Three Miles of Colorado River Protected Forever
Texas Land Conservancy is excited to announce the permanent protection of two new properties and extend a warm welcome to the Tait Ranches as they join our growing portfolio! These beautiful ranches in Colorado County are two adjacent tracts of the historic Tait Ranch and combine for an amazing 1,628 acres (856 and 772 acres respectively)! They have become the first two permanent conservation easements for Colorado County and are in the company of the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, the nearest conservation area at 10 miles.
Both properties lie along a 3-mile bend of the Colorado River and through their conservation, help protect a crucial water source. We are thrilled that these heirs of the Tait family have chosen to conserve and protect these unique and scenic ranches for future generations.
The History
The Tait Ranches were part of the historic 8,500-acre family-owned plantation established by Charles William Tait in the 1840’s, the ancestor of the landowners. Historically, the ranches produced cotton, corn and lime. In its more recent history, and currently, the properties support modest cattle and hay operations. Large gravel mining operations occurred throughout the area in the mid-20th century, including small portions of the ranches, and have been restored to serve as unique artificial wetlands. Discovering historic and prehistoric artifacts is one of the family’s favorite past-times and the family cemetery, which includes Charles William Tait’s gravesite, is on one of the ranches as well.
The Habitat
Situated in south-central Colorado County, the Tait Ranches encompass a wide variety of habitats, from bottomland and floodplain forested areas associated with the Colorado River and its tributaries, coastal prairie grasslands, post oak savannas, and post oak woodlands. By protecting these unique and diverse ecological treasures we are safeguarding habitats for the diverse, and in some cases protected, species of wildlife native to the area.
The Water
Along with the important plant communities, the topography and hydrology of the ranches is also quite novel and scenic. A 3-mile bend in the Colorado river makes up the eastern boundaries of both properties. The scenic and wooded bluffs towering over the river will be protected forever. Additionally, McKenzie Creek runs through both ranches and deposits into the Colorado river.
Stock ponds, natural depressions, and the restored gravel pits provide an abundance of enduring and temporary wetlands throughout the properties. These series of unique wetlands and riverine systems serve as habitat for a wide variety of wildlife species.
The Wildlife
The Tait ranches are hosts to a long list of native Texas wildlife species. The section of Colorado River along the properties is recognized for its important species of mollusks (Texas Fawnsfoot, a proposed Threatened Species, and Texas Pimpleback, a proposed endangered species), a wide range of birds (Bald Eagle, and the Little Blue Heron, a Bird of Conservation Concern), and many fish species ( American River Eel, a Texas Species of Greatest Conservation Need, and the Blue Sucker, a Texas State Threatened species). Other beloved Texas wildlife supported by the properties include, White-tail deer, armadillo, a variety of snakes, lizards, turtles, and frogs. Through the protection of these two historic ranches, we help ensure that the habitat these wildlife species rely on is protected for generations to come.
Help protect more properties like this across the state!
Texas Land Conservancy could not do this important conservation work without our members, partners, and supporters. With your support, we can work with more landowners and protect more land across the state from the negative effects of land fragmentation and poorly-planned development.