VSP: Katy Prairie Conservancy Shrike Prairie at Warren Lake Matt Cook Memorial Viewing Platform

The Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC) invite volunteers to plant native prairie species within the Shrike Prairie. “If we get sturdy, energetic volunteers, we will remove additional Eastern Gamagrass too. It has completely taken over!”

Who: KPC

What: Planting native prairie species

Where: Shrike Prairie at Warren Lake Matt Cook Memorial Viewing Platform (see “Directions” directions below)

When: Tuesday, 2/15/2022, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM  (Tuesday, 2/22/2022 is the rain date)

Why: To restore the Shrike Prairie

Other: Physical Requirements: Bending, kneeling, or sitting on the ground; some light lifting. What to wear: Closed-toed shoes, tall socks, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, hat. What to bring: Gardening gloves. All other tools are provided.

If you wish to sign up, please email Bethany Foshée ([email protected]).

Directions:             

From Interstate 10

• Take the Mason Road exit (Exit 745) and go north for just over 3 miles to Clay Road.
• Turn left (west) at the stoplight onto Clay Road and drive for another 3 miles to the STOP sign at Katy Hockley Cutoff Road. (“Cutoff” is very small on the street sign, but be aware that this is not Katy-Hockley Road.)
• Turn right (north) onto Katy Hockley Cutoff Road drive north for about 9.3 miles.
LANDMARK: About 3 miles north of Clay Road you will come to the flashing light at FM 529.
NOTE: Katy Hockley Cutoff Road turns into Katy-Hockley Road about 2 miles north of FM 529, but you just keep heading straight north – you probably won’t even notice the change.
BE REALLY CAREFUL ON KATY-HOCKLEY AND KATY-HOCKLEY CUTOFF ROADS. THE SPEED LIMIT IS 45 MILES AN HOUR. LANDMARK: You will cross the ribbon of trees at Cypress Creek about 5 miles north of FM 529, just over a mile before you get to your next turn at Jack Road. This may be hard to see at night, so watch your mileage.
• Turn left (west) onto Jack Road and drive just under 2 miles until it ends at Warren Ranch Road.
LANDMARK: Salt mine will be on your left.
• Turn right (north) onto Warren Ranch Road.
• Cross a small creek and continue until you see an open gate on the right-hand side of the road.
• Park inside the gate.

From US 290

• Take the Hegar Road exit from US 290
• Turn south onto Hegar Road which turns into Warren Ranch Road and continue south for about 3.5 miles
• You will see the platform and the lake on your left hand side. Turn left into the first gate of the parking area directly in front of the platform.

TMN COVID-19 Precautions: “For any indoor or outdoor activities that do occur in-person, masks and social distancing considerations are encouraged.”

Fort Bend County COVID-19 Orange Precautions: “Avoid and cancel medium (10-250 people) and large public private gatherings (250+). Avoid non-essential business and personal travel. Minimize contact with others, but begin leaving the home for non-essential needs, except medium and large gatherings. Practice social distancing and use face coverings.”

[VSP hours to be recorded in VMS under: “Katy Prairie Conservancy: TMN Report Hours”]