Ecological Research Evaluation

Travis County

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acreage:  Approximately 25 acres

County:    Travis

Nearest Town:  Austin          

General Property Location:  3 miles west of North Capital of Texas Highway on City Park Road, in Austin, Texas. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo 1:  Old growth juniper woodland on rocky slope.  Spanish oak and mountain laurel are scattered throughout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo 2:   Juniper/oak parkland dominated by live oak, Spanish oak, and Ashe juniper. 

 

 

Photo 3:   Juniper/oak parkland with invasive juniper.  King Ranch and silver bluestems dominate the herbaceous layer.

 

 

 

 

Photo 4:   Similar habitat to photos 2 and 3.   

 

 

 

Photo 5:   Small depression area near tank with invasive Willow baccharis.  The herbaceous layer is dominated by King Ranch bluestem.

 

 

Photo 6:  Close-up view of juniper/oak woodland slope.  This habitat could possibly be home to the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler, Carolina Wrens, and several other breeding songbirds. 

 

 

Photo 7:  Small drainage near the property line. 

 

 

 

Photo 8:  Secondary growth juniper is found in the understory of several oaks and is spreading into the open space.

 

 

 

Photo 9:  Willow Baccharis and juniper occur in high densities on portions of property.

 

 

 

 

Photo 10:  View of dense juniper and oak woodland, possibly home to the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler. 

 

 

 

 

Site Description

 

The roughly 25 acre property is located in north central Travis County, off of City Park Road, in Austin, Texas.  The Travis County Ecolab property is trapezoid shaped with the long axis occurring through the northwest to southeast corner.  The property is bordered by the Balcones Canyonland Preserve on the north, west, and east sides.  The southern property boundary is with an adjacent landowner.    A small, intermittent tributary of Barton Creek flows west to east during heavy rainfalls.  Two small tanks can be found on either side of the property.   The general slope of the property is from the west to east.  The highest elevation point occurs along the western property boundary at 880 ft. MSL, while the low point of the property can be found along the eastern edge of the property at 800 ft MSL.  The property is externally fenced for wildlife. 

 

Habitat Description

 

There are two main habitat types occurring on the Travis County Ecolab property.  The property is dominated by an oak/juniper parkland which become dense juniper and oak woodlands on rocky slopes at higher elevations.  There is a small band of cedar elms along the intermittent tributary that flows through the property.  The parkland habitat is comprised of several live oaks, Spanish oak, juniper, and cedar elm.  Agarita, Texas persimmon, flame-leaf and evergreen sumacs, twist-leaf yucca, and willow baccharis are found within the understory layer.  Croton, western ragweed, and broomweed can be found along woodland edges and recently disturbed areas.  The herbaceous layer was dense within the parkland and dominated by King Ranch bluestem and silver bluestem.  Little bluestem, tall dropseed, sideoats grama, and Texas wintergrass are found in small amounts throughout the property.  Several cedar elm, hackberry, and juniper are found along the small intermittent tributary.  Willow baccharis and frostweed are found in the understory of cedar elm and hackberry.   

 

The woodland habitats are dominated by large junipers, live oak, Spanish oak and small amounts mountain laurel.  The shrub and herbaceous layer is sparse due to the extensive canopy cover.  The juniper/oak woodland represents excellent habitat for the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler.  

 

Soil Descriptions

 

There are two main soil types which occur on the Travis County property.

1.      VoD -  Volente silty clay loam, 1 to 8 percent slopes

2.      BoF – Brackett soils and Rock outcrop, steep

 

Bracket soils are typically shallow and well drained.  They have developed under a prairie ecosystem that maintained a mix of mid and tall grasses.  In the sloped areas, grasses may not be sufficient to hold the soils that do exist in place.  In that case, Ashe juniper, live oak, and other plant with shallow root systems have increased in number and maintained the structure of the hills.  Permeability in Bracket soils is moderately slow with available water capacity being low. The BoF series generally occupies a steep topography. A large part of the rain that reaches these soils is lost as runoff and seepage from the limestone outcrops that exist just below or extend out of the soil surface.  Overall, these soils are best suited for wildlife habitat.  Typically, there are steep breaks associated with this soils series and they fall near rivers or creeks.  Again, these soils are not useful in agricultural endeavors and are best suited for use as wildlife habitat.  BoF soils are classified within the Steep Adobe ecological site. 

 

When either range site is in excellent condition, little bluestem, sideoats grama, tall grama, hairy dropseed, and Indiangrass are dominant.  Other important plants present in a climax condition include silver and pinhole bluestem, Lindheimer’s and seep muhly, and Wright threeawn and forbs such as orange zexmenia, bush sunflower, velvet bundleflower, and dotted gayfeather. 

 

VoD soils are well drained silty clay loams that developed from alluvium. In a typical profile, the topsoil extends to a depth of 22-36 inches and a total soil depth of 54 inches. This soil type is moderately permeable, with rapid runoff and a severe hazard of water erosion. The available water holding capacity is high. The soil has a high shrink-swell potential. This soil type is best suited for improved pasture, range, and wildlife. VoD soils are classified in the Deep Upland ecological site. 

 

In excellent condition, a Deep Upland ecological site will be dominated by grasses such as little bluestem, big bluestem, Indiangrass, switchgrass, plains bristlegrass, and Canada wildrye.  Other herbaceous plants present in a climax state include silver and pinhole bluestems, sideoats grama, vine-mesquite, Texas wintergrass, buffalograss, tall dropseed, and hairy dropseed and such forbs as Maximillian sunflower and Illinois bundleflower. 

 

Research Possibilities

 

Due to the property’s size and different habitat types, a wide variety of research projects could be conducted.  Flora/Fauna baseline data gathered from this site might prove useful due to lack of grazing pressure on the property.  The diverse habitat types each support unique vegetation composition and structure. 

 

The presence of existing varieties of diverse and healthy plant communities provide excellent habitat for wildlife.  The oak/juniper upland parkland communities are home to a wide variety of wildlife.  The oak and juniper woodland is potential breeding grounds for the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler.   Red-bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Black-crested Titmouse, Northern Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee and several other bird species were noted on the property.

 

Mark Gray

Senior Wildlife Biologist

Plateau Land & Wildlife Management