texas land conservancy SPRING/SUMMER 2017
CHEEP ENTERTAINMENT
Join Us on Earth Day for our Birding Hike!
Top Notch in the Bottomlands Another family ranch is protected forever
#TX16in16
One family’s Texas trek
A benefit to members of
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LAND IS MY...
texas land conservancy Spring/Summer 2017
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The 6th Extinction
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Land Is My...
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Top Notch in the Bottomlands
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A review by Scott Moorhead
Land Trust Alliance video competition
Our new protected property in Brazoria county
Native & Wild
An Interview with Chuck Snakard
Spring/Summer 2017
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Board of Directors
CONTENTS
President Travis Phillips, Austin
from Our EXECUTIVE Director ................................................5
Vice President Earl Matthew, Rockport Treasurer Wayne Graham, Austin Secretary Pat Y. Spillman, Jr., Houston
Honing My Elevator Speech
A Force for NATURE ........................................................................7 Remembering Terry Hershey
#TX16IN16 ...............................................................................................14 The Baumgardner Family Visits All of Texas’ National Parks
UPCOMING EVENTS...........................................................................16 Come hang out with us this Spring
Past-President P. Michael Jung, Dallas Neel Baumgardner, Austin Michael Grimes, Austin Scott Moorhead, Austin Adam Jochelson, Dallas Eileen McKee, Dallas Janell Morgan, Dallas Larry Autrey, Dallas Robert J. O’Kennon, Fort Worth
Staff Executive Director Mark Steinbach, Ph.D. Stewardship Director Stephen Ramirez Stewardship Director Leigh Stuemke Development Director Amber Arseneaux Director of Partnerships & Outreach Ashley Lovell, Ph.D.
Our Mission:
Texas Land Conservancy protects the iconic landscapes of Texas for Present & future generations.
This magazine is a benefit to TLC members. To become a member please visit our website: texaslandconservancy.org/support-tlc/donate
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From our Executive Director
Honing my Elevator Speech With Help from some Bald Eagles... I’m often asked what I do for a living. As a follow-up, people often ask what it is exactly that Texas Land Conservancy does. The land trust movement has been gaining ground here in Texas and across the nation, but like many other land trusts, at TLC we often struggle to explain in simple terms how conservation works on the ground. Often, when I give my elevator speech about our work, and the land trust model, people nod their heads but take on a bit of a puzzled expression. I recently toured our newest project, Willow Glen Plantation, with a reporter. When I described the project and how important our work is on the whole I got that familiar head nod. However, after spotting bald eagles, white ibis, turtles, alligators and too many others species to count, I could tell that my message had made an impact. I wish I had the opportunity and time to share these experiences with a wider audience. Nothing beats experiencing a healthy ecosystem. It helps us to personally appreciate not only the wildlife we protect, but also the habitat and water resources that have untold benefits for all of us. The Columbia Bottomlands is a region of Texas that some might be unfamiliar with; to others it is a well-known ecological gem southwest of Houston. This unparalled migratory bird habitat sits at the intersection of the Brazos River and the Gulf of Mexico. It is a landscape of bayous, bottomland hardwoods, and abundant wildlife. In this issue, we have the full story of this new acquisition. We are very grateful for the generosity of the landowners, and the support of a special program through the state of Texas to encourage land conservation by landowners. I’m extremely proud of all of our work, but particularly so of this project. Over four years in the making, this was a long fought victory.
Most importantly our work would not be possible without the generous support of our many members. My hope is that our newsletters, monthly guided hikes, and social media can offer a glimpse of the importance and beauty of our work so you can appreciate what we do and why we do it. We are pleased to call you our friend and partner. Thank you for championing our mission.
Mark Steinbach, Ph.D Executive Director
Spring/Summer 2017
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Board Member Book Review
Land is My...
Review by Scott Moorhead
If you’re reading this, it’s a safe bet you’re invested in humanity’s impact on the natural world. I just put down The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, by Elizabeth Kolbert, which walks the reader through thirteen anecdotes (i.e. ocean acidification, history of theories of extinction) arranged to underscore the extent of mankind’s worldwide footprint. Conclusively, in today’s Anthropocene, or the industrial human age, humanity is orchestrating, in short order, the sixth major extinction in the planet’s history. It’s an incredibly worthwhile read. The writing is straightforward, the pacing and sequencing logical. The author avoids professorial prose, allowing the reader to draw conclusions based on the many subject matter experts (oceanographers, paleontologists, geographers, biochemists, and on and on) she visits in the field to document how humanity is changing the world,
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In Memorium
Announcements
and how these scientific disciplines can measure those changes. Though I enjoyed each of the chapters, one (“Islands on Dry Land”) deals with land fragmentation in a way that chills a conservationist’s heart. A thirty-year experiment (the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, or BDFFP) in Brazil looks at the effects of land fragmentation and change (through road building, deforestation, development, etc.) on species diversity and resilience. The results are troubling. Islands—whether natural or manmade, water- or land-based—tend to be species poor. Moreover, small populations created by geographical isolation tend toward less diversity over time—think genetic bottlenecking, and greater hazard of catastrophic loss. In other words, localized extinctions become more common, and can lead to regional extinctions, then global.
In one example, she notes a species of bird that, for whatever reason, seems disinclined to fly over new road clearings, jeopardizing its capacity to repopulate an area, even after cessation of human activity. It’s an important reminder of how direct our impacts can be. Big picture, the book is an accessible exhortation to all of us examine the pace at which we are changing our world. It’s a sobering reminder of the importance of good science and the need for empiricism and a long view in our public policy. More viscerally, it’s a kick in the rear for all of us to reup on our efforts to conserve and care for our local and global communities through our deeds, words, and spirit.
Scott Moorhead is one of TLC’s newest board members. He is based in Austin and he holds a Master’s in Energy and Earth Resources from the Jackson School of Geosciences at UT-Austin.
What do mountain unicycling, bird photography and river snorkeling have in common? They are just a few of the ways that Stephen Ramirez enjoys the lands and waters of Texas. Stephen’s video, “Land is My Life,” won the grand prize in the inaugural LandisMy.org video contest. We are incredibly proud of Stephen — and thrilled to be the recipients of the $10,000 grand prize. (Stephen donated his personal prize of $4,000 to the San Marcos River Foundation, an environmental nonprofit.) The video contest has generated a whole new spring of enthusiasm and support for Texas Land Conservancy.
A Force for Nature Terry Hershey, environmental champion, passes away at 94
Terry Hershey, a famous environmentalist who prevented Buffalo Bayou from being channelized and stripped of its natural beauty, died on January 19th at the age of 94.
of its natural beauty, with help from oilman George Mitchell, Hershey convinced then Freshman Congressman George H.W. Bush to ask that funding be withdrawn.
Hershey is widely credited with jump-starting the environmental movement in Houston, by fighting the reviled Buffalo Bayou project in the 1960s.
From this now legendary conservation victory, Terry Hershey founded numerous organizations dedicated to environmental protection, including the Bayou Preservation Association, Citizens Who Care, The Citizen’s Environmental Coalition, The Park People and Urban Harvest. Additionally, she and Jake founded the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation which is largely dedicated to conservation.
Terry and her husband Jake made their home in Houston along Buffalo Bayou and it was there that her life’s work in defense of the environment began. Shortly after their marriage, the U.S. Congress approved funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to clear all natural vegetation from the banks of the Bayou, straighten its meanders, and line it with cement. Incensed at the prospect of the destruction
We are grateful for the continued support from the Hershey Foundation - we are proud to continue her conservation legacy.
What will we do with the grand prize winnings? We will put them to good use protecting the land, water and wildlife habitat that we all hold dear. We look forward to building on Stephen’s video and finding new ways and media to reach people across the state.
Thank you again to Stephen for choosing us
as the recipients of the grand prize winnings, and to the Land Trust Alliance for igniting our efforts to expand our conservation efforts.
Photo courtesy of the Houston Chronicle
Spring/Summer 2017
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Top Notch in the Bottomlands “This project represents the largest privately conserved property in the Columbia Bottomlands and the largest project that the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation program has ever protected.” -Mark Steinbach, Executive Director of TLC
Photos courtesy of Leigh Stuemke and Stephen Ramirez
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he Columbia Bottomlands in southeast Texas are home to some of the nation’s most iconic species. American alligators glide through the swampy waters, nesting Bald Eagles make their home in the upper branches of live oak trees along the Brazos River, and hundreds of thousands of migrating birds stopover in this rich wetland ecosystem to refuel after their grueling treks across the globe every year. These open, healthy lands are precious, and they are rapidly disappearing. “Lands that were once thousands of acres of continuous farms and ranches are now broken up into smaller and smaller lots, for commercial and residential development. With this fragmentation comes a destruction of wildlife habitat, decreased water quality for the rivers and streams that flow into the Gulf, and the loss of the beautiful wide-open views that give Texas her character,” argues Dr. Roel Lopez, Director for the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources.
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Flanked by the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge and the Brazoria National Wildlife refuge, the Columbia Bottomlands is a unique ecosystem and an ecological treasure. As with many rural areas that are close to urban centers, the Bottomlands are at risk of becoming overrun. “Houston is the second fastest growing city in the nation, and as the population grows, so does the development pressure on the areas surrounding the city,” said Dr. Lopez, who is the authority on land use changes happening across the state. TLC recently completed a conservation easement at Willow Glen Plantation in the Colombia Bottomlands that protects nearly 3,000 acres of pristine habitat in this precious ecosystem. This conservation agreement will ensure that the ecologically sensitive wetlands will be protected from encroaching development of the suburban sprawl of nearby Houston.
We began our discussions with the owners of the Willow Glen Plantation began in 2012. The family sought to ensure that this environmentally sensitive land, would be protected forever. After years of conversations, negotiations with federal funding agencies and legal preparations, the family decided the best way to protect Willow Glen Plantation is with a conservation easement. This project was funded through a combination of a grant with the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation program, a donation by the landowners, and support from the Houston Endowment. These kinds of transactions take a lot of time and careful thought, but in the end the effort is more than worth it. The lower Brazos River and the Columbia Bottomlands are a high priority for TLC, and this is one of the most significant conservation projects our organization has completed.
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I spoke with Chuck and Dorothy about their hopes and dreams for the ranch, and Chuck’s connection with this place. We talked about their journey to restore the health of the ranch and the small steps they are taking every day to make big changes in the long term. TLC: Chuck, tell us about your experiences growing up – how did they shape your land stewardship ethic? Chuck: We lived in the heart of Fort Worth when I was really young and then moved out to the far west side where cattle grazed out our back door. That changed quickly however, the area developed overnight. I always felt that something was lost when houses replaced open pastures. I always had a desire to have a piece of property to get away. TLC: How did you decide you wanted to buy Chalk Mountain Ranch?
Interview by Ashley Lovell, cover photo by Stephen Ramirez
Native & Wild Chuck Snakard and his wife Dorothy have a lot of work on their hands. In 1994 they bought their property, Chalk Mountain Preserve, because of the spectacular views from the upland ridge called Chalk Mountain. Since then, the Snakards have built a house that fits the landscape, with Texas limestone and a metal roof, and they have installed a rainwater cistern. Initially, the Snakards faced some of the typical problems many landowners have experienced like overgrazing, oak wilt, and invasive weeds. These challenges didn’t faze them. Chuck said, “I wanted a place I could work on.”
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Chuck: When we first saw this property we were not impressed. It had been grazed down to the dirt. There were some juniper and dirt, but generally it was just a mess. We left the property, not intent on buying it, but I kept thinking about the view and the canyon. I realized I kinda liked that piece of property. Dorothy: I said, if that’s what you want, you should get it. I couldn’t see the vision for it like he did, but he has done wonders with the land. The property is unrecognizable from when we first saw it. TLC: How did you start to rehabilitate the land? Chuck: The first thing we did was get the cattle off the property. An NRCS agent visited the property and made many helpful suggestions. I’ve never been a patient man, but its true, nature doesn’t move as fast as you might want it to. We have owned this
property for 22 years and I finally feel like we are making progress. TLC: In your estimation, what does a healthy ranch look like? What progress are you most proud of? Chuck: Now there are a lot of native bunch grasses. They are 2-3 feet tall. Before we started this there were no tall grasses, they had been grazed to the ground. Now we have more of it and less woody vegetation. We used to have a lot of juniper, anywhere from 6 inches to 4 feet tall. Now we have expanses that are nothing but grasses and forbes. I worked with the Texas Forest Service and planted trees, creating a wildlife corridor so that animals can move from the front to the back of the property. We are now growing acorns in pots. They are one year old now. If you’re planting trees at my age you’re very optimistic about the future. This is a special property – it is a piece of the Texas landscape that feels native and wild, where I can go and get away from the city. It is meditative to go out there. Nature is bigger than us – it restores our sense of equilibrium. TLC: What are your biggest challenges managing this property? Chuck: My fear is that if people are left to their own devices they will just pave over the entire state. I just wanted to try to not have that happen to a piece of property that I worked hard on and have it be there for many generations. The things that give me heartburn are the invasive species. I can live with the amount of juniper, but the KR and the Johnson grass are getting out of hand. There are parts of it I don’t get to for weeks or months. I’d like to have more land, but frankly its about all I can handle. Spring/Summer 2017
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“There is an unreasonable joy to be had from the observation of small birds going about their bright, oblivious business.” ― Grant Hutchison, The Complete Lachlan
Cheep Entertainment Migratory Birds Fly Through TLC properties
r
emember when tweeting was just something songbirds did?
If you’re in need of some digital downtime, then put down that smart phone and pick up your binoculars. Every year, thousands of birders, from amateurs to professionals, flock to Texas to catch a glimpse of some of the incredible birds that call our state home. While birding is great in our state throughout the year, the Spring and Fall are our peak migratory times. TLC protects over 90,000 acres of ideal habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. From the green vistas of the Hill Country to the cypress swamps of the Pineywoods, we save the places that our feathered friends need to thrive. While most of the
land that we protect is privately -owned, we often have the opportunity to visit these farms and ranches to experience awesome birding in the wild.
On April 22nd, in honor of Earth Day, we are hosting a birding hike at Los Rincones preserve in Kerr County, near Kerrville. The hike will start at 8:30am so we can take advantage of the earlymorning prime birding hours. The hike will last for two hours and will feature interpretation from Master Naturalists and professional birders. Stewardship Director, Stephen Ramirez, is atalented birder and nature photographer – ask him for tips and tricks for best bird watching practices!
Los Rincones is a beautiful 130-acre preserve that was protected with TLC in 1988. The previous owners of the property, John and Karen Galley, generously gifted the ranch to TLC as part of their will. With it’s rolling hills and vistas, the ranch is an excellent location for a hike. The preserve protects prime habitat for the golden-cheeked warbler and the black-capped vireo. The Galleys were avid birders and passionate conservationists and TLC is very lucky to steward this special piece of the Hill Country.
For questions and to RSVP please contact Stephen Ramirez at Stephen@texaslandconservancy.org
just a few of the migratory species you might see while visiting Los Rincones
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Photo courtesy of Stephen Ramirez
Golden-Cheeked Warbler Setophaga chrysoparia
PURPLE MARTIN Progne subis
BLACK-CAPPED VIREO Vireo atricapilla
This beautiful songbird only breeds in Central Texas! They prefer to nest and feed on juniper (cedar). Early migrants, these birds generally arrive in mid-March and migrate away in August.
Graceful in flight, musical in its pre-dawn singing, this big swallow is one of our most popular birds. Before migrating south in the winter, they may gather to roost in groups of thousands in late summer.
This little vireo only nests in Texas and Oklahoma, and it is often subject to nest predation by cowbirds. Listen for its musical calls early in the morning. * illustrations courtesy of The Sibley Guide to Birds
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#TX16in16
The Baumgardner Family’s Trek Across Texas for the NPS Centennail Interview by Ashley Lovell, Photos courtesy of the Baumgardner Family
The Baumgardner family really like parks. Last year, for the National Park Service (NPS) centennial, Neel, Lauren, Emma and Claire made it their mission to visit all 16 National Park units in Texas. They came up with the hashtag #TX16in16 to document their trip and shared photos on Instagram and Twitter. While some teen and pre-teen girls may cringe at the thought of road trips with their parents to educational spots like the homestead of Lyndon B. Johnson, Emma and Claire don’t seem to mind spending time learning about mammoths, throwing atlatls, or swimming in the Rio Grande. The girls come by their love of the great outdoors naturally - their dad, Neel Baumgardner, an environmental historian, teaches at UT San Antonio and writes about the history of the National Parks. Neel is also Texas Land Conservancy’s newest board member. We are thrilled to have his expertise and historical knowledge to help us gain a broader understanding of the context of land conservation in our great state. I recently sat down with Neel and discussed the history of the creation of Big Bend National Park. Neel told me that in the 1930s Roger Toll, former superintendent of Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone parks, had the enviable job of travelling around Texas and
researching which spots were ripe for preservation. Because of Toll’s advocacy (and the work of many others) places such as the San Antonio missions, Padre Island, and Big Bend have all been protected by the NPS for the benefit of future generations. With Toll’s legacy in mind, Neel and his family travelled around Texas visiting sites of ecological, historical and cultural significance. While they hopped from one site to another throughout the year, Neel often thought about the history of the Park units and their current state: considering the context of their protection and what challenges they face today. Public lands face an uncertain future. Learning how and why these special places were set aside might help us continue to protect them today. I asked Neel to share his favorite Texas national park story and he told me about his family’s visit to Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument in the Panhandle. This site was a Paleoindian flint quarry. The high quality, rainbow -hued Alibates flint is found in sites throughout North America, indicating that it was highly prized by the Paleoindian people. The family visited Alibates twice; the first time their explorations were rained out, which ended up being an excellent opportunity for them to learn from Park Ranger, Jacob Collins, who was
working at the information center. Jacob is Cherokee and does interpretation at Alibates. Jacob showed Emma and Claire how to fashion arrowheads, how to throw an atlatl, how to shoot a bow and arrow, and even how to make a friction fire to warm up on a overcast spring day. This had such a big impact on Claire that she is now on the archery team at school. Emma later joined the Youth Presidential Leadership Council at the LBJ National Historical Park. Jacob took the family through the whole Paleoindian experience in one day - connecting them to the history of this place and to the land through interpretation. In October, the Baumgardners went back and visited Alibates when the sun was shining. This time they explored the pit dwellings and found petroglyphs on a rock overhanging the Canadian River where the Paleoindians worked the flint to make it into arrows and other tools. Jacob led the tour again, sharing his knowledge of the Paleoindian culture and helping the family to form personal connections to the history of this stunning park. Neel said, “The best teachers, like Jacob, can really bring history alive by showing how people lived, worked through problems, and adapted to their environment.”
Photos clockwise from top left
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1. Claire learning archery skills with Jacob at Alibates NM
3. The flag flying at half mast at Fort Davis National Historic Site
5. Emma and Claire taking in the views
2. Emma at Fort Davis, celebrating another #TX16in16
4. The whole family at the Alibate Flint Quarries National Monument
6. Lauren, Claire and Emma at Waco Mammoth National Monument Spring/Summer 2017
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P.O. Box 162481 Austin, TX 78716 512.301.6363 www.texaslandconservancy.org
Nonprofit Org US POSTAGE PAID Austin, Texas Permit No. 258
SPRING EVENTS CALENDAR TEXAS LAND CONSERVANCY Guided Hill Country Hike April 22 Los Rincones Preserve Kerrville, TX Dogwood Trails Festival April 1-2 Ivy Payne Wildlife Preserve Palestine, TX Bluebonnet Trails Festival & Wildflower Hikes April 7-9 Kachina Prairie Ennis, TX
Guided Hill Country Hike May 13 Birk-Sommerfeld Heritage Ranch Llano, TX National Trails Day June 3 Oak Cliff Nature Preserve Dallas, TX Beer For Water August 28 Oskar Blues Brewery MakeCAN a Difference Monday Austin, TX