As precipitation has declined,  much of the ranch land has been split up into 35-40 acre parcels on which homes now stand. Area zoning permits a density of one house per  parcel.
The decrease in precipitation has led to the fragmentation of former ranchland into smaller parcels, typically between 35 and 40 acres, which are now home to individual houses. Local zoning laws restrict the number of dwellings that can be constructed on each parcel.