Ecological Research Evaluation

Travis County

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acreage:  Approximately 203 acres

County:    Travis

Nearest Town:  Elgin          

General Property Location:  Eastern Travis County, approximately 4 miles west of Elgin, Texas.  

 

Photo Point 1:  Edge of riparian area in northeastern portion of property.  Canopy nearly closed.  Tree layer dominated by cedar elm with some sugarberry and mesquite also present.  Shrubs in photo include elbowbush and lotebush. 

 

 


Photo point 2:   Pond located near riparian area.  Black willow, cattail, goldenrod, and bermudagrass present. 

 

 

 

 

Photo point 3:   View of field.  This area dominated by King Ranch (KR) bluestem and western ragweed.  

 

 

Photo point 4:   View of field.  This area dominated by KR bluestem, goldenrod, and silver bluestem.  No brush encroachment occurring yet. 

 

 

 

Photo point 5:   Regrowth mesquite infestation.  KR bluestem and ragweed also present.   

 

 

Photo point 6:  Mesquite parkland.  Some sugarberry and eastern red cedar present.  Shrub layer largely absent.  Blood ragweed, KR bluestem, and western ragweed are dominant herbaceous plants. 

 

 

 

Site Description

 

This irregularly property is located about 4 miles west of Elgin Texas, just south of Hwy 290.  The property’s southern boundary is delineated by Littig road, while Morrow Lane marks the eastern boundary.  The terrain slopes towards the south and southeast very gently.  Four small (less than .5 acre) ponds are present on the property, three of which holding water year round.  A drainage enters the property near the northeast corner and runs approximately 800 feet through the property before exiting.  The high point of the property, 470 ft MSL, occurs near the northeastern section while the low point of 440 ft MSL occurs near the southern boundary.  The property has internal and perimeter fencing for livestock grazing, but the property has not been grazed since 1978. 

 

 

Habitat Description

 

The property is typical of rangeland in the Blackland Prairie ecological area that was once in heavy agriculture use.  Three major habitat types are present on the property.  The riparian woodland in the northeastern part of the property is the only area that has not at any point been cleared for crop production.  This area was healthy and relatively diverse.  The canopy cover averaged about 80% with cedar elm being the most dominant tree species.  Other trees included sugar hackberry, live oak, and mesquite.  The shrub layer was abundant and included elbowbush, gum bumelia, lotebush, wafer ash, and American beautyberry.  The abundant herbaceous layer included blood ragweed, bermudagrass, silver bluestem, broomweed, Johnsongrass, King Ranch bluestem, and Virginia wildrye. 

 

Roughly 40% of non-riparian areas are open fields with extremely low amounts of woody plants.  Historically, this habitat type was very likely in some form of crop production.  These fields were dominated by a variety of grasses, including King Ranch bluestem, bermudagrass, Johnsongrass, and silver bluestem.  Forbs included broomweed, western ragweed, snow-on-the-prairie, and goldenrod.  Reseeding has been performed in some areas, resulting in scattered yellow indiangrass plants.  Bare ground was sparse. 

 

The other 60% of non-riparian areas consisted of mesquite parklands and woodlands.  Historically, this habitat type was also probably in some form of crop production. Mesquite is a very aggressive invader on the clay and clay loam soils on the property.  Some areas were dominated by several decades-old mesquites while other areas were dominated by younger mesquite trees (less than 20 years).  Eastern red cedar, sugar hackberry, and tasajillo were present in small numbers in the mesquite woodlands.  The shrub layer was largely absent in these areas.  The herbaceous layer was similar to those found in the open fields and was mostly dominated by KR bluestem.  Some of the mesquite parklands and woodlands have recently (within the past year) been mechanically cleared.   

 

Based on observed herbivory on young cedar elm and sugar hackberry plants, the deer population on the property is low to moderately-low. 

 

 

Soil Descriptions (source - NRCS Travis County Soil Survey):

 

The study property consisted of five soil types.  A band of Wilson clay loam, the most dominant soil type on the tract, runs from north to south through the center of the property.  The clay soil types are present along the western and eastern fringes. 

Map Unit:      BsB  -  Burleson clay, 1 to 2 percent slopes

This map unit is in the Texas Blackland Prairie Major Land Resource Area.  Burleson soils make up 100 percent of the map unit.  The depth to a restrictive feature is greater than 60 inches. It is moderately well drained.  The slowest soil permeability within a depth of 60 inches is very slow.  Available water capacity to a depth of 60 inches is moderate, and shrink swell potential is very high.  Annual flooding is none, and annual ponding is none.  The minimum depth to a water table is greater than 6 feet.  The maximum calcium carbonate equivalent within a depth of 40 inches is 8 percent.  In the profile, the maximum salinity is very slight, and there are no sodic horizons.  This component is in the BLACKLAND PE 44-64, ecological site.  Deep and very deep heavy clayey uplands with slopes of 0 to 5 percent; dense clayey

subsoils; reaction is slightly acid to moderately alkaline in the surface and mildly to moderately alkaline in the lower layers; high natural fertility; seasonally wet or droughty; very high to high water holding capacity but fair plant-soil-moisture relationship; medium to high production potential.  Climax vegetation is little bluestem, big bluestem, indiangrass, and switchgrass; with maximilian sunflower, engelmanndaisy, button snakeroot, bundleflowers, prairieclover, prairieparsley, indianplantain, and gayfeather. Live oak may dot the landscape.

 

Map Unit:      HeC2  -  Heiden clay, 3 to 5 percent slopes, moderately eroded

 

This map unit is in the Texas Blackland Prairie, Northern Part (proposed) Major Land Resource Area.  Heiden soils make up 95 percent of the map unit.  The depth to a restrictive feature is greater than 60 inches. It is well drained.  The slowest

soil permeability within a depth of 60 inches is very slow.  Available water capacity to a depth of 60 inches is moderate, and shrink swell potential is very high.  Annual flooding is none, and annual ponding is none.  The minimum depth to a water table is greater than 6 feet.  The maximum calcium carbonate equivalent within a depth of 40 inches is 40 percent.  In the profile, there are no saline horizons, and the maximum sodicity is slight.  This component is in the BLACKLAND PE 44-64, ecological site.  Deep and very deep heavy clayey uplands with slopes of 0 to 5 percent; dense clayey subsoils; reaction is moderately alkaline throughout; high natural fertility; seasonally wet or droughty; KVery high to high water holding capacity but fair plant-soil-moisture relationship; medium to high production potential.  Climax vegetation is little bluestem, big bluestem, indiangrass, and switchgrass; with maximilian sunflower, engelmanndaisy, button snakeroot, bundleflowers, prairieclover, prairieparsley, indianplantain, and gayfeather. Live oak may dot the landscape.         

Map Unit:      HnA  -  Houston black clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes

 

This map unit is in the Texas Blackland Prairie, Northern Part (proposed) Major Land Resource Area.  Houston Black soils make up 95 percent of the map unit.  The depth to a restrictive feature is greater than 60 inches. It is moderately well  drained.  The slowest soil permeability within a depth of 60 inches is very slow.  Available water capacity to a depth of 60 inches is moderate, and shrink swell potential is very high.  Annual flooding is none, and annual ponding is none.  The minimum depth to a water table is greater than 6 feet.  The maximum calcium carbonate equivalent within a depth of 40 inches is 35 percent.  In the profile, the maximum salinity is very slight, and there are no sodic horizons.  This component is in the BLACKLAND PE 44-64, ecological site.  Deep and very deep heavy clayey uplands with slopes of 0 to 5 percent; dense clayey subsoils; reaction is moderately alkaline throughout; high natural fertility; seasonally wet or droughty; KVery high to high water holding capacity but fair plant-soil-moisture relationship; medium to high production potential.  Climax vegetation is little bluestem, big bluestem, indiangrass, and switchgrass; with maximilian sunflower, engelmanndaisy, button snakeroot, bundleflowers, prairieclover, prairieparsley, indianplantain, and gayfeather. Live oak may dot the landscape.    

 

Map Unit:      HnB  -  Houston black clay, 1 to 3 percent slopes

 

This map unit is in the Texas Blackland Prairie, Northern Part (proposed) Major Land Resource Area.  Houston Black soils make up 95 percent of the map unit.  The depth to a restrictive feature is greater than 60 inches. It is moderately well  drained.  The slowest soil permeability within a depth of 60 inches is very slow.  Available water capacity to a depth of 60 inches is moderate, and shrink swell potential is very high.  Annual flooding is none, and annual ponding is none.  The minimum depth to a water table is greater than 6 feet.  The maximum calcium carbonate equivalent within a depth of 40 inches is 35 percent.  In the profile, the maximum salinity is very slight, and there are no sodic horizons.  This component is in the BLACKLAND PE 44-64, ecological site.  Deep and very deep heavy clayey uplands with slopes of 1 to 5 percent; dense clayey subsoils; reaction is moderately alkaline throughout; high natural fertility; seasonally wet or droughty; KVery high to high water holding capacity but fair plant-soil-moisture relationship; medium to high production potential.  Climax vegetation is little bluestem, big bluestem, indiangrass, and switchgrass; with maximilian sunflower, engelmanndaisy, button snakeroot, bundleflowers, prairieclover, prairieparsley, indianplantain, and gayfeather. Live oak may dot the landscape.

 

Map Unit:      WlB  -  Wilson clay loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes

 

This map unit is in the Texas Blackland Prairie, Northern Part (proposed) Major Land Resource Area.  Wilson soils make up 95 percent of the map unit.  The depth to a restrictive feature is greater than 60 inches. It is moderately well drained.  The slowest soil permeability within a depth of 60 inches is very slow.  Available water capacity to a depth of 60 inches is moderate, and shrink swell potential is high.  Annual flooding is none, and annual ponding is none.  The minimum depth to a water table is greater than 6 feet.  The maximum calcium carbonate equivalent within a depth of 40 inches is 10 percent.  In the profile, the maximum salinity is slight, and the maximum sodicity is slight.  This component is in the CLAYPAN PRAIRIE PE 44-64, ecological site.  Climax vegetation includes little bluestem, indiangrass, big bluestem, switchgrass, dropseeds, wildrye, silver bluestem, and texas wintergrass; with engelmanndaisy, maximilian sunflower, prairieparsley, indianplantain, bundleflower, neptunia, sensitivebrier, and scurfpea. Mesquite invades aggressively.

           

 

Research Possibilities

 

The property’s three unique habitat types could be surveyed for vegetation, insect, and/or bird diversity/abundance.  The most wildlife-friendly area on the property is the riparian zone because of its vegetative structure, diversity, and lack of dominant non-natives. 

 

The impacts of the exotic plant King Ranch bluestem could be studied.  Areas on the property are partially, moderately, and completely dominated by the aggressive non-native.  Less abundant non-natives that could be studied include bermudagrass, Johnsongrass, and Japanese brome. 

 

A reseeding project was conducted on a portion of the open areas.  Success rates appeared to be low, as these areas were still dominated by KR bluestem.   

 

The ponds provide habitat for aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates.  Fauna could be studied in any of the three ponds with year-round water supplies.

 

 

 

Keith Olenick

Senior Wildlife Biologist

Plateau Land & Wildlife Management