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Natural Leaders Summit

By: Mallorie Sanders March 29, 2019

The Texas State Meadows Center invites young adults to participate in a Natural Leaders Summit this weekend. The Natural Leaders Summit is for people who are interested in learning more about conservation and how to lead others in the cause. Registration is underway for adults, ages 18 to 29.   

Meadows Center research coordinator, Ryan Spencer, has helped plan the event for the past three years.

“We’re going to have four major sessions that focus on community organizing, setting personal goals, leadership IQ and changing their communities for the better,” Spencer said.

Mentors will be holding panels at the two-day event to discuss ways to connect the community with nature. Activities this weekend will include kayaking Spring Lake and learning important survival skills. Organizers of the Meadows Center event say participants will be provided with meals and a t-shirt. 

“It’s an informational kind of training...to give information about nature and how to preserve it and to give basic skills such as how to start a fire for survival,” said Psalm Baradi, manager at the Meadows Center

You can register and find more information on their website at naturalleaders.meadowswater.org. 

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Finally Foxes

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Invasive Species Threaten the San Marcos River

By: Adam Smith October 9, 2018

While swimmers enjoy the clear waters of the San Marcos River, something troubling lurks below. Invasive fish like the plecostomus, an algae-eating catfish, have made this their home by muscling out the natives.  

“When they’re introduced to this area they don’t have any natural checks or competition,” said Habitat Specialist Eric Weeks. “So, their populations grow much quicker than the native species.”

The issue concerns locals because many think of the river as a second home.

“Having it overrun by other populations would be really sad,” said Texas State Sophomore Lauren Odle. “I wouldn’t come here anymore and I don’t think other people in the city would come either.”

Often these fish are dumped in the river by aquarium owners. City officials say a better idea would be to take the fish to the Discovery Center on Riverside Drive. 

“What that does, as well as provide a location, is it gives education and outreach,” said Weeks. “And it lets the public understand some of the problems the river faces and hopefully prevents future aquarium dumping.”

But it’s not only pet owners causing the problem. Owners of the Aquarena Springs theme park at Spring Lake introduced fish to the ecosystem.

“A lot of the invasive species were brought here because they were exotic to the people who operated the park,” said Meadows Center’s Benjamin Friou. “They thought they looked really interesting and cool.”

Texas State’s Meadows Center is working with other organizations to keep the river healthy.

“For the last couple years, there’s been a habitat conservation plan through the Edwards Aquifer Authority,” said Friou. “They come out here and we try to restore the area to as close to the natural condition as possible.”