24-654: The Edwards Plateau is a geographic region forming the crossroads of Central , South and West Texas , United States. It is named in honor of Haden Edwards . It is bounded by the Balcones Fault to the south and east; the Llano Uplift and the Llano Estacado to the north; and the Pecos River and Chihuahuan Desert to the west. San Angelo , Austin , San Antonio and Del Rio roughly outline
48-815: A few hundred feet of the Sabinal River. All of these soils have free calcium carbonate throughout their profiles and are moderately alkaline. Despite a high clay content in most cases, poorly drained soils are too inextensive to be mapped. As in much of the Hill Country, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are by far the most common large mammal on the property. Additionally, wild turkeys, armadillos , skunks, raccoons, opossums , rabbits, and fox squirrels are present. Feral pigs, exotic axis deer , porcupines, rock squirrels , and ringtails may occasionally be encountered. Bobcats , coyotes, both red and grey foxes, and rarely, mountain lions , also inhabit
72-507: A million (they winter in Mexico) and is the largest bat colony anywhere in an urban area. The Edwards Plateau is home to at least 14 endemic freshwater fishes, including two subterranean species of catfish and 13 fish species considered to be spring-associated. Mechanisms for spring association of fishes is not fully understood, but thought to mediated by water temperature. The large numbers of reptiles and birds also include breeding populations of
96-414: A vegetation type historically shaped by droughts and regular fires. Other abundant woody species include Texas mountain-laurel , Texas persimmon , cedar elm and agarito . Pecan trees are native in floodplains along springs and rivers, which are often lined with stands of baldcypress . The Balcones Fault zone which runs along the southern and eastern edge of the plateau is an ecological demarcation for
120-713: Is a region in the U.S. state of Texas roughly bordered on the west by San Saba to the southeast by Bryan and the south by San Marcos to the north by Hillsboro . Central Texas overlaps with and includes part of the Texas Hill Country and corresponds to a physiographic section designation within the Edwards Plateau , in a geographic context. Central Texas includes the Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood , Bryan–College Station , Waco metropolitan areas and Austin–Round Rock (also part of
144-430: Is droughty, or has cold nights, but are more muted in a mild, damp autumn. Texas red oak gives a fine crimson display almost every year and may retain its leaves well into winter. The Natural Area is most crowded when the fall colors peak in late October-early November. Evidence suggests that the maple trees that give the preserve its name are relics : remnants of a larger, more widespread population that flourished during
168-580: Is well drained; rainwater flows into the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone at the south of the plateau to feed rivers to the south. Rainfall varies from 15 to 33 inches per year, typically, from northwest to southeast, and the area has a moderate temperature and a reasonably long growing season. Trees of the savanna include Ashe junipers (locally called mountain cedar) and oak species, especially plateau live oak and Texas red oak , scattered over grasses such as little bluestem and sideoats grama ,
192-518: The Apache , Lipan Apache and Comanche , as having foraged, hunted, and occasionally lived in this part of the Texas Hill Country . Much of the area's limestone bedrock is exposed on elevated terrain, which has a shallow, discontinuous cover of dark gray stony clay (Eckrant series). Most valley bottoms have deep, dark brown silty clay (Krum series) or clay loam (Pratley series). Deposits of gravel, sand, and loam (Orif-Boerne association) lie within
216-700: The Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge and Lost Maples State Natural Area . Another important area for wildlife is Fort Cavazos military base. Earliest human settlement of this area was by Native Americans . First it was used and wandered about by Jumano and Coahuiltecan groups, then the Apacheria extended into the Southern Plains by the forerunners of the Lipan and Mescalero Apaches . After
240-471: The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) deems such action necessary to protect the environment. The Lost Maples State Natural Area is located about 5 miles (8 km) north of Vanderpool, Texas , and 71 miles (114 km) northwest of San Antonio . The preserve sits along the Sabinal River in western Bandera County and far eastern Real County . The land for Lost Maples State Natural Area
264-531: The Capital region). The Austin–Round Rock and Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood areas are among the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the state. In the south, the Greater Austin and Greater San Antonio areas are separated from each other by approximately 80 miles (129 km) along Interstate 35 . It is anticipated that both regions may form a new metroplex similar to Dallas and Fort Worth . Some of
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#1732765066998288-601: The Central Texas region are: Lost Maples State Natural Area Lost Maples State Natural Area is a 2,906-acre (1,176 ha) area of hills and canyons on the upper Sabinal River in the Edwards Plateau Region of Texas . It is designated a Natural Area , rather than a State Park , which means the primary focus is the maintenance and protection of the property's natural state. Accordingly, access and recreational activities may be restricted if
312-488: The Texan endemic golden-cheeked warbler ( Setophaga chrysoparia ). Much of the natural habitat of the plateau has been converted to residential development, especially around Austin and San Antonio in the eastern part of the plateau. Further alteration to the savanna has incurred though the encroachment of shrubs now that grassland fires are carefully controlled. Small areas of intact habitat remain in protected areas such as
336-448: The area. The plateau, especially its southeast portion, is also known as the Texas Hill Country . The bedrock consists primarily of limestone , with elevations ranging between 100 and 3000 ft. Caves are numerous. The landscape of the plateau is mostly savanna scattered with trees. It mostly lacks deep soil suitable for farming, though the soil type is fertile mollisol , so some cotton , grain sorghum , and oats are grown. For
360-529: The center of the park are two small lakes along Can Creek. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department urges all visitors to respect the Leave No Trace set of wilderness ethics... 1) Plan Ahead and Prepare, 2) Travel on Marked Trails Only, 3) Always Dispose of Waste Properly, 4) Leave Behind What You Find, 5) Never Build An Open Fire, 6) Respect All Wildlife, and 7) Be Considerate of Other Visitors. Please do your part by following this code, and protecting
384-653: The cooler and wetter climate of the last glacial period . Today, their distribution is limited by the relative rarity of the soils and microclimates they require to thrive. A more extensive list of the preserve's fauna and flora can be found at the LMSNA Ranger Station. Lost Maples is a State Natural Area and therefore has been developed only enough to provide access to visitors, while still protecting its natural character. The 2,906-acre (1,176 ha) reserve contains 11 miles (18 km) of hiking trails, 30 campsites, and eight primitive camping areas. In
408-758: The counties is provided by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion. The ecoregion is somewhat larger than the geographic region, as the map from Texas Parks And Wildlife includes additional counties that are listed by the Texas Water Development Board, notably the isolated area of Edwards Plateau in Taylor, Runnels, and Nolan Counties that is separated from the main region. 30°18′N 99°36′W / 30.3°N 99.6°W / 30.3; -99.6 Central Texas Central Texas
432-791: The expulsion of the Apachean groups from the Plains by the Comanche , this area was dominated by the Penateka band of the Southern Comanche. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , all or portions of these 41 counties comprise the Edwards Plateau geographic region: The Texas Water Development Board, a state government agency, includes additional counties all or partly in the Edwards Plateau area: A map showing
456-458: The general area, but are seldom seen by visitors. Bird life, including several different raptors, is particularly abundant and diverse throughout the year. The endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo are both found within the park. Venomous snakes including the broad-banded copperhead , coral snake , and western diamond-backed rattlesnake have also been documented nearby. The Texas Alligator Lizard has been documented in
480-437: The largest cities in the region are Austin , College Station , Killeen , Round Rock , and Waco . The largest U.S. Army installation in the country, Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), is located near Killeen . The counties (to the right in red) that are almost always included in the Central Texas region are (those bolded are always part of Central Texas): Counties (to the right in pink) that are sometimes included in
504-559: The most part, though, the thin soil and rough terrain areas are primarily grazing regions, with cattle, sheep, and goats ( Angora and meat types) predominant. Several rivers cross the region, which generally flow to the south and east through the Texas Hill Country toward the Gulf of Mexico ; springs occur (in wet years), but permanent surface water supplies are sparse throughout the area, except for man-made reservoirs. The area
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#1732765066998528-697: The park. The Texas brown tarantula is often spotted. The Sabinal River maintains surface water even during exceptional drought (as in 2011 ), so fish and other aquatic animals are always present. Primary vegetation includes the Ashe juniper (often called mountain cedar ), several different species of oak, bigtooth maple , American sycamore , escarpment black cherry , Texas ash , yellow-flowered red buckeye , mesquite , Texas persimmon , Texas mountain-laurel , Texas madrone , redbud, wild grape, prickly pear , Virginia creeper and various types of brush, grasses, and ferns. Bigtooth maple colors are brilliant if autumn
552-527: The ranges of a number of species. Caves of the Edwards Plateau are important habitats for wildlife and for many endemic species. The area is home to some of the largest colonies of bats in the world, including millions of Mexican free-tailed bats . The largest colony of these inhabits Bracken Cave near San Antonio, while the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin is the summer home for over half
576-538: Was acquired by the state of Texas in 1973 and 1974, and was opened to the public in 1979. In 1980, the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service made the Natural Area a National Natural Landmark . Humans have inhabited this area since prehistoric times. The recorded history of the area, beginning with Spanish explorations in the 17th century, identifies a number of Indian groups, including
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