The addition fortifies almost 20,000 acres of prairie, wetlands and working lands in western Houston to serve several key functions, including:
- Decreasing flood risk
- Supporting wildlife
- Maintaining the region’s agricultural heritage
- Providing the public with recreational opportunities such as birdwatching and hiking
“This is about more than acreage,” said Mary Anne Piacentini, president and CEO of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy. “By completing conservation at Three Oaks Farm, we are strengthening an entire system that helps protect communities, sustain working lands and preserve a landscape that defines this region.”
Zooming out
As one of the biggest nature preserve systems in Greater Houston, the Katy Prairie Preserve cultivates rice farming, ranching and wildlife, in addition to giving visitors one of the last places to explore historic coastal prairies, per the release.
With growth and flooding endangering the well-being of the overall site, the prairie acts as a “natural infrastructure” in order to absorb and slow stormwater, improve water quality and provide open space for people and wildlife.