The Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University has received a $975,000 gift from John L. Nau III to advance the next phase of habitat restoration work at Nine Point Mesa Ranch in Brewster County.
The contribution builds on Nau’s earlier $1 million investment that launched the project, which focuses on restoring arid rangeland ecosystems in Far West Texas. Nau, who owns Nine Point Mesa Ranch, has supported the effort through philanthropy and by granting researchers access to the property, helping establish it as a hub for long-term applied research in the Trans-Pecos region.
The new funding will support Phase 2 of a multi-year initiative. Over the past five years, Phase 1 research examined factors influencing successful habitat restoration in arid environments, including hydrology, soil erosion, native grass reseeding, brush management and invasive species. The work also included long-term monitoring of scaled quail populations using GPS tracking technology.
Researchers are now shifting from study to implementation, expanding proven restoration techniques across the landscape to improve habitat for scaled quail and other native wildlife.
“This investment allows us to move from discovery to deployment,” said Dr. Carlos Gonzalez, the Nau Endowed Professor in Habitat Research and Management and associate director of research at the institute. “Over the past five years, we’ve built a deep understanding of what works in restoring Trans-Pecos landscapes. With Phase 2, we are applying those lessons at scale to rebuild habitat, strengthen ecosystem function and train the next generation of land stewards.”
Phase 2 will expand the use of methods such as trincheras — small, loose rock dams that slow water movement — along with erosion control structures, native seeding and targeted disturbance. The targeted disturbance approach focuses treatments in areas where they can have the greatest impact, particularly in runoff zones and degraded soils, to improve water infiltration and reduce erosion.
The Nine Point Mesa project serves as the foundation of the institute’s Habitat Restoration Program, providing a living laboratory for applied research and student training.
“The work at Nine Point Mesa Ranch represents exactly the kind of science-based stewardship we need to sustain and improve working lands in Texas,” Nau said. “My hope is that other ranch owners will be able to learn from this research and apply these targeted methods to their ranches.”
Located in the rugged terrain of Far West Texas, the ranch offers an ideal setting for studying restoration in arid and semi-arid systems, where water, soil and vegetation are closely linked.
By scaling these approaches, researchers aim to improve habitat resilience, support wildlife populations and provide practical tools for landowners across the region.
Since 2007, the Borderlands Research Institute has promoted land stewardship in the Chihuahuan Desert through research, education and outreach, working in partnership with private landowners, government agencies and conservation organizations.
Image: Habitat restoration at Nine Point Mesa Ranch in Brewster County. Photo credit: Caleb Hughes.
