ICP Detail: Chihuahuan Desert

The Oaks and Prairies and Tamaulipas Brushlands both have isolated wetlands that provide migration and winter habitat for several hundred thousand to over 1 million ducks and geese. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department began flying midwinter counts in 2000. These surveys suggest that wetlands in these two conservation regions winter at least 1 million ducks each winter, making them second only to the Gulf Coast in importance for wintering waterfowl in Texas. The surveys indicate that these two conservation regions provide habitat for approximately 300,000 - 500,000 gadwalls, 200,000 to 450,000 mallards, 60,000 to 200,000 American wigeon, and 30,000 to 100,000 northern pintails. Further, these two regions also provided winter habitat for 50,000 to 1 million geese. Snow/Ross and white-fronted geese are the most common geese, though small numbers of Canada's occur each winter.

Generally, DU has worked in these areas only through the MARSH program. Habitat conditions in both regions vary with annual rainfall, particularly in the Tamaulipas Brushlands. Habitat conditions are less variable in the Oaks and Prairies region where stock ponds and reservoirs provide aquatic vegetation, and habitat from which birds can roost and feed in adjacent agricultural fields. Habitats in these regions do not appear to be threatened at this time, although certain isolated wetlands in the Tamaulipas Brushlands may become vulnerable pending outcome of wetland regulatory issues related to the SWANCC decision. In general, however, DU does not anticipate development of broader conservation programs in these regions. Projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and completed and administered with staff involved in programs targeted at other higher priority areas. Limited opportunities may exist to protect tracts with valuable wetlands or higher densities of wetlands through conservation easements.

The Edwards Plateau and Chihuahuan Desert have very limited numbers of wetlands and stock ponds that provide migration and winter habitat for several hundred to several thousand ducks and geese. Generally, DU has worked only through the MARSH program to conserve these sites. DU does not anticipate development of broader conservation programs in these regions. Projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and completed and administered with staff involved in programs targeted at other higher priority areas.

* Region 18 - NABCI Conservation Regions 20, 21, 35 & 36

Revised January 5, 2005 - Region 18

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