Land Incentive Program

Our land stewardship philosophy is the preservation and enhancement of nearly 1,500 acres of open space in a manner that balances conservation with member enjoyment. Current uses of the open space include a small-scale cattle operation, habitat for horses, recreational use of our twenty-two mile trail system, hunting, agricultural production, vital birding habitat, native springs and habitat for numerous native and some exotic species.

The HOA frequently participates in wildlife and habitat improvements in support of its commitment to thoughtful land stewardship of the open space.

Last year the Preserve at Walnut Springs HOA participated in the Land Incentive Program through Texas Parks and Wildlife Division who matches our funding.  The goals of this
project are:

1. to protect two spring sites (Cuellar Spring and Walnut Springs) from degradation,
2. to improve the diversity of the mixed oak-juniper plant communities in the adjacent canyons and riparian zones, and

1. to promote the establishment of native herbaceous vegetation. The ultimate goal is to manage for habitats that are appealing to a diversity of native wildlife species including the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, while also enhancing water infiltration and groundwater recharge.

 
These goals will be accomplished by implementing the following management practices:
1.     constructing fences to exclude feral hogs and livestock from the two spring sites and their associated riparian areas,
2.     reducing the cover of baccharis within the lower riparian zone of Cuellar Spring where the baccharis has become dense and is competing with native grasses, desirable shrubs, and herbaceous plants, and
3.     reducing the cover of small 'second growth' Ashe juniper growing in the woodland canopy in the head canyons associated with both springs.