A&M-C to restore native prairie preserve, wetlands

Texas A&M University - Commerce is getting back to nature by creating an artificial wetlands and native prairie preserve.

The area sits just south of the campus, off Texas State Highway 50. Although still under construction, the site will eventually act as a laboratory for students majoring in everything from Wildlife and Conservation to Industrial Technology and provide a sanctuary to plants and animals native to North Texas.

The idea for the preserve was proposed by former student Emerson Adams, who Dr. David Crenshaw, interim department head of agriculture and project co-director, described as a "non-traditional student." Emerson and others noticed during the rainy season a portion of the University's farm becomes a swampland.

"It's degraded property," Dr. Jeffrey Kopachena, head of biological and environmental sciences and the project's other co-director, said. "It had little agricultural value."

Crenshaw submitted Emerson's proposal to the University administration for funding and it was later approved. The preserve received a $10,000 grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Other support came from the Texas Parks and Wildlife and other state and federal organizations.

The 45-acre preserve, which is actually divided into separate native prairie and wetland sections, will provide students what Crenshaw calls "a living lab" as well as a place for undergraduate and graduate research projects. According to Crenshaw the preserve is already home to ducks, small mammals, and even a few deer.

"The idea is to create an outdoor pavilion to educate people about ecology," Kopachena said. He also said if funding becomes available solar and wind power may also be set up.

When finished, the preserve will include trails and an access road for buses from local high schools.

"We still have a lot of work to do," Kopachena said, noting the timeline for this year is behind due to the large amount of rain this spring. "Last year we had to scoop out the lower area. This fall is the first time the wetlands have water in them."

The native prairie section also had to be sprayed to kill off non-native plants such ash trees.

"Hopefully this winter we will seed native plants," Kopachena said. "I don't expect to see it mature for about two years."

"There are the obvious general concerns about global warning and rainforest deforestation," he said, "Most people don't realize North Texas is on the boarder of two ecological regions, Blackland and Postal Savannah. People need to be educated about the environment in order to make educated decisions about global warming and the environment."

"We can make more concrete everyday," Crenshaw said, "but once we cover a place with concrete we lose the nature. Man needs to be connected to nature or we will lose our species."