FOREST AND PRAIRIE RESTORATION

28 September 2007
Houston Advanced Research Center
The Woodlands, Texas

Sheridan Lorenz, George Mitchell’s daughter, spoke next.  She has been leading the protection and restoration of the Mitchell family ranch, Cook’s Branch Conservancy, since the late 1980s.  A 5600-acre tract located about 50 miles northwest of Houston, it is a remnant woodland that is one of the largest intact areas to the north of the city, visible as one of three major green areas from space (the other two being Jones State Forest and Sam Houston National Forest).  George Mitchell’s firm, Mitchell Energy, bought the tract in 1964, and had intended for the land to be part of Phase II of The Woodlands.  However, build-out of The Woodlands was gradual, and shareholder pressure grew for the company to divest itself of the land and reinvest the capital in oil and gas assets that would yield a higher return.  As a result, Mitchell Energy sold 23,000 acres out of the tract for home development during the energy downtown of the 1980s;  Cook’s Branch became the remaining parcel held by the family.

In 1989, Ms Lorenz realized that Cook’s Branch was important ecologically.  For instance, it held the highest density of the endangered Red Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) in Texas.  She began lobbying her family to reduce agricultural pressure on the tract, and work to return the parcel to its pre-settlement condition, through re-introduction of native grasses, light timbering to nudge the tree patterns back to original species mixes, and protection of old-growth forests.

Kathy Hutson, manager of the Cook’s Branch Conservancy, followed up on Ms Lorenz’ discussion.  She explained that she shared a passion with the Mitchell’s for this “ecological jewel surrounded by urban sprawl”.  Texas Parks and Wildlife also recognizes the parcel’s importance:  the agency gave the family its 2002 Lone Star Land Steward award, citing the area “as an island oasis of quality wildlife habitat”.  U.S. Fish and Wildlife has also seen its value, and has contributed significant funding for its continued recovery.

Ms Hutson is leading several restoration efforts to further enhance the land. For example, in January 2008, Eastern Wild Turkeys will be released onto Cook’s Branch, along with another 11,000 acres in adjoining coop lands.  She is excited by the collaboration and shared perspective that she’s seeing develop among the Mitchells and their neighbors, suggesting that the area has a shot at long-term and large-scale protection and restoration.

They also burn 1700 acres, or roughly 1/3 of the property each year (burns are managed in 44 burn units that are buffered by a creek, bladed area, or road).  Burns are done in the summer to get the heat necessary to cut down on mid-story brush.  Over time, they seek to gradually reduce the fuel levels in the forest, so that wildfires will be less of a risk.

The family also harvests 250 to 300 acres each year, on a selective basis.  Their goal is primarily to open areas along creeksides so that hardwoods can recolonize those areas.  Secondarily, the cutting provides some income to underwrite the other restoration work.

Ms Hutson believes in the motto, “if you build it, they will come”.  Much of their effort has focused on bringing back the endangered RCWs.  For example, the Mitchells have worked hard to protect mature pine trees, which have the soft red-heart wood that RCW’s small bills can excavate for nests.  They have also put donut-shaped metal plates up on the nest cavities, to protect them from being dug out further by the larger Pileated Woodpecker.  Further, they band and translocate the RCWs to assure that their genetics remain diverse.  As a consequence, Cook’s Branch Conservancy has seen the number of RCW colonies increase from 13 to 19 since enrolling in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s ‘Safe Harbor” program, while many other managers in the southern U.S. have seen their cluster numbers drop.

She has seen similar success in bobwhite quail recovery.  Since replanting some 270 acres of native grass, quail have reappeared, even next to the HARC offices.

The recovery of Cook’s Branch is mainly driven by these wildlife restoration stories, which Ms. Hutson sees as critical in a time of ecosystem peril, declining species diversity, reductions in local species occurrences, and losses of our natural and cultural heritage.  She also sees material gains from the work, from the revenue earned by selective timber cuts, hydropower production, sales of excess RCWs and native grass seed.  Finally, there are good educational opportunities, from sponsoring interns, research projects, and facility events.