1,904 Acres of Medina River Watershed Protected Forever
A Landscape Defined by Water and Stone
In the heart of the Edwards Plateau, Highland Trails Ranch spans 1,904 acres of rolling uplands, steep canyons, and spring-fed streams that flow year-round through exposed limestone. Completely surrounding the headwaters of Little Rocky Creek and Slippery Creek, this landscape exemplifies the ecological richness and hydrologic function that define the Hill Country. Seeps and springs emerge from limestone overhangs lined with maidenhair fern that feed perennial streams, sustain riparian forests, recharge aquifers, and provide clean filtered water to the Medina River downstream.
Ecological Diversity Across Elevation and Habitat
The property’s rugged canyons and mature habitats support an exceptional array of rare, endemic, and threatened species found only in the Edwards Plateau. These steep, rocky drainages, largely spared from the intensive grazing of the 1950s, harbor species like scarlet leatherflower, Texas mock orange, sycamore leaf snowbell, and pockets of bigtooth maple tucked into cool, sheltered slopes.
Surrounding oak juniper woodlands provide nesting habitat for the federally endangered golden-cheeked warbler and, in a recent survey, the black capped vireo, a species once federally listed and still of high conservation concern. Additional sightings of monarch butterflies, painted bunting, zone-tailed hawk, common nighthawk, Louisiana waterthrush, black-and-white warbler, and additional species, underscore the property’s value as a refuge for resident and migratory wildlife.
These diverse habitats reflect not only the property’s biological richness, but also its role in sustaining species whose survival depends on the protection of large, intact tracts of Hill Country habitat.
A Node in a Growing Conservation Network
Situated within a priority region for land protection, Highland Trails Ranch helps counter growing development pressures that continue to fragment the Hill Country. Its conservation strengthens ecological connectivity across the Edwards Plateau, linking nearby protected lands like TLC’s Silencio Ranch conservation easement. Together, these intact landscapes form a living corridor that supports diverse wildlife, maintains the health of the Medina River watershed, and helps buffer the effects of climate change through carbon-rich soils and resilient native vegetation.
Conserving the Ecological Integrity of the Hill Country
Protecting this landscape safeguards the natural systems that make the Hill Country resilient. Its karst features filter and store water, stabilize soils, and support a rich community of native plants and wildlife. At a time of growing environmental stress and rapid development, places like this are essential to the long-term ecological health of Texas. By conserving these canyons, springs, forests, and grasslands, we help sustain the biodiversity and watershed services that define the region and benefit all Texans.
Photos by Stephen Ramirez
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Texas Land Conservancy could not do this important conservation work without our members, partners, and supporters. With your support, we can work with more landowners and protect more land across the state from the negative effects of land fragmentation and poorly-planned development.