The Native Prairies Association of Texas has launched a campaign to collect pledges towards the purchase of a native prairie located within Austin. The 12.45 acres in the heart of Travis Country is an undisturbed savannah covered with native grasses and prairie plants, with remarkably few non-native invasives. The small, landlocked remnant prairie at 4806 Trail West was accidentally preserved and has remained untouched for perhaps thousands of years. The property is home to disappearing native grasses including Little Bluestem, Drop Seed, Texas Grama, Texas Yarrow, and the Texas state grass: Sideoats Grama. Below is information from the Native Prairies Association about the importance of areas like this for seed harvesting and preventing extinction:
"Relict areas, or remnants, of native savannah grasslands are excellent sources of genetic strains of native grasses, forbs, legumes, shrubs, and trees particularly suited (adapted) to a specific locale.
"Relict areas, or remnants, of native savannah grasslands are excellent sources of genetic strains of native grasses, forbs, legumes, shrubs, and trees particularly suited (adapted) to a specific locale.
Generally, seeds or transplants from sites sharing similar soil, climate, elevation, hydrology, slope, and topography that are within a 100-mile radius of a site that needs to be restored will be the most ecologically suited materials to be found. Potential seekers of such materials include restorationists, plant breeders, seed growers, landscapers, homeowners, and native plant enthusiasts."
In addition to preserving local genetic strains of flora, NPAT restores the land to maximize conditions for native plants. This involves an interplay between decreaser species, which will disappear altogether from a site without proper management, and increaser species, which initially increase in abundance but will eventually be replaced by invasive species if land is not managed properly. Restoration of prairies is extremely important as less than 1% of the original Texas Prairie remains today.
Prairies also serve to protect water quality. The Travis Country Prairie is in the environmentally-sensitive Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone and lies right above and drains directly into Barton Creek. According to the City of Austin Watershed Protection Development Review, it is located within the Backdoor Springs and Dogwood Springs Springsheds, an area that is home to 10 known caves and sinkholes. Future development of this prairie would degrade water quality in the Edwards Aquifer, Barton Springs, and Barton Creek. According to US Fish & Wildlife, the land is in the “Endangered Cave Species Habitat Karst Zones 1 & 2”. The prairie is in close proximity to the Balcones Canyonland Preserve and contains a mixture of heritage oaks (some of which are over 110” in circumference) and ash junipers, the classic habitat for the Golden Cheeked Warbler.
In addition to preserving local genetic strains of flora, NPAT restores the land to maximize conditions for native plants. This involves an interplay between decreaser species, which will disappear altogether from a site without proper management, and increaser species, which initially increase in abundance but will eventually be replaced by invasive species if land is not managed properly. Restoration of prairies is extremely important as less than 1% of the original Texas Prairie remains today.
Prairies also serve to protect water quality. The Travis Country Prairie is in the environmentally-sensitive Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone and lies right above and drains directly into Barton Creek. According to the City of Austin Watershed Protection Development Review, it is located within the Backdoor Springs and Dogwood Springs Springsheds, an area that is home to 10 known caves and sinkholes. Future development of this prairie would degrade water quality in the Edwards Aquifer, Barton Springs, and Barton Creek. According to US Fish & Wildlife, the land is in the “Endangered Cave Species Habitat Karst Zones 1 & 2”. The prairie is in close proximity to the Balcones Canyonland Preserve and contains a mixture of heritage oaks (some of which are over 110” in circumference) and ash junipers, the classic habitat for the Golden Cheeked Warbler.
Please consider making a tax-deductible pledge toward this campaign. Click here to submit a pledge online. Click here to download a printable pledge form. You do not need to include payment with your pledge at this time.
If you'd like a pledge card and envelope dropped at your house, email us.
If you have any questions, you may call the NPAT Outreach Coordinator, Phillip Quast at 512-751-9265 or email.
NPAT is one of Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center's Affiliates and Partners.
