December Meeting and Christmas Party
Pins and Awards
Ray Buchanan and his wife, Carole accepting the LIfetime Achievement Award
Photo by Reed Armstrong
Krista Paul receiving 1,000 Volunteer Service Award
Photo by Reed Armstrong
500 Hour Volunteer Service Award – Karen Brents, Charles Powell, and George Vavrek
Photo by Reed Armstrong
250 Hour Volunteer Service Award – Reed Armstrong, Matthew Jary, Jennifer Struck, and Becky Vavrek not pictured
2025 TMN Initial Certification – Lora Calhoun,Derek Ross, Dana Ross, Randy Fromberg, Karen Fromberg, and Kristen Baranowsk. Not pictured – Gary Monroe
Photo by Reed Armstrong
2025 TMN Recertification – Vicki Adcock, George Barr ,Terry Bartoli, Marvin Bloomquist, Ray Buchanan, Lyn Davis, *Cynthis Dietz*, Melissa Duckworth, Sondra Fox, Kathy Griffis-Bailey, Dianna Hodges, Kimberly Jungkind, Jeanne Kregel, Becky Larkin, Bill McCartney, Holly Morris, Eric Norman, Marylynne Norman, *Blinda McClelland*, *Janet McCreless*, *Claudia Machell*, *Samantha Melvin*, Cheryl Oberhause, Jack Ort, Kim Ort, Kristin Rodgers, Sheryl Smith-Rodgers, *Connie Thompson*, *David Tusa *, Richard Vance, Janie Watson, Terri Whaley, Courtney Williams – not pictured
*Double certification from class of 2025
75th Anniversary at Inks Lake State Park
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.
October Field Trip and Texas Horned Lizards
By Reed Armstrong
Meghan James
Forty HLMN members and five plus-ones enjoyed 2.5 hours of quality time with TPWD biologist Mark Mitchell and TCU researcher & PhD candidate Kira Gangbin on. October 23rd.
This lively group learned much about the TPWD Texas horned lizard research work at Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area.
Mark and Kira are jointly responsible for the release, monitoring and follow-up studies of as many as 1000 juvenile Texas horned lizards annually.
TPWD is leading research into the reintroduction of this marquee species across its historic range. Successful management of fire ants, which prey on harvester ants primary food sources, will be key to the success of these efforts.
The group from HLMN also learned about a black tail prairie dog town restoration project at MMWMA, which should ultimately yield a stable population of interdependent species like burrowing owls, Texas horned lizards, rabbits, ferrets, and snakes.
This impressive WMA also hosts other long term programs studying controlled burns, exotic hay grazers like the oryx, as well as a variety of graduate and undergraduate study projects on its 5,300 acres of diverse landscapes, habitats, and soil types.
Many thanks to MMWMA and the HLMN trip committee!
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.
