06/09/2026
Our visit to Spicewood Ranch was a reminder that ecological restoration is measured in decades, not seasons.
When stewardship efforts began on this 1,100-acre Burnet County ranch in 1988, much of the property was dominated by KR bluestem, and many of the Hill Country's most valuable grasses, forbs and woody species had been lost or severely reduced by overgrazing.
Through nearly 40 years of experimental research, including prescribed fires, careful cedar and mesquite control, native seed collection and spreading, deer management and invasive species reduction, the land is transforming into a living example of what long-term restoration efforts can achieve.
Thank you to ecologist David Mahler and the Spicewood Ranch team for sharing decades of knowledge, experimentation and stewardship on this tour!
We left inspired by the patience, persistence and systems thinking required to restore a landscape at this scale.
