The Coastal Prairie Conservancy

Here’s recent news from the Coastal Prairie Conservancy. Check out CPC’s website for places where you can get outside if you travel in the area!

News Release – January 22, 2024 – Houston, Texas

Coastal Prairie Conservancy Successfully Conserves Two Properties in Southeast Texas

The Coastal Prairie Conservancy (CPC) is delighted to announce the successful completion of two pivotal conservation easement projects—Flyway Farms and Brazos Tower. Strategically located in Matagorda County, these projects are integral to CPC’s long-term landscape conservation goals, contributing to the health of the region for present and future generations.

The 166-acre Flyway Farms along with the 75-acre Brazos Tower, adjacent to and near existing protected lands, expand the protected coastal prairie. These properties lie within a critical coastal zone, both less than 5 miles from Matagorda Bay. Both properties feature a diverse mix of coastal grasslands and wetlands, providing homes for various wildlife, including mottled ducks. The permanent protection of these tracts aligns with the organization’s strategic conservation plans and addresses the needs identified in various bird conservation initiatives.

Mary Anne Piacentini, President and CEO of Coastal Prairie Conservancy, expressed, “These conservation easement projects mark a significant stride toward our commitment to preserving coastal grasslands and wetlands. Flyway Farms and Brazos Tower are important additions to our preserved lands, promoting habitat conservation for resident and migratory birds while ensuring the health of Matagorda Bay.”

Piacentini added, “We are grateful for the partnership and generosity of these landowners and partners, making projects like these possible. The permanent protection of Flyway Farms and Brazos Tower contribute to the region’s biodiversity and help ensure a resilient future.”

These projects were funded through generous donations from the landowners, as well as philanthropic grants from the Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. As CPC celebrates the completion of these projects, the organization looks forward to continued collaboration, emphasizing the collective effort needed to enhance and secure the long-term conservation of vital lands in the Texas mid-coast region.

For more information, visit www.coastalprairieconservancy.org.

FYI: Copies of “Land Stewardship for Birds: A Guide for Central Texas” at the chapter meeting on Feb 8, 2024

image of book cover

We wanted to let you that February 8’s guest speakers, Rufus Stephens and Jan Wrede, will have copies of their book Land Stewardship for Birds: A Guide for Central Texas for sale after their presentation. Books are $50, payable by cash or check only.

See the meeting announcement for Feb 8 at this link for more information about our speakers, this month’s in-person location, and the Zoom link.


NPSOT-Williamson County meetings are free and open to the public. We hope you attend!  Meetings may be in person, virtual, or both, so be sure to check details in the meeting announcement. Meetings are announced on our website, our calendar and Facebook. See upcoming topics on our page Wilco Home or on our Calendar.

February 8 Chapter Meeting: “Land Stewardship for Birds and the Importance of Native Plant Communities” with Rufus Stephens and Jan Wrede

[Updated 01/22/2024 to add info about book sale.]

Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, February 8, 2024, when our featured topic will be “Land Stewardship for Birds and the Importance of Native Plant Communities” with Rufus Stephens and Jan Wrede.  Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.  Our guest speakers’ presentation begins after a short business meeting.

==> If you attend in person, we’re at the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd floor, 402 West 8th St, Georgetown, TX 78626.  Come early (6:30 PM) for expert advice, to check out the seed swap board, or just to visit.

==> To attend via Zoom, register at https://npsot-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtd–upjwiGNYYJIN_dT56MGzF23wZ-a_F#/registration

image of book cover

About our topic: Birds depend on the native plants in their natural habitats for their food, a place to nest and essential protection from weather and predators. Bird stewardship conservation is done by habitat. Thus, it is necessary to understand the plant composition of Central Texas’ healthy, natural habitats: woodlands and savannahs; grasslands; rivers and streams; canyons, springs, and seeps; constructed tanks, ponds, and lakes; plus, residential yards.

Nearly 50 years of data tells us that bird populations are declining at an alarming rate, but with thoughtful practices you can be an agent of change. Our presentation will summarize the basic principles of Land Stewardship for Birds in Central Texas, offer examples of native habitat types in this area, and cover environmental problems occurring west and east of IH35 with the most useful tools for addressing them.

Our speakers will have copies of their book for sale, Land Stewardship for Birds: A Guide for Central Texas. $50. Cash and check only.

About our speakers:

Rufus Stephens
Certified Wildlife Biologist, educator, and coauthor of Land Stewardship for Birds: A Guide for Central Texas published by TAMU Press; worked as a wildlife biologist for 35 years with 23 years at TPWD; his last position was as district leader for the 25 county Edwards Plateau Wildlife District; co-founder of the Texas Master Naturalist program and in recognition for this accomplishment is a co-recipient of the Wildlife Management Institute’s award for Innovation.

Jan Wrede
Environmental educator and writer; retired Director of Education and Citizen Science at the Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne; author Trees, Shrubs and Vines of the Texas Hill Country; co-author of Attracting Birds in the Texas Hill Country: A Guide to Land Stewardship and its new second edition Land Stewardship for Birds: A Guide for Central Texas.


At every meeting, we give away a book — about native plants or the meeting topic — to one randomly chosen in-person attendee!


Have an idea for a speaker?  Let Program Leader Susie Hickman know via  email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org.

NPSOT-Williamson County meetings are free and open to the public. We hope you attend!  Meetings may be in person, virtual, or both, so be sure to check details in the meeting announcement. Meetings are announced on our website, our calendar and Facebook. See upcoming topics on our page Wilco Home or on our Calendar.