Restoring the Blackland Prairie in Urban East Austin
East Austin is situated on the Blackland Prairie. This incredible ecoregion stands as one of the most beautiful, biologically diverse ecosystems in Texas. It is made up of a wide range of prairie plants, has some of the most fertile soil on the planet, and is CRITICALLY ENDANGERED - only 5,000 of the original 12,000,000 acres of the blackland prairie remain (thats 0.04%)
Due to it’s fertile soil, the vast majority of the region has been turned into farmland, the rest of it has been turned into roads, parking lots, and subdivisions (full of non-native plants and turf grass of course). This previously vast area of rolling prairie lands supported a massive amount of wildlife. Now that this ecoregion is all but wiped out - it’s up to us to build it back.
The Natural History of the Blackland Prairie
This region was home to expansive grasslands and savannas full of native grass species such as big bluestem, little bluestem, and Indian grass. The prairie also featured a vibrant array of wildflowers, including iconic blooms like Indian paintbrush and bluebonnets. Scattered oak and hickory trees contributed to the savanna-like landscape and provided habitat diversity.
This ecosystem played a crucial role in sustaining large mammals like bison - their grazing patterns creating a dynamic balance between flora and fauna. Native American tribes utilized the prairie for hunting these animals, further shaping its ecological history. The bulk of the Blackland Prairie’s history with humans was with these Native Americans.
European settlers introduced agriculture, with cotton farming becoming a major economic driver in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite prosperity, the region faced environmental challenges. Urbanization and industrialization led to changes, and conservation efforts now aim to preserve the unique ecosystem.
Biodiversity Hotspot
While the Blackland Prairie has thousands of species of insects, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, grasses, and forbs that all contribute to its biodiversity - here are a few of the most common ones you’ll see.
Grasses: Native grass species like big bluestem, little bluestem, and Indian grass are prevalent. These grasses played a crucial role in the historic grazing lands for bison.
Wildflowers: The prairie is adorned with a variety of wildflowers, including Indian paintbrush, bluebonnets, and black-eyed Susans.
Trees: While primarily a grassland, scattered oak and hickory trees are present, contributing to the savanna-like landscape.
Birds: The Blackland Prairie supports a diverse bird population, including meadowlarks, sparrows, and quail. Raptors like red-tailed hawks are also common.
Mammals: Historically, large mammals like bison roamed the prairie. Today, white-tailed deer, coyotes, and various small mammals inhabit the region.
Insects: The prairie is home to a variety of insects, including butterflies and bees that rely on the native wildflowers for pollination.
Challenges and Conservation Efforts
The main challenge the Blackland Prairie faces is habitat loss and fragmentation. The are many groups working with land owners to restore the once vast ecoregion and they are making a huge impact, but you don’t need hundreds or thousands of acres to make a difference.
How You Can Help Restore the Blackland Prairie
If you live in the Blackland Prairie ecoregion and have access to an outdoor space (can be an apartment balcony, a 1/2 acre lot, or 5 acre estate) and you want to help restore this beautiful habitat - The simplest and most cost effective thing you can do to is either plant some native plants or throw out a native Blackland Prairie Seed mix and let nature do it’s thing. Unfortunately I can’t get into the specifics on the best practices to ensure your efforts succeed in this post because it’s already long enough.
If you’d like to learn more about the specifics of what you can do with your outdoor space to help restore the Blackland Praire check out another one of my blog posts titled “Ecological Landscaping Best Practices” or fill out the form at the bottom of this page and I will reach out.
