Spicewood Ranch Fall Tours - OCT, NOV

Event Date: 
Friday, November 15, 2024 - 10:00am
Hosted By: 
David Mahler and Chris Harte
Venue Name: 
Spicewood Ranch
Venue Address: 
839 County Road 411, Spicewood, TX, USA   map↗
Message to guests: 
Reminder of remaining fall tours! October 19, and November 15 (FULL). Hopefully you can join us!  We encourage you to share this invitation with other conservation-minded friends, and include up to 3 people on your RSVP.   
 
PLANT IDENTIFICATION TOUR
Saturday 10/12 – 10 am to 1pm
Visit various prairie, woodland and riparian habitats on the ranch to identify and learn about the forbs, and woody species. To aid our search we will utilize Bill Carr’s Spicewood Ranch Plant List of the 600 plant species found on the ranch. The tour will be led by David Mahler and other botanists if available.
 
RESTORATION MANAGEMENT TOURS
Saturday 10/19 and Friday 11/15 (FULL) - 10am to 1pm
Learn about 40 years of restoration effort at the 1100-acre Spicewood Ranch. This tour will look at the results of prescribed fire, native plant seeding, white tailed deer management, invasive species reduction, and restoration field trials to increase grass, forb, and woody species diversity and quantity. The tours will be led by David Mahler, who has led the restoration efforts since the beginning
 
ABOUT THE RANCH:
The 1100-acre Spicewood Ranch boasts a diversity of habitat along Alligator Creek and the Colorado river.  For over 40 years the ranch has been actively restoring the once overgrazed land to native prairie grassland, and oak savanna. In 2018 the Spicewood Ranch received the Lone Star Land Steward Award from Texas Parks & Wildlife, and in 2019 the Travis Audubon Society recognized Chris Harte’s commitment to conservation with the Victor Emanuel Conservation Award.  A conservation easement held by the Hill Country Conservancy was placed on 561 acres of the ranch in 2021, thus ensuring its permanent protection.
 
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
* From Austin - Take Bee Cave Rd., Southwest Parkway, or Hwy 71 West toward Bee Cave
* From Bee Cave take Hwy 71 West 11.5 miles, cross the Pedernales River
* From the Pedernales River travel 7 miles to Opies BBQ
* Just past Opies BBQ turn right on Spur 191
* Take Spur 191 for one mile until it becomes CR 410 (at Krause Springs)
* Continue for one more mile until CR 410 turns sharply right - do not take curve
* Stay straight on CR 411 watching carefully for traffic
* Turn right at the gate at 839 CR 411
* Follow the signs to parking
 
LOGISTICS:
* Please rsvp for the date you wish to attend
* Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the tour start time
* Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent
* Wear long pants, boots or sturdy shoes, and a sun hat
* Questions? Text Karen Bruett 512-422-9479 or kb@karenbruett.com
 
Sorry, RSVPs for this event has been closed