Celebrate Your Work With Us

If the year has felt busy, it was! Here is a look back at what we learned and accomplished together to restore native prairies and connect more wildlife habitat corridors.



<-- CLICK PHOTO TO REVISIT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Elder Prairie Workday

Enjoy learning valuable prairie restoration practices you can apply to your prairie project while volunteering to help NPAT restore this important Blackland prairie in beautiful Washington County.

Join us in caring for Elder Prairie at these fall workdays, where we will focus on removing woody debris and invasive plants. We'll spend the morning clearing areas to support the recovery of native plants and improve habitat for wildlife.

Thank you for helping us restore one of the largest remaining tracts of the Fayette Prairie!

Every first Wednesday monthly (excluding July & August) beginning

(A map and directions will be provided to registered volunteers before the event)

We now have an updated digital Liability Waiver for workdays, site visits, and field trips. Please update your waiver ANNUALLY, which includes Emergency Contact information, before visiting NPAT and landowner properties.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Whether you find yourself balancing city life with a rural escape or you've made the jump to full-time land ownership, this series is designed for new and beginning landowners eager to define their land use goals and set clear expectations.



• Understand what you can do with your land
• Connect with resources, information, and expertise in your community
• Create habitats that support diverse wildlife and pollinators
• Improve water quality for a thriving ecosystem
• Implement effective erosion control strategies



WHAT TO EXPECT

Our goal is to empower you with strategies to thrive as a land steward, while connecting you with the vital resources and expertise you need to succeed.

Prepare to gain valuable insights that will help you embrace your land, reduce your learning curve, and achieve your aspirations!



Native Prairie Soil Health:

Dig Deeper

"The nation that destroys its soil, destroys itself."

- Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Healthy soil is the foundation not only for a healthy prairie but for all life, and understanding these relationships is vital for stewarding a sustainable, balanced, and functional ecosystem.

This course is for anyone who wants to build an understanding of what supports and sustains us. This class is for everyone, whether you are just learning about soils or if you attended our 2025 course and are ready to dig deeper.

WHAT IS IN STORE

• Gain a solid understanding of soil survey terminology and processes. 
• Clearly differentiate between soil series and soil map units to improve mapping accuracy.
• Explore soil mapping concepts and develop skills to identify changes in soil characteristics by analyzing vegetation and landforms. 
• Investigate geological formations and the inherited properties of soils to gain a deeper understanding of their formation and behavior. 
• Learn effective strategies for recognizing and managing dynamic soil properties. 
• Study the interactions between soil, plants, and animals to foster a comprehensive understanding of ecosystem dynamics. 

Participants will have the valuable opportunity to complete a comprehensive web soil survey assignment before class, setting the stage for personalized applications and deeper insights.

Native Plant Propagation

Propagate native plants to spread their benefits! Join Chris Bailey and Lan Shen in the Coastal Prairie Conservancy Indiangrass Preserve greenhouse.

Join us for hands-on practice in the greenhouse and learn:

• How to start plants from seeds, plugs, and cuttings
• Where to obtain seeds
• When to start seeds and when to plant
• Best dates for planting native grasses based on weather records

All materials will be provided, or bring seeds to share. You are encouraged to leave your starters to contribute to the Indiangrass Preserve, or you can take them to your own prairie restoration project.

Bring your lunch, enjoy the beauty of the prairie, and

take some time to stroll along the marked prairie trails.

Fall Prairie Plant Prowl

with Tim Siegmund, TPWD

Tim took us on a fall walk to observe how a prairie changes with the seasons. Those who shared the prairie in spring witnessed not only how the landscape changes seasonally, but also how it reacts and adapts to year-to-year climate differences.

Continue to watch this newsletter and our website calendar

for upcoming events.

Annual Fall Social

Celebration, Conversation, and Inspiration

Connecting People to Connect Prairie

The Future of Local Groundwater

Elvis Hernandez

Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District

The future of groundwater in Texas is at a critical juncture, facing substantial challenges driven by rapid population growth and persistent drought. Predictions indicate a staggering 32% decline in groundwater supply by 2070 if we do not take decisive action.

To secure a sustainable future for our water resources, we must prioritize understanding these challenges, enhancing water management practices, and developing innovative solutions to support informed planning.

Whether you missed this Zoom discussion, wish to rewatch it, or want to share it with a friend, we recorded it for you.

You can also find our full library of Zoom topics and past newsletters on our chapter webpage

Partners for Your Smaller Acreage

Even small-acreage restorations can feel overwhelming and challenging, but your Fayette Prairie Chapter community, along with our partners at TPWD, offers assistance and resources.

TPWD wildlife biologists provide free, personalized technical assistance to smaller-acreage owners to help them develop and implement wildlife management plans.

Because over 95% of Texas land is privately owned, every acre is crucial for conserving the state's natural resources. 

CLICK BELOW TO READ MORE

by Nancy Dunahoe, NPAT Member

This restored post oak savannah pocket prairie is owned by the Texas Land Conservancy with a conservation easement held by Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT). The preserve is situated along U.S. 77 south and might be easy to miss from the highway if not for the abundance of silver-stranded tall grasses waving in the South-Central Texas breeze.

The grass harvest is part of a monumental project to construct the first traditional Wichita/Waco Grass House built in Texas since the Tribe's removal in August 1859. It will be displayed at the Mayborn Museum Complex at Baylor University, where Ross is the Indigenous Scholar in Residence and Cultural Preservation Board Member, to share the cultural story of the Waco Tribe.