Devils River
Conservation Deal Will Safeguard the Headwaters of the Most Pristine River in Texas

The Nature Conservancy has purchased 87,760 acres to protect the Devils River, considered the most pristine river in Texas. The deal is believed to be the largest private conservation effort ever undertaken in Texas. Comprising eight historic ranches in Val Verde County, the land surrounds the Devils’ headwaters and includes eight miles of the 60-mile-long river.

The purchase contributes to a mosaic of lands along the river that previously were protected by the Conservancy. Altogether, lands conserved by The Nature Conservancy now protect about 25 miles of the Devils River.

Winding through the arid canyons of West Texas, this irreplaceable water resource has been a high priority for the Conservancy for more than a decade. “The Devils River is unpolluted and undammed–it’s the benchmark of clean, natural water systems in the state of Texas,” said James King, the Conservancy’s West Texas program manager.

Ecological Importance:
The river and the land surrounding it are known by conservationists as a unique mixture of ecological systems that provide habitat for many different animals and plants. At the crossroads of the Edward Plateau, the Chihuahuan Desert and the Tamaulipan Thornscrub ecological regions, the Devils River and its environs support diverse species from all three habitat types.

A notable feature of the property is the presence of a massive sinkhole leading to a cave system known as Fern Cave. Because of the way it’s sheltered from the elements, the 80- to 100-foot-deep sinkhole provides a micro-climate for plants, including a fern from Mexico and Central America not found elsewhere in the United States. The site also provides a seasonal maternity cave for more than 1 million Mexican free-tailed bats, which can be seen emerging from the sinkhole in the evenings to feed and returning at dawn each day.

Devils River provides habitat for rare fish, and its corridors are critical habitat for migrating songbirds, raptors and monarch butterflies © Laurence Parent

Plans:
The Conservancy plans to protect the property with conservation easements permanently restricting development and subdivision, and sell it to a buyer or buyers committed to conservation. Conservation buyers must possess a commitment to conservation that is compatible with permanent restrictions on the land designed to maintain its habitat value.

The lushness of the Devils River bottomlands contrasts with the arid uplands surrounding it, mesas and canyons sculpted by wind and water © Laurence Parent

Texas History:
Devils Ranch is a historic part of the Lone Star State, providing a link to the Old West and even earlier human settlement. Conservation of the land protects ranching history in Texas, including a portion of the Chihuahua Trail. The region also includes numerous Native American pictographs dating back 4,000 to 5,000 years, along with other evidence of habitation that may be as much as 10,000 years old.

Partners:

• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
  National Park Service
• Neighboring landowners
• Conservation buyers

Fern Cave, on property along the Devils River © Laurence Parent

Threats:

• Land fragmentation resulting from incompatible development
• Pollution and damage to watershed

Devils River Facts:

• Size: 87,760 acres
• Location: West Texas
• Animal Species: black-capped vireos,  monarch butterflies, Mexican free-tailed bats
• Plant Species: Texas snowbells, rare ferns and cacti

Learn More

• About The Nature Conservancy’s work in Texas
• Press Release announcing purchase of Devils River
• About the Conservancy’s conservation strategy
• About The Nature Conservancy's success stories worldwide
• About how The Nature Conservancy works to achieve conservation results