Bexar Audubon Society

is a chapter of the
National Audubon
Society. Its primary
goals are to promote

Bexar Tracks
species and habitat
conservation and envi-
ronmental education
Volume XXV, No. 3

in the community.
May-July 2007

For the latest news & updates, see http://www.bexaraudubon.org & http://www.sa-naturecenter.org

Thursday, May 10•6:30PM gathering; 6:45 announcements; 7:00 program

Trinity University Cowles Life Sciences Building, Room 336 (see map, p. 3) •Free; open to the public
Plants of the Godzilla Series and
Their Relevance to Our Native Flora & Fauna
While many of the Godzilla movies were just good sci- topics such as horticulture, native plants, endangered
ence fiction fun, quite a few dealt with subjects that plant species, tropical plants, and more. Paul has
are as pertinent today as then: the environment, pollu- named and released several introductions into the
tion, gene-splicing, terrorism, and parenting were treat- plant nursery trade, including ‘Bubba’ Desert Willow,
ed seriously. Plants were often important to the story Pyramid Bush, ‘Spank’
line, plants with direct correlations or comparisons Chomonque, ‘Kara’s Revlon’
with our native flora today. This presentation by Paul W. Globe Mallow, ‘Merritt’
Cox tells the origin of Godzilla then highlights the Lantana, ‘Pink Ice’ Rose, ‘KO’
plants and animals referenced in various movies and Daisy, ‘Byron’ Viburnum, and
how they relate to our native living fossils, as well as ‘Sentido’ Taxodium.
plant/animal interactions, such as Texas’s only tree
fern, moth pollination, and much more! F i el d Tr i p — Join Paul for a
Besides being a Godzilla enthusiast, our speaker, Paul follow-up field trip on
Cox has a BS in biology/forestry and a Master’s degree Prehistoric Flora of the the SA
in botany from Stephen F. Austin State University in Botanical Gardens on M a y
Nacogdoches. He is assistant superintendent of the
19th , 10- 12. Tour the gardens
San Antonio Botanical Gardens and has been associat-
ed with that facility for over 27 years. He is author of and see the living fossils,
Texas Trees: A Friendly Guide among other publica- including such plants as Bald
tions. An adjunct professor at Palo Alto College, he Cypress, Ginkgo, Horsetail, Metasequoia, and more!
teaches courses on Texas Trees and Native Plants. Admission: $5 adults; $3 children. Limited to 25. Call
Paul gives presentations locally and internationally on

Thursday, September 13 •Same time and location as above

Patty for reservations at (210)824-1235.

The Natural History & Behavior of Fiddler Crabs

Fiddler crabs (genus Uca) are abundant members of
coastal marsh and mangrove communities worldwide.
They provide food for numerous birds, fish, and larger
crustaceans (like the blue crab) and also help to turn
over the soil through their construction of burrows.
They are also charming and entertaining animals to
observe in their natural habitat. The sexes are dimor-
phic (males have a distinctive enlarged claw which
they use as weapons against other males and in a dis-
play to entice females) and species across the genus
engage in a wide variety of mating and communication
behaviors. Texas has six colorful species of fiddler
crabs, one of which is endemic to the Laguna Madre.
Our speaker, Denise Pope, has been studying the
communication and mating behavior of fiddler crabs
for more than ten years, as a student in North Carolina,
Panama, and Portugal, and since joining the Biology
Department at Trinity University in 2003, on the Texas
Gulf coast and the Gulf of California coast in Sonora,
Mexico. Save the date!
 A Word from the Wood
Lately there has been a lot of talk about
corridors. Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki defines a corridor
as a path or guided way, but also points
out that a corridor may refer to:
• Wildlife corridor: a stretch of nature
that facilitates the migration of animals;
• Highway Corridor: a general path that a
highway follows;
• Corridor (rail vehicle): a railway vehicle
with a passageway through to adjacent
coaches;
• Trade Corridor, a road and/or rail route
which crosses borders and is used for the
transport of goods.
Co r r id o r M em o r ies
I’ve been thinking about corridors a lot
lately. It’s not just recent discussions of
the “Trans-Texas Corridor” that increased
my concerns. It’s also the experience I
had about this time of year in the early
1970s. I was heading up toward San
Antonio from Corpus Christi on IH37,
somewhere west of Mathis and Swinney
Switch in Live Oak County. A two mile
piece of the IH37 corridor was apparently
also a corridor for either the Texas
Tortoise Gopherus berlandieri
www.zo.utexas.edu/research/
txherps/turtles/gopherus.berlandieri.html.
or the Ornate
Box Turtle
Terrapene orna-
ta www.zo.utexas.edu/research/
txherps/turtles/terrapene.ornata.html (I’m
still not sure which). One early morning,
several hundred of them had decided to
try to cross IH37 within that 2 mile
stretch. All were heading down hill toward
the Nueces River, which roughly parallels
IH37 just a few miles to the south and
west. As you can imagine, many — possi-
bly most — of those turtles did not make
the crossing successfully. Their natural
corridor had not been considered as IH37
was constructed. The carnage is memo-
rable to me even thirty years later.
Bexar Tracks
On a more positive note, the recognition planning now may enhance the quality of
and consideration of natural wildlife cor- life in this city’s future. Consider how
ridors has increased over the last thirty preserving and enhancing the natural
years. First in my memory was when cari- green corridors along our city’s water-
bou migratory corridors were preserved ways will continue to provide a place for
during the construction of the Trans- future generations to enjoy nature in this
Alaska Oil Pipeline. I got to see the same exciting urban habitat.
kind of pipeline considerations in the — H.A. Tony Wood, President
Amazon jungles of Pastaza Province,
Ecuador, in 1999.
Ur b a n Co r r id o r s
In the mid-1990s, forward thinking city
planners like Howard Peak supported the
creation of an “Emerald Necklace,” a nat-
ural corridor incorporating linear parks It’s not too late to send your tax-
and hike-and-bike paths to connect all
deductible donation in support of
sections of San Antonio, following the
Birdathon and the Audubon
waterways that transect the city. Folks
Adventures curriculum. Birdathon took
like Char Miller illuminated for us how
the human corridors of San Antonio place on April 14 and lasted for 24
developed along the transportation and hours. The idea is to identify as many
utility corridors, all emerging from the species as possible in this time.
center of the city at Main Plaza and San Donations can be per species or flat
Fernando Cathedral. amounts.
Linear parks along Salado and Leon Marge Lumpe’s annual Birdathon
Creeks and other similar greenbelts event funds about 40 grades 3-6 class-
would also serve to provide flyways for rooms, which receive a bimonthly
migrating birds, butterflies, deer, and introduction to nature.
other wildlife, and possibly even a few Any amount over $1500 goes to
turtles with which we share the water other educational programs at Mitchell
and environment of this part of south Lake Audubon Center: going to class-
Texas. rooms with materials, as well as a
pilot program called Soundscape,
Bond Referendum which helps children learn to listen to
I hope you will vote in the upcoming $550 the sounds around them.
million San Antonio Bond Referendum. Contact Marge Lumpe at (210)545-
As you vote, consider how our existing
1822 or 1birdwatcher@sbcglobal.net
human transportation corridors have
for more information or send your
developed and how our consideration and
check to Bexar Audubon Society.
W ho ’ s W h a t ?
a nd how t o cont a ct t hem
Pr es i dent , To n y W o od — 210-492-4684 — tonywood@sbcglobal.net
VP & Webmaster, Har ry Noyes — 210-490-3124 — harrynoyes@satx.rr.com
Tr ea s u r er, Car y l Swa nn — 210-653-2860 — cjswann1@earthlink.net
Secr eta r y, Ji l l Son d een — 830-980-2377 — jls2003@gvtc.com
A t - l a r ge: K a r a R y f — 503-803-2856 — kararyf@hotmail.com
A my L . W hi t l ey — 210-340-0114 — nueces66@yahoo.com
K at h y I k er d — kathy@wordwright.com
Edi t or, Sus a n Hu gh es — 210-532-2032 — editor@bexaraudubon.org
Pr o gr a ms /Ou ti n gs , Pa tt y Pas z t o r—210-824-1235 —
pasztor@ix.netcom.com
2 May-July 2007
 M a p t o Cowl es Li f e S cie nc es Buil di ng, Tri ni t y Univ er s i ty, wes t of Hig hwa y 281 N A S R e g i o n a l B o a r d M e mb e r
Your Chapter and others in the Southwest
Region (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, and Texas) are represented by
Roger C. Wolf of Tucson on the National
Audubon board. Roger has been nominated
for reelection with no opposition. His name
will appear on your Audubon proxy ballot.

Chapman
For more information about the election,
Library Laurie see the Audubon website or contact one of
Cowles your chapter officers.

Rare Avian Treasures on Display

Cowles is just uphill from the Laurie Auditorium
in M ount Vernon M useum
and between the Library and the Chapman Become oologists for a day at this exhibit of
Graduate Center. Park by the Laurie or in
lots or on streets to the west. Handicapped
bird eggs and butterflies at the Franklin

parking is across from Cowles. Enter from

County Historical Assoc. Fire Station muse-
Oakmont or Rosewood. Call Patty for addition-
um. Mount Vernon is seventy-two miles
al directions (210)824-1235 or see additional southwest of Texarkana and ninety-six miles
map at bexaraudubon.org/map.jpg northeast of Dallas — a great excuse for a
spring outing.
Congr a t ul a t i ons t o t he M a s ter Na t ur a l i s t or ga ni z a t i on on i t s Oology is the study of eggs, especially
10th A nni v er s a r y ! those of birds, and this museum offers
Texas’ best display, showcasing more than
Not only did MN begin right here in San Antonio — and it’s now interna-
150 bird eggs with pertinent information
tional — but it began as a project of Bexar Audubon. Visit their website at about each species. An egg from the extinct
www.alamomasternaturalist.org . Carolina parakeet and one from the extinct
Passenger pigeon are the rarest in the col-
Butt s — W ha t t o do?
lection.
Tired of seeing person after person flick their cigarette butts out the car “The opportunity to see these eggs is
window? Sometimes these are people who might never otherwise con- unique,” said Cliff Shackelford, Texas Parks
sider littering and just need a wake-up call. Finally you have a way to and Wildlife Department ornithologist. “To
my knowledge, there is no other museum
take action.
in the world that has the Carolina parakeet
A recent report stated that smoking-related items accounted for 17 per- or Passenger pigeon egg on public display.”
cent of the debris found on Texas shorelines in 2005. TxDOT allows citi- The eggs offer a glimpse into history. Prior
zens to report the licenses plates of butt flickers and other litterers — on to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, col-
uplands and shores — on its dontmesswithtexas.org website. lecting bird eggs was a popular hobby. The
collection traces its roots to a taxidermist in
And don’t forget to report smoking vehicles on the TCEQ website Ohio, who collected the majority of the
tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/mobilesource/vetech/smokingvehi- eggs in the late 1800s. The eggs eventually
cles.html or 1-800-453-SMOG. found their way into Texas collector A.W.
Nations’ possession.
A l l a bout Bi r ds www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releas-
www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/birding123/identify/quiz es/?req=20070402c.

E a r t h S h a r e ? W h a t a b ou t i t ?
Earth Share of Texas raises money for environmental
and conservation organizations through workplace giv-
ing. If your employer participates in such programs,
please ask them (if they don’t already) to add Earth
Share to your giving options. When you and your co-
workers designate the Audubon Foundation of Texas
(AFT), Bexar Audubon Society can benefit. BAS
receives credit for our support of Earth Share — getting
the word out and promoting participation. Then BAS
receives funding annually from AFT. Want more info?
1-800-GREENTX or ESTX@earthshare-texas.org.
May-July 2007 3 Bexar Tracks
 EVENTS & NEWS
F i r s t Sa t u r d a y H i k es
The first Saturday of each month,
San Antonio Natural Areas Program
of the San Antonio Parks and
Recreation Department holds a
hike at one of the Natural Areas.
Contact (210)564-6400 for the
schedule, locations, and reserva-
tions. $2 per person donation sug-
gested.
M a y 5 — Friedrich Wilderness Park
Ju ne 2 — Crownridge Canyon
Natural Area
July 7 — Walker Ranch Historic Park
Seco nd Sat ur d ay P r o gr a ms at
Ei s enh o wer Pa r k
Co-sponsored by SA Parks and
Recreation Natural Areas Program
and Bexar Audubon. Reservations
required; details occasionally
change. Call (210)564-6400. $3
each or $5 per family donation
suggested.
M a y 12 — B eau ti f ul Sp r i n g Nat i v e
Pl a nt s — Janis Merritt will lead a
hike to enjoy spring flora and help
you get ideas for using native
plants in your yard. 10am-noon
Ju ne 9 — P E A K w or k s ho p:
Pr omot i ng Env i r on men ta l
A war enes s i n K i d s is a program
from Leave No Trace to educate
children about the outdoors and
responsible enjoyment of our pub-
lic lands. Ages 6-12 years.
July 14 — “ Slither s” — The South
Texas Herpetology Association brings
a large collection of regional snakes
and discusses their life histories.
www.sanaturalareas.org
Sa n A n t o n i o A u d u b o n B e g i n n er s
Bi r d wal k — 8am for May, but
7:30am June through August.
Begins at the Judson Nature Trails
next to the Alamo Heights
Swimming Pool. Info at (210)342-
2073. Binoculars available to lend.
Bexar Tracks
M a y 3 — W a t e r f r om S t o ne : T he
S t o r y o f Se l a h , B a m b e r g e r R a n c h
P r e s er v e
Public lecture and book signing by
author, Jeffrey Greene, with slides
and comments by J. David
Bamberger: CENTRAL LIBRARY,
6:30pm, 600 Soledad. Contacts:
Kaye Lenox, San Antonio Library
Foundation, (210)225-4728 Ext 14,
kaye.lenox@saplf.org or public
information office: Elizabeth.gra-
ham@sanantonio.gov.
This new book provides a portrait
of an unusual and daring, often
controversial, Texas conservationist,
and an understanding of Selah
itself, the evolution of its land
restoration, endangered species
survival program (including Texas
snowbell and Scimitar-horned
oryx), the creation of the
Chiroptorium (a human-made bat
cave), and finally, Selah’s education
programs for inner-city kids.
Following the lecture J. David and
Margaret Bamberger and Jeffrey
Greene will sign. See also May 15.
M a y 3 - 5 – A m er i c a n I n s t i t u t e o f
A r ch itects annual convention in
San Antonio. “Growing Beyond
Green.” Speakers include former
US VP Al Gore, whose message of
global warming garnered him a
nomination for the Nobel Peace
Prize, and Dr. David Suzuki.
http://www.aiaconvention.com/aia
_splash/2007/index.html
M a y 4- 6 — W il d Fes t 2007
San Antonio’s First Annual Bird &
Nature Festival will include a broad
spectrum of workshops and field
trips that will draw nature-oriented
tourists to our area and will help
local children get involved in
nature. Held at Crossroads Mall.
For information see wildfestsanan-
4 May-July 2007
tonio.com or call (210)886-9991.
B e x a r A ud ub on i s a s p on s or
o r ga n i z a t i o n f o r W i l d F e s t . W e a r e
lo o k i n g f o r memb er s to v o l un teer
f o r t he ev ent a ny t i me bet ween
7:30 an d 4:30 Fr i d ay o r Sa t ur da y.
No ex per ience necessar y! Pl eas e
c a l l H a r r y N o y es f o r m o r e i n f o r -
ma ti o n: (210)490- 3124, 248-8080,
or e- mail harr ynoyes@ssatx .r r.com.
M a y 12 — El ecti o n Day
Don’t miss out on local events —
vote early!
M a y 12 — I n ter na t io na l M igr at o r y
Bi r d Da y
IMBD was created in 1993 by
visionaries at the Smithsonian
Migratory Bird Center and the
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.
Now under the direction of the
National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation and U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, IMBD continues to
focus attention on one of the most
important and spectacular events
in the life of a migratory bird: its
journey between its summer and
winter homes. Today, it is celebrat-
ed in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and
Central America through bird festi-
vals and bird walks, education pro-
grams, and Bird Day! IMBD Theme
2007: Climate Change.
Birds have long been indicators
of environmental change, sounding
the alarm about the impacts of
pesticides, polluted water, and the
loss of contiguous forest. While
IMBD continues to promote the
joy of birds, it will also tackle this
challenging, yet pertinent topic.
The reactions of birds to weather
have been noted for hundreds of
years. Farmers have used the
arrivals of migratory birds to make
decisions about planting crops.
Changes in the movements of
 EVENTS & NEWS
some species is just one indicator
of the warming of the Earth’s
atmosphere. Today, as the rate of
warming increases, scientists are
exploring how climate change will
affect birds and how we can
reduce our impact.
In 2007, as many as 300,000
people will learn about climate
change at IMBD events.
M ay 15 — W a t er f r om Sto ne: Th e
S t o r y o f S el a h , B a m b e r g e r R a n c h
P r es er v e ALAMO SIERRA CLUB.
6:30pm, Witte Museum, 3801
Broadway. Contact: Thomas Dukes
tdukes@grandecom.net. See
description at May 3 listing.
M ay 19 — Sol a r Fes t at Maverick
Park www.solarsanantonio.org.
M ay 26 — Sta r r y, St ar r y Ni gh t s at
Mitchell Lake Audubon Center — 8-
10pm. Free evening program of
stargazing and astronomy educa-
tion presented by the San Antonio
Astronomical Association.
Telescopes will be set up outdoors
and a slide show on astronomy
and celestial exploration will be
held in the Visitor Center. Bring
chairs and blankets to sit on!
Reservations required (210)628-
1639. mitchelllakeaudubon.org .
10750 Pleasanton Road, San
Antonio, TX 78221.
J un e 18- 22, 25- 29 — W i l d W eek s
a t F r i e dr i c h W i l de r n e s s Pa r k .
Ages 7-12. Hands-on ecology day
camps. Take a nature hike. Meet a
bug. Explore animal bones. Try
some ‘wild foods.’ Build a bird-
house. Make a stone tool. Dig into
nature! During week 2, the same
great nature exploration with an
emphasis on art activities. $85 per
session (limited partial scholar-
May-July 2007
ships available). For more informa-
tion or to request a packet call:
210-564-6400.
Ju n e a n d J u l y — W i t t e M u s e um
Summer Sci ence Spect a cul a r !
Explore how things work, splash
into the cool world of water, cook
up slime, journey back in time, dig
into dinosaurs, and uncover the
world beneath your feet. Guest
experts, field trips, and hands-on
activities are all part of the fun.
9am–5pm. Call 210-357-1910 for
costs, scholarship availability, reser-
vations, or more information.
Oct ob er 13 – Fa l l W i l d l if e Fes ti v a l
at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
(see above).
2007 Tr ee P l an t in g Cha l l en ges
have been officially released. To
download applications go to
sanantonio.gov/dsd/environmen-
tal.asp (see Related Documents:
Planting Challenge—Neighborhood
or Commercial). Contact Michael
Nentwich, City Forester (210) 207-
3108.
Th an k y ou to B la i r Ri ch ter, who
for many issues prepared Bexar
Tracks for mailing and delivered it
to the post office. That task has
now been taken up by our new
printer. Many volunteer opportuni-
ties are badly needed, but also
tedious, and this was one of them.
Thanks again, Blair and friends
who helped so many times.
W h o k n e w?
I’ve always thought I kept up with
public service offerings, but twice
in recent months I have learned
something that surprised me. First,
as reported in the previous issue
of Bexar Tracks, San Antonio’s
5 Bexar Tracks
curbside recycling extended its col-
lection to types 1-7 plastics AND
clean paper of all sorts, in addition
to traditionally collected newspa-
per.
Now I have learned that Bexar
County is offering FREE home pick-
up of household hazardous waste.
(NOTE: this service is for suburban
cities and unincorporated Bexar
County only!) Included are batter-
ies, fluorescent bulbs, lubricants,
pesticides, etc. Call 800-449-7587
to request a collection and learn
the details. More information can
be found on the county website:
www.co.bexar.tx.us/How_Does_it_
Work_2004.pdf
The City of San Antonio still offers
only drop-off service at their site
located at 7030 Culebra, open on
Thursdays from 10:00am until
7:00pm, Fridays from 7:00am until
4:00pm, and the first Saturday of
each month from 8:00am until
1:00pm. San Antonio residents
should bring a recent copy of their
CPS bill showing the environmen-
tal fee as proof of residency. No
commercial waste, ammunition,
fireworks, medical waste, appli-
ances, brush, or other trash is
accepted at the Household
Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Center.
For more information, call 311 or
(210)207-6440.
Wouldn’t it be great if San
Antonio would offer a service like
the County’s? Think how much
hazardous waste could be kept out
of the landfill. Maybe offer a small
container to be used on recycling
pick-up day??? Contact your coun-
cilperson with a suggestion.
—editor
H an dy meas u r e — A quarter is
exactly 1 inch in diameter and a
dollar bill is 6 inches long.
The Rio Laja—Watering A steady stream
of burros laden
Central M exico’s with fire wood
make the trip
People & Wildlife from mountains
The Rio Laja watershed comprises most to urban centers
of the state of Guanajuato in the every day. These
uplands of central Mexico. The Laja is a and many oth-
tributary of the Rio Lerma. Fed by sev- ers will soon be
eral streams in the mountains, many in villages and
depend upon the Laja. It provides water city streets.
for campesinos along its courseway,
most of whom have no other economi-
cally viable supply; for agriculture; and, the only Audubon chapter in Mexico. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National
often forgotten, but nonetheless depen- Susan’s personal issue was the con- Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the North
dent, for resident wildlife and migrato- nection between environmental degra- American Wetlands Foundation, and
ry birds. dation in the watershed and the steady the Mexican government.
increase in human population. The The program that developed focused
Sh a r ed M igr a t o r y Bir d s water table was dropping; forests were on building rock dams within rural
Common migrant birds in this central being harvested for fire wood for the communities, as well as pinpointing
Mexican area include Swainson’s cities and for subsistence cooking and these structures with GIS and creating
Hawk, Lesser Yellow-legs, Solitary heating, as well as for making charcoal a photo database. The local organiza-
Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Least for commercial operations; cows and tion Susan founded, Salvemos al Rio
Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, Wilson’s goats were consuming the mast from Laja, carried out many of these projects.
Phalarope, Olive-sided Flycatcher, the oak trees, so renewal was minimal; Other early projects had been done by
Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, and riparian areas were disturbed due landowners under the supervision of
MacGillivray’s Warbler, Wilson’s to erosion and livestock access. technical consultants and trainees.
Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orchard The state’s agriculture was being run
Oriole, and Baltimore Oriole, all of increasingly by multinational agribusi- Sa v e t h e L a j a
which appear on San Antonio-area bird nesses, relying upon irrigation, while Save the Laja (STL) is a Texas non-
checklists. Northern Guanajuato’s campesinos engaged in dry-land agri- profit organization Susan founded,
deciduous forest — while enduring culture or used primitive irrigation. along with Susan Hughes, dedicated to
heavy pressures for human food and fostering watershed and habitat protec-
fiber — provides a resting area for Rea c hin g Ou t f o r So l u t io ns tion in the Texas-Central Mexico corri-
migrant birds before they embark on In the early 1990s Susan was a speaker dor. After its founding, STL helped
their journey across the northern at regional Audubon conferences and Salvemos and its cooperating agencies
Mexican desert. even a Bexar Audubon meeting.
Susan began to coordinate the efforts to continue the watershed work Susan
Sa n M igu el d e A l l end e of numerous Mexican organizations began. STL inherited Susan’s estate
Among those dependent upon the Rio with environmental and community upon her untimely death from cancer
Laja for day-to-day purposes are the cit- connections to promote more sustain- three years ago.
izens of San Miguel de Allende, an able practices within the watershed. In August 2006, STL invited a team of
artist colony and haven for expatriates She sought technical support from the natural resource professionals to
from many nations. Indeed, residents of U.S. Forest Service and secured grant assess the Laja watershed and these
San Antonio often know someone who funds and technical assistance from the projects: Al Medina, Research Ecologist,
has a second home in San Miguel or is U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain
a frequent visitor there. Many visitors Experiment Station, Flagstaff, AZ; Dr.
have no idea how fragile an ecosystem Gilberto Soliz Garza, Riparian Science
provides the underpinnings of this Professor, U. of Sonora, MX; Jaci
leisure destination for so many. Winter, Canadian archaeologist; Dr.
Almost 30 years ago, Susan Porter Fran Gelwick, Assistant Professor,
Smith came to San Miguel from New Fisheries, Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries
York. After studying painting and pho- Science, Texas A&M U.; and Mike
tography for several years and enjoying Mecke, Water Programs Spec., Texas
some success as an artist, Susan rein- Water Resources Institute, TAMU (for-
vigorated her interest in environmental mer president of Bexar Audubon). The
issues. She soon became president of Some use tire dams to stop erosion. team was assisted by two local Mexican
Bexar Tracks 6 May-July 2007
 Structures like this,
designed for erosion
control, dot steep
hillsides, but with
free-ranging livestock,
the vegetation
intended to grow in
the captured silt and
soil has little chance
to mature, or even
take root.

graduate students, Sr.

Gerardo Lopez Mora
and Sr. Jose Maria
“Chema” Suarez Dueña,
who had participated
shed have had limit-
in several recent Rio Laja projects.
ed positive effect.
Valuable effort has
Su r p r isin g Div er sit y
been spent trying on
The team found surprising diversity
almost irreparable
across the watershed in topography,
sites on the sides of steep, bare moun- Rio Laja, its flows, and the sub-water-
elevation, and vegetation. Great
tainsides. Other projects, better sheds surrounding it.
effort and dedication on the part of vol-
planned and executed, have helped Some of the issues will involve negoti-
unteers in the rural communities was
solve watershed and riparian problems. ations and agreements not only with
obvious, but much more was needed to
landowners and land managers, but
slow the deterioration of watershed and
So l u t io ns a n d Ch a l l enges also the irrigation district that has
riparian areas. Only in the upper moun-
Towns and cities also have contributed effectively cut off Laja flows in the val-
tain valleys were there any significant
to the Laja’s illnesses, and a long, ley to provide irrigation water to
opportunities for the once-beautiful
intense education program of conserva- agribusinesses employing central pivot,
river to produce native fish in a healthy
tion, riparian awareness, and resource flood, and even spray irrigation tech-
aquatic habitat.
management will be needed before sig- niques. The aquatic health and the
Well-meaning, but sometimes mis-
nificant changes may be visible down- fisheries component of the lake behind
guided watershed restoration projects
stream. Cultural issues and economic the dam need careful study, too.
sometimes not only fail to fix problems,
stability of the largely agricultural pop- Everything from steep mountain min-
but can cause new and bigger ones.
ulation must be addressed to achieve a ing, forestry, wood cutting, grazing,
Indeed, funds and manpower dedicated
healthy and sustainable watershed. family farms, and urban neglect to large
to restoring sections of the Laja water-
Just as the combination of causes of irrigated agriculture has severely
the watershed’s deteriora- impacted the watershed. Even the once
tion are many, so are the healthy Laja tributary that meanders
array of tools needed to sta- through the historic Spanish colonial
bilize and improve the city of San Miguel de Allende is now a
riparian conditions of the heavily polluted, severely trashed,
almost dry streambed.
—Susan Hughes & Mike Mecke
Sa v e t he L a ja , I nc., a Texas
501(c)(3) fostering watershed
and habitat protection in the
Texas-Central Mexico corridor,
has joined forces with Bexar
Audubon to increase knowl-
edge and understanding of cor-
ridor and border issues. This
Fran, Gilberto, and Al admire the handiwork of a series is funded by STL, 825 E.
campesino who is now teaching others his suc- Guenther St., San Antonio, TX
cessful techniques, which have resulted in collect- 78210-1237. Contributions are
ing pools of water like these in rocky ravines. tax-deductible and welcomed.
May-July 2007 7 Bexar Tracks
 Bexar Audubon Society, Inc.

The Economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Environment. — Tim Wirth

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Organization
P.O. Box 6084 U.S. Postage Paid
San Antonio, TX 78209-0084 San Antonio, TX
Permit #590

Bexar Tracks is the official

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May-July 2007 7 Bexar Tracks