Pines and Prairies Land Trust (PPLT) participated in the Wilbarger Creek Conservation Alliance’s (WCCA’s) Monarch and Pollinator Habitat Plot Program this spring. Just over 900 feet of native flower and grass seeds plus 50 milkweed plugs were planted on one of PPLT’s conserved properties- the Wilbarger Creek Mitigation Bank.
This property, located along Wilbarger Creek, is protected by PPLT with a conservation easement, a legal tool to preserve its conservation values. As a stream bank mitigation site it has underdone strict restoration with oversight by the Army Corps of Engineers and this high quality riparian habitat is monitored by PPLT annually.
The property owners are enthusiastic about enhancing wildlife habitat and eagerly joined the WCCA’s free program. The purpose of this new program is to increase the connectivity of habitat along Wilbarger Creek for migrating monarchs and native pollinators which all have declining populations in part due to habitat loss and disruption.
In total, this program seeded 71,946 feet and planted 500 milkweed plugs on 18 properties near Wilbarger Creek. In the fall the planting will continue; If you would like more information on this great program visit http://www.wilbargercreek.org/habitat-plot-program.html.
This program is generously funded by the NRCS and the Texas Fund for the Environment.
Milkweeds sprouting just a few weeks after planting.
