San Marcos River Conservation Crew
Who Are We?
We are a group of biologists who are a part of the Habitat Conservation Plan for the Edward's Aquifer. Our crew's focus is the removal of invasive vegetation, and to plant native and endemic species back into the river. We work hard to preserve and enrich the biodiversity in the San Marcos River .
Looking down from the bridge at Sewell Park.
The San Marcos River near the headwaters
Musk turtles are easy to find in vegetation mats in the river.
Looking down from the bridge at Sewell Park.
About
We are a group of biologists who are a part of the Habitat Conservation Plan for the Edward's Aquifer. Our crew's focus is the removal of invasive vegetation, and to plant native and endemic species back into the river. The San Marcos River is a unique spring fed river that rises from the springs in Spring Lake. These springs bring water from the Edwards Aquifer into Spring Lake.
Texas Wild Rice is found only in the upper San Marcos River, and is very important to the river's health. There are many other endangered species that depend on this river to survive. If the springs that feed the river run dry we will lose these species.
Projects
We grow Texas Wild Rice in an aquatic nursery in the Freeman Aquatic Building and plant the rice into the river when it has matured.
It is important that we also remove the invasive vegeation. This is because it takes over areas where Texas Wild Rice and other native species would grow. These invasive species outcompete native species, slowly pushing them to lower and lower numbers.
We are always working on a few different projects at the same time.
