Pecan Springs Karst Preserve

PECAN SPRINGS KARST PRESERVE

Pecan Springs Karst Preserve is 1,205 acres of beautiful, ecologically-sensitive land in northern Williamson County, 5 miles west of Jarrell, Texas. The picturesque property sits within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone at the gateway to the Texas Hill Country.

Elm Bat Cave at Pecan Springs Karst Preserve

Previously used for cattle ranching, the karst landscape is rich with limestone caves and sinkholes that enable rainwater to easily permeate into the aquifer underground, filtering the water as it flows through soils and limestone. There are at least 6 known caves on the property.

Pecan Springs Branch at Pecan Springs Karst Preserve

Pecan Springs Karst Preserve hosts the headwaters for three tributaries of Salado Creek, including Pecan Springs Branch. A wetland site on the property, King's Garden, is an old growth bottomland hardwood forest with numerous springs, seeps, and streams. Protecting the land helps protect water quality and water supply in the Edwards Aquifer, a critical water source for Central Texas.

Pecan Springs Karst Preserve is home to at least 19 Species of Greatest Conservation Need, including Salado Salamanders, Golden-cheeked Warblers, and Tricolored Bats. The protection, restoration, and appropriate stewardship of this property are essential for their survival.

Salado Salamander (Eurycea chisholmensis)

Golden-cheeked Warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia)

Tricolored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus)

Williamson County is home to two of the four fastest-growing cities in the nation. Pecan Springs Karst Preserve lies directly in the path of a new wave of growth that is expected to bring at least 24,000 homes to adjacent properties over the next decade. The donors of this majestic Preserve first approached Hill Country Conservancy about a conservation easement on a smaller portion of the Preserve, over the most critical natural resources. During this process, they determined HCC to be the best possible caretaker for this land, and donated the property to the organization.

Current work on the Preserve includes relocating cattle to replenish vegetation, monitoring endangered species, planning restoration efforts for Salado Salamanders, surveying species present on the property, and clearing debris from caves and sinkholes so surface water can permeate down to the aquifer more efficiently. Long-term, we are working to maximize ecological function at Pecan Springs Karst Preserve, increasing biodiversity and the land's natural ability to absorb rainfall to recharge the Edwards Aquifer.