Like most of us, the Colorado River Refuge (CRR) has had its ups and downs. Located south of Tahitian Village and west of their golf course, today’s wildlife refuge sports a total of 95 acres and over four miles of interconnected trails with two distinct habitat. It began as unwanted land, frequented by drug dealers, vagabonds and late night river parties. It was a favorite illegal dump site, natural gravel pit and venue for off-roaders and ATVs. Then, in 2003, Pines and Prairies Land Trust (PPLT) board member and LPMN member Joan Russell was looking for some land to serve as a model for firewise landscaping demo space for residents of Tahitian Village. PPLT acquired 65 acres in 2004. Through pluck, persistence and plenty of volunteer muscle, a transformation occurred. In the beginning, many diverse organizations stepped up with money, donated services and volunteer efforts. Adjacent land (~30 acres), owned then by a non-profit known as Environmental Stewardship, also secured grant money to improve the El Camino Real Paddling Trail take-out area and surrounding wetlands. Pioneered by LPMN member Dale Morrison, members from past to present have labored many hours laying and cutting trails, shoring up destroyed wetlands, installing signage and kiosks, removing trash, putting in picnic tables and benches and creating the proverbial silk purse out of a sow’s ear. The legacy is long and fraught with struggle.
A major setback occurred in 2007 when the Colorado River flooded and kept the area under water for almost 30 days. It was like starting over at square one. B
ut, once again, the effort was made and the landscape slowly recovered. From the Dale Morrison days, the Bridge Maniacs took on the regular maintenance and upkeep duties of the CRR until 2013. Today, our own Rob Sutherland, Frank and Cat May, Dave Hill and a handful of regular local volunteers visit the site weekly to mow trails, pick up trash and provide needed maintenance. Then a community movement began, spurred by the Bastrop River Company and a non-profit called Keep Bastrop County Beautiful (KBCB). Additional organizations joined the movement, including Rising Phoenix, the Tahitian Village Property Owners Association, Blue Bonnet Electric, Bastrop Water Control and Improvement District, Bastrop Audubon, Bastrop County government and others. Over 85 volunteers removed 400+ lbs. of trash from the river on one work weekend alone. Since then, KBCB has received a National Park Service Grant for use in the area. LPMN President Julia Akin has committed chapter resources to the planning and execution phases of the build-out process and Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape has already made county resources available and is committed to helping put the CRR on the map, possibly as a Bastrop County park.
You see, when the local community voices concern over losing all the hard work that has been put into the preserve over the years. . .well, that’s what has been needed all along. This puts the power of community behind making positive, permanent movement forward. Add in the clout of county government and grant funding; now you have the 
ingredients to make something happen. What needs to happen? The area still suffers from poor roads, no infrastructure, spotty law enforcement and no regular sanitation or waste management services. So there remain very challenging obstacles still to be overcome, not the least of which is to define what the end game looks like—what the result should be. Who will own the land, who will oversee the administration of the property, who will build it out, who will maintain it and how, exactly will it be used?
While these are all weighty questions that need answers, a celebration of what has been accomplished to date was called for. On October 26th an event entitled, “Rockin’ Relaunch of the River Park Lost Pines Nature Trails” was held. Luminaries from stakeholder organizations staged an open house near the paddling trail take-out at the CRR. Interested parties from the local neighborhood and community were invited, speeches and demonstrations were given and guided trail walks were offered. Against a milky blue sky, the day was warm 
and balmy, the breeze light and people gave up their Sunday afternoon to come learn about what a community can do when it works together. There was even a presentation made by the Game Warden and both outfitter companies who depend on this stretch of the river for their livelihood. The group shared a connection that said, Long time coming, but it’s finally here. In terms of a “coming out party,” you’d have to say it was a smashing success.
What does all this mean to LPMN members? It means renewed momentum behind a labor of love that has consumed our chapter for the last decade. It means the potential to make the CRR an actual tourist destination. It means opportunities to participate in the development and build-out of a first class natural area. It means the chance to make a real contribution to our local community’s welfare through support, volunteer efforts, interpretation and education. Like all new found enthusiasm, it’s one thing to dream and another to experience the reality. For now, just be aware of the revival and its potential impact on you—it could become a significant long-term LPMN project.