The very recent acquisition of the 17,351-acre Powderhorn Ranch along the Texas coast in Calhoun County is an exciting example of how restoration money from NFWF Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund is being used in Texas.
Through a fundraising effort led by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the NFWF has committed $34.5 million over the next three years, making this the biggest land acquisition in the nation so far using BP spill restoration dollars. The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy also played critical roles in the acquisition.
The Powderhorn Ranch acquisition will protect unspoiled coastal live oak forest and intact wetlands perfect for public hunting, fishing, hiking, paddling and bird watching. The property also includes thousands of acres of freshwater wetlands and salt marshes that offer vital fish and wildlife habitats, provide natural filtering to improve water quality and shield people and property from storm surges and sea level rise.
Photo credit: Earl Nottingham, © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department