Richard Taylor - Increasing species diversity and water into the aquifer in Texas Hill Country

After a successful career in computers and technology, Richard Taylor and his partner Suzie Paris spent many years searching for the perfect place to begin their next adventure. In 2001 they purchased 832 acres in Texas Hill Country and named it the Blue Mountain Peak Ranch due to its position as the highest point in Mason, Texas.

They began improving the ranch by cutting Ashe Juniper, first themselves and then with teams of people with chainsaws and with prescribed burns. The removal of bison, traditional livestock management, and a changing climate have contributed to Ashe Juniper exploding across the landscape of Hill Country. Containing the Ashe Juniper to the ravines has led to less runoff and more rainfall absorption, an increase in native flora and fauna, and a rebirth of springs and creeks.

During our conversation, Richard and I talk about his selection criteria when shopping for a ranch, how the work done here influences San Antonio and Austin’s water supply, and the ways they control Ashe Juniper, commonly known as cedar to locals. We talk about the importance of a goal statement for most aspects in life, how rising land prices require us to rethink the economic models around land ownership, and the increase in species diversity after controlling the cedar, deer and cowbird populations.

NB: Richard misspoke about the general timeframe to build an inch of topsoil. In the references section down below I’ve included a link to just one of many articles that cover this topic. Soil formation rates vary across the planet with slowest rates occurring in cold, dry regions and faster rates in hot, wet regions.

There’s a lot packed into this 42-minute episode, so I hope you enjoy!

--- FULL EPISODE NOTES WITH LINKS @ https://truestewards.com/richard-taylor ---

--- TOPICS DISCUSSED ---

1:30 – Searching for a property at the top of its watershed

3:02 – Fire suppression and the invasion of ash juniper, commonly known as cedar

6:11 – Can you control cedar?

7:39 – Restoring the native seed inventory

10:16 – An intro to the science behind prescriptive burning

14:45 – Seeing an increase in biodiversity after fire events

17:07 – An example of linked species, the web of life

18:26 – Black-capped vireos, short-tailed hairless lizards, and student research on species diversity

20:41 – Improving water features on the ranch

21:28 – Resources helping the eco restoration efforts on the ranch

23:54 – Return of milkweed and monarch butterflies

25:04 – Sequestering carbon in our grasslands and building up the soil

26:00 – Barriers to others accessing these resources, using prescribed fire, et cetera

27:22 – The value of collaborating and sharing information with your neighbors

30:00 – Cost of land, population growth, and lessons from the Golden Mile in Massachusetts

33:59 – Partnering with Texas Parks and Wildlife to improve wildlife habitat

37:24 – An introduction to cowbirds and their impacts

39:20 – Ecotourism including hikers, bikers, campers, and student researchers

40:03 – Reiterating the impact of water on this ecosystem