“Less than 1 percent remains.” Those words echo the urgent story of Houston’s coastal prairies. Before Houston became a sprawling city, it was a vibrant coastal prairie ecosystem. More than 70% of Greater Houston was once blanketed by this now endangered habitat. This is the Prairie Management Area.
The Prairie Management Area shows us what is at stake. Prairies are quintessential Texas landscapes. They shaped cowboys. They built our economy. They even helped win the Battle of San Jacinto. They played a huge role in Houston’s cultural and economic development.
Why should we care about this Prairie Management Area and the coastal prairies? Native prairies offer many benefits. Their roots, reaching up to 15 feet deep, absorb rainwater. They store up to 250,000 gallons per acre during heavy rains. That’s 14 times more than lawn grass. Prairie roots filter pollutants. They improve water quality. They refill aquifers. Prairie plants absorb air pollutants improving air quality. Prairies store more carbon than trees. They can store up to 50 tons of carbon per acre.
These prairies are vital for wildlife. The tallgrass prairies offer food and shelter. Grassland birds like quail and meadowlarks are declining. This is due to the loss of prairies. Insects like Monarch butterflies and bees are also declining. They depend on the diverse plant life of the prairie. Insects also pollinate the flowering plants of the prairie. They provide food for prairie wildlife. Deep prairie soils allow burrowing animals to thrive.
The Coastal Prairie Conservancy is working hard to save these prairies. Their vision is simple. They want to save a piece of the prairie. They strive to ensure healthy communities. They want to connect people with nature. They work to safeguard wildlife.
Consider the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken. It once thrived here. Now, it’s perilously close to extinction. The Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge helps restore their breeding population. The Texas prairie dawn, a once-prominent grass, is now endangered. Its populations are mostly within Harris County.
The prairie filters stormwater runoff. It sequesters carbon. It’s one of the last strongholds for wildlife. Restored coastal prairie holds water. It slows water traveling downstream. This time is essential during floods. It allows water to drain and areas to recover. Since 1992, Houston has lost up to 70 percent of its wetlands. One wetland acre can store between 1 and 1.5 million gallons of water.
The Prairie Management Area is more than just a field of grass. It’s a reminder of what was. It’s a hope for what could be. It’s a call to protect this vital ecosystem. Let’s ensure these prairies continue to benefit both people and wildlife.