Coastal Prairie Conservancy was established in 1992 to conserve Katy Prairie, part of the

Western Gulf coastal grasslands The Western Gulf coastal grasslands ( es, Pastizales costeros del Golfo Occidental) are a subtropical grassland ecoregion of the southern United States and northeastern Mexico. It is known in Louisiana as the "Cajun Prairie", Texas as "Coastal ...

located in

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

, United States. Approximately 24,500 acres is under conservation easements or owned by CPC in western Harris and Waller Counties.

Preserves

Nelson Farms Preserve

Nelson Farms Preserve encompasses more than 1,700 acres, of which 200 acres still operates as a working rice farm to benefit wildlife dependent upon the agricultural wetlands present on the landscape. Cypress Creek flows through the preserve offering excellent habitat because of its perennial source of water and vegetative diversity. The unique combination of habitat types attracts significant numbers of waterfowl,

waterbirds A water bird, alternatively waterbird or aquatic bird, is a bird that lives on or around water. In some definitions, the term ''water bird'' is especially applied to birds in freshwater ecosystems, although others make no distinction from seabi ...

, migratory

songbird A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds (Passeriformes). Another name that is sometimes seen as the scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin ''oscen'', "songbird". The Passeriformes contains 5000 ...

s, raptor, beaver, white-tailed deer and other wildlife.

Warren Ranch

Warren Ranch is one of the largest remaining working cattle ranches on the prairie.

Williams Prairie Preserve

Williams Prairie is a 10 acre remnant prairie full of little bluestem, brownseed ''Paspalum'', and Indiangrass.

Egret Egrets ( ) are herons, generally long-legged wading birds, that have white or buff plumage, developing fine plumes (usually milky white) during the breeding season. Egrets are not a biologically distinct group from herons and have the same build ...

s and other herons can be found residing year-round in the depressions as long as they continue to hold water during the warmer months.

Other protected areas on the Katy Prairie

West Side Airport Wetlands Mitigation Area

In 1986, the

City of Houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...

purchased 1,432 acres for a potential future airport on Morton Road near the western edge of the Katy Prairie. During the expansion of the Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) the site was used as a wetlands mitigation area for migratory birds to the Katy Prairie.

John Paul Landing Park

John Paul Landing Park is a 865-acre public park operated by Harris County, located on Katy-Hockley Road and Sharp Road on the Katy Prairie. The project has been in development for Precinct 3 since 2011 and includes 400-acre lake as well as an environmental education center.

Paul D. Rushing Park

Paul D. Rushing Park is a 232-acre public park operated by Harris County, located at 9114 Katy Hockley Road on the Katy Prairie. This park includes a lake and wildlife viewing area.

Katy Park

Katy Park system includes a series of two Harris County and one municipal parks located inside the City of Katy. These parks encompass about 200-acres and over 1,000 trees and 35-acres of lakes.

Operations

Farming and ranching

The Coastal Prairie Conservancy supports the agricultural economy in three main ways: holding conservation easements on agricultural land, leasing land for rice growing operations, and managing the Warren Ranch. KPC owns and manages the Warren Ranch, in partnership with the Warren Family. The ranch’s pastureland is used to graze its own herd of cattle as well as those of other ranchers who lease from the ranch. CPC is rehabilitating the grasslands to sustain during drought and support numerous species and wildlife.

Hunting

CPC’s lands, including the Warren Ranch, provide high-quality dove, deer, and quail habitat and offer opportunities for hunting by the public. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department currently leases the CPC property as part of the Annual Public Hunting Permit Program.

Recreation

Community members enjoy hiking, birding, hunting, and many other activities on CPC’s lands. CPC’s unique native grasslands and migratory birds attract tourists such as birders and local visitors.