The floods of April and May of 2016 and Hurricane Harvey of 2017 have affected the drainage patterns causing erosion issues on the Harris County Precinct 4 Prairie Dawn Preserve.  Consequently, this erosion has impacted the Chloris texensis annual populations resulting in the eventual loss of seed bank during these flood events.  (Tiller et al. 2018)

Harris County Engineers will be conducting a new topographic survey in order to correct the erosion issues caused by the floods in April and May of 2016 and Hurricane Harvey of 2017.  (Tiller et al. 2018)

Mercer Botanic Gardens maintains the Harris County Precinct 4 Prairie Dawn Preserve.  This is a four acre preserve which shelters four naturally-occurring rare prairie species.   Chloris texensis (Texas windmill grass) numbers have increased and represent the largest extant population.  (Tiller et al. 2018)

A Texas endemic that is severely threatened by habitat destruction due to urban and suburban development (occurs near Houston). It occurs in the coastal prairies of Texas (Center for Plant Conservation n.d.).

The major threat to these populations is development, especially in the Houston area.

Thirty-two records are known from Texas, mostly from the 1980's or later and mostly from private lands (Poole 2000). Sixteen populations originally reported, with several now gone (Wipff 1993). All populations are considered threatened.

Seeds from eleven sites within Harris County collected by Dr. Larry Brown of Houston Community College and Ralph Taylor of the Harris County Flood Control District are stored at Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens. These banked wild-collected seeds date to 1993. Mercer also banks subsets of rare seeds collected from field surveys and from propagation work with our collaborating CPC institution, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX and the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) in Ft. Collins, CO (formerly called the National Seed Storage Laboratories). Germination and growth to maturity studies were performed at Mercer by Greg Wieland (1993). Plants are propagated by division or by seed. Mercer Arboretum maintains a thriving permanent public display of this grass in the Endangered Species Garden. The Endangered Species Garden, established in 1994 with support from Star Enterprises, displays rare native plants for the public to view year-round. In Spring 2002, the River Oaks Garden Club of Houston, TX provided a generous gift to begin the expansion and renovation of Mercers Endangered Species Garden.

Monitoring for the coastal prairie endemics, such as this species, is being coordinated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Office in Houston.

Management strategy should follow that of Hymenoxys texana and Rayjacksonia aurea. As Poole (2000) stated for Rayjacksonia aurea, a survey of all sites to determine the population, viability, threat and land ownership should be completed. The establishment of a conservation agreement with the Corp of Engineers in Houston Texas would provide protection for some populations and possibly serve as a rescue site. Current populations under threat from competition by woody vegetation would require mowing or controlled burning as stated for Rayjacksonia aurea by Price (2000). Identify protected sites for reintroduction efforts. Monitor sites and seek preservation of populations.

Expand seed bank. Identify protected sites for reintroduction efforts.