Coastal Prairie Conservancy
Coastal Prairie Conservancy, formerly known as the Katy Prairie Conservancy, is a Houston-based nonprofit started in 1992 to conserve and restore the Katy Prairie in Texas. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization led by board chair Sam Hix and CEO Mary Anne Piacentini.
The conservancy protects about 24,500 acres in western Harris and Waller Counties through ownership and conservation agreements. Highlights include:
- Nelson Farms Preserve (>1,700 acres; about 200 acres still operate as a working rice farm)
- Cypress Creek runs through the preserve, creating habitats for waterfowl, waterbirds, migratory songbirds, raptors, beaver, white-tailed deer, and other wildlife
- Warren Ranch, one of the prairie’s largest remaining working cattle ranches
- Williams Prairie, a 10-acre remnant where grasses such as little bluestem and indiangrass grow
Historical note:
- In 1986, Houston bought 1,432 acres near Katy Prairie for a potential airport. To offset habitat loss, the area was set aside to support migratory birds.
Other nearby public parks:
- John Paul Landing Park (865 acres) on Katy-Hockley Road, with a 400-acre lake and an environmental education center
- Paul D. Rushing Park (232 acres) on Katy Hockley Road, featuring a lake and wildlife viewing
- Katy Park, a municipal park in the City of Katy
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 06:26 (CET).