Marine Conservation Students Get their Feet Wet at Westcave Preserve (By Todd Council, Biology Instructor)
The Marine Conservation Winter Term class had an opportunity to experience a conservational success story firsthand as they took a private tour of Westcave Preserve in far southwestern Travis County. After learning about some of the threats to water quality from point and nonpoint source pollutants, the guide led the class on a hike through the live oak/ashe juniper savanna in the uplands. She stopped often to talk about the unique geology and biodiversity of the nature preserve. The students then followed her down the steep canyon walls into the riparian habitat along the creek that flows from spring fed water. After a short hike up the box canyon shaded by 400 year-old bald cypress trees, they arrived at the beautiful grotto and cave. All left this magical place with an appreciation of the need to preserve such a magical resource.
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Mr. Council, Ms. Dwyer, and Ms. Priour plan to return to the same area with students and explore neighboring Hamilton Pool. The students will then have a unique hands-on opportunity to compare the conservational management styles of the two park/preserves. These short field trips are getting the future Crusader Conservationalists ready for a week of field work with several conservational organizations in Galveston next week.
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