Grasslands protected on historic Katy Prairie
The property is adjacent to the nearly 19,000 acres of land that Coastal Prairie Conservancy has protected on the historic Katy Prairie Preserve west of the Greater Houston Metro Area.
The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Land Trust Alliance, its staff, its board of directors or any other individuals associated with the organization.
Rose-Marie Demourkas Towle, an accomplished artist, lives on her ranch in Brookshire in Waller County, Texas. Recently, in partnership with the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, she successfully completed a 110-acre conservation easement project adjacent to the historic Katy Prairie Preserve. This property is adjacent to the nearly 19,000 acres of land that Coastal Prairie Conservancy has protected on the historic Katy Prairie Preserve west of the Greater Houston Metro Area.
The Greater Houston area is experiencing significant development pressure. Houston’s growth is consuming thousands of acres of coastal prairie, and the loss of these lands threatens the well-being of people and wildlife in the region. The urgent need to conserve land in the Greater Houston area is real as the city continues to grow.
Funding for the easement was received from U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, through ACEP-ALE Grasslands of Special Significance. NRCS purchased the easement with Inflation Reduction Act funding, the largest investment in climate action in history.
Additional funding was provided by Bass Pro Shops philanthropic grants and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, the Galveston Bay Estuary Program – Conservation Assistance Program, Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program, Texas Land Trust Council, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation ConocoPhillips SPIRIT of Conservation Program.
In a region that is experiencing significant development pressure, this land will continue to support wildlife habitat as well as keep working farms and ranches in family hands forever.
“The opportunity to preserve the land through NRCS and the Coastal Prairie Conservancy made it an easy decision to abandon development and protect the land,” said Towle. “Together, the beautiful and pristine grass prairie is saved for cattle to roam and feed, birds to nest and even geese to rest in the low swallows of the land.”