Oil Spill Funds Protect Texas's Powderhorn Ranch

In 2014, a coalition of Texas conservation groups finalized the purchase of 17,351 acres of coastal land in Calhoun County, preserving Powderhorn Ranch. This significant acquisition, costing $37.7 million, protected one of the state's last large tracts of unspoiled coastal prairie. The broader conservation initiative, including habitat restoration and management, had a planned budget of $50 million.

A substantial portion of the funding, $34.5 million, was provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. This fund was established using penalties paid by BP and Transocean following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. At the time, this represented the largest land acquisition in the U.S. funded by BP spill restoration money.

The successful acquisition was the culmination of years of effort by multiple organizations, including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and The Nature Conservancy of Texas. The ranch itself is ecologically vital, boasting coastal live oak forests, wetlands, salt marshes, and over 11 miles of bay frontage, providing critical habitat for hundreds of species, including the endangered whooping crane.

In October 2018, the conservation project advanced as over 15,000 acres of Powderhorn Ranch were transferred to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, becoming a state wildlife management area. This marked the completion of the land deal and the beginning of a new phase focused on restoring native grasslands and improving hydrology to benefit wildlife, especially whooping cranes. The area is also intended to offer public recreational opportunities such as hunting, fishing, and hiking.