Bastrop County's Unique Natural Environment
Fauna | Flora | Climate |
Towns | Recreational
areas
Bastrop county is located in Central Texas, 30 miles east of the state
capital of Austin. Houston lies 120 miles to the east, San Antonio is 90 miles
to the southwest, and the Dallas/Fort Worth area is 200 miles to the north.
The pine-oak forests of Bastrop that make up the unique "Lost Pines
of Texas" are elevated above the surrounding grassland and are
separated from similar eastern forests by several hundred miles. This unique
biological situation has survived primarily because the underlying Carrizo
sandstone formations allow considerable infiltration of water which is then made
available to the plants. The annual rainfall of 35 inches that is characteristic
of the area would not normally be enough to sustain a forest community of this
type in Central Texas, but the moisture-holding properties of the soil have
enabled the pine-oak forest to persist. The forest forms dense canopies with an
understory of shade-tolerant species.
The pine forests of Bastrop county were not always separated from the pine
forests of east Texas. Moist forests covered much of central Texas until the
Pleistocene age. Climatic and environmental changes caused the eastward retreat
of the forests resulting in the isolation of the pine-oak forests.
Fauna of the Area
The isolation of the "Lost Pines" from biologically similar habitats
results in a biological community with many unique flora and fauna. Several
species with limited distributions can be studied in the area, including the
endangered Houston Toad (Bufo houstonensis). The range of the "Lost
Pines" also corresponds with the central Texas range of the Pileated
Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) and the Pine Warbler (Dendroica pinus). Three
species of mammals may reach their western boundaries in the Buescher-Bastrop
Park area - a flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans), a pack rat (Neotoma floridana)
and a mole (Scalopus aquaticus).
Bastrop county is home to a wide variety of birds, which is evident by
studying the lists of birds seen in the county by Audubon members. Mammals that
one may observe in the county include rabbits, raccoons, opossums, skunks,
armadillos, foxes, coyotes, deer, bobcats, bats, and occasionally even a cougar.
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Flora of the Area
The loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is the most conspicuous tree species in the
"Lost Pines" area. This species has developed drought tolerant
characteristics that further help it survive in the area. Interspersed among the
pines are the post oak (Quercus stellata) and blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica). Other common species include the eastern red cedar
(Juniperus virginiana), yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), black hickory (Carya texana), and
deciduous or possumhaw holly (Ilex decidua).
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Bastrop County has a growing season of approximately 270 days, with the average
dates of the first and last frosts being November 15th and March 15th. Average
rainfall is 35 inches. July is normally the hottest month, with a mean maximum
temperature of 96 degrees F. January is the generally the coldest, with a mean
minimum temperature of 40 degrees F. Extremes of temperature result in summer
temperatures sometimes in excess of 100 degrees and winter temperatures that
occasionally dip into the teens or twenties for brief periods of time.
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Towns in Bastrop County
Bastrop and Smithville, which lies 13 miles to the east, are nestled along the
banks of the Colorado River that winds its way across the county. Elgin is
located in the northwestern corner of the county, about 17 miles from Bastrop.
The three communities have populations ranging 4-6,000 each. Numerous smaller
communities and rural residents bring the county population to over 60,000.
There are many historic sites in the County, including 131 sites in Bastrop
alone registered by the National Register of Historic Places. Smithville
is an picturesque railroad town. Elgin has won an award for its “Main
Street” rejuvenation. Epodunk.com finds
Bastrop (1) and Smithville (6) among the top six historic small towns in the
state.
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Bastrop State Park, a pioneer in the state park system, is a 3,500 acre
park on the eastern edge of the town of Bastrop, preserving the Lost Pines
forest. It offers camping, hiking, birding, fishing, swimming, and canoeing. A
10-acre lake is stocked with perch, bass, crappie, and catfish. Amenities
include campground facilities, a lodge, swimming pool, 18-hole golf course, and
rustic cabins built of native red sandstone. Bastrop State Park and Buescher
State Park are connected by a scenic 13-mile long park road (which bikers love).
Buescher State Park, located two miles from Smithville, is also part of
the pine forest, but includes more deciduous woods and a 25-acre lake stocked
with crappie, bass, perch and, in winter, rainbow trout. Swimming is permitted
in the lake, as are boats without motors. Besides the camp and picnic areas,
there are four screened shelters with electricity and water, a native stone
recreation hall, and a group shelter. Bird lists and trail maps, etc., are
available at the gates.
Lake Bastrop, a 900 acre lake, was created in 1965 as a power plant
cooling pond and is now operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
They stock black stripe bass, Florida largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish,
yellow and flathead catfish, perch and blue catfish. There are also camping
sites, boat launch, and screened shelters available. Good birding.
The Colorado River offers opportunities for fishing, canoeing,
floating, and photography. There are public landings at Bastrop, Smithville, and
west of Bastrop on Farm Road 969 near Utley.
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This page was last updated on
Tuesday January 19, 2010 09:17 AM