Texas Environmental Grantmakers Group Spring Meeting - May 13, 2016 Powderhorn Ranch Calhoun City, TX

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1 Texas Environmental Grantmakers Group Spring Meeting - May 13, 2016 Powderhorn Ranch Calhoun City, TX Present: Judith Boyce, Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation; Jan Cato, SK Foundation; Adrienne Clay, Philanthropy Southwest; Colleen Claybourn, The Trull Foundation; Ernest Cook, Knobloch Family Foundation; Lucille DiDomenico, Philanthropy Southwest; Lisa Harrison, The Trull Foundation; Cara Herlin, The Trull Foundation; Jay Kleberg, Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation; Michael McCoy, The Meadows Foundation; Mary Milby, George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation; Nancy Moore, The Powell Foundation; Kimberly Morris, The Meadows Foundation; Deborah Mueller, Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation; Andy Mutscheller, U.S. Trust; Sarah Olfers, The Trull Foundation; G. William Rider, The Mary Moody Northen Endowment; Caroline Sabin, The Powell Foundation; Jenny Sanders, T.L.L. Temple Foundation; Robert Sanders, T.L.L. Temple Foundation; Cathy Wakefield, The Trull Foundation; Lucja White, The Trull Foundation Speaker Presentations: Jay Kleberg, associate director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation welcomed the group to the ranch. He shared that Powderhorn Ranch is a unique property in that it had been a working ranch for 175 years cattle runs were made from the property up to Chicago and as such, it is one of the largest remaining undisturbed tracts of native coastal prairie habitat left in Texas. In the early 2000s, the Denmans sold the property with plans for a golf course. With fine money from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation funded a significant portion of the $38.8 million for acquisition of the property in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, The Conservation Fund and grants from private foundations. The camp house where the group was meeting was originally constructed in the 20s. The building is currently being restored, much of the work having been accomplished in the last two to three months. Lisa Harrison introduced the presenters. Ted Hollingsworth, director Land Conservation Program for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and Daniel Walker, project leader for the Coastal Bend Wetlands Ecosystem Project for TPWD. Ted Hollingsworth began his remarks by relaying the importance of the acquisition of Powderhorn Ranch to coastal conservation, it being the most important Texas coastal land initiative to occur in a generation. The ranch land represents more than 11 miles of tidal bay front. The property preserves a large and relatively intact example of the Ingleside barrierstrandplain geologic system and ecological community, a unique and ancient coastal system found in only a few Texas counties. The property was formed over time, when sea level rose, soils deposited which are extremely complex, formed from storm dump leaving fine sands and silts over the last 1,000 years. Then, with freshwater rain, clay pans were formed. In a period of extreme drought, wind created pot holes when the sand was blown out. These clay pans then 1

2 became freshwater pools. Many of these pot holes were drained by ranchers, but about 200 still remain on the property. From these, water seeps along clay and out into bay, contributing to lower salinity (PH) which is critical for wildlife. The old growth live oak forests, and freshwater pothole wetlands provide important stopover and wintering habitat for whooping cranes, migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds. In the 1840s to 1860s, the oaks were cut for core wood for steamers. Those that remain are critical as a resting place for migratory shore birds. Federally endangered whooping cranes currently winter just miles south of Powderhorn. With the number of wild whoopers expanding, the ranch will undoubtedly become a critical habitat for whooping cranes in the coming years. Powderhorn Ranch is big enough to accommodate up to 300 cranes. Another feature of the prairie landscape are the pimple mounds, which are old sand dunes which have been covered by vegetation. Jason Singhurst, plant community ecologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Wildlife Diversity Branch, visited the property and within 45 minutes had found a unique species of plant. It is the largest privately funded conservation investment in Texas history, made possible by a strong coalition of public and private partners which includes the Nature Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and many private foundations. Daniel Walker reported on the management and restoration plans for Powderhorn Ranch. Of the 17,351 acres, 15,000 will be used as a wildlife management area, while the remaining approximately 3,000 acres will be turned into a state park. The goal with the wildlife management area is to return the property to grasslands which will benefit the birds. On the property, there are running live oaks which fire won t kill, nothing can grow under, and wildlife can t move through it. Management and restoration of the property will target conversion of the running live oak to native prairie and savanna. Much is unknown about the exact biology and mechanics of running live oak, but some 5,800 acres of the ranch consist of an extensive network of live oak roots in the soil that continually puts up shoots resistant to shredding or burning. The result is a dense thicket up to ten feet high that is essentially impenetrable, with low biological diversity and productivity. Effective treatment for running oak consists of herbicide treatment followed by regular prescribed burning. The result will increase the biological value of the site and benefit the recovery of multiple species, including bobwhite quail. With the property changing hands in 2018, some public hunting will be allowed of nonnative wildlife and to thin the deer population. Rick Meyers who is heading the state park effort briefly outlined the plan for Powderhorn Ranch. The biggest expense is the infrastructure. There will be an RV site 200 primitive camping sites, 15 cabins and a canoe and kayak launch. 2

3 TEGG Business Meeting Fall Meeting Topic Caroline Sabin shared the plan for the fall meeting. David Todd has been asked to speak about his newly published environmental history atlas of Texas at his family ranch in Columbus Texas. David founded the Texas Environmental Grantmakers Group but his Trust, the Magnolia Charitable Trust spent down four years ago so he has not recently been involved. Ann Hamilton also helped lead the group but has since retired. Jan Cato has agreed to be the liaison for the fall meeting Philanthropy Southwest Annual Conference Session Mike McCoy has once again agreed to serve as session designer for the TEGG session at Philanthropy Southwest s 2016 annual conference. The topic is the BP Oil spill money. Mike is working with Anne Brown with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation and Andy Sansom to put together a panel. Toby Baker, a commissioner with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will be one of the panelists. The group is working on getting a presenter from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. The discussion will cover the major participants, how the money will be distributed and how can philanthropy leverage and be involved in the process. Someone from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will speak on the rules and regulations associated with the various moneys being made available. Financial Report and Annual Appeal Caroline stated that after payment of spring and fall meeting expenses, TEGG should still have about $5,000 in the bank. The consensus was to wait until after the beginning of 2017 for the annual appeal, however the suggestion was made to send out the form if anyone wanted to contribute before then. TEGG Member Updates: Colleen Claybourn highlighted a few of The Trull Foundation s 2016 environmental grants. Grants were made to the following organizations and projects: Friends of the Colorado River Foundation, Texas Colorado River Rolling Exhibit Galveston Bay Foundation, Galveston Bay Dolphin Research and Conservation Nature Conservancy of Texas, Conservation, Science, and Community Outreach Rio Grande International Study Center, Watershed Awareness Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Powderhorn Ranch Acquisition Turtle Island Restoration Network, Texas Sea Turtle Recovery Campaign Mike McCoy shared that the The Meadows Foundation had assisted in the purchase of Powderhorn Ranch as well as contributing to: Galveston Bay Foundation Gordy Marsh Hill Country Conservancy Dream Catcher & Storm System San Marcos 3

4 Texas Rice Industry Coalition for the Environment wetland marshes Environmental Defense Fund smart technology South-Central Partnership for Energy Efficiency resource to implement programs in Dallas and San Antonio to decrease carbon emissions, water use and energy consumption in the built environment Greater Paris Development Foundation For developing 45 miles of hike/bike trails in surrounding area Ernest Cook reported that the Knobloch Family Foundation had made recent grants focusing on matching Deepwater Horizon funds. These included: Nature Conservancy for Falcon Point Ranch The Conservation Fund Laguna Atascosas National Wildlife Refuge Galveston Bay Foundation for Gordy Marsh And an upcoming grant to Trust for Public Land for government relations position to support continued state funding to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Deborah Muller with the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation mentioned the following recent grants: Friends of Blue Hole for Wimberley water quality Texas Land Trust Council - conference in Austin to support Land conservation Katy Prairie Conservancy to support changing eminent domain law Texas Land Trust Council to support changing eminent domain law EDF Trust for Public Land Hermann Park Conservancy National Wildlife Federation Eco Schools Nature Discovery Center Woods Project Powderhorn Ranch Caroline Sabin reported on Powell Foundation s environmental grants included the following: Environmental Defense Fund clean air initiatives Trust for Public Land greenmapping on west fork of San Jacinto Herman Park Conservancy park stewardship National Wildlife Federation eco schools Nature Discovery Center educational programs Woods Project youth outdoor program Powderhorn Ranch land acquisition 4

5 Mary Milby shared three recent environmental grants given by George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation: The Hamman Ranch YMCA Camp Cullen for acquisition of property for education of young people Galveston Bay Keeper to support clean water act Powderhorn Ranch Robert Sanders director of ecosystems and wildlife for the T.L.L. Temple Foundation informed the group about the Foundation s Boggy Slough project. The Foundation purchased 20,000 acres of hardwood forest and wetlands in East Texas, spanning an area from Houston to Texarkana, donated as a conservation easement to The Conservation Fund. The meeting adjourned at 1:25 p.m. 5