already been filled with rocks and dirt by then. (Ref: ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/wildland/Balcones_Canyonland_Preserve/BCP%20Land%20Management%20Plan%20August%202007_2012MAY_DPG/Tier%20II%20Management%20Handbook/Tier%20IIA-9%20Karst%20Management.pdf)
There was a subsequent loss of currently undiscovered species and sites in the Four Points cave cluster area in including Puzzle Pit Cave. Only 85% percent of what remains is left from the destruction and development. A total of 48 of the BCCP caves are “protected” in some way, with 14 “unprotected”. Puzzle Pit Cave no longer exists. (Ref: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=321787)
Puzzle Pit Cave was located at 11220 FM 2222, Austin, Texas, US 78730.
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