The West Texas Native Seeds Project has begun a plant material development and grassland restoration project funded by The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) through their Pecos Watershed Conservation Initiative. The two-year project budget is just over $400,000, with the Pecos Watershed Conservation Initiative contributing roughly $190,000 and CKWRI contributing matching funding of nearly $220,000. The Pecos Watershed Conservation Initiative is a partnership between NFWF, eleven major oil and gas producers operating in West Texas, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

This new source of project funding will support existing efforts of the West Texas Native Seeds Project to develop new ecotypic seed sources for habitat restoration across West Texas. NFWF funding will facilitate ongoing farm operations for new plant material evaluations and seed production for new plant releases. NFWF funding will also provide salary support for 25% of two Assistant Director positions operating in West Texas and 50% of a full-time technician position employed through project partners at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. Funding from the Pecos Watershed Conservation Initiative will also help develop new guidelines for restoration best practices in West Texas. Twenty acres of new restoration research plantings will be installed in West Texas over the next two years through this funding agreement.

This exciting new partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is a big step toward making successful grassland habitat restoration a reality in West Texas.

Funding sources: Cooperative funding provided by the Texas Department of Transportation, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, CF Properties and the Sierra la Rana development, Stan Smith, and the Railway Ranch.