west-texas-news - Pitchstone Waters

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west-texas-news

A collection of 28 posts

leopold_conservation_dixon_water_foundation

Rotational Cattle Grazing to Restore Degraded Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands and Promote Watershed Health

Describing the Mimms Ranch in Marfa, Texas, the authors write, “The Foundation aims for practical conservation, with the belief that restored grasslands improve overall watershed health, resources for native wildlife, and continued support of ranching.” NOTE: this article was originally published to usbr.maps.arcgis.com. As well – it was

gas plant with colorful cloud sky

Net Zero Natural Gas Plant -- The Game Changer

Instead of subsidizing the feel-good mirages of solar and wind, those who want clean, cheap energy should devote these funds to making fossil fuels cleaner. The method described below would transform carbon emissions. Similar methods could work with coal. NOTE: this article was originally published to Forbes on July 31,

Elk Country Chronicles – The Sounds of Elk Country Volume 10

"Invasion Biology"

Elk Country Chronicles - The Sounds of Elk Country Volume 10

Nothing is as peaceful as elk country. Rather than trying to eliminate all elk on Texas’ public lands under the scientifically-bogus belief that they are an “invasive, exotic” species that harms bighorn, pronghorn and mule deer, wildlife agencies, conservation organizations and universities should simply follow their own North American Wildlife

Boyd Elder Is the Most Famous Artist You’ve Never Heard Of

Boyd Elder Is the Most Famous Artist You’ve Never Heard Of

“A great profile on our pal Boyd Elder. NOTE: This article is taken from TexasMonthly.com. It was written by Sterry Butcher and published in February, 2018. This article originally appeared in the February 2018 issue with the headline “El Chingadero.” Photography credits are to Matt Johnson. The West Texas

wild_texas_film_2017_trailer

Wild Texas

“I have said that Texas is a state of mind, but I think it is more than that. It is a mystique closely approximating a religion. And this is true to the extent that people either passionately love Texas or passionately hate it and, as in other religions, few people

circle_ranch_west_texas_new_year_2017

Happy New Year From Circle Ranch

2015 was the year of the big blizzard. New Year 2015 from Christopher Gill on Vimeo.

pronghorn_circle_ranch

Successful Pronghorn Transplants Require Ecosystem Health

Pronghorn cannot be restored by themselves. Healthy grasslands need periodic grazing by keystone species like bison or cattle, lots of prey and lots of predators. Removing any of these components will unwind the system. Animals, plants and the soil life biome are interdependent and inseparable. Hurt any piece and you

Rare Big Bend Grass Added to Federal Endangered Species List

"Invasion Biology"

Rare Big Bend Grass Added to Federal Endangered Species List

Most agencies, universities and conservationists continue to blame cattle grazing for grassland decline. The biodiversity loss described in this article is real but the blame is misplaced. The real cause of grassland decline is lack of animal impact from periodic grazing of bison or cattle and abundant wild species. The

Trump Picks Susan Combs For Interior Post

Trump Picks Susan Combs For Interior Post

A terrific choice for America, for Texas, and, for Western ranchers, wildlife & habitat. NOTE: This article initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on July 11, 2017 WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate former Texas Agriculture Commissioner and Comptroller Susan Combs to be assistant secretary of policy management

russian_thistle

"Invasion Biology"

Gone With the Wind - Russian Thistle

Thistle is a great rescue plant for desertified ranges. Quail love thistle seeds and the bugs it hosts, and many wild and domestic animals use it when it is young and tender. NOTE: This article appeared in the June 2017 edition of Texas Wildlife Magazine. The article is posted with

circle_ranch_west_texas_cattle_feature

Killing Cattle a Felony Under Texas Livestock Bill Awaiting Abbott’s Signature

A very good law to defend stray livestock, including bison. NOTE: This post initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on June 2, 2017 Careless hunters or trigger-happy gunslingers who kill Texas livestock …would no longer get a slap on the wrist under legislation awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature that would

circle_ranch_west_texas_rain_feature

Chupacabra Nesting Area National Wildlife Refuge

San Antonio artist Gary Sweeney’s take on the legendary creature of Northern Mexico. Chupacabra Nesting Area National Wildlife Refuge from Christopher Gill on Vimeo. More about artist Gary Sweeney Gary Sweeney’s Nostalgia, Texas from Walley Films on Vimeo.

apache_heights_oil

Oil Trends in Far-West Texas

Mineral revenues can be very good for wildlife practices. NOTE: This article initially appeared at OilPrice.com on March 24, 2017 Shell’s New Permian Play Profitable At $20 A Barrel OPEC’s worries about the booming U.S. oil production have increased significantly with the big three oil companies’

big_bend_michael_ciaglo

Big Bend Ranch State Park

Big Bend Still Breathtaking After All These Years

Big Bend and far-West Texas is the most overlooked part of the West. NOTE: This post initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on April 27, 2017. Feature photo by: Michael Ciaglo / Houston Chronicle BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK — Since its opening in 1944, breathtaking Big Bend National Park has drawn visitors from

apache_heights_oilfield

far-West Texas oil & gas

Far-West Texas Mineral Classifications

As explained below, far-West Texas ranches often come with mineral ownership that cannot be severed from the surfaces. This is an important investment feature. By John McFarland I have recently been reading “The Big Rich: the Rise and Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes,” by Bryan Burrough. It has

"Invasion Biology"

Wild Boar Trappers Fear Hog Poison’s Effect on EU Wild Meat Market

The feral pig ‘problem’ is a regulatory issue. The one bright spot is that the Europeans – whose food safety standards far exceed our own – love our free range pork. The brilliant idea to use Warfarin to control pigs will destroy that market, and produce unknown and unintended consequences to other

bayer_cattlemen_pdf

"Invasion Biology"

A Poison for Every Plant

Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association is an outstanding organization. Annually, TSCRA circulates to its members a calendar like this one, compliments of Bayer-Monsanto Chemical. The fact that this leading, respected cattle organization is promoting the ubiquitous use of rangeland pesticides demonstrates the extent to which ranchers, farmers and wildlife

U.S. - Mexico Teamwork Where the Rio Grande Is but a Ribbon

"Invasion Biology"

U.S. - Mexico Teamwork Where the Rio Grande Is but a Ribbon

The destructive and wasteful application of invasive species biology as promoted by The New York Times. Invasive species biology is based on the assumption that anything done by an “invasive” is by definition bad. According to the invasive species folks, cane is a sneaky invader that has driven out native

Blue_Origin_test_fires_a_powerful_new_hydrogen-_and_oxygen-fueled

Good Results From Our One Chute Out Test

Blue Origin continues its testing of spacecraft next door to Circle Ranch in far-West Texas. On our most recent flight, we performed a test to prove the Crew Capsule could safely land with only two of its three parachutes open. On a nominal flight with all three parachutes deployed, the

circle_ranch_keeper_of_the_flame

Keeper of the Flame

Our artist pal Boyd Elder is one of the unforgettable characters of far-West Texas. NOTE: post initially appeared on TexasHighways.com and in print, the June 2016 edition In the 1960s at his Soho building in New York City, “minimalism” icon Donald Judd would take his phone off the hook

circle_ranch_west_texas_cattle_feature

"Invasion Biology"

HMI Open Gate Day - August 26 2016

HMI Open Gate: Circle Ranch Day Helping Water Flow Where it Needs to Go – August 26, 2016. Circle Ranch, Van Horn, TX Our Circle Ranch Day is part of HMI’s Open Gate Learning Series. Open Gates are on-the-ground learning days for producers and consumers who care about land health

Joseph_Medicine-Crow_circle_ranch

War Songs of The Plains

Obituary: Joseph Medicine Crow, Reprinted from The Economist Joseph Medicine Crow, last war chief of the Crow tribe, died on April 3rd, aged 102 THEY were on a path over the hills when Joseph Medicine Crow saw the horses: 50 of them. It made him pause, for there was never

elephant_butte_dam_circle_ranch_feature

"Invasion Biology"

What Caused the Spread of Saltcedar and the Decline of Cottonwood Along the Rio Grande?

As this article explains, cottonwood decline was caused by river dams which ended seasonal flooding, not by an “invasion” of saltcedar. NOTE: article was originally published in the Hudspeth County Herald April 1, 2016 In October 1916, dignitaries gathered at the Rio Grande, near present-day Truth or Consequences, New Mexico,

west_texas_thunderstorm_circle_ranch

rain in west texas

Strong El Niño Will Weaken and Could Transition to La Niña This Fall, NOAA Says

This will likely mean renewed drought in far-West Texas. NOTE: this post initially appeared on Weather.com on February 11, 2016 El Niño is forecast to weaken through the spring with conditions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean potentially transitioning to La Niña next fall, according to the latest monthly outlook

big_bend_park_nuclear_dump

Big Bend Ranch State Park

Van Horn Residents Prepare to Fight Possible Nuke Dump

We are told that Culberson County, which cannot maintain its roads, schools and other infrastructure for just a few decades, can have safe surface storage of most all the nuclear waste in the United States, virtually forever. Plutonium-239 is hazardous for 250,000 years – 12,000 human generations. Uranium-235 is