Saving the last pristine stretch of Manadas Creek

A branch of Manadas Creek, not far from businesses and residences, flows from McPherson Road to Shiloh Drive . The stream meanders for a mile through a small but diverse wilderness area. Wading along the stream, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) interns Annie Rojas and Becky Gonzalez quickly leave the hustle and noise of the fast moving traffic on McPherson Road and soon have the sense that they are traveling back through time to a place that existed when the Lipan Apache still roamed the area.

Large trees grow along the stream bank and send leaf-covered branches to form an arch over the clear-flowing stream. Its damp, shaded banks provide a habitat suitable for the growth of plants that are not seen in most parts of Laredo . Becky and Annie, as they walk along the creek, begin to see the wonders that still remain along this branch of the Manadas. Stands of lip fern, projecting their leafy fronds in the direction of the flowing water, line the banks in various places along the creek. In other places dense stands of Texas persimmon produce tasty fruit that sustains birds and other wildlife that live along the creek.

The stream forms small pools and waterfalls in some places as it flows over moss-covered boulders. In other places, the clear water flows over stones and pebbles that have been polished -- grinding one against another -- during the numerous floods that have occurred over thousands of years. In other places, the water is deep enough to float a kayak. In one of these pools a turtle swims away, alarmed by approaching humans. Fish swim quickly from the shadow of one rock to another.

Rounding a bend, Annie and Becky discover a plant they have seen only in their biology classes. The luxurious growth of liverwort (Reboulia hemisphaerica) is a relic from bygone times when the Laredo area was much wetter. This primitive plant, growing on the banks of the stream, is to the plant kingdom what frogs are to the animal kingdom -- both require standing water for reproduction.

In one bend of the creek, crystal clear water drips from an overhanging ledge of porous rock overlain with fossils formed from creatures living during a distant time when a great inland sea covered Laredo . Through this window one can glimpse a brief moment of Laredo's past natural history. This fossil bed, part of an ancient sea bottom with mollusk species such as turritella, cockles, snails, pectin, and oysters, was alive and functioning 50 million years ago.

Eroded roots of large mesquite trees at various places along the stream's edge resemble networks of tentacles extending deep into the soil. These oddly exposed roots, having developed a tough bark just like the tree's trunk and limbs, firmly anchor the plant, in octopus fashion, to the ground below.

Annie and Becky are aware of the presence of wildlife, even though many of these wary and secretive inhabitants of the Manadas are not readily seen. Beaver burrows in the bank, raccoon tracks in the mud, animal trails along the creek's edge with entries and exits to the water, and nests in shrubs or trees all attest to the rich diversity of wildlife inhabiting the area. The soft cooing of the mourning dove, the high-pitched scolding of the green jay, and the raspy, scraping scream of a red-tailed hawk add to the richness of the area.

Along the banks and nearby areas where sunlight penetrates the upper canopy, wildflowers add splashes of color to the wooded landscape. An interesting bracket fungus demonstrates nature's recycling as it consumes a rotting tree, returning nutrients to the soil that will help support the vegetation and animals that have lived here for countless generations.

The numerous tributaries that drain stormwater from nearby subdivisions demonstrate the utilitarian value of Manadas Creek. During rainfall events, the creek conducts water away from developed areas and toward the Río Grande. In its present condition, as it has for eons, this segment of Manadas Creek provides an avenue for natural water flow. The destruction of property by flooding results primarily from the careless encroachment of human construction into natural drainage areas such as this one.

We humans cannot live without destruction. We must kill plants and animals for food to nourish our bodies. Of necessity we must destroy some places and things in order to work and play as we live our lives. However, if we do not carefully and thoughtfully develop the places in which we congregate and live, we may unnecessarily destroy the beauty and utility that is essential for our health -- physical, mental, and spiritual.

Fortunately, the Green Space Preservation Ordinance adopted by the Laredo City Council on May 3, 2004 protects the intact segment of Manadas Creek between McPherson Road and Shiloh Drive. This stream is also considered a Waters of the United States based on the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, now known as the Clean Water Act. Properly developed, this area has the potential of being one of the most beautiful and useful wild places in our city. It can provide space, beauty, protection, and tranquility and make Laredo a more enjoyable and hospitable place to live.

(Contributors to this narrative were Rebekah Ann Gonzalez and Elizabeth Anne Rojas, NOAA interns; Jim Earhart, Ph.D., executive director, Río Grande International Study Center (RGISC); Jim Goetze, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, Laredo Community College; and Rukmani Viswanath, M. S., Professor of Biology, Laredo Community College and RGISC assistant director.)