September 2024

Dear Coastal,

As Texas continues to grow, our state’s natural heritage faces increasing pressure. According to the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, nearly 700 acres of open land are lost daily to urban development and land fragmentation, threatening the vibrant grasslands and prairies that define our region.

But there is hope. I am thrilled to to introduce the Texas Grasslands and Savannas Initiative (TGSI), a new effort led by the Coastal Prairie Conservancy (CPC) in collaboration with its regional partners. TGSI is dedicated to conserving the grasslands, savannas, and coastal prairies of Southeast Texas. By working hand-in-hand with private landowners implementing conservation easements and sustainable land management practices, we’re making strides to protect these critical landscapes before they disappear forever.

TGSI offers valuable resources, technical assistance, and financial incentives to help landowners enhance the value and resilience of their land while also contributing to the broader goal of conserving Texas’s natural heritage. Our geographic area includes 16 counties in Southeast Texas, including Austin, Brazoria, Colorado, Dewitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Gonzalez, Grimes, Harris, Jackson, Lavaca, Matagorda, Montgomery, Waller, Washington, and Wharton.

As part of our Texas Grasslands and Savannas Initiative and the Texas Coastal Prairie Initiative, CPC and our partners are hosting the 2024 Lands & Legacies Conference, where landowners and conservation enthusiasts can explore effective strategies for preserving and managing Texas’s precious landscapes. If you’d like to learn more about these initiatives and how we can help you preserve your land or adopt wildlife-friendly management practices, please email info@coastalprairieconservancy.org and visit prairiepartner.org for more information.

Thank you for your ongoing support of CPC’s mission to conserve our coastal prairies. Together, we’re ensuring that these landscapes remain a vibrant part of Texas’s natural heritage for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Mary Anne Piacentini

President and Chief Executive Officer

2024 Lands & Legacies Conference

Id you want to know more about land conservation and natural resource management, don't miss out on registering for the 2024 Lands & Legacies Conference! If you own a farm, ranch, or natural area, email info@coastalprairieconservancy.org to claim a free ticket!

Hosted by the Coastal Prairie Conservancy in partnership with the Texas Coastal Prairie Initiative (TCPI) and the Texas Grasslands and Savannas Initiative (TGSI), this event will bring together landowners, conservation partners, and practitioners to explore and discuss the preservation of Texas’s wide open spaces. Join us for a full day of workshops and presentations on October 24th, followed by field trips to remnant and restored prairies, working ranches, and farms on October 25th. Topics will include conservation success stories, new conservation easement funding opportunities, land management guidance, and more. The conference agenda is now available.

When:

• Thursday, October 24th: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
• Friday, October 25th: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Where:

• The George Ranch
• 10215 FM 762 Road, Richmond, TX 77469

Tickets:

• General Admission: $85
• Student Ticket: $45
• Own a farm, ranch, or natural area? Claim your free ticket by emailing info@coastalprairieconservancy.org

Volunteering:

• Interested in volunteering for this event? Volunteers who signup for one shift will be able to attend the entire conference for FREE! Shift signups can be found here. Please contact bfoshee@coastalprairieconservancy.org if you are interested in volunteering.

The Coastal Prairie Conservancy Permanently Conserves 615 Acres in Matagorda County

The Coastal Prairie Conservancy (CPC) has permanently conserved the Dawdy Ranch, a 615-acre property in Matagorda County, through a donated conservation easement. The land includes hundreds of acres of undisturbed mima mound coastal prairie and prairie potholes. The ranch features a variety of native grasses and trees, including live oak and green ash, and is home to rare plants such as Texas windmill grass and Texas Willkommia. The land provides critical habitat for a number of species of concern, including the American kestrel and Northern bobwhite.

“This newly conserved land in Matagorda County is a significant step in our efforts to preserve the irreplaceable ecosystems of Southeast Texas,” noted Mary Anne Piacentini, President and CEO of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy. “By protecting this land, we are not just preserving essential habitats for countless species; we are increasing the health and resilience of our region’s natural resources for generations to come.” The Coastal Prairie Conservancy has now conserved more than 32,000 acres of land in Southeast Texas. These preserved lands play a crucial role in providing community benefits, including reducing flooding, trapping carbon, and enhancing wildlife habitat.

“Our mission to conserve these vital lands thrives on the unwavering support of our incredible community,” Piacentini added. “We are profoundly grateful for the extraordinary generosity of the landowner and our donors, whose contributions enable us to pursue and achieve this essential work."

Concerned about the loss of habitat for grassland birds, the landowner donated the conservation easement to ensure the rare coastal prairie would be preserved in perpetuity. The land will remain available for sustainable livestock grazing which is an important tool in managing grasslands. As CPC celebrates the completion of this project, the organization is extremely grateful for the conservation ethos that guided the landowner to donate the conservation easement to CPC. CPC also received funding from the Texas Land Trust Council to support the project.

See link to the My Neighborhood News coverage of this good news here.

See link to the Katy News coverage here.

Johnny Nelson Katy Heritage Museum 9 Natives Garden

The Coastal Prairie Conservancy is proud to highlight the Johnny Nelson Katy Heritage Museum’s 9 Natives Garden! Joshua Garland, the Museum Coordinator for the City of Katy, states that it is “flourishing after having weathered both a drought in the summer of 2023 and a freeze in early 2024. The vibrant lantanas, blanket flowers, and spiderworts are a proud testament to the beauty and resiliency of the coastal prairie’s native plants. The garden was established in April 2023, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the museum’s reopening after Hurricane Harvey. We’re proud to partner with the Coastal Prairie Conservancy in the important work they do preserving our area’s historic habitat. That work began with the Nelson Farm Preserve, which belonged to our founder Johnny Nelson’s uncle, Clyde Nelson. This shared ancestry is now a cherished part of the history that we share with visitors, and this year we look forward to working with the CPC to host our first Great Grow Out workshop.”

9 Natives Garden can be found featured on CPC's Instagram and Facebook pages.

Whistletop Prairie Restoration Day - September 13th

Ready to roll up your sleeves and make a positive impact on the prairie? Help CPC support the Hermann Park Conservancy in restoring Whistletop Prairie! We will be working on native plant restoration and removing invasive species. Hope to see you there!

Fall Volunteer Orientation - September 13th

We will host our next CPC Volunteer Orientation on Friday, September 13th. Registration is live! Please note: Attending an orientation is not required to volunteer. We encourage long-term volunteers to complete an orientation within their first year of volunteering.

Stewardship Saturday - September 14th

Looking for a way to get your hands dirty and help the prairie? Come join us for a STEWARDSHIP SATURDAY! We will be focused on milkweed planting for our Monarch Butterfly Habitat Restoration Project as well as wildflower seeding! All ages are welcome to participate - no experience necessary!

"Acres in Action" Habitat and Wildlife Land Management Workshop - September 20th

Join CPC, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, Tall Timbers, WHF, and National Resources Conservation Service for a wildlife and habitat management workshop! Topics will include Quail 101 on the coastal prairie, waterfowl management, land management, funding opportunities, and more! Lunch will be provided.

Milkweed Planting Day: Mary Manor Preserve - September 27th

Interested in a hands-on way to support the prairie? Join us for a milkweed planting day! Volunteers will help plant native milkweed seedlings and seed wildflower habitats. All ages are welcomed to participate - no experience required.

Unplugged Adventure: Prairie Photography with Kathy Adams Clark - October 17th

Join esteemed nature photographer, Kathy Adams Clark, for this Prairie Photography class at the Matt Cooke Viewing Platform! This is an in-person, outdoor event where photographers will watch the sunset in one direction while the moon rises over the horizon in the opposite direction. Any registration question? Contact kathyadamsclark@comcast.net.

SAVE THE DATES! Fall Milkweed Planting Days

Join CPC for milkweed planting on the second Saturday of each month at the Indiangrass Preserve. In addition to Stewardship Saturdays, we will have another special fall milkweed planting day on November 15th at Nelson Farms. If you are interested in scheduling your own private milkweed planting volunteer day, contact bfoshee@coastalprairieconservancy.org. Schedule any Tuesday, Friday, or Saturday of your choosing!

Interested in Volunteer Opportunities?

Why You Need the Prairie and More of It

by Wanda Anglin

Photos courtesy of TPWD

Historically, the Gulf Coast Prairie covered 9 million acres of native grassland prairies and wetlands, with forested areas around rivers, streams, and creek beds. 11 out of the 15 rivers that flow across Texas cross into the coastal prairie, highlighting the importance of their critical filtering and water-absorbing capabilities.

I am eager to share some of the amazing capabilities of our native coastal tall grass prairies and how we can contribute to preserving and even re-introducing prairies in our landscapes...

We’re proud to highlight ConocoPhillips as this month’s Prairie Partner!

Thank you, ConocoPhillips, for your generous support of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy. Your support ensures that CPC helps serve the greater Houston community by increasing protected coastal prairie lands, supporting land restoration efforts, and connecting the public with nature through public access, educational programming, and outreach. This support of CPC's conservation and land stewardship efforts ensures the timely conservation of priority projects in the middle of the Katy Prairie Preserve that, if we do not save now, will be lost forever.



Additionally, this partnership furthers CPC’s mission to expand our outreach efforts, collaborate with new organizations, and engage diverse communities in conservation. In the year ahead, we plan to intensify our collaborative programming, enhance our capacity to connect with underrepresented groups, and proactively engage the next generation of conservation leaders.



Please join us in saying thank you to ConocoPhillips for its incredible support of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy and our efforts to preserve the coastal prairie for all to enjoy. Thank you!

Renewable Landscape and Impacts on Landowners and Rural Texas - September 4th

Join the Native Prairies Association of Texas - Fayette Chapter for an interactive zoom meeting with Jessica Karlsruher, from the Texas Real Estate and Defense Coalition. Interested in joining? See link for more info and registration. Space is limited, so RSVP is required.

King Ranch Bluestem: ID & Management Hands-on Workshop - September 20th

Looking to get hands-on land management experience? Join the Native Prairies Association in this workshop where you will learn how to identify King Ranch Bluestem and have the opportunity to practice individual plant treatment. Session will be led by Tim Siegmund, the TPWD Private Lands Program Leader.

Reliant EcoShare Program

Did you know that you can support environmental efforts in Texas by signing up for the Reliant EcoShare Program?

When you sign up, a small charge will be added to your electricity bill each month – there’s no need to change your existing electricity plan to participate. A portion of that charge will go to EarthShare of Texas, an environmental nonprofit that supports the Coastal Prairie Conservancy!

Located on the Indiangrass Preserve, the Ann Hamilton Trail is a 1.5-mile trail surrounded by wetlands, native grasses, and wildflowers. You can also enjoy 1.3 miles of additional trails that wind through a restored prairie and provides visitors with unrivaled views of blooming wildflowers, native wildlife, and wetland habitat. Come visit the trails to snap pictures of grassland birds, go for a quick jog, or simply take in the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

At the Matt Cook Memorial Wildlife Viewing Platform, a short walk through the Shrike Prairie leads you to this two-story structure overlooking Warren Lake, which teems with wildlife year-round. The ADA-accessible platform is dedicated to the memory of Matt Cook, a young wildlife and fisheries graduate student who loved the outdoors and spent many hours studying and enjoying the wildlife of the Katy Prairie (restoration in progress). The platform will be open from 7 AM to 8 PM through September.

The Williams Prairie in Brookshire is a small preserve at eleven acres, but this rare, remnant prairie hosts impressive biodiversity since it has never been plowed or developed. This area features a mowed trail winding through native prairie and depressional wetlands, along with scattered live oaks, loblolly pines, and clusters of cedar and yaupon holly. 

A short, shaded, out-and-back trail at the Hebert Reservoir takes you along the eastern edge of the 75-acre reservoir. Here, you will find resident wading birds such as common gallinules, great egrets, and little blue herons. You can also see many waterfowl species including blue-winged teal, mottled duck, and mallards. Look for signs of beaver along the trail. They particularly enjoy the sugar hackberry, one of our most common native trees.

Coastal Prairie Conservancy | Coastalprairieconservancy.org 

713-523-6135 | info@coastalprairieconservancy.org