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by Tom Keener
What makes a river, a river? Flowing water. Small streams feed into creeks, which join our rivers, ultimately flowing to the coast to rejuvenate and sustain estuaries and bays. These flows are also essential for fish and wildlife to flourish. Without fresh flowing water, a healthy river degenerates into toxic pools and mosquito breeding sites.
Matagorda Bay, an estuary along the Gulf of Mexico, is an area where fresh water mixes with salt water from the Gulf. This creates a mosaic of marshes, tidal flats and open bays that nourish an interdependent web of fish and wildlife. For juvenile finfish, shellfish, shrimp and crabs, the edge habitat provides vital security from predators when they’re in their development stages.
In Allen, all creeks and drainage ways eventually connect to Rowlett Creek, flow to Lake Ray Hubbard and the Trinity River, ultimately connecting to the Gulf of Mexico. A river begins with rain, but its health begins in your kitchen sink, bathroom and lawns.
What can you do to protect our rivers? View a free screening of Texas: The State of Flowing Water, 2 p.m., July 14, or 7 p.m., July 27, at the Allen Public Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive. The documentary lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes, and will be followed by raffle drawings for great prizes.
• Explore the vital importance of water for people and the diverse bounty of Texas fish and wildlife that depend on it for survival.
• Examine the threats facing Texas’ water and what can be done to protect our most precious natural resource.
• Learn how simple steps people take collectively can do a lot to diminish future water shortages.
Keep Allen Beautiful Board Chair Kerry Craven declares, "It is amazing how one individual can express interest in a local waterway, and then it soon translates to an entire neighborhood. Keep Allen Beautiful supports residents’ efforts in protecting our natural resources with the Adopt-a-Waterway Program. Sometimes people just need to be provided with an opportunity to make a difference."
Texas: State of Flowing Water was produced by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The City of Allen Water Conservation Division, Keep Allen Beautiful and Friends of the Allen Public Library invite you for this special premiere screening.
For questions, please call Andrea Smith at 214.509.4553 or email at asmith@cityofallen.org. |
