2020 Successes in the Hill Country
There is nothing more exciting than wrapping up a great conservation project, and Texas Land Conservancy finalized three of them in the Hill Country during 2020. Silencio, Danner, and Baradhi ranches make up 1,743 acres of beautiful and diverse habitats. Each one plays an important role in protecting water quality and quantity, plants and animals who call it home, and scenic open space for the benefit of all Texans.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. Donating a conservation easement is one of the greatest contributions to land preservation that a landowner can make. Hats off to all of those who have been willing and able to make that choice for the legacy of their land.
Silencio Ranch, 786 acres
Donated Conservation Easement
This ranch in Bandera county is in the Medina River watershed, which is one of TLC’s priority areas! Diverse oak-hardwood slope forests occur on the steep hillsides with several oak species, Texas madrone, and escarpment black cherry trees among many others. The uplands are actively managed as an oak-savanna which supports diverse grasses like little bluestem, switchgrass, yellow Indiangrass, and Lindheimer’s muhly. The rugged and rocky limestone terrain with a total elevation range over 420-ft ensures no shortage of dramatic and scenic vistas to admire with caves and springs to boot!
Baradhi Ranch, 523 acres
Donated Conservation Easement
With the completion of the Baradhi Ranch project, Menard county now has its first conservation easement! This property lies within the western half of the Edwards Plateau woodland ecoregion which is a little bit dryer, flatter, and all the trees are just a little bit shorter than the Balcones Canyonlands to the south and east. Do you know who likes to take advantage of that shrubbier habitat? Black-capped vireos of course! Plants and wildlife can rest easy knowing this open space in the San Saba River watershed is protected forever. We hope this progress will encourage other landowners in the area to follow suit.
Danner Ranch, 435 acres
Endangered Species Bank
Lost Maples State Natural Area, the 2,906 acre preserve in Bandera and Real counties has a new neighbor, and it’s the best kind of neighbor! The Danner Ranch is 435 acres of endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat bank adjoining the iconic Lost Maples SNA and is now protected forever thanks to TLC and our partners at Bandera Corridor Conservation Bank (BCCB). High quality Golden-cheeked Warbler nesting habitat includes a mixture of mature ashe-juniper trees for shaggy bark nesting material and an abundance of healthy oak/deciduous trees as a source of insects for food. Remember, the Golden-cheeked Warbler is the only bird species whose population nests entirely in the state of Texas, so it is important that we continue to protect their habitat. The steep juniper-oak woodlands throughout the canyons share the iconic characteristics of Lost Maples SNA including the Bigtooth Maple trees known for their vibrant fall colors.
