SMGA
Newsletter for November 18, 2008
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In
This Issue...
Purgatory
Trees Saved
Ringtail Ridge Trail Continues
to Improve
Hays County Greenprint
Blue Goat Donation
Bike Bits: Tire Pressure
In the News
Purgatory
Trees Saved
Huge oaks, elms, and other native trees within a 60-foot
swath along the route of the Wonder World Drive extension
would have been cleared if not for the efforts of city
council leaders and conservation advocates. When the potential
loss came to light, city staff used an extensive map of
tree locations, created by the U.S. Department of Fish
and Wildlife during its environmental survey, to identify
about 100 trees along the roadway. Preservation of these
trees became part of a change order approved by the city
council last week. Spending the extra time and money to
preserve trees and the habitat they provide in the Purgatory
greenspace reflects the values of the San Marcos community
and its leaders. Thanks to those who supported this effort.
Ringtail
Ridge Trail Continues to Improve
By Lance Jones
A combination of brawn and brain works at improving
the Ringtail Ridge trail located on Ranch Road 12 behind
the Dakota Ranch Apartments. The former Hughson Meat
Packing plant was converted to 45 acres of open space
following an agreement with developer Randall Morris
and the City of San Marcos in July 2001.
The
San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance (SMGA) has done much of
the heavy lifting with the city’s support. SMGA
volunteers built their first trails here, with two miles
of unmarked narrow trail primarily for mountain bikers.
Over the years hikers, naturalists, photographers and
others were drawn to the oaks, persimmons, mesquite
and cactus stands that cover large portions of the greenspace.
|
| The
kiosk at the entrance to the Ringtail Ridge trail
will contain a map of the different trails and
a nature study of what a person can expect to
see. |
|
FOR
YOUR CALENDAR
View calendar of events
SMGA
Events
Trail
Building
• Thursdays
Location TBA, 6:45-8:30 am
• Saturday 12/6
Ringtail Ridge, 8:30-10:30 am (8:00 first timers)
• Saturday 12/20
Location TBA, 8:30-10:30 am (8:00 first timers)
Email alliance@smgreenbelt.org
to receive location, directions, and last-minute weather
cancellations. Gloves, hard shoes, eyewear required.
Water bottle, long pants, hat recommended. We supply
tools and bug repellent.
SMGA
Board Meeting • Wednesday, 11/19
Location TBA, 6:30-8:00 pm
Members welcome; let us know you’re coming and
we will get a meeting packet to you.
Hike
• Saturday 11/22
Schulle Canyon, 9:30 -10:30 am
This half-mile, family- and kid-friendly hike is perfect
for toddlers, preschoolers, and jogging strollers. We’ll
follow the kids along the granite trail and stop halfway
to let them explore. Bring water and snacks for the
kids and wear long pants. Find
directions here.
Hike
• Saturday 12/13
Blanco Shoals, 8:30-10:30 am
Trails can be rugged and grasses long, so wear long
pants and closed, strong shoes. Water, hat, sunscreen
and camera are a good idea. Find
directions here.
Community
Events
Groundwater
Festival • 11/18
Texas Rivers Center
Desperate need for volunteersl. Contact
Sonja Menar, sm56@txstate.edu,
512-245-9200.
San
Marcos Nature Center Work Day • 11/22
For more info, contact Julie Hulbert: JHulbert@ci.san-marcos.tx.us
Invasive
Plant Removal • 11/22
Aquarena Center, 8:00/9:00-11:00 am
Meet at the far end of the long parking area. Email
wassenich@grandecom.net
for more information. |
The
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department awarded the City of San
Marcos and SMGA a National Trails Grant in the amount of $40,087
in August 2007. That project is mostly complete, with the
construction of a one-half mile Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) accessible trail, parking lot improvements, and
an interpretive kiosk. Environmental Survey Consultants did
the primary grant work and the City of San Marcos did the
parking lot improvements.
|
| The
Chinaberry is a non-native tree to Texas. Its bright
yellow seeds are spread by birds and can easily take
over a greenspace. |
SMGA
volunteers improved the trails within the greenspace, logging
more than 150 hours of labor on Thursday mornings and odd
Saturdays. Their efforts resulted in wider trails and the
removal of obstructions.
Todd
Derkacz, SMGA president, plans to return the property from
ranch land to native Texas wild plants. Tom Watson, a retired
university biologist from Driftwood, surveyed the property
for invasive species on September 22. Chinaberry has gained
a foothold on the property and will be removed. Thinning the
Ashe juniper, which is indigenous but pervasive, will aid
in watershed protection, a major purpose for a greenspace.
“A long-term management plan with reasonable goals is
the objective,” said Derkacz.
Adding
to the brainpower was a bird survey conducted by Wimberley
resident, Jesse Huth, on October 17. The fall migration aided
with several uncommon bird sightings for the greenspace. Huth
identified 25 different species, including both the Lincoln
and Savannah sparrows and the orange-crowned warbler. Huth
is a veteran of several years’ participation in the
Great Texas Birding Classic, an annual event in late April
along the Texas Gulf Coast.
“It
isn’t the binoculars; it’s the ears that do the
hunting. I suppose I’ve always known that, but for all
the hours I’ve spent in our natural areas I don’t
believe I’ve ever heard so much going on,” said
Derkacz.
“Ringtail
is a great place for first timers birding, with its mix of
field, brush, juniper breaks, fence lines, and woodland areas.”
Tom Watson pointed out that the straight line of chinaberry
trees is probably due to birds sitting on a fence line.
Other
projects currently underway at Ringtail Ridge include additional
mountain bike trails, a test planting of native grasses and
wildflowers by Camp Fire USA members, installation of appropriate
signage in the kiosk and a wildlife viewing stand. Find
directions to Ringtail Ridge and a trail map here.
Here
are the birds Jesse sighted at Ringtail on October 17:
|
| Jesse
Huth and Todd Derkacz survey the different species of
birds along the trail. |
American
crow
Black vulture
Black-crested titmouse
Blue jay
Carolina chickadee
Common ground dove
Eastern phoebe
Golden-fronted woodpecker |
Great-tailed
grackle
House finch
House sparrow
House wren
Kildeer
Ladder-backed woodpecker
Lincoln’s sparrow
Mourning dove
Northern cardinal |
Northern
mockingbird
Orange-crowned warbler
Red-shouldered hawk
Rock dove
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Savannah sparrow
Tufted titmouse
Turkey vulture
White-winged dove |
Hays
County Greenprint
We reported in the past on the Hays County Greenprint being
conducted by Envision Central Texas (ETC). Download
an overview of Greenprinting. The Hays County effort kicked
off at a workshop in San Marcos last May. ETC reports that
similar workshops were held in Bastrop and Caldwell Counties
in October, and that representatives of all the counties within
the larger regional effort also met in October to help ensure
that the goals and criteria identified at the county workshops
were effectively defined, the appropriate data will be gathered,
and the input into the Greenprint model is accurate and current.
Stakeholder meetings will continue into early 2009 to bring
the regional effort into greater coordination and allow for
the lessons learned in one county to enhance the process in
neighboring counties.
Blue
Goat Donation
The World Dance Festival held in October at the Price Center
benefited three local charities, one of them being SMGA. We
received the highest number of donations by 1 or 2 votes and
that garnered a cool $100. If you are looking for a place
to relax with a book, a scone and cup of French roast, head
for the Blue Goat.
Bike
Bits: Tire Pressure
By Gordon Sabin. As SMGA volunteers add miles to local
trails, interest in bicycling to them and on them increases.
So here’s the first in a series of tips for all you
on- and off-road bikers out there.
The manufacturer’s recommended range of tire pressure
is stamped on the sidewall of the tire. The higher number
is the maximum psi and the lower is the minimum. Lower tire
pressure increases traction on loose or unstable surfaces
and provides some shock absorption on rough surfaces, such
as those encountered on trails. Lower tire pressure requires
more effort and is more susceptible to common punctures than
higher pressure. Higher pressure makes the tire roll more
easily on smooth surfaces, thus making pedaling easier, and
higher pressure is less prone to the more common causes of
flat tires. One can achieve a considerable variance in riding
characteristics by experimenting with tire pressure.
Gordon
Sabin offers advice and training to local bikers and can be
contacted at gpsabin@grandecom.net.
| SMGA
Board & Committees Board
Of Directors
Todd Derkacz, President
Murry Holley, Vice President
Sherwood Bishop, Secretary
Sheila Torres-Blank, Treasurer
Maggie Hutchins-Wagner
John Thomaides
Ann Jensen
Mary Waters
(Vacancy)
Conservation
Committee
Sherwood Bishop, Chair
Abby Gillifillan
Stewardship Committee
Mary Waters, Chair
Sheila Torres-Blank
Communications
Committee
Ann Jensen, Chair & Newsletter Editor
Lance Jones
Vicki Giere
Maggie Hutchins-Wagner
|
In
the News
A
Brief History of the Wonder World Extension 10/23
Full
story here.
Jacob’s
Well Stops Flowing (10/27)
Jacob’s Well, the famous natural spring known
to be the longest underwater cave in Texas, stopped
flowing for the second time in recorded history on the
evening of October 20th. “The lack of rainfall
and the continued pumping of the aquifer to serve local
water supply has caused Jacob’s Well to cease
flowing,”
Full
story here.
Ground
Water Free-For-All (10/30)
More
than a decade of hard work by the Edwards Aquifer Authority
could be washed down the drain by a recent 4th Court
of Appeals opinion. And a process being conducted by
groundwater districts across the state to establish
desired aquifer levels over the next 50 years is also
in jeopardy.
Full
story here.
City
Seeks Board Volunteers (11/11)
The San Marcos City Council is seeking volunteers to
serve on 27 City boards and commissions for terms beginning
in 2009. The initial deadline to apply is November 12
at 5 p.m. at the City Clerk’s office, though applications
are accepted on a continuing basis.
Full
story here.
|
Click
a date below to view past News & Events:
October
20, 2008
September
17, 2008
August
19 2008
July 16, 2008
June 16 , 2008
May
21, 2008
April
16, 2008
March
25, 2008
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