Heirs permanently protect 165 acres of Texas ranch through conservation easement
The Winn family partnered with Hill Country Conservancy to safeguard the historic Four Winns Ranch near Wimberley.
The descendants of Texas artist James Buchanan Buck Winn Jr. have secured permanent protection for 165 acres of the Four Winns Ranch near Wimberley in Hays County. According to a Times of India report, the initiative was undertaken by the Winn family in partnership with Hill Country Conservancy.
The conservation easement aims to safeguard wildlife habitats, historic features, and water resources. The property was originally purchased in 1937 as a 1,164-acre ranch by Winn, who was a painter, sculptor, architect, and professor.
The land includes approximately two miles of Pierce Creek, a tributary of the Blanco River. The Blanco River helps replenish the Edwards and Middle Trinity aquifers and accounts for as much as 6 per cent of the average recharge reaching Barton Springs.
The property provides habitat for several species, including the federally protected Golden-cheeked Warbler and the Summer Tanager. It also contains stone fences believed to date back to around 1850.
The easement is held by Hill Country Conservancy in partnership with the US Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. This allows agricultural operations and ecotourism, such as a zipline attraction, to continue on the land.