Below is a list of opportunities available for scientific research on properties in Central Texas. Preference will be given to the researchers who submit proposals for multiple properties, including those with no grant monies available.
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Contact Cassie Gresham via email to discuss a visit.
| Bastrop 10 | Funding Available | |
| The +/- 40 acre Ecolab property is located in western Bastrop County off of Applewood Drive, less than 1 mile north of HWY 71 in Cedar Creek, Texas. The property is somewhat rectangular and rotated 90 degrees in the clockwise direction, with the northeast corner of the property being cut out. The property is bordered along fence lines with neighboring tracts on all sides. Significant water features include two permanent ponds and a wet weather drainage.
The Bastrop County Ecolab property consists of two major habitat types including post oak savannah and post oak woodland. The most dominant habitat type, covering about 33-35 acres is the closed canopy located throughout much of the property. Woody plant canopy cover of this habitat type is approximately 80% with middle-aged and mature eastern red cedar and blackjack oak dominating the tree layer. Other tree species present include post oak, cedar elm, and hackberry.
The second major habitat type, post oak savannah, covers approximately 5 acres and can be found within woodland openings within the northeast portion of the property. The canopy cover of this habitat type is 10-15%, and the most abundant trees are eastern red cedar with lower numbers of mesquite, post oak and blackjack oak. View Detailed Description and Photos |
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| Bastrop 2012-11 | Funding Available | |
| The +/- 620 acre property is located in northern Bastrop County off of HWY 95, approximately 5.5 miles southeast of Elgin, Texas, and 10.5 miles northwest of Bastrop, Texas. The somewhat trapezoidal-shaped property is surrounded by private property to the north, south, and west. HWY 95 runs along the eastern property boundary. Significant water features include several large, seasonal drainages which terminate into Big Sandy Creek south of the property. Both s small pond and larger “lake” occur on the property, providing excellent habitat for a wide variety of species. The northwest corner of the property is bisected by railroad tracts, while pipeline easements bisect other portions of the property. The property is located in the Lower Colorado-Cummins sub-basin which is part of the Colorado River basin, eventually feeding into Matagorda Bay. The average yearly rainfall for the area is 34-36 inches. The tract’s terrain is mildly sloped downward as you move north to south. The low point of the property, 400 ft MSL, occurs near the northern property line, while the high elevation of 520 ft MSL can be found along the western property line. View Detailed Description and Photos |
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| Bastrop 4 | No Funding Available | |
| 92 Acres located 5 m N of Smithville, eastern Bastrop County, off of Cottletown Road. HABITAT DESCRIPTION: This 86-acre property is almost completely forested except for one large area that has been cleared for pasture and where there are improvements i.e., home site, cleared lanes and access roads. The property is located within the Lower Colorado – Cummins watershed. A feeder creek for the Colorado River enters the property from the North boundary and exits the South boundary. The creek eventually feeds into the Colorado River. There are two man-made ponds on the property one of which is stocked with fish. These two ponds provide water for wildlife and recreation for the landowners. The largest pond, approximately 5 acres, has been created within the last three years. View Detailed Description and Photos |
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| Bastrop 5 | No Funding Available | |
| 43 acres located 8.5 m W of Bastrop, on Hwy 71. HABITAT DESCRIPTION: The property consists of three major habitat types including pine/oak/cedar parkland, and pine/oak/cedar forest, and an open meadow. All three habitat types were affected by a severe wildfire that burned large portions of the property in June of 2008. Most of the open meadow and significant portions of parkland and forest habitats were severely burned with all leaf matter being burned off of trees as tall as 40 feet. Time will tell the number of trees top-killed and those completely killed by the fire. View Detailed Description and Photos |
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| Bastrop 6 | No Funding Available | |
| The 67 acre property is located in central Bastrop County off of Hoffman Road, just east of the Hoffman Road/Hwy 95 intersection. Three tracts of different ownerships comprise the irregularly shaped property. The southwestern tract totals 22.113 acres. The southeastern tract is 24.915 acres size while the northern tract comprises 20 acres of the total 67 acre research property. Long “panhandles” extend away from the northern and southwestern tracts in the direction of established roads – the northern tract’s panhandle extends east and the southwestern tract’s panhandle extends south. Hoffman road marks the southern boundary of the southwestern and southeastern tracts and a paved Farm to Market road delineates the eastern boundary of the southeastern tract. The subject property is part of the Lost Pines ecological sub-region. This area along Hoffman road was once part of the Camp Swift military installation. This property has not been grazed in recent memory.
The entire property is home to one major unnamed creek with multiple tributaries. The creek enters the southeastern portion of the southeastern tract and flows in a northwesterly direction through the northern part of the southwestern tract and through the northern tract, where it exits the property near the northern tract’s northwest corner. This creek is perennial in nature on the southeastern tract but becomes intermittent while occurring on the southwestern and northern tracts. The constant flows on the southeastern tract are due to constant spring flow that may have been enhanced through aggressive control of eastern red cedar. Spring flows did not occur with regularity until 2007 and have continued since that time. All drainages entering into the unnamed creek are ephemeral in nature. In addition, a small (<.5 acre) pond is located in the eastern part of the southeastern tract. The water source of this pond is runoff occurring in a relatively small watershed including the F View Detailed Description and Photos |
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| Bastrop 6 | No Funding Available | |
| Site Description
The 67 acre property is located in central Bastrop County off of Hoffman Road, just east of the Hoffman Road/Hwy 95 intersection. Three tracts of different ownerships comprise the irregularly shaped property. The southwestern tract totals 22.113 acres. The southeastern tract is 24.915 acres size while the northern tract comprises 20 acres of the total 67 acre research property. Long “panhandles” extend away from the northern and southwestern tracts in the direction of established roads – the northern tract’s panhandle extends east and the southwestern tract’s panhandle extends south. Hoffman road marks the southern boundary of the southwestern and southeastern tracts and a paved Farm to Market road delineates the eastern boundary of the southeastern tract. The subject property is part of the Lost Pines ecological sub-region. This area along Hoffman road was once part of the Camp Swift military installation. This property has not been grazed in recent memory.
The entire property is home to one major unnamed creek with multiple tributaries. The creek enters the southeastern portion of the southeastern tract and flows in a northwesterly direction through the northern part of the southwestern tract and through the northern tract, where it exits the property near the northern tract’s northwest corner. This creek is perennial in nature on the southeastern tract but becomes intermittent while occurring on the southwestern and northern tracts. The constant flows on the southeastern tract are due to constant spring flow that may have been enhanced through aggressive control of eastern red cedar. Spring flows did not occur with regularity until 2007 and have continued since that time. All drainages entering into the unnamed creek are ephemeral in nature. In addition, a small (<.5 acre) pond is located in the eastern part of the southeastern tract. The water source of this pond is runoff occurring in a relatively small water View Detailed Description and Photos |
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| Bastrop 7 | No Funding Available | |
| 82 acres located 6 m S of Cedar Creek, western Bastrop County, off of High Grove Rd. HABITAT DESCRIPTION: There are three main habitat types found on this property including post oak parkland, post oak woodland, and open pasture. The most dominant habitat type, covering approximately 45-50 acres is post oak woodland. Woody plant canopy cover within this habitat type is approximately 80% -90% with post oak and eastern red cedar dominating the canopy layer. Other tree species present include cedar elm, blackjack oak, hackberry and American elm. Understory vegetation is moderately dense and dominated by yaupon and American beautyberry. Black hickory, frostweed, greenbriar, bumelia, frostweed, peppervine, farkleberry, and rattlebush form a diverse understory. Little bluestem occurs in areas where sunlight penetrates the canopy. Inland seaoats and purpletop are common herbaceous plants within the understory. Habitats along Alum Creek contain towering American elm, cedar elm, hackberry, and pecan. View Detailed Description and Photos |
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| Bastrop 8 | Funding Available | |
| The approximately 116 acre subject property is located in south-central Bastrop County, approximately three miles northwest of Rosanky, Texas. Two ephemeral creeks are located on the property. Other significant water features include two ponds. A large ridge is located in the eastern part of the tract. The top of the ridge is flat, while slopes to the north and south of this ridge are severe. The tract’s terrain is moderately sloped in other parts of the tract. Vegetation of the site is representative of the Lost Pines ecological sub-region and can be found on the southern end of this ecological phenomenon. A wildfire event, occurring in August 2008, burned about 20 acres in the eastern part of the property. Habitat Description: The 116 acre property consists of three major habitat types including a pine forest, a mixed-species woodland, and a mixed-species savanna. View Detailed Description and Photos |
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| Bastrop 9 | Funding Available | |
| Acreage: 52
County: Bastrop
Nearest Town: Bastrop
General Property Location: Located approximately 5.5 miles north-northeast of Bastrop, TX
Vegetation of the site is representative of the Lost Pines ecological sub-region. It is located in the Lower Colorado-Cummins sub-basin which is part of the Colorado River basin, eventually feeding into Matagorda Bay. The average yearly rainfall on the property is 34 to 36 inches. A wildfire event, believed to have occurred during the 2007 growing season, burned portions of the property.
Habitat Description: The 52 acre tract consists of a diverse collection of habitat types given its size. While these habitat types are generally concentrated in certain areas, portions of the property contain a mosaic of multiple habitat types. The first two, a pine-cedar forest and a mixed-species woodland, cover about 36 acres. The last two habitat types include an open savanna (3.7 acres) and a mixed-species parkland (13.3 acres). View Detailed Description and Photos |
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