March 7: BREAKING GROUND ON THE HUNDUN TRAIL
The trail crew spent time prepping the area by collecting trash and removing invasives, mostly ligustrums. The leafy sections of trees were reduced and dispersed while the trunks were used to create berms parallel to the Purgatory Creek bed to reduce bank erosion.
The HunDun Trail is a collaboration between City of San Marcos, San Marcos River Foundation, and SMGA to build an off-road connecting trail from Lower Purgatory to our city’s river parks. The city will use this reconstruction in the Purgatory Creek bed for flood mitigation. SMRF received a TPWD grant for the trail construction.
(Photos Vee Volpe and Monique Tschurr)
March 20: SAN MARCOS – BIRD CITY TEXAS!
Tucked beside a Texas live oak in the River Recharge Natural Area, this bird viewing station will have a rainwater collection system that delivers water for wildlife. It was built with collaboration by the City of San Marcos, San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance and Hays County Master Naturalists.
Thanks to JoEllen Korthals for the pictures, text, and driving force behind local bird projects!
March 26: HUN DUN
Progress is being made on clearing corridor for the trail. Invasives have been tackled, water control berms set up, and more flags in the ground.
There will be places on the trail that TruGrid material will be used to keep it from being washed out over time. SMRF helped procure a Skid Steer to be used on this project. Though SMGA leans toward manual labor, the precision needed to prep the ground for laying the grid is daunting, so the Skid Steer has become an important tool for this task. Very efficient!
Note: Training for using this piece of machinery is in place. Cameron (Trail Crew Lead) runs a tight ship in these trainings for safety and skills mastery.
March 28: WORK AT HUN-DUN CONT.
The TruGrid work began today. The crew was testing different methods of installing the grid.
April 9: HUNTER TO DUNBAR TRAIL CONSTRUCTION
The crew returned to the newest endeavor, Hun-Dun trail. The trail follows Purgatory Creek from Hunter Road to the Dunbar community center. Because it borders the creek—dry today, wet tomorrow ?— it will require special effort and take much longer to construct.
Much of the trail will use TruGrid in the single track. Plastic circles, similar to how soda bottles are delivered to the store, will be laid below the surface, filled with crushed limestone and sand and covered with gravel. It’s being used due to probable flooding in the area and to reduce maintenance requirements.
Part of the crew removed old barbed-wire fencing, which is no small task. Team Flora spread more mountain laurel seed in the cut ligustrum berms. Also, in anticipation of April showers, a native mix of wildflowers and grasses were spread within sight of trail users
