Bamberger Ranch History
In the Beginning...
In 1969 J. David Bamberger sought to buy the worst piece of ranchland he could
find in the Hill Country with the specific intention of restoring it back
to functional health. For the past 36 years the 5,500 acre ranch has become
one
of the largest habitat restoration projects in the state, winning numerous
awards (Soil and Water Conservation Service, Texas Forest Service, National
Arbor Day Foundation, the Nature Conservancy of Texas, Texas Wildlife Association
to name a few). With the removal of Ashe juniper and the replanting of native
grasses, long absent springs are now constantly flowing. The major spring
produces an average of 3 gallons per minute (4,320 gallons/day) and furnishes
all the
water used by the Ranch and the Center, three households as well as for agricultural
use. Overflow from this spring along with other smaller springs and seeps
produce the headwaters of Miller Creek which flows into the Pedernales River,
which
then flows into the Colorado River, the surface supply for the City of Austin
60 miles away.
Then and Now: A Natural Perspective
Bamberger Ranch's original purchase of 3,000 acres in 1969 is where the majority
of the cedar clearing took place. The remaining 2,500 acres
was purchased in pieces over the next several years to what is now a 5,500
acre habitat restoration and wildlife preserve.
Early bird surveys 30 years ago documented under 50 species. As birds are good "indicator
species", you can glean an idea of what kind of condition your land is
in. Autumn counts in Fall of 2005 added species that name make the year-round
total 188 species, showing diversity and vast improvement of habitat conditions.
When the ranch was predominantly a cedar brake, that is basically one type
of habitat - forest. When you clear out and add native grasses, you basically
expand your habitat range to 3 habitats: forest (as there is still about 5-10%
of the ranch in a cedar brake type of condition), grassland, and then edge
habitat - where the forest and grasslands meet - which is extremely important
to a variety of wildlife species. Total counts now include the bald eagle and
the golden eagle, but probably more important for the Texas Hill Country, we
consistently have nesting pairs of two endangered song birds: the Golden Cheeked
Warbler and the Black Capped Vireo - both of which were not documented here
prior to habitat restoration. More than 25 total sightings of nesting pairs of the GCW were documented
in 2005.
Deer harvested thirty six years ago had an average field dress
weight of 55 pounds. The deer were very small and unhealthy, due to lack of
forage
diversity. Now they consistently field dress at an average of 105 pounds and
we have healthy red oaks, redbuds and black escarpment cherries due to proper
deer management.
Cattle, in 1969, did not have much grass to eat when the ranch was predominantly
covered in ashe juniper. Soil Conservation Agents told J. David he could run
one animal unit per 41 acres. An "animal unit" is one cow, or 6 goats.
Now if we chose to, we could run one cow per 20 acres, depending on weather
and drought conditions. We do not run that many cattle on the ranch, however,
as we choose to keep just enough cattle to keep our native grasses healthy.
Most importantly, prior to habitat restoration, there was no surface water
or live creeks on the ranch when Mr. Bamberger purchased the property. He even
tried to start his own water well drilling business - drilling 7 wells around
the
ranch 500 feet deep and did not get a drop of water. The only reason he did
not go 501 feet deep is because in the 1970's, that's as far as the drill bits
would reach. However, once he began removing woody species and replacing them
with native grasses, springs and seeps began to appear. Now we have 27 stock
tanks
(or ponds and lakes) and countless springs. Eleven of our artesian springs
are "cased" in order to utilize for houses or livestock. Miller
Creek originates on the Bamberger Ranch - we are the top of it's watershed
- and Miller Creek runs year-round now except in times of extreme drought conditions.
But even in times of drought, the most important springs that supply all the
water to 4 households, our Center and two cabins have never gone dry since
habitat restoration.
The work and history of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve is attributible in large
part to the original employees: Leroy Petri, ranch engineer; William "Buddy" Francis,
Livestock manager; Randy Lenz, Wildlife Manager; and Jim Rhoades, arborist.
Randy left the ranch in 1999 to pursue the real estate industry and Buddy retired
after 27 years with the ranch in 2000. Leroy is still with the Bamberger Ranch,
having worked with J. David 35 of its 36 years, and Jim Rhoades serves on our
Board of Directors and still advises and participates in workshops relating
to trees.
The Very Model of a Modern Conservation Ranch
Bamberger Ranch has become a recognized model of habitat restoration and land stewardship, not only for local landowners but also policy makers working on water issues. For more than a decade the ranch has offered meeting space for environmental groups, hosted school field trips and stewardship workshops for thousands of participants.
In 2002, in order to protect the ranch from future development, J. David and Margaret Bamberger filed for 501(c)(3) status and created the Bamberger Ranch Preserve, established a 10-member board of directors for the ranch and they have developed a plan for the future.
The Bamberger Ranch hosts an average of 3,000 visitors annually through school
programs, group tours and landowner workshops. However, the income generated
from agricultural practices, educational programs, grants and donors does not
offset the total costs of operation. Presently, there are three full-time staff
in addition to the Bambergers (who work without compensation). Consequently,
the Bambergers, Board of Directors and staff are building an endowment fund
that will be able to sustain the ranch in perpetuity.
Looking into the future, it is the goal of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve to increase educational opportunities to Hill Country area school children, particularly to those who do not have a grandfather or parent who owns a ranch or large tract of land. Increasingly, area schools are under-funded and do not have money to take children on off-campus field trips. Additionally, many schools are not performing well on the annual standardized TAKS tests for math, language arts and science. The staff of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve believes that they are in a unique position to offer outdoor experiences that meet testing requirements; they have the staff, the knowledge, the volunteer resources and the impressive outdoor classroom with which to take students classroom teachings and apply them to the outdoor world. We are also certified by the State Board of Education.
Additionally, there is growing research supporting the benefit of outdoor education. In ongoing studies by the Human-Environment Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois, researchers have discovered tantalizing evidence for a new view of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) syndrome. In a 2004 study published in the American Journal of Public Health, the laboratory found that children as young as five showed a significant reduction in ADHD symptoms when they engaged with nature. The Bamberger Ranch is in position to affect a long-lasting impact on the students and teachers through outdoor experience and education about the natural world. It is these types of experiences that motivate teachers and possibly influence students to seek careers in the sciences and in the natural world.
The Bamberger Ranch Preserve staff and Board of Directors aim to continue to make this organization have a profound experience on all who visit; landowners, school children and teachers alike. Natural areas around the state and the nation are many times commercialized and overcrowded and thus, over run. It may be said that the Bamberger Ranch Preserve is the last remaining natural open space that is not cluttered with gift shops, vending machines, cell phone towers and other signs of urban civilization. The goal of the individuals who love, operate, work on and live on the Preserve is to change lives through education and be examples so that the visitors who leave Bamberger Ranch Preserve will love, appreciate and protect Mother Nature in their own daily lives.
Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve: "Nature. Pure an Simple."