The Nature Conservancy in Texas - Dolan Falls Preserve

Dolan Falls Preserve

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On the arid western border of the Texas Hill Country, halfway between Del Rio and Sonora, lies one of the jewels of The Nature Conservancy: the Dolan Falls Preserve. Located at the intersection of three biological regions—the Edwards Plateau, Chihuahuan Desert and Rio Grande Plain brushland—which creates a landscape of outstanding beauty and diversity supported by the pristine waters of Dolan Springs, Dolan Creek and the Devils River.

Cenizo plants bloom on the preserve.
© Bea Harrison

Location
Dolan Falls Preserve is in Val Verde County, situated along the Devils River and the edge of the Edwards Plateau.

Hours
The preserve is open to the public for scheduled field trips and volunteer workdays. For more information, contact the Dolan Falls Preserve, P.O. Box 420757, Del Rio, TX 78842-0757, (830) 775-9292 or email Scott McWilliams at smcwilliams@tnc.org.

Access Issues
When open to the public for events, access to Dolan Falls preserve is by high clearance, 4-wheel drive only.

Note: Currently, there are no public events or scheduled field trips to Dolan Falls Preserve, however, The Nature Conservancy has made an arrangement with the staff at the Texas Parks & Wildlife, Devils River State Natural Area, for them to give tours to the preserve for people that wish to see and photograph Dolan Falls. The State Natural Area is open to the public and people wishing to see and experience the Devils River area may want to look into the different opportunities available at the park. Check with the staff for the available times that they will be offering tours.

They may be contacted at: Texas Parks & Wildlife, Devils River State Natural Area, (830) 395-2133. www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/devils_river/

Size
4,800 acres (with a conservation easement on 13,722 acres of adjoining property)

Dolan Falls Preserve
© Lynn McBride

What to See: Plants
The Devils River flows through the preserve's canyons, which support stands of oaks and sycamore bounded by steep cliffs dotted with scrub juniper and mesquite. Rare and endangered species such as the Texas snowbell and Mexican white oak are found on the tract.

What to See: Animals
The river and its associated springs house rare salamanders and fish, many of which are unique to the Chihuahuan Desert region. The Devils River and other riparian corridors in the region serve as important migration paths for birds and monarch butterflies traversing the dry west. One conservation target is the black-capped vireo, an endangered songbird. Nesting pairs return to the preserve each spring.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
The Devils River and Dolan Creek are replenished by freshwater springs flowing from the bases of towering limestone cliffs.

It was the environmental significance of the property's springwater flow that initially sparked the Conservancy's interest in the site.

The Conservancy began to acquire the original 18,500-acre ranch in 1991. A $1 million endowment was established to ensure long-term management of the preserve. In 1995, John Eddie Williams facilitated acquisition of the site by purchasing 13,000 acres of the land and then dedicating a conservation easement on those acres to The Nature Conservancy of Texas.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The primary goal for the Conservancy is the perpetual protection of the land and, especially, the riverfront. Scientific research is a significant component of the preserve's management approach and research facilities are available. Extensive habitat and wildlife inventories have been conducted and special programs are in place for protecting certain species threatened with extinction. For example, Texas snowbells, an endangered plant species, are monitored for health and reproductive success rate.

Jim Harrison shows preserve visitors ancient
pictographs.

Dolan Falls Newsletters
November, 2001 newsletter (.pdf)
June, 2001 newsletter (.pdf)
October, 2002 newsletter (.pdf)
March, 2003 newsletter (.pdf)
August, 2003 newsletter (.pdf)