On Wednesday, March 29th, a few of us students went on a field trip to Plum Creek Wetlands Preserve from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm. While we were there, we met with Tyler Sanderson, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust Executive Director, and Steven Risinger, the Conservation and  Stewardship Manager. Arriving there, all we could see were acres and acres of scenic wetland with fields and trees, streams, and a bathroom on the edge of the property which they hope to eventually connect to city sewage or turn into compost toilets.

Our guides took us on a walk around the wetlands and we saw some of the things that they had been working on while we toured some of the lands. They described how they were spraying pesticides to kill and dry out the plants, and then doing prescribed burns on the land so they could start over with native plants like goldenrods, pecan, cattails, and other various native plants. Later, we walked along the forest boundary and learned about the Creek which has wastewater from Kyle flowing into it. While the river looks pristine, it’s actually contaminated with higher-than-normal levels of bacteria. It was actually part of the first watershed protection program to protect against bacteria in Texas.

    

One of the biggest issues that Plum Creek Wilderness Preserve faces today is that they lack the funds and freedoms to do what they need to do. Without steady income, strict environmental protections, and a lack of volunteers, they face a lot of uncertainty when it comes to how things will turn out in the future, but one thing that is known for sure is that there will be no lack of effort put into maintaining and protecting the land.

Post by Cameron Crowder

Pictures by Cameron Crowder