LCRA Colorado River Watch Network
by Karen Stewart
Dannialle Clayton, Larry and Betty Secrest, Jerry Stacy, Charlotte Willis, and Karen Stewart attended the LCRA Colorado River Watch Network water testing class back in March. Jerry has been an LCRA water tester for many years at Inks Lake SP.
Karen Stewart has been eagerly waiting for LCRA to offer a water testing class and it finally happened! We all waited for our assignments . . . and waited . . . . Larry finally got his assignment at Colorado Bend SP. Karen took over Jerry’s assignment at Inks Lake SP, even though she really wanted Lake Buchanan. Charlotte Willis will be testing on Lake LBJ at McNeil Park. Dannialle is still waiting for her assignment. Testing is monthly at the same place every month. Tests include dissolved oxygen, nitrates, and pH.
Since Inks Lake’s water level is down, Karen went with Charlotte to McNeil Park in Sunrise Beach to test Lake LBJ’s water (pictured below). Water testing counts towards our hours for field research and Texas Water Specialist.
Inks Lake State Park Turns 75
By Reed Armstrong
Photos by Reed Armstrong
Enthusiasm ran high under warm overcast skies for dozens of Friends of Inks Lake State Park and Texas Master Naturalists, Highland Lakes at the Semi-Sesquicentennial Saturday (75th anniversary) of Inks Lake Park celebration on October 18th. Your fellow HLMN members turned out strong support as hundreds of visitors enjoyed an impressive slate of public engagement offerings ranging from live fishing and backyard bass to archery, bee keeping, environmental conservation, and ladybug stations. Adding to the excitement were Texas Game Wardens, historical reenactors from the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm at LBJ State Park, a select set of Inks Lake Park historical items from the TPWD collections, as well as the bloodmobile.
This year’s park anniversary celebration is built on the timely theme of Origin, Status & Destination. After extensive renovations and significant reinvestment over the past few years, Inks Lake State Park will continue to be a top venue for our volunteer efforts many years from now. A special thanks is due for Steph Beardsley and the FOIL leadership for their extra efforts in making this event a big success.
Congratulations to Our Members for Achieving these Milestones
Photos by Krista Paul
Initial Certification
Janet McCreless, Leah McKern, and David Tusa. Not pictured – Marybeth Edeen and Samantha Melvin
Recertification (2025)
Bill Blevins, Butch Williams, Wendy Cambridge, Julie Jary**, Sue Davis**, Nadine Cowey, Terry Stracke, Julia McComas**. Back row – Ed Houston, Mike Riley and Colleen Hunter**. Not pictured – Beth Blankenship, Paula Richards, and Shirley Winslow.
** Initial and recertification in 2025 – double certification
250 TMN Hours
Chuck Purcell and Margaret Schelde. Not pictured – Mary Grace Kuehne
500 TMN Hours
Larry Secrest
1,000 TMN Hours – Paula Richards
Class of 2025: New Master Naturalists Ready to Make a Difference
By Reed Armstrong
Photo by Reed Armstrong
Upon graduation this week, HLMN gained 25 new graduates of which eleven are already fully Certified Master Naturalists. This is a Chapter record.
Host Leah McKern emceed the white elephant gift exchange, where hummingbird feeders and handmade walking sticks were the hot items.
No one left hungry, except for the desire to get back outside and get back to work on their happy place (favorite volunteer opportunities.)
The HLMN class of 2025 is a tight-knit group with high expectations for future engagements.
“As one chapter ends and another begins – their adventures are just getting started.”
“Gardening is my passion” says new graduate Janet McCreless. Janet is one of many who chose to affiliate with HLMN because the group is large, active and a strong promoter of native Texas plants.
New graduate Dana Ross says “Our goals when applying for the class were increased knowledge of flora, fauna, and natural elements in our little part of the planet, and a path to make positive impacts on the Llano Uplift that we love. Meeting all you good, nature-loving folks was the bonus. It has lifted our spirits and restored some hope. Look forward to years ahead of joint efforts and good camaraderie!”
We used to have many openings for liaison roles with partners like the Science Mill, but no more; the class of 2025 has filled every opening.”—MJ Hansen, training coordinator.
“We (the training coordinators) had to keep up with them (the class)”—Becky Larkin, training coordinator.
And here are the statistics:
25 Graduates (100%).
Eleven Certifications (44%).
Two re-certifications.
