The Woman’s Thursday Club of Dublin met at Patrick Street church of Christ for its February meeting, hosted by Janet Pino. Club President Judith Lemons was under the weather, so Dana Herod graciously volunteered to chairthemeeting. After enjoying the wonderful snacks Janet prepared, Janet enlightened us with her presentation on the High Plains Ecoregion of Texas. Having spent many years in this region, she enjoyed presenting both her personal and researched knowledge of this ecoregion.
This High Plains Ecoregion extends from the Panhandle south to the Pecos River. It encompasses an area of 20 million acres, filling most of the “handle portion’ of our state. This ecoregion started as waving grasslands but is no longer so. It is the largest and most completely flat area of its size in the world. It ‘enjoys’ more severe winter weather than the rest of Texas, with an average annual temperature of only 59˚F. It is also known for the severity of its dust storms, when it endured being the epicenter of the 1930’s Dust Bowl, caused by a catastrophic period of severe drought, high winds, and soil erosion caused by overfarming. Most of this ecoregion is irrigated by the Ogallala Formation, an aquifer which crosses state borders north up into neighboring states, as far north as Wyoming. It is a relatively high (3,000-4,500’ elevation) and level plateau of sandy to heavy, dark clay soils over an impervious layer of caliche. There is an average of 21 inches of rainfall in the east, and only about 12 inches in the west. Currently, the water level in the aquifer is desperately low. The caliche seeps so slowly that when there is a surplus, the shallow playa-like wetlands end up evaporating much of its water into the atmosphere. There are about 19,000 playa lakes scattered throughout the region.
The playas play an essential role as the overwintering destination for waterfowl following the North American Central Flyway, as well as other wildlife. Historically, the High Plains supported large herds of buffalo and pronghorn antelope, which grazed on the vast carpet of short grasses, mainly Buffalo Grass and Blue Grama. Today, it remains as a habitat for various species, including the Lesser Prairie Chicken and the Red-Tailed Hawk.
The original character of the High Plains, like much of the West, has been forever changed by the plow. However, unique areas still remain, including scattered sand dunes cloaked with Harvard Shin-Oak, Sandsage, and Little Bluestem. Tallgrass meadows can still be found along the Canadian and Red Rivers, which once sustained growths of tall willows and cottonwoods. Russian Olive and Tamarisk, two introduced species from the Old World, now replace these native trees along the rivers, altering the natural habitat of Kingbirds and Phoebes. The Gray Wolf and Elk can no longer be found on the High Plains, but mountain lions, coyote, Red-Tailed Hawk and fox now flourish. While greatly reduced, scattered populations of Lesser Prairiechicken still boom to announce the coming of spring across the region, while flocks of Lark Buntings and Horned Larks fly the skies over this flatland.
Lubbock has the largest contiguous cotton fields in the world, relying mostly on the Ogallala Aquifer for its watering needs, and has sunflower fields, dry land farming. Lubbock is also known as the birthplace of Buddy Holly and Mac Davis. Nearby, Plainview is famed as the birthplace of Charles Lindbergh. Amarillo is home to the Big Texan 72 ounce steak and sides, Bucc-ees, and Cadillac Ranch (diminished, in my opinion, by the addition of too many more caddies).
This region also includes the Palo Duro Canyon, the nation’s 2nd largest canyon. Palo Duro Canyon was formed by water erosion from the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. It continues to deepen as water moves sediment downstream. Wind and water erosion are gradually widening the canyon. This canyon was notorious for hiding marauding bands of Comanche Indians, who roamed at least as far south as Comanche County. They were impossible to follow on their small horses by European armies on their heavier horses. If you ever have a chance to go see TEXAS, the live show performed in the Palo Duro Canyon Amphitheater with the backdrop of the natural canyon walls, you will be astounded!
Our next meeting will be a workday, in lieu of our 128th Anniversary celebration, March 28 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. We will meet at the Dublin Historical Museum, to put identifying labels on exhibited items, which have been researched and identified by club members the past two years.