Community News 19 May 2024

Hello fellow Ranches at Buckhorn Creek Landowners!

I have a lot to share with you in this post so I invite you to read through it for important information about your land and the community

In the past 2 weeks, Crockett, Texas has experienced 23" of rainfall which has caused water levels to rise in the floodplains along Hales Gully and Big Creek. If you don't know, as you enter Ranches at Buckhorn Creek, look to the right and that is Hales Gully. Ranches at Buckhorn Creek is in the Hales Gully- Big Creek Sub Watershed. In our community, water flows from Hales Gully to Big Creek and eventually to the Trinity River. I have learned a long time ago it is important to know what your watershed is and how water is supposed to move through your immediate and greater area in order to be prepared for life events such as the last 2 weeks in Crockett, Texas and the surrounding areas.

The rising waters of Hales Gully at the entrance of our community came within 2-3 inches of the bottom of the small bridge and the water level of the bridge by the Big Lake did not exceed the height of the road. The movement of the water throughout the community along with local weather changes were closely monitored daily by Jesse and Christina Hamilton with JCH Ranch & Tractor Services and communicated with the POA President daily. Many landowners have property along the flood plains of the Hales Gully and Big Creek and your properties took on water in these flood plain areas in similar fashion as illustrated in this map. Though no one ever wants to experience a flooding event, the reality is that one did happen. I provide this information for you so you can take the time to best plan and prepare for such a future event (should another one come again) prior to your home build.

Please note, due to the amount of rain received, the grass along the community's easements has grown tall but Jesse Hamilton and his team will mow these easements as soon as the water logged land can support his tractor and mower.

---

FINALLY HERE!

The Board is happy to announce that the community's street and stop signs are now officially installed! Check them out! The Buckhorn Creek Drive sign off State Hwy 21 is set back from the highway due to the easement distance set forth by TxDOT. The POA would like to thank Jesse Hamilton for his great work on installation.

---

Spring Breeding Bird Survey

In April, Shane Davis, a Wildlife Biologist, with Plateau Land and Wildlife Management came out to do our Spring Breeding Bird Survey for the community. Fifty-three (53) total species were identified during his time at the 13 stations throughout Ranches at Buckhorn Creek. A total of 418 individual birds were counted. Spring breeding season brings birds to the area that are not resident to our area; here are 4 species spotted and recorded in our Spring Breeding Survey. Contact Aleta Patrick if you would like the full survey report. aletapatrick@gmail.com

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-billed_Cuckoo/overview

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/baltimore_oriole

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/summer_tanager

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Painted_Bunting

---

High Fence Line Repair

In April, the POA President, Aleta Patrick, took a tour of the community's high fence line along the southeast and southwest part of the community with Jesse and Christina Hamilton of JCH 13 Ranch & Tractor Services, Reuben Gay with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and our southwest neighbor on the other side of our high fence. The purpose of the tour was to see the integrity of the high fence line and to determine if the community had an adequate firebreak.

The Board contracted Jesse Hamilton and team with JCH 13 Ranch & Tractor Services to clear a 30' easement along the high fence line as well as repair the the high fence on the southeast side of the community. In the CC&R it is stated that the developer did not know the integrity of the high fence line which the POA Board determined is necessary in order to help make sure our community has adequate fire breaks and to cease the influx of feral hogs through the identified broken fence line.

Jesse and his team has done a fantastic job replacing the gates along the fence line near Lot 6 with heavy duty gates that have an appropriate pipeline lock on it to prevent it from being used as an off road side entry into our community. Jesse Hamilton is a 4th generation farmer & rancher in Crockett, Texas and the POA is deeply appreciative of all the services he has brought to date to help us care for our community via mowing, fence repairs and fire break work, wildlife management, installations, etc along with coordinating with Texas Parks and Wildlife and making recommendations to further care for our community as if it was his own. Thank you Jesse and Christina Hamilton and team at JCH 13 Ranch and Tractor Services for going above and beyond!

---

FERAL HOGS

To date, Jesse Hamilton's team has trapped 12 feral hogs in our community. They worked to do this even during the recent 23" flood event in our area. You may have seen their feral hog traps along our roadways on the community easements during the past few weeks but please know they are legally and humanely trapping these hogs per the request of the POA in effort to reduce damage to our ecosystem and reduce erosion. Jesse and his team transport these feral hogs to a USDA certified facility which is in the confines of the law and Texas Parks & Wildlife.

Please respect the feral hog traps and do not tamper with them, Jesse and his team are doing a service to our community in effort to help each landowner. If you have further questions about this process or concerns please contact Aleta Patrick, POA President, at 281-701-9078 or email at aletapatrick@gmail.com

---

NEWS FROM THE DEVELOPER

The Developer has informed the POA that the mailboxes will be installed in the community by June 30, 2024 and additionally the developer will be addressing standing water and water flow on Buckhorn Creek Drive near Lot 6 and the bridge area.