The presentation discusses the three year journey of restoring an overgrazed 50 acre property, covered with mesquites and invasive grasses, into a native prairie through a Pastures for Upland Birds (PUB) Grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife.
The presentation discusses the three year journey of restoring an overgrazed 50 acre property, covered with mesquites and invasive grasses, into a native prairie through a Pastures for Upland Birds (PUB) Grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Brice Moczygemba retired in December 2017 after a 30-year career as a civil engineer and principal with Pape-Dawson Engineers. His lifelong interest in the outdoors and nature began as a […]
Brice Moczygemba retired in December 2017 after a 30-year career as a civil engineer and principal with Pape-Dawson Engineers. His lifelong interest in the outdoors and nature began as a child when he spent his summers at his grandparents' farm in southeastern Wilson County, Texas. Brice’s Moczygemba great-grandfather purchased the first of 225 acres in 1917, and the family has managed the property for generations.
Upon retiring, Brice decided to dedicate his time to managing a 50-acre parcel of the family property, focusing on conservation and habitat restoration. He has been a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) and was inspired by presentations on pollinator gardens, native residential landscapes, and prairie restorations. In 2021, Brice began researching the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's (TPWD) Pastures for Upland Birds (PUB) Program and other prairie restoration initiatives.
Brice's dedication to conservation led him to collaborate with various experts and organizations, including TPWD, Don Kirchoff (Kirchoff Prairie), the Native Prairie Association of Texas (NPAT), and the Texas Native Seeds (TNS) Program. In partnership with TPWD and EOG Resources, he implemented a large-scale prairie restoration project on his property, eradicating invasive species and planting 40 native grasses and forbs. The project has successfully increased biological diversity and provided habitat for resident, breeding, migrating, and wintering bird populations as well as wildlife of all types.
Brice's efforts have transformed 50 acres of the family property into a thriving prairie ecosystem, showcasing his commitment to conservation and sustainable land management.
This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.
The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.
Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.
Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason