Photo: Stanley Farrar
February 11, 2014
The Hill Country Land Trust
The Hill Country Land Trust (HCLT), a non-profit land conservation group headquartered in Fredericksburg, Texas, recently acquired a land easement of 685 acres in Gillespie County, bringing the total of preserved properties in the Hill Country to 18.
The property, located near Stonewall is a former ranch with high plateaus, creeks and riparian areas, pastures, and wooded areas. One significant aspect of the ranch, according to HCLT, is that this property borders another 1,561 acres easement held by HCLT, making a large contiguous piece of land under permanent preservation in Gillespie County.
“A wonderful diversity of native plants is found on this property, and many years of excellent wildlife and range management by the owners is evident,” says HCLT President, Katherine Peake. “But even more exciting to us is that this property contains habitat of the Golden-cheeked Warbler. We consider this easement one of HCLT’s crown jewels.”
The Golden-cheeked Warbler is a rare and endangered bird that nests exclusively in the juniper-oak woodlands of central Texas. Habitat protection by private landowners is key to their survival.
The Hill Country Land Trust was founded in 1998 by a group of volunteer landowners. The mission of the Hill Country Land Trust is to conserve and protect agricultural lands, wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, and watersheds of the Texas Hill Country for present and future generations.
The Hill Country Land Trust is operates in 19 counties, with an emphasis on the Pedernales River watershed, the Balcones Canyonlands area, and the viewshed of Enchanted Rock. For more information on the Hill County Land Trust visit their website at www.hillcountrylandtrust.org or call 830-997-0027.