The Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area will grow by 2,500 acres thanks to an acquisition from the Ward family through a partnership between the Coastal Prairie Conservancy (CPC) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Located immediately west and north of the existing WMA land, the property is made up of ecologically significant coastal prairie, wetlands and tidal marsh in Brazoria County along the Texas coast.
The WMA now offers more than 17,500 acres of connected conserved habitat – some of the most ecologically significant remaining coastal prairie, wetlands, and marsh habitat on the Texas coast. The land supports species such as the Black Rail and Mottled Duck in addition to other migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and coastal wildlife. Long-term plans for the 2,500-acre property include incorporation into the broader Justin Hurst WMA public access framework. The WMA currently offers year-round access to the Jones Creek and Live Oak Nature loops, along with special permit hunts and scheduled tours.
“This project permanently protects an extraordinary piece of the Texas coast,” said Mary Anne Piacentini, President and CEO of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy. “Conserving this property expands the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area, strengthens habitat connectivity to nearby conserved landscapes, including the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, and ensures that future generations will continue to benefit from the wildlife, natural resources, and resilience these lands provide.”
The property, known within the Ward family as “Down Below,” has been owned and stewarded by the family for generations. The Ward family traces its roots to Emily Austin Perry, Stephen F. Austin’s sister, whose family was among Austin’s “Old Three Hundred” settlers. Through decades of ranching, hunting and land stewardship, the family worked to maintain the property’s ecological character while preserving it as a working landscape.
For the Ward family, permanently conserving the land honors the legacy of the late Lee Taylor Ward, a lifelong rancher, outdoorsman, and conservation-minded steward who cared deeply about the future of the Texas coast. By protecting the property as part of the Justin Hurst WMA, the family is guaranteeing that the landscapes and wildlife that shaped generations of memories will remain intact for future Texans.
“He loved that land,” said Emily Ward. “He loved getting up every morning and going out there. He believed this landscape mattered, not just for our family, but for wildlife, for ranching, and for the future of the Texas coast.”
