So the second part to the afternoon field trip was to a restoration site, the Headwaters at the Comal. The New Braunfels Utilities created a non-profit in 2017 on a 16 acre site. In fact it formally was an old utility and facilities property. And it sits at the headwaters of the Comal River.
Mallow Scrub Hairstreak (Strymon istapa) was a new one for me!
OMG the Common Mestras (Mestra amymone) were fluttering everywhere!!
Signage informed visitors!
The group was looking down into spring. And the Frostweed was doing well in the riparian area.
A wall called a gabion was built. This is filled with the large rocks to let the rain and flood waters seep through it. A concrete wall would succumb to the rushing water during heavy rains.
The Velvet-leaf Mallow (Allowissadula holosericea) actually did have leaves that felt like velvet!
And its seed pod was beautiful!
Some how I failed to take a photo of the beautiful prairie portion. It had an interesting story. When they started the restoration they found thousands of artifacts from ancient people. So instead of planting in the compacted dirt, the restoration team hauled in new blackland prairie dirt to cover the area. Thus not disturbing the area further.
What a wonderful restoration and educational project! Currently phase 1 is only 5 acres. It has taken almost 6 years to complete. A new education building will be finished by next year. And more will be restored in the future. New Braunfels can be very proud!
Neat place. In the photo of the gabion, does rain water flow from behind where the people are standing flowing down to the river? I wonder how hard those are to build. Remember the wall photo mural I have? That area drains a lot of water and a lot of topsoil washes down. We would like to slow that flow down and capture the soil with some type of rock structure and looking for ideas.
Thank you for bringing the beautiful seed pods to my attention. Guess i overlook some of them and your photos make them gorgeous.
Thank you!
Neat place. In the photo of the gabion, does rain water flow from behind where the people are standing flowing down to the river? I wonder how hard those are to build. Remember the wall photo mural I have? That area drains a lot of water and a lot of topsoil washes down. We would like to slow that flow down and capture the soil with some type of rock structure and looking for ideas.
I appreciate hearing about the NPSOT conference field trips!
😎
That definitely looks like a place I need to visit. Very interesting!
Yes I think you would enjoy it!