Wildlife Habitat Restoration and the Eagle Ford Shale Play

Forrest S. SmithDirectorSouth Texas Natives & Texas Native Seeds ProjectsCaesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute

Before exploration:native plants & sporadicexotic grassesAfter:75% exotic grassAfter:75% native plants

% canopy cover6050403020Sampling Date*Treatment p=0.008LegendControlPreparedSeededAAaAbAAAbAAbAAbAAbaDisturbed onlyDisturbed andseededw/natives100aaaa a7 10 12 15 17 19 24 27Months since plantingFalk, Fulbright, Smith, & Benn (2012)

Avoid the sweet spots(lose non-habitat) Development inpreviously disturbedareas only Development alongexisting boundaries Use existing roads Restrict entry intosensitive areas Site selection is critical

Habitat loss Habitat degradation Soil erosion Exotic grasses Restoration methods

Pay attention to sitecharacteristics Always salvage & storetopsoil-don’t take achance Don’t mix soil layers Pre/post disturbancesoil testing Aggressively controlexotic speciesintroduction Reseed using adaptednative seed

Example: Frac tank dam with sandExample: Easement through saline site

These kinds ofdisturbances are not“natural” Soils are often changedsuch that natural seedbank is lost, damaged,or no longer capable ofcolonizing these sites Rapid cover is veryimportant• Prevent soil erosion• Limit exotic speciesinvasion

South Texas Nativesreleased native seedsare the only adaptatednative seed source forthe Eagle Ford area Cover crops fortemporary erosioncontrol• Spring/summer-millet &grain sorghum• Fall/winter-wheat & oats

21 Native Seed Releases for South Texas•Demand exceeds current supply•Plan and pre-order•Seed cost will range $80-200/acre

Habitat loss Habitat fragmentation Soil erosion Exotic grasses Restoration methods

Erosion problemsthroughout the EagleFord area Result of poor or noreclamation practices Seed planted in the soilis not erosion control Soils often mixed suchthat few plants cangrow on many sites

Soil handling• Don’t mix soil layers• Re-contour• Pack/track/mound Cover crops• Millets-spring/summer• Wheat & oats-fall/winter Physical barriers• Hydro mulching• Mats• Vegetative mulches (hydroaxedmaterials)

Habitat loss Habitat fragmentation Soil erosion Exotic grasses Restoration methods

#1 DON’ T PLANTTHEM!!!! Make an effort tolimit introduction• Wash equipment• Limit travel Control invadingexotics early & often• Spot spray and respraywith roundup

Buffelgrass Bermudagrass Blue panicum Wilman lovegrass Kleingrass Old World bluestems• Kleberg• King Ranch• Caucasian• WW-Spar, B-Dahl

Habitat loss Habitat fragmentation Soil erosion Exotic grasses Restoration methods

If most of the other stuff isnot done right, failure islikely How you plant is asimportant as what youplant Plant when success islikely-not necessarilyaccording to the calendar• Good soil moisture before• Good chance ofprecipitation afterward Know your site• Do a soil test• Use the right species ofplants for your site

$25-50/acre$200+/acre$20/acre$10-20/acre

50% Early-successionalgrasses & forbs• Slender grama• Hooded windmillgrass• Green sprangletop• Sand dropseed• Tallow weeds• Deer pea vetch• Indian blanket• Huisache daisy 25% Mid-successionalgrasses & forbs• Arizona cottontop• Plains bristlegrass• Pink pappusgrass• Whiplash pappusgrass• Awnless bush sunflower 25% Late successionalgrasses and forbs• Trichloris• Little bluestem• Sideoats grama• Big sacaton• Prairie acacia

Foundation seed production expenses to improvecommercial seed availability