Draft:Louis René Barrera Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary

Louis René Barrera Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary
Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Location of Louis René Barrera Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary in USA Location of Louis René Barrera Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary in Texas
Location	Lake Walter E. Long
Nearest city	Austin, Texas
Coordinates	30°19.00′N 97°35.36′W
Area	1.18 km2 (0.46 sq mi)
Elevation	591.1 ft (180.2 m)
Max. elevation	195.68 m
Min. elevation	169 m
Dimensions	291.58 acres
Designation	National
Created	1968
Named for	Louis René Barrera
Administrator	Austin Parks and Recreation Department
Website	https://austinparks.org

The Louis René Barrera Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary is a 291.58 acre Wildlife Sanctuary, located in notheast Austin, Texas, on the north shore of Lake Walter E. Long. The Luis René Barrera Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary is part of Austin's natural areas, created in 1968 to protect the city's biodiversity and native ecosystem. This sanctuary was established to conserve the native grasslands and the wildlife that lives there.

Location

The sanctuary is situated in Austin, (Texas) TX 78724, accessible via Blue Bluff Road. More exactly it is outside the center of Austin on the north shore of Lake Walter E. Long. A distinctive ecosystem that protects a crucial part of Texas' ecological legacy. Due to its location, the sanctuary offers unique views of the area's natural wonders and provides numerous ways to explore its beauty.

History

Renaming of the Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary

The Louis Renè Barrera Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary is named in honor of Louis Renè Barrera. From 1995 Barrera was involved in managing the natural areas in the city of Austin. Barrera was known for his commitment in preserving native habitats. One of his main objectives was to educate people to understand how important the conservation of the natural world is.

Louis René Barrera in a field of Big Bluestem

In 2019 following Barrera's death, Austin's Mayor Steve Adler decided to honour Louis Renè Barrera's legacy by renaming the Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary after him.

Conservation efforts:

The sanctuary keep a network of hiking and cycling trails. Conservation efforts include the implementation of Leave No Trace principles to protect the wildlife habitat and natural environment.

In the early 2000s, city planners recognized the need to protect this area from urban development in Austin. The sanctuary became an important place for wildlife conservation. In 2005, one key method used to maintain the area was controlled burns. These planned fires helped manage invasive plants and keep the native grasses healthy.

In 2020 the wildlife sanctuary received a $20,000 investment as part of the APF’s (Austin Parks Foundation) efforts to continue the removal of invasive species, applications of herbicide and prescribed fire reduction in woody species.

For example in the winter of 2023, the PARD (Austin Parks and Recreation Department) conducted prescribed burns at the sanctuary as part of their own land management program. These events were implemented to develop climate resilience and reduce wildfire risks in the area. As of September 2024, PARD planned three additional prescribed burns covering 332 acres at the sanctuary.

Climate

Being that the Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Austin, it finds itself located in between the American Southwest dry desert and the more humid regions of the American Southeast. Therefore the climate, topography and vegetation of that area have characteristics from both regions. According to the Köppen Climate Classification, the sanctuary has a humid subtropical climate, which is characterised by longer and hotter summers, and short mild winters. Both the spring and fall seasons can range from warm to hot. Throughout the year of 2023 the sanctuary experienced 532,9 mm of rainfall.

Although the sanctuary is located more inland from the coast, extreme weather conditions still affect its areas. Hurricanes and tropical storms can indirectly hit the areas around Austin and therefore the sanctuary itself with high winds and flooding. Additionally due to the sanctuaries location, it lies within the uttermost southern periphery area called Tornado Alley, although tornadoes strike this area less frequently than others located farther north. Another extreme weather condition that occurs multiple times per year in the areas proximate to Austin are supercell thunderstorms, which can bring heavy rains, winds and flooding.

Temperatures

Average monthly maximum and minimum temperature, Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary, 2023

	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
Average maximum temperature (°C)	18,95°	19,62°	23,61°	24,74°	29,01°	34,87°	37,67°	39,69°	35,97°	27,75°	20,14°	19,35°
Average minimum temperature (°C)	7,12°	7,0°	12,8°	13,88°	19,18°	23,39°	24,81°	25,11°	23,47°	16,34°	10,52°	6,88°

Precipitations

Average monthly precipitation, Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary, 2023

	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
Precipitation (mm)	0,94	1,14	1,13	3,21	2,59	1,08	0,07	0,07	1,02	3,92	0,89	1,45

Humidity

Average monthly humidity, Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary, 2023

	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
Humidity	66,54%	69,69%	68,05%	73,9%	78,22%	69,68%	58,71%	50,88%	60,03%	66,96%	76,17%	67,82%

Wind Speeds and Direction

Average monthly wind speed ( km/h ), Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary, 2023

	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
Speed (km/h)	21,01	23,85	22,93	21,99	16,79	19,05	18,96	20,15	17,25	21,03	18,3	18,3

Average monthly wind gust speed ( km/h ), Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary, 2023

	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
Speed (km/h)	37,05	42,08	42,04	40,68	33,52	40,16	36,0	39,26	34,35	38,37	31,95	32,58

Average monthly wind direction ( ° ), Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary, 2023

	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
Direction	176,36°	205,42°	154,47°	124,37°	133,58°	152,81°	165,97°	144,2°	124,83°	139,25°	140,52°	204,15°

Threats

Illegal dumping is one of the major threats the Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary faces. A large pile of discarded household goods, furniture, and construction materials sits just outside the sanctuary on Blue Bluff Road, with additional trash scattered across nearby roads. The waste is not only unsightly but also poses significant dangers to wildlife and the environment. This practice bears multiple consequences, having an impact on both the animal and the human habitat.

Flora and Fauna

Invasive Species

The sanctuary has two invasive grass species, Bothriochloa ischaemum and Sorghum halepense. The advanced colonization of Bothriochloa ischaemum has been identified as impacting on native biodiversity.

Flora

The plant species within the sanctuary are documented on iNaturalist by local naturalist and community members. These records not only contribute to the overal conservation efforts by providing data on species distribution and habitat health, but also catalog the sanctuary's flora. Sightings of flora come in a wide variety in the sanctuary such as Oenothera glaucifolia, Triadica sebifera and Euphorbia Bicolor.

Invasive species management is a important focuspoint of the sanctuary. The City of Austin's Park and Recreation Department has provided resources to define the impact of native flora and invasive plants. Strives to control and remove invasive species are essential to the ecological balance within the sanctuary to prevent the displacement of the native flora.

Fauna

The sanctuary supports rich flora of a wide variety of animals, from mammals and birds to insects and amphibians. Larger mammals that are commonly found in the grasslands are White-tailed deer, cottontail rabbits and red foxes. Throughout the sanctuary there is also a wide variety of smaller mammals, such as field mice, and voles. They thrive in the dense grasses and provide a crucial food source for birds of prey and predators.

Birdlife is a big part of the sanctuary, among the bird species that inhabit the area are meadowlarks, grasshopper sparrows, and red-tailed hawks. During migration season the area is home to a great deal of migratory birds, including American goldfinches and northern harriers, the use the sanctuary as stopover point. Waterfowl like great blue herons and mallards are also located in the area. The sanctuary also houses some amphibians such as leopard frogs and American toads.

Insects are also a large part of the vibrant sanctuary, featuring a wide array of pollinator insects, like bumblebees and monarch butterflies, they are drawn to the wildflowers which are found in the sanctuary. These pollinators are a vital part of the food source for mammals, birds and other insects within the sanctuary. It is a vital part of the ecological system of the sanctuary

Gallery

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  Trekking Path in the Sanctuary
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  Benches in the Sanctuaries Nature
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  Bluebonnets growing in the Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary, Texas
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  Radio antenna located in the vicinities of the sanctuary
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  Road under passage in the sanctuary

See Also

• IUCN
• Sunset Valley, Texas
• Texas Blackland Prairies
• Wildlife Conservation