HOUSTON, January 24, 2018 – The protection of Spread Oaks Ranch is the first time that the Katy Prairie Conservancy has ventured beyond the historic Katy Prairie to protect critical coastal prairie and wetlands in Texas.
The owner of Spread Oaks Ranch donated a voluntary conservation agreement to the Katy Prairie Conservancy, which will ensure that the conservation values of these lands will be protected forever. The 5,332-acre ranch, located in Matagorda County on the banks of the Colorado River, is a beautiful expanse of native prairie grasslands, wetlands, and woodlands. The open prairies are intermittently punctuated by beautiful live oaks, some of which are over 100 years old. The limbs of the oaks reach from the enormous trunks, sometimes touching the earth before stretching further. It is clear where the ranch gets its name.
The ranch sits on the western bank of more than five miles of the Colorado River; a bald eagles’ nest overlooks the river, and the resident pair of eagles fish from its waters. Blue Creek meanders through the ranch for two and a half miles before it meets the Colorado River at an intersection surrounded by native hardwood trees and frequented by native wildlife that drink from its waters.
Forrest Wylie, a self-made energy entrepreneur, made his initial purchase of the Morrow Ranch in 2012, added neighboring Cuenca Ranch in 2014 and finally acquired the LeTulle Ranch in 2015. The three were combined to create the 5,332-acre Spread Oaks Ranch. Mr. Wylie was interested in keeping the land intact, and he knew that a conservation easement, a voluntary agreement with a land trust, would be the only way to ensure it would never be subdivided and remain in its natural state for many generations to come.
The ranch hosts cattle ranching, hunting, and conventional and organic farming, in addition to providing areas of wetlands and wildlife habitat. The ranch hosts a welcoming lodge for overnight visitors, including separate casitas so each guest has his or her own space. The limestone structures are nestled next to a small lake, and the stone patio is the perfect place to enjoy a morning cup of coffee and view the sunrise over the lake. The lodge provides special hunts, great food, and a chance to see spectacular scenery as well as many different species of migratory birds. The lodge provides an additional income source for the ranch, as well as incentive to maintain the wildlife values on the property.
Bill Stransky at Texas Rice Industry Coalition for the Environment (Texas R.I.C.E.) introduced Mr. Wylie to the Katy Prairie Conservancy. “I knew that this property was special, and it had so many features that are valued by the Katy Prairie Conservancy. I considered Spread Oaks a ‘must-save’ tract,” said Stransky. Wesley Newman, Conservation Director for Katy Prairie Conservancy, could not agree more. On Wesley Newman’s first visit to the Spread Oaks Ranch, he was wowed by the native prairie. “There are so few acres remaining of the Texas Coastal Prairie. When we saw this undisturbed land — with abundant native grasses such as switchgrass and Indiangrass, as well as a mosaic of prairie wetlands — we knew it was land that we needed to help protect.”
As an accredited land trust that not only holds easements, but also owns and operates nearly 14,000 acres of land on the Katy Prairie, the Katy Prairie Conservancy is familiar with practices that balance wildlife needs and viable agricultural operations, including sustainable grazing. “We were impressed with the management practices applied at Spread Oaks, and we share a common interest in working lands that also support critical wildlife habitat,” says Newman.
Collaborations with Texas R.I.C.E., Ducks Unlimited, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Resources Conservation Service, and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department have resulted in the construction and enhancement of over 1,300 acres of wetlands for improved waterfowl habitat on Spread Oaks Ranch. Flocks of mottled ducks, northern pintail, and reddish egrets winter at the ranch and are seen roosting, wading and dabbling in search of food. Numerous resident and migratory grassland birds are seen flitting in and out of the native grasses and foraging near rare prairie wetland plants.
The Katy Prairie Conservancy was formed over 25 years ago and has focused on protecting the historic Katy Prairie west of Houston, with protected properties in Waller, Harris, and Fort Bend Counties. The Katy Prairie is part of the Texas Coastal Prairie ecosystem, which extends south of Corpus Christi in Texas to east of Lafayette, Louisiana. As Mary Anne Piacentini, President of the Katy Prairie Conservancy explains, “The Texas Coastal Prairie formerly encompassed 6.5 million acres. Today, less than 1% of these lands are in their pristine state with another 15 to 20% in grasslands that may be restored to their natural state. The opportunity to preserve coastal prairie on this scale is significant, and we are excited to extend protections to this valuable ecosystem.”
Not all landowners want to sell their land, but many want to ensure that they preserve their land in perpetuity – whether for their families or for future generations or for future buyers. When entering into a conservation easement with a land trust, the landowner agrees to maintain the land as ranchland or wildlife habitat forever and ensure that the conservation values of the land will be maintained in perpetuity. Conservation easements can be donated or sold and do not require public access. Donated conservation easements often have economic benefits for the landowner, including federal income and estate tax savings. To date, the Katy Prairie Conservancy has protected over 8,500 acres through either donated or purchased conservation easements.
The conservation easement on Spread Oaks Ranch was made possible through a generous donation from Forrest Wylie, and partial funding for this project was provided by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department through the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program. Texas Parks & Wildlife selected the protection of Spread Oaks Ranch as their highest priority project from the many proposals received. Katy Prairie Conservancy also received support from the Texas Land Trust Council to defray closing costs.
Due to the collaborative efforts of State, private, and non-profit parties working together, Spread Oaks Ranch will be preserved as a legacy for future generations.
For more information, or to learn more about the conservation efforts of the Katy Prairie Conservancy, visit katyprairie.org. If you are interested in protecting your land through a conservation easement with the Katy Prairie Conservancy, contact Mary Anne Piacentini at 713.523.6135 ext 4003.