HOUSTON, November 12, 2019 – Katy Prairie Conservancy’s “Putting Down Roots” event this past weekend brought together 150 volunteers for this annual planting event at Indiangrass Preserve on the Katy Prairie, west of Houston. On a cool and sunny Saturday morning, people of all ages and backgrounds worked together to transplant nearly 650 native prairie plants to help restore prairie habitat.
The goal of “Putting Down Roots” is to enhance and maintain the restoration of the Indiangrass Preserve. This program has a strong education component, teaching volunteers about the value of land conservation and the deep roots that the prairie has in local culture, recreation, and the economic development of our region.
“We were thrilled with the turnout for this important yearly planting which demonstrates the importance of native plants in restoring and maintaining the Katy Prairie,” says Ali Dodson, Advancement Director for KPC. “We are stewards of preserving the coastal prairie for people and for wildlife, but education is also a key component in KPC’s mission. Events such as “Putting Down Roots” are ideal opportunities to educate, while getting people out of the house and engaged with nature in tangible ways.”
Dodson notes that several organizations contributed to the success of the event, including Waller County Game Warden Michael Blevins, Natural Resources Conservation Services representative Karissa Graves and corporate partners REI and Trader Joe’s. Graves demonstrated the water absorption capacity of native grasses with a rainfall simulator, REI provided information about other ways to get out and connect with nature across Texas, and Trader Joe’s provided snacks for volunteers.
Katy Prairie Conservancy’s education programs, which take place on the prairie and in town, provide an opportunity for young and old alike to learn about the prairie’s history, its rich biodiversity, and its role in shaping our region and culture. Visitor amenities such as KPC’s Wildlife Viewing Platform at Warren Lake and the Ann Hamilton Trail at Indiangrass Preserve enable the public to experience the Katy Prairie first-hand.
Visit katyprairie.org to learn about events and opportunities to be involved.
About Katy Prairie Conservancy
The Katy Prairie Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust dedicated to preserving the coastal prairie for people and wildlife. For Houston, the Katy Prairie Preserve is the right prairie in the right place. These protected lands west of the city play an important role in flood control, outdoor recreation, and wildlife habitat. But there is still prairie that remains unprotected. Our work is not done. To learn more about Katy Prairie Conservancy’s conservation efforts, visit katyprairie.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @katyprairie.
Some 150 volunteers of all ages came out to the Katy Prairie Conservancy’s Indiangrass Preserve to transplant native prairie plants to help restore the coastal prairie west of Houston during “Putting Down Roots.” Photos by T. Kibodeaux.