davs mtns. overview
DESCRIPTION
Presentation was used as an introduction to The Nature Conservancy\'s Davis Mountains Project in far west Texas. The presentation covers the history and development of the project as well as current research and management.TRANSCRIPT
The Davis Mountains Project
The Davis Mountains Project
• Davis Mountains Preserve
~ 33,000 acres
• Eleven conservation easements
~67,000 acres
•100,000 acre project centered around the highland mass of Mount Livermore
CONSERVATION PLANSUMMARY
NAME DATEFEE
ACREAGEEASEMENTACREAGE
U Up U Down Ranch(TLSS)
1984
TOTAL
CONSERVATION PLANSUMMARY
NAME DATEFEE
ACREAGEEASEMENTACREAGE
U Up U Down Ranch(TLSS)
1984
1. LJB Tract August 26, 1993 645
2. Harris Tracts I&II May 17, 1995 324
TOTAL 969
CONSERVATION PLANSUMMARY
NAME DATEFEE
ACREAGEEASEMENTACREAGE
U Up U Down Ranch(TLSS)
1984
1. LJB Tract August 26, 1993 645
2. Harris Tracts I&II May 17, 1995 324
3. Balsinger Tract August 21, 1997 700
4. Ryan Tract August 21, 1997 1,274
TOTAL 969 1,974
CONSERVATION PLANSUMMARY
NAME DATEFEE
ACREAGEEASEMENTACREAGE
U Up U Down Ranch(TLSS)
1984
1. LJB Tract August 26, 1993 645
2. Harris Tracts I&II May 17, 1995 324
3. Balsinger Tract August 21, 1997 700
4. Ryan Tract August 21, 1997 1,274
5. McIvor Purchase/Resale
December 19, 1997 11,809 20,603
TOTAL 12,778 22,577
CONSERVATION PLANSUMMARY
NAME DATEFEE
ACREAGEEASEMENTACREAGE
U Up U Down Ranch(TLSS)
1984
1. LJB Tract August 26, 1993 645
2. Harris Tracts I&II May 17, 1995 324
3. Balsinger Tract August 21, 1997 700
4. Ryan Tract August 21, 1997 1,274
5. McIvor Purchase/Resale
December 19, 1997 11,809 20,603
6. McIvor Easement Donation
December 19, 1997 6,453
TOTAL 12,778 29,030
CONSERVATION PLANSUMMARY
NAME DATEFEE
ACREAGEEASEMENTACREAGE
U Up U Down Ranch(TLSS)
1984
1. LJB Tract August 26, 1993 645
2. Harris Tracts I&II May 17, 1995 324
3. Balsinger Tract August 21, 1997 700
4. Ryan Tract August 21, 1997 1,274
5. McIvor Purchase/Resale
December 19, 1997 11,809 20,603
6. McIvor Easement Donation
December 19, 1997 6,453
7. McDonnold I February 27, 1998 1,069
8. Draughon Tract October 15, 1998 1,240
9. Crowley II November 20, 1998 462
10. Sheriff’s Tract November 23, 1998 18
11. McDonnald II December 16, 1998 1,926
12. Burkitt Tract I December 21, 1998 5,127
TOTAL 15,567 36,083
CONSERVATION PLANSUMMARY
NAME DATEFEE
ACREAGEEASEMENTACREAGE
U Up U Down Ranch(TLSS)
1984
1. LJB Tract August 26, 1993 645
2. Harris Tracts I&II May 17, 1995 324
3. Balsinger Tract August 21, 1997 700
4. Ryan Tract August 21, 1997 1,274
5. McIvor Purchase/Resale
December 19, 1997 11,809 20,603
6. McIvor Easement Donation
December 19, 1997 6,453
7. McDonnold I February 27, 1998 1,069
8. Draughon Tract October 15, 1998 1,240
9. Crowley II November 20, 1998 462
10. Sheriff’s Tract November 23, 1998 18
11. McDonnald II December 16, 1998 1,926
12. Burkitt Tract I December 21, 1998 5,127
13. Burkitt II December 21, 1998 960
TOTAL 16,527 36,083
CONSERVATION PLANSUMMARY
NAME DATEFEE
ACREAGEEASEMENTACREAGE
U Up U Down Ranch(TLSS)
1984
1. LJB Tract August 26, 1993 645
2. Harris Tracts I&II May 17, 1995 324
3. Balsinger Tract August 21, 1997 700
4. Ryan Tract August 21, 1997 1,274
5. McIvor Purchase/Resale
December 19, 1997 11,809 20,603
6. McIvor Easement Donation
December 19, 1997 6,453
7. McDonnold I February 27, 1998 1,069
8. Draughon Tract October 15, 1998 1,240
9. Crowley II November 20, 1998 462
10. Sheriff’s Tract November 23, 1998 18
11. McDonnald II December 16, 1998 1,926
12. Burkitt Tract I December 21, 1998 5,127
13. Burkitt II December 21, 1998 960
14. Valentine Ranch December 28, 1998 2,300
TOTAL 16,527 38,383
CONSERVATION PLANSUMMARY
NAME DATEFEE
ACREAGEEASEMENTACREAGE
U Up U Down Ranch(TLSS)
1984
1. LJB Tract August 26, 1993 645
2. Harris Tracts I&II May 17, 1995 324
3. Balsinger Tract August 21, 1997 700
4. Ryan Tract August 21, 1997 1,274
5. McIvor Purchase/Resale
December 19, 1997 11,809 20,603
6. McIvor Easement Donation
December 19, 1997 6,453
7. McDonnold I February 27, 1998 1,069
8. Draughon Tract October 15, 1998 1,240
9. Crowley II November 20, 1998 462
10. Sheriff’s Tract November 23, 1998 18
11. McDonnald II December 16, 1998 1,926
12. Burkitt Tract I December 21, 1998 5,127
13. Burkitt II December 21, 1998 960
14. Valentine Ranch December 28, 1998 2,300
15. Caldwell March 1, 1999 27,378
TOTAL 16,527 65,761
Not always welcome with all stakeholders…
DMP Vegetation & Landforms
Vegetation Types
oak-pinyon pine
alligator juniper
pinyon pine
mesic woodlandW
Mount Livermore
Upper Madera Canyon
Little Aguja Canyon
Dead Man Canyon
Ecological Significance• Center of endemism
– 6 plant species– 8 animal species
• Multiple globally rare species– 23 plant species– 9 animal species
Longspur Columbine
Mountain Short-Horned LizardShinners Tickle Tongue
Rio Grande Chub Population Multiple Remnant Aspen Stands
• Functioning “Sky Island” Ecosystem– Relatively natural fire regime– Intact ecosystem– Exemplary plant communities– Significant migratory corridor & stop-over
Archeological Resources
Wolf Den Shelter Tall Rock Shelter
The Preserve as a Laboratory• Research Projects
– Montz Quail, Sul Ross, A&M Kingsville– Mex Spotted Owl, Sul Ross– Pinyon Juniper Stand Development, SFA– Community Delineation of Ponderosa Forests, SFA– Regional Fire & Climate, Yale University– Eco-hydrology, UT Bureau Eco Geology– Spring Biodiversity & Function, Texas State– Feral Hog Diet & Demographics, Sul Ross– Aspen Genetics & Demography, Sul Ross & UTSA– Turkey genetics, Sul Ross– Dendrochronology of DM Pinus Species, Sul Ross– Dung Beetle Diversity, private study– Mammal Inventory, Texas Tech – Proposed Elk Demographics Project, Sul Ross– And more……
Montezuma Quail
Habitat Modeling
Mexican Spotted Owl
Habitat Modeling
Taking cores for eco-hydrology research
Fire History
Fire Suppression
Juniper, Pinyon, Oak Size Class Distribution
18 16 15 8 3 1 0
275
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 > 40
Diameter (dbh; cm) classes midpoints
Tre
es p
er h
ecta
re
Fire Suppression
Ponderosa Size Class Distribution
Fuel Loads
low
medium
100-hr
1000-hr
W
Davis Mtns Fuels
• Low – grass
• Med - woodland
• 100-hr fuels
• 1000-hr fuels
Thinning treatments on the Davis Mountains Preserve
Canopy opening in a mature ponderosa stand
Fire on the DMP
• Partnership Approach– Texas Forest Service -National Park Service– US Fish & Wildlife -Region Wide TNC– Local Resources -TPWD
Private Lands Burning
Prescribed Fire on the Davis Mtns Preserve
Prior to Prescribed Fire 25 Days Post Prescribed Fire
7590 Acres
Exotic Species Management
• Active trapping program – 15 traps with over 220 hogs taken in 1.5 years
• Hog demographic and diet study in cooperation with Sul Ross State University
• Landowner hog cooperative in partnership with USDA Wildlife Services
Landowner Field Days
Volunteer Program
Trail Work ~1700 hours Volunteer Work Weeks
Public Activities
Public Open Weekends
Public Hiking Trail
Thanks