The Edwards Plateau Ecoregion
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The Edwards Plateau Ecoregion Conservation Profile Winding through Kendall, Blanco and Hays counties, the Blanco River lies within the Edwards Plateau ecoregion and is a vital link in the network of rivers and aquifers on which residents of Austin, San Marcos, Wimberley, San Antonio and the surrounding countryside depend. Its waters eventually flow into the San Marcos River, which is fed by the ever-important Edwards Aquifer, Love Creek Preserve © Ian Shive. San Antonio’s sole source of The much-loved Texas Hill Country most biologically diverse regions drinking water that supports more is both rugged and pastoral in in the nation. With its picturesque than two million people across the terrain. Renowned for its beautiful landscapes, mild climate and copious Hill Country. water carved canyons and steep water, the region beckoned to early Since the 1990s, the Conservancy, hillsides forested with oak and settlers in the 1800s, particularly in partnership with others, juniper, the Hill Country—as the Germans, who settled towns like has purchased land from Edwards Plateau region is known Fredericksburg, Comfort and New and established conservation by conservation scientists and most Braunfels, among others. The region’s agreements with willing private Texans—encompasses 36,680 square grasslands, shrublands and savannas landowners to protect the miles in Central Texas. Perhaps also attracted cattle, sheep and goat sensitive lands in and around most important in the area is a ranchers. In fact, an ecoregional the Edwards Aquifer—we have profusion of irregular limestone—or assessment undertaken by The succeeded in protecting 21 percent karst—features that capture water Nature Conservancy and partners of the recharge zone, which is of underground with which to replenish identified 628 rivers, creeks, springs particular ecological importance. this semi -arid landscape. Supreme and watersheds, along with 102 The Conservancy also works with among the region’s groundwater landscapes, that are important to partners in the area to advance resources is the Edwards Aquifer, the conservation within the area; those the Blanco River Project, which primary water source for the city of features support a rich diversity of encourages collaboration among San Antonio and millions of Hill animals and plants, many of which landowners, communities and Country residents. The Edwards are not found outside the Edwards other stakeholders to conserve Aquifer also provides habitat for Plateau. the diversity of life in the Blanco a variety of rare cave and crevice- River Valley. Similar projects have dwelling species. Although large predators are generally also been established in the Upper rare throughout the Edwards Nueces, Guadalupe and Pedernales In addition to the Hill Country’s Plateau, bear and mountain lions River watersheds. sweeping, bountiful landscapes, the have occasionally been spotted in Edwards Plateau ecoregion includes western portions of the plateau. a wide range of plant and animal Other mammals, such as javelinas, communities, making it one of the ringtails, bobcats, armadillos, • Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve in Mason County, which is home to about six million Mexican free -tailed bats; between May and October the bats migrate from Mexico to give birth. This eight -acre preserve on the James River was gifted to the Conservancy in 1990 by the Eckert family. • The Love Creek Preserve in Bandera County boasts crystal- clear water that flows from springs and seeps to feed Love Creek, for which the 1,400-acre preserve is named. These life-sustaining waters etch through deep, cool Above: Painted bunting © Rich Kostecke. Below (top to bottom): Cactus © Fran Trachta, Texas horned lizard © Rich Kostecke. canyons and support a variety of rare wildlife including one of the raccoons, opossums and badgers are continues to lure residents today—the rarest fish in Texas. more common. Rare and interesting Hill Country is projected to add two • Cibolo Bluffs Preserve, just birds include the federally endangered million people over the next four northwest of San Antonio, offers golden- cheeked warbler—which nests decades with some counties, including 1,244 acres of pristine habitat for only in the Hill Country—as well Bandera, Comal, Hays, and Kendall, the golden-cheeked warbler and as the black- capped vireo, Acadian expecting to double their residents by safeguards land over the Edwards flycatcher, summer tanager, indigo 2050. The very appeal of the Edwards Aquifer. Created in partnership bunting, blue gray gnatcatcher, zone- Plateau spurs the greatest challenge of with Bexar County and the United tailed hawk and bald eagle. This conserving the ecoregion: We are in States Army, it also buffers Bracken region—located within the North danger of loving the Hill Country to Bat Cave, which is home to more American Central Flyway—provides death. Poorly planned growth, habitat than 20 million Mexican-free essential corridors for a great variety fragmentation, suppression of natural tailed bats, making it the largest bat of migratory birds. fire, poor range management and the colony in the world. introduction of harmful, non -native Rare aquatic and cave-dwelling species are putting severe pressure on species include Guadalupe bass, Texas the environment, particularly water fatmucket mussel, fountain darter, resources. San Marcos salamander, Texas blind salamander, Balcones ghostsnail, But the Conservancy is working Tooth Cave ground beetle and Bee diligently to protect the diversity of Creek Cave Harvestman spider. Rare plant and animal species, as well as the plants include Texas mock orange, region’s critical freshwater resources, sycamore- leaved snowbells, darkstem for the benefit of people and nature. noseburn, spreading least daisy, scarlet Our regional preserves include: virgin’s bower, big red sage, buckley tridens and Tobusch fish hook cactus. • The 4,000 -acre Barton Creek Reptiles include the fabled Texas Habitat Preserve in southwest Austin, horned lizard. which provides habitat for rare songbirds, serves as a conservation What attracted those groups of outreach center and important German settlers so many years ago research site. Austin (512) 623-7240 | Dallas (214) 821-6080 | Houston (713) 524-6459 | San Antonio (210) 224-8774 nature.org/texas.