VP Affiliations & Advocacy

Clarence Reed
Chapter
Austin
Committee’s General Scope and Responsibility
Educates NPSOT members how to conduct 501(c3) advocacy and communicate with public officials to comply with IRS rules and regulations. Develops native plant advocacy messages in public media in coordination with VP-Communications. Explore collaboration with other like-minded conservation organizations active in Texas, including federal, state and local agencies. Inform NPSOT members of opportunities to work with other organizations consistent with NPSOT mission statement.
Biography
Past activities from 2015 to 2018 have included (1) participation in Texas Master Naturalist Hill Country Chapter, (2) past vice president and president of Kerrville Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas, (3) team leader for monarch larval monitoring project at Kerrville wildlife management area in Hunt, Texas. (4) various educational activities on nature topics for youth in Kerrville area. (5) completed level 2 of native landscape certification program. (6) service on board of hill country land trust. current activities from 2018 to present include service as (1) as vice-president-advocacy & affiliations on Society’s executive board, arranged for guest speakers for spring symposium, prepared issue advocacy materials for recovering America’s wildlife act, work on NLCP-Advocacy program, and organizing Society’s water conservation effort to local government officials, Texas water utilities and water conservation districts to promote native plant landscaping, (2) member of Austin chapter (3) serving on board of hill country land trust, (4) member of Capital area TXMN chapter, (5) completed training as land, water and wildlife expeditions mentor with Texas wildlife association.
Clarence Reed

VP Affiliations & Advocacy

Chapter
Austin
Committee’s General Scope and Responsibility
Educates NPSOT members how to conduct 501(c3) advocacy and communicate with public officials to comply with IRS rules and regulations. Develops native plant advocacy messages in public media in coordination with VP-Communications. Explore collaboration with other like-minded conservation organizations active in Texas, including federal, state and local agencies. Inform NPSOT members of opportunities to work with other organizations consistent with NPSOT mission statement.
Biography
Past activities from 2015 to 2018 have included (1) participation in Texas Master Naturalist Hill Country Chapter, (2) past vice president and president of Kerrville Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas, (3) team leader for monarch larval monitoring project at Kerrville wildlife management area in Hunt, Texas. (4) various educational activities on nature topics for youth in Kerrville area. (5) completed level 2 of native landscape certification program. (6) service on board of hill country land trust. current activities from 2018 to present include service as (1) as vice-president-advocacy & affiliations on Society’s executive board, arranged for guest speakers for spring symposium, prepared issue advocacy materials for recovering America’s wildlife act, work on NLCP-Advocacy program, and organizing Society’s water conservation effort to local government officials, Texas water utilities and water conservation districts to promote native plant landscaping, (2) member of Austin chapter (3) serving on board of hill country land trust, (4) member of Capital area TXMN chapter, (5) completed training as land, water and wildlife expeditions mentor with Texas wildlife association.
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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason