Lake Waco Wetlands Project
October 2, 2004
The Lake Waco Wetlands Project is an wonderful environmental program that serves functional, educational, and rehabilitative purposes. Wetlands (which includes areas such as bogs, marshes, swamps, and other shallow-water-covered areas) are often looked down upon as "ugly" or "wasted-space," but many people fail to realize their importance. The varieties of aquatic plants in wetlands serve as a natural filter of the water that remove pollutants from the water that passes through the wetlands. Wetlands also serve as habitats for many species of birds, fish, insects, reptiles, mammals, and plants.
The idea behind the Lake Waco Wetlands Project is simple. About 11 million gallons of water is pumped each day from the North Bosque River into the "top" of the wetlands area. Of the total volume of water that passes through the North Bosque River, only about 20% is diverted through the wetlands. The water flows through the various areas of the wetlands, and about 7-10 days after it has entered, the water flows back out into the North Bosque River, which soon afterwards flows into Lake Waco. The aquatic plants in the wetlands filter nearly 90% of the pollutants and unnatural minerals in the water that results as runoff from the numerous dairy farms upstream. These pollutants and extra minerals cause the excess algal and bacterial growth which give the Waco water is un-lovely taste and smell.
The Lake Waco Wetlands Project was implemented in response to the natural habitats that would have been destroyed in the process of raising Lake Waco's water level by 7 feet. The projects takes volunteers from schools, organizations, and the community to help transplant the aquatic plants into the wetlands area. A discovery center has been opened that will be used for classroom and educational purposes.
The Magellan Society helped transplant in the Lake Waco Wetlands Project. We waded into the wetlands, and were literally knee-deep in water. We uprooted plants such as "Bull-Rush" and "Duck-Potato" from the nursery area and carried them over to the active wetlands area and planted them. In a few months, the plants would have taken root in their new home and would have grown in number. This provided a great educational and hands-on project for the members. Although we emerged from the water covered in mud and "swamp-like" attachments, we had a great time, while helping and learning about the environment.
Learn more about the Lake Waco Wetlands Project at their website.