Text by Sandra Meineke
If you’ve lived in the Katy area for very long, you’ve probably heard about the Katy Prairie. But, like me, you may have wondered
just where it is and what
’s so special about it. After all, those of us who grew up along the Gulf Coast
consider all this flatland to be prairie.
According to the Katy Prairie Conservancy Web site, the “Katy Prairie is an irreplaceable remnant of a historic tall-grass prairie that
once extended from the Gulf Coast up through Canada...the Katy Prairie
originally encompassed between 500,000 and 750,000 acres west of what is now
Loop 610 to the Brazos River...bounded by U.S. 290 on the north and FM 1093 on
the south....Less than 200,000 acres of the Katy Prairie remain today.
”
Once a sea of 6-foot grasses, interspersed with wetlands and a home to hundreds
of species of birds, mammals, insects and reptiles, much of the original Katy
Prairie has been lost to urban growth. Between 1978 and 1983 alone, 100,000
acres of the Katy Prairie were converted for residential, industrial and retail
use as the city of Houston spread westward. Only 17,500 acres of the remaining
prairie are protected. It is the Katy Prairie Conservancy
’s goal to protect 30,000 to 60,000 acres. “The population of greater Houston needs that balance to offset the constant
growth,
” said Mary Anne Piacentini, executive director of KPC.
Although much of the original grassland has disappeared along with many of the
birds and mammals native to the land, the area is still home to one of the
largest populations of migratory waterfowl in the United States, as well as
many species of flora and fauna
—both indigenous and non-indigenous.
Bird’s Eye View
I got my first look at the Katy Prairie by way of the 6,500-acre Warren Ranch in
Waller County, just north of the city of Katy. A working ranch, the Warren
Ranch is KPC
’s largest preserve. The conservancy purchased a majority interest in the ranch
in 2004. Much of the protected land of the Katy Prairie is in the Waller area,
not Katy, but at least 50 percent of visitors and 20 percent of conservancy
volunteers are from the Katy area, Piacentini said. Other preserves include the
1,700-acre Nelson Farms, a working farm, and the 10-acre Williams Prairie
Preserve. All are open to the public on a limited basis.
My hosts and guides on the ranch tour were biologists and nature-lovers Bob and
Maggie Honig. Bob, an environmental consultant and KPC board member, says he
has been interested in nature since witnessing a migration of geese when he was
a boy growing up in New York. He has a bachelor
’s and master’s degree in biology. He began his career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Department. Maggie has a science background as well, with three science
degrees, one in biology. Her career includes the Houston Arboretum, a municipal
parks department, and M.D. Anderson Health Science Center. She is a dedicated
KPC volunteer.
The Warren Ranch has been in the Warren family since the 1890s. Jim Warren, one
of the heirs to the ranch and ranch manager, was trying to find a way to save
the land when the opportunity arose to partner with the conservancy.
“KPC’s overall philosophy is to preserve open space for wildlife habitat. That fits
with my desire to save the land,
” said Warren.
Touring with the Honigs was an amazing experience. Their enthusiasm is
contagious, and their knowledge of plant and animal life awe-inspiring. Armed
with high-powered binoculars, a telephoto lens, and an arsenal of wildlife lore
committed to memory, they finish each other
’s sentences while simultaneously locating and naming one species after another
in rapid-fire sequence. They spotted innumerable wildlife species while I was
still searching the landscape trying to keep up. Even with my untrained eye, I
was able to locate meadowlarks, great blue herons, geese, killdeer, starlings,
doves, chickadees, hawks and tiny ants called leaf-cutters. (Actually, all I
could see was the leaf, which was several times the size of the ant carrying
it.) There is plenty to see on the ranch, even for people new to
nature-watching. During a Christmas Day Bird-a-thon on the ranch, the Honigs
identified 95 species of birds.
Warren Lake
One of the most popular spots on the ranch for visitors is Warren Lake. “Pelicans are regular visitors on the lake,” Bob said. “There are lots of species of birds, plants and insects around the lake. The lake
is really popular to birders and naturalists because there is always something
to see.
” The conservancy is in the design stages of building a wildlife viewing platform
100 feet from the lake inside the gated trails area. Completion is planned for
the middle of the year. The platform will be open four days a week.
“Our goal is to get more people on the land but still protect the ranch,” Piacentini said.
Recharge
Maggie says one of the best reasons to come to the Katy Prairie is to see the
history of the area.
“You can connect yourself and your family with the area where you live that you don’t get to see all the time,” she said. “It’s also a great learning experience,” Bob adds, “a chance to help preserve a piece of nature.”
Piacentini, who admits to having outdoor allergies, still loves to go out on the
prairie.
“The beauty of the ranch is just the wonder of being out there. It’s so quiet and peaceful. You really do recharge. You don’t have to be a birdwatcher or a naturalist to just enjoy the experience,” she said.
“It’s very exciting at the field office right now,” Piacentini said. “There is an interpretive garden, and we are in the process of converting 2,500
square feet to native prairie in the front part of the field office preserve so
that people can see what it (originally) looked like.
” Every Friday is open trails day at the field office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Opportunities for Involvement
As with most nonprofits, the Katy Prairie Conservancy is always in need of
financial donations and volunteers.
“Donations are always the most important thing, but we need people to know why
the Katy Prairie is important, to see it and believe in it, to care about it,
” Piacentini said. “We have events and activities all the time. We want people to come to them. Call
us. Get the quarterly calendar off the Web site. Come see what we
’re all about and get involved—financially and by volunteering.”
“There are so many ways of helping,” Bob said, “the plant nursery, working with people, teaching, whatever is your passion. And
no experience is necessary.
”
New volunteer orientation is scheduled periodically at the field office. And
seed growing kits of native grasses for home gardeners who would like to help
restore the prairie are available now. Contact the conservancy office for more
information.
A listing of all upcoming and ongoing events and activities can be found at, www.katyprairie.org. Piacentini strongly suggests getting directions to the field office off the Web
site. Computer map programs won
’t get you there.
