Tierra Grande ChapterThe Texas Master Naturalist program develops teams of “master volunteers” to provide educational and outreach services aimed at the better management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. The Texas Master Naturalist program is a partnership between the AgriLIFE Extension Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and other local partners.
The Tierra Grande Chapter serves the greater Big Bend Region. Our Mission: To develop a corps of well-informed volunteers who provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural area within our community
Sandia Springs Wetlands Update
With increased drilling and exploration in the Balmorhea / Toyahvale region ongoing research of underground water quality will be undertaken by hydrogeologists with the UT Austin Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG). For detailed information see Sandia’s link below. Sandia Wetlands is a Tierra Grande, TMN project.
AULD LANG SYNE!
The past year has seen Tierra Grande Chapter members putting in many, many volunteer hours in a large variety of areas! From assisting at state parks to sampling water, and all kinds of activities in between.
A dedicated group of volunteers has provided the state park in Fort Davis with help building an amphitheater. Another group has put in a monarch butterfly way station at the park.
Other volunteers have helped with sampling water at Balmorrhea State Park and down south in the Big Bend.
The railroad park garden in Alpine has blossomed this past year with the help of master naturalists and is a real showplace for visitors to the area. If you haven’t seen it please go by and take a look.
The nature conservancy site at Independence Creek has received help with clean up and seed collection from master naturalists.
Our adopt a highway spot has been maintained this year by loyal and hard working master naturalists.
There are many other cases where master naturalists have assisted at state and other agencies. In addition to all of this work we trained 15 new master naturalists in 2017!
Overall a very productive year that can be looked back up with pride. Tierra Grande Master naturalists will continue this hard work in 2018 and provide many many hours of volunteer work to area agencies.