A Sneak Peek Inside A Midland Oasis
By: Matthew Farrell
Updated: January 16, 2013
MIDLAND -- The Permian Basin we've all come to call home is a desert landscape with drilling equipment pulling precious resources out of the ground, but if you look a little closer, you may find a less common resource: water.
The I-20 Wildlife Preserve is a 1.45 mile nature trail surrounding a naturally occuring playa that appears like an oasis in the desert.
It's also home to countless creatures that nest in the wet lands and local expert Burr Williams says this is an exclusive glimpse at pure nature.
"There's been several plants and insects, that's the only place we've ever seen them. Here in Midland County that is," Williams said.
The natural habitat is also attracting species not native to this area.
"There's been some plants that we first found out there that normally are found back toward Stephenville and they got to that location because they were brought in hay to feed some cows that were being grazed in the bottom of that playa," Williams continued.
One of the things that makes this preserve special, though, is the outpouring of community support that made the entire project possible.
"We matched a $1 million matching grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the community really helped and backed us. We had about 3 and a half weeks to raise the funds and the city helped us make that match and we've been able to put in the new trail system," Executive Director Nathan Knowles tells Big 2.
The trail includes numerous bird blinds to watch the animals, a 25 foot hawk tower and teaching platforms where kids will be able to learn about the ecosystem, and actually interact with the environment
While looking out the fences shows you're not far from home, walking the nearly 1.5 mile trail will make you forget that you're still in the middle of the desert.
The preserve will be officially dedicated by the city of Midland Friday, January 18th.
It officially opens to the public on Saturday, January 19, at 8am.
For more information on the I-20 Wildlife Preserve, visit their website here.
The I-20 Wildlife Preserve is a 1.45 mile nature trail surrounding a naturally occuring playa that appears like an oasis in the desert.
It's also home to countless creatures that nest in the wet lands and local expert Burr Williams says this is an exclusive glimpse at pure nature.
"There's been several plants and insects, that's the only place we've ever seen them. Here in Midland County that is," Williams said.
The natural habitat is also attracting species not native to this area.
"There's been some plants that we first found out there that normally are found back toward Stephenville and they got to that location because they were brought in hay to feed some cows that were being grazed in the bottom of that playa," Williams continued.
One of the things that makes this preserve special, though, is the outpouring of community support that made the entire project possible.
"We matched a $1 million matching grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the community really helped and backed us. We had about 3 and a half weeks to raise the funds and the city helped us make that match and we've been able to put in the new trail system," Executive Director Nathan Knowles tells Big 2.
The trail includes numerous bird blinds to watch the animals, a 25 foot hawk tower and teaching platforms where kids will be able to learn about the ecosystem, and actually interact with the environment
While looking out the fences shows you're not far from home, walking the nearly 1.5 mile trail will make you forget that you're still in the middle of the desert.
The preserve will be officially dedicated by the city of Midland Friday, January 18th.
It officially opens to the public on Saturday, January 19, at 8am.
For more information on the I-20 Wildlife Preserve, visit their website here.
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