Sam Houston RC&D Area

"Providing dynamic leadership to promote rural economic development through the sustained use of natural resources"

Counties Served

Austin Brazoria Colorado Fort Bend West Galveston

Harris Matagorda Montgomery Walker Wharton

For Information Contact: Sam Houston RC&D Area 113 South Trice Willis, TX 77378 Phone (936) 890-4884 Fax (936) 890-4041

Population

• According to the 2000 census, 4.8 million people reside the in Sam Houston RC&D encompassing 10 counties.
• 72 percent of the population live in the City of Houston and Harris County.

Land Use

• Agricultural enterprises are predominantly influenced by the production of rice, cotton, grain, hay and livestock.
• Forest products are a major economic force in Montgomery and Walker Counties.

Geography

• The geography is characterized by coastal plains and rolling prairie punctuated by tree lined streams making their way to the Gulf of Mexico
• Pine and oak trees cover the northern two counties, Montgomery and Walker Counties.
• The major water courses in the area include the Brazos, Colorado, San Jacinto and San Bernard Rivers.

Economy

• Business and industry involved with oil, gas and petro-chemical production make up the primary economy of the area.
• The Port of Houston, sixth largest in the nation, handles the majority of the petroleum and agriculture products produced in the State of Texas.

Coastal Prairie Conservation Initiative

One hundred years ago, about one million Attwater prairie chickens roamed the Texas Coastal prairie, filling the morning hours with their unique booming call. Today, only about 50 of these birds still live in the wild.            

In an effort to save one of the most endangered species in North America, Texas conservationists are today working to restore the bird’s habitat on private lands. In 1995, the Sam Houston RC&D Area partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) to develop management agreements for habitat restoration with a Safe Harbor component. This program administrated by Sam Houston RC&D Area, currently has 18 private landowners covering 79,160 acres enrolled in this habitat program.

When Sam Houston RC&D Area approves a private landowner for an agreement with a Safe Harbor permit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides a baseline survey on the land to determine the number of Attwater prairie chickens present on the property. With the Safe Harbor permit the landowners is allowed to continue with normal agriculture operations including habitat restoration without jeopardy to any future bird population that may occur on the property. Once the survey is completed, the landowner develops a management plan for the property with the help of the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and local SWCD’s. The major work includes removing invasive brush, water distribution, and range management.

Involving private landowners made it possible to protect a once-abundant species from imminent extinction and restore its habitat so that it may once again flourish in the wild.

< Back to RC&D Home Page