How Texas Prairie Restoration Projects Strengthen Water Security

Prairies are vast expanses of flat grasslands that offer far more than just scenic beauty.

They deliver essential climate services by storing carbon deep underground within their extensive root systems, keeping it safe even during wildfires. In addition, they regulate water flow, prevent erosion, and support biodiversity, making them vital ecosystems for both people and nature.

Prairies are primarily located in the central United States, spanning states such as North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, as well as in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, collectively known as the Great Plains.

As climate change accelerates, the carbon storage potential of prairies becomes increasingly critical. However, these landscapes and the ecosystem services they provide are rapidly shrinking as land is converted into cropland. Much of the land now used for cattle grazing, soybeans, corn, and potatoes was once thriving prairie.

The disappearing grasslands of Texas

According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), prairies across the United States have been diminishing for centuries due to extensive land-use change. Texas’s grasslands once supported vast herds of bison and other grazers, covering around 8 million hectares (20 million acres). Today, less than 1% remains, replaced by settlements, agriculture, and ranching.

This decline is not confined to Texas. Across the country, only 4% of native prairies still exist, mainly in the Midwest, and their area continues to shrink. Since 2010 alone, more than 57 million acres of U.S. prairies have been converted into cropland, while fewer than 10% of the world’s grasslands are currently protected.

Restoring the prairies to secure water

The essential role of prairies in supporting Texas’s water security has prompted numerous restoration projects. Native prairie grasses have deep root systems that reach up to 10 feet underground, improving the infiltration of rainwater and allowing it to recharge aquifers. This reduces drought and flood risks, prevents soil erosion, and provides habitats for hundreds of plant and animal species.

One prominent example is the restoration of the Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) National Grassland, a 20,250-acre landscape of prairies and savannas. Although prairie loss receives far less attention than deforestation, the consequences are equally serious.

The LBJ National Grassland is a key part of the Trinity River watershed, which supplies water to more than 50% of Texans. A single acre of tallgrass prairie can hold and purify up to 250,000 gallons of rainfall, a capacity that will become increasingly vital as Texas’s population and water demand continue to rise.

The Cottonwood Creek Restoration Project

Within the LBJ National Grassland, the Cottonwood Creek Watershed has become a focal point of restoration efforts. Efforts include removing 340 acres of invasive red cedar trees, stabilising stream channels, and controlling erosion across nearly 1,000 acres.

Red cedar trees intercept large amounts of water, reducing the flow available to aquifers and native vegetation. Their removal has allowed native plants to recover, enhancing groundwater recharge and reducing erosion. Stream stabilisation, achieved through the strategic placement of rocks in the streambed, helps prevent further soil loss.

Local companies have contributed funding to the watershed restoration project, recognising its value in maintaining reliable water supplies essential for their operations. This partnership demonstrates how nature-based solutions can support both communities and businesses.

Building a water-resilient future

By restoring and preserving prairie ecosystems, Texas can enhance groundwater recharge, mitigate flooding, improve water quality, and strengthen resilience to drought. As population growth and development drive higher water demand, safeguarding natural systems such as prairies will be essential to sustaining both ecological and economic health.

Read the full article: How Revitalising the American Prairie Can Secure Clean Water.