USDA NRCS Awards Grant to Texas Agricultural Land Trust to Safeguard Texas’s Nueces River Watershed | Natural Resources Conservation Service

Preserving Texas’s Working Lands and Protecting Water Resources

San Antonio, Texas — In response to the urgent need to preserve Texas’s vital working lands and protect water resources, Texas Agricultural Land Trust, a leading conservation organization, has been awarded a significant $7M grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This funding aims to assist landowners in the Nueces River Watershed in securing crucial conservation easements, combating the alarming trend of land loss and fragmentation that Texas has experienced in recent years.

Nueces River Watershed: A Biodiversity Hotspot at Risk

The Nueces River Watershed, a cornerstone of Texas’s water resources, spans five ecologically rich ecoregions, including the Edwards Plateau and South Texas Plains. Recognized as one of the most biologically diverse regions in the nation, the Edwards Plateau boasts a unique karst landscape, crucial for capturing and supplying water to this semi-arid terrain. The Edwards Aquifer, a primary water source for San Antonio and beyond, sustains a delicate ecosystem housing rare and endangered species.

The South Texas Plains Ecoregion, shaped by the convergence of multiple ecosystems, stands as a haven for species diversity. From the Chihuahuan Desert to the west to subtropical woodlands along the Rio Grande to the south, this region is home to a myriad of flora and fauna, drawing birdwatchers from across the globe.

Despite its ecological significance, the Nueces River Watershed has lost over 210,000 acres of working lands due to a 41% population increase since 1997. This loss poses a direct threat to water resources and the vast number of species that call this region home.

“The grant from the NRCS RCPP is a game-changer for our efforts to preserve the Nueces River Watershed,” says Darren Clark, TALT Director of Land Conservation. “By assisting landowners in securing conservation easements, we are taking a crucial step towards protecting the watershed and safeguarding this vital ecosystem for future generations.”

How to Apply:

TALT encourages landowners within the Nueces River Watershed to participate in this conservation initiative. Funding is available to landowners regardless of which land trust will hold the conservation easement. The application window will be open from February 5 through March 22, 2024. To apply or inquire about eligibility, please contact Darren Clark, Director of Land Conservation at dclark@txaglandtrust.org.

Key Partners:

• Native Prairies Association of Texas
• Coastal Bends Bays and Estuaries
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Nueces River Authority
• Grassroots Carbon Public Benefit LLC
• Texas/Mexico Border Coalition
• Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife & Fisheries Management
• Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute
• Audubon Texas

The Texas Agricultural Land Trust is a private non-profit organization, founded by farmers and ranchers for farmers and ranchers. As the largest state-based land trust in Texas, conserving over 280,000 acres under easements, TALT is dedicated to preserving open spaces, native wildlife habitats, and natural resources on Texas’ private working lands.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 15: Life on Land

The article discusses the need to protect water resources and preserve working lands in the Nueces River Watershed, which connects to SDG 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation. It also highlights the ecological significance of the watershed and the loss of working lands, which relates to SDG 15 on Life on Land.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes.
• SDG 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
• SDG 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

Based on the article’s content, the targets mentioned above can be identified. The preservation of the Nueces River Watershed and its ecosystems aligns with these targets.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Loss of working lands in the Nueces River Watershed
• Conservation easements secured for landowners
• Protection of water resources in the watershed
• Preservation of rare and endangered species

The article mentions the loss of working lands in the Nueces River Watershed, which can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards SDG 15.5. The securing of conservation easements for landowners can also be an indicator of progress towards SDG 15.1. Additionally, the protection of water resources in the watershed and the preservation of rare and endangered species can be indicators of progress towards SDG 6.6.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: nrcs.usda.gov

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