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Cypress Creek Nature Preserve continued

Preserve.

pre·serve /prə‘zərv verb maintain (something) in its original or existing state.

There has been much misinformation put forth during the last week regarding the 7.19 acre tract of land that the City owns along Cypress Creek. The City purchased the property in December of 2001 with grants from Tx. Parks and Wildlife, the McCoy Foundation and others. In order to preserve and protect the conservation values of the nature preserve, the City assigned a conservation easement onto the property with the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association. The purpose of the easement and the intent of the land use is unique. In the grant from TPWD, points were given for native species, one example being the rare chatterbox orchids that grow at the fall area. The focus of the easement with regards to education and preservation earned the City much accord.

The land represents a rare example of land located in town that has not been touched by development. Much of the property is located within the floodway and evidence of past floods can be witnessed by debris lines in the trees and flood debris on the ground.

The easement prohibits cutting and clearing and specifies that debris be left in place as natural habitat. Blue herons, red tail hawks, deer, and fox all call this special place home. While some may find the wild and unruly appearance of the property as unattractive or messy, it affords a riparian purpose rarely found today.

Since the purchase, the City has spent little funds on the preserve and for many years, no one took stewardship of it. Despite a small sign stating no swimming, no picnicking, no fishing, and an advisory about staying on the trail, many visitors chose to make their own trails, trampling habitat and evicting much of the wildlife. Despite an advisory about leashed dogs, many choose to let their canines run free, chasing and even killing the deer. Infractions such as illegal drug use, bbq grills, stereos, bicycles and swimming have been logged throughout the years.

In 2015, a local family met with the board of WVWA to ask for their assistance in managing the Preserve. Pictures were shared of recent infractions to the easement as well as the condition of the land. Bank erosion along the water’s edge, trash, and the many unauthorized trails were points of discussion and board members shared similar stories of issues they dealt with at Jacob’s Well. In 2016, at a winter board meeting at WVWA, approval was granted for a group called the Preservers to engage in a higher level of management of the Preserve. The Preservers are a group consisting of local land owners, members of The Wimberley Birding Society, Keep Wimberley Beautiful, Wimberley Outdoor Educators as well as Parks Board members, a City Council representative and staff from the City Parks Department. A WVWA served as a liaison between WVWA, the Preservers and the City by publishing agendas, creating graphics for signage, publishing updates in the WVWA newsletter, and presenting at City Council along with David Baker on behalf of the group. The Preservers established one, three, and five year goals with a focus on educating the public with regards to healthy streambanks and biodiversity and protection against further habitat loss and bank erosion. A presentation to Council was made on 3.16.17 and the Council unanimously voted that the “City of Wimberley work with the WVWA to allow the Preservers to be the stewards of the Cypress Creek Nature Preserve. The Preservers maintenance and education programs will be within the terms of the conservation easement that govern the Preserve.” (City Council Minutes, March 16, 2017)

The group began efforts to redirect foot traffic from the sensitive creek bank areas by placing subtle jute rope and occasional signage. These efforts were met with repeated vandalism. While water viewing access points were maintained, many of the unauthorized trails were closed and on numerous occasions, work completed on trail work days was undone during the night. The Wimberley Constable’s office was consulted and they offered to patrol the trail in an effort to mitigate the vandalism. Trail cams were placed in various locations but were stolen. After several months of repeated vandalism, the group worked on much more visible signage to note that access was no longer allowed to the unauthorized trails. While it may be considered an eyesore, the signage served an effective purpose and regrowth of plant life has been noted in the areas that were previously impacted. On a tour during Texas Riparian &

Stream Ecosystem workshop in June of 2017, the Cypress Creek Nature Preserve was recognized as a best practice restoration effort.

The easement specifies an “entry area and gate at the point nearest the Wimberley square where the Property may be accessed by Old Kyle Road…Permitted structures in the entry area shall be limited to a suitable gate through which the nature preserve may be accessed…”(see conservation easement, 4 c.)

Even though the language regarding access is clear, many years ago, a path was made through the historic rock wall on the north end of the property and a sign was installed in Blue Hole Park directing visitors to downtown.

While the Preserver group has maintained a position that the Preserve follow the conservation easement with only one entrance located at the playscape on Old Kyle Road, the Friends of Blue Hole have expressed a desire to extend their trails through the Preserve. On June 15, 2017, the Preservers (with input and approval from all members) placed a sign at the north end of the creekside trail notifying walkers that this entrance would no longer be open. The Friends of Blue Hole protested this closing and the sign was removed. A compromise was reached in June 2018 when WVWA President Malcolm Harris along with David Baker and members of the Preservers agreed to allow a trail to be built along preserve property on Old Kyle Road so that walkers could travel from Blue Hole Park, up the hill and stroll to town. An Eagle Scout would build the Blue Hole portion of this trail. Subsequently, the Creekside trail on the northern end of the property would be closed to allow the streamside packed earth to recover. In January of 2019, the Eagle Scout project was completed and at the January parks board workshop, confirmation of the Creekside trail closing was obtained from the City of Wimberley Parks Director. A work day was planned, the rock wall was rebuilt and the streamside trail was marked closed. Prior notification was given to the Outdoor Educators and coordination for access along the Creekside trail was arranged for their upcoming visit.

The public outcry caused by a citizen opposed to the trail closing resulted in members of the community taking it upon themselves to undo the work done by the Preservers.

The Preservers brought the matter to the attention of the City and WVWA and discussions are ongoing as to how the City will comply with its obligations found in the conservation easement. easement and our duty to protect and preserve the rare treasure that we are entrusted with caring for.

Wimberley View

P.O. Box 49
Wimberley, TX 78676
Phone: 512-847-2202
Fax: 512-847-9054