By Brandt Mannchen
In 1994, the TRNWR was established when 4,400 acres were acquired along the Trinity River. The purpose of the TRNWR is to protect the Lower Trinity River bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem and the migratory birds, like Wood Ducks, Mallards, and other wildlife that inhabit this area, from Lake Livingston Dam to just above Interstate 10, in Liberty County, Texas. Since that time the Refuge has grown to over 30,000 acres and is managed by your federal wildlife agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Refuge is a mix of Trinity River Floodplain features including sloughs, swales, depressions, abandoned stream and river channels, tributaries, distributaries, and bottomland forests. These floodplain features and forests are home to American Alligator, Alligator Snapping Turtle, Alligator Gar, Swainson’s Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Bobcat, Coyote, and Swallow-Tailed Kite.
Bottomland hardwood forests in the Refuge are a mixture of different, mostly hardwood tree species, like Hackberry, American Elm, Cedar Elm, American Sycamore, Green Ash, Overcup Oak, Eastern Cottonwood, Black willow, Common Persimmon, Water oak, Deciduous Holly, Water Elm, Texas Swamp Red Oak (Nuttall Oak), Sweetgum, Western Soapberry, Buttonbush, Boxelder, Pecan, Willow Oak, Bald Cypress, and many more.
Recently, Brandon, my friend and fellow Sierran, and I visited TRNWR. First, we stopped at the headquarters and talked with Laurie Lomas Gonzales, Refuge biologist, about the best place to hike.
Laurie is an exceptionally gifted biologist who not only has learned and done research in the TRNWR but interacts well with the general public, including children. Laurie is a major reason why there is an extensive trail system in the Great Egret and Knobby Knees Units on the Refuge.
Because it’s “bow season”, Laurie suggested that we hike the Knobby Knees Trail that starts next to the Liberty Municipal Park in Liberty, Texas. She had a sparkle in her eyes when she mentioned that the entire trail length that leads to and from the Trinity River is 6 miles.
We decided to follow her advice. Walking the Knobby Knees Trail brought back good memories for me. In Mach 2016, there was a grand opening for the Palmer Bayou Boardwalk, which is near the beginning of the Knobby Knees Trail. I attended the grand opening on behalf of the Lone Star Chapter and Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club. I heard Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell talk about the need for outdoor recreation, protection of wildlife refuges, and the volunteer efforts which helped build this boardwalk.
As Brandon and I walked the trail we saw at least a dozen White-Tailed Deer as they browsed in open areas of the Refuge. We also saw at least 20 feral hogs, a non-native invasive species that is detrimental to the bottomland hardwood forest and its inhabitants. We stopped to look at a corral trap that is used to capture feral hogs so that they are removed from the Refuge.
It was a beautiful day, with temperatures starting in the upper 50’s and finished at 76 degrees. The sun was out, and it was a lovely day for hiking and discovering some of the secrets of bottomland hardwood forests.
We saw or heard Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Carolina Chickadee, American Crow, and Belted Kingfisher. Fall flowers included Blue Mistflower, Creeping Spot Flower, Boneset, Bitterweed, and sunflower species. In the distance, we saw movement and delighted to a rambling Armadillo.
When we reached the Trinity River, we were awed by the extensive white sandy beaches and bars that exist along its banks. You could read in the sand who had visited “The River” recently, including Mr. and Ms. Raccoon. Tiger beetles swarmed around us, waiting to pounce on some unsuspecting prey species and legions of young Eastern Cottonwood, American Sycamore, and Black Willow were growing on the sandy banks and shoreline of the Trinity River.
It was a great visit and left me feeling lucky and fortunate to have seen Nature at its best in the TRNWR. A future visit is guaranteed. Why don’t you see for yourself why your TRNWR is special. Visit, enjoy, and respect your public legacy!