Living Way Academy Students Take Charge of Their Resacas-good job Joe Boswell

Brownsville’s resacas are a unique feature that provide both water for it’s residents, and a home to a diverse wildlife population. Five students from Living Way Leadership Academy, along with the help of the Rio Bravo Wildlife Institute, are starting a restoration project to save resacas from threats such as pollution and invasive species. These young stewards of the environment will not be working alone, they will be garnering support from their local community as they tackle this year long first step towards healthier water systems.This endeavor will provide a “better environment, and a better home for our wildlife,” explains Aaron Barrera, 6th grade media and PR liaison for the Resaca Restoration Project. Not only will the effects of the project be beneficial to our natural world, but the students will also learn invaluable lessons in science, conservation, communication, and project management along the way. The involvement by the community will instill a rewarding sense of responsibility for these future leaders of our community. This project was developed by the Rio Bravo Wildlife Institute who wrote and received a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Healthy Habitats program. The Resaca Restoration Project can best be described in 4 steps:

August 10th-14th, 2011
-A Living Way Teacher, a Rio Bravo representative, and the five students will be flying to Dallas for a workshop on “service learning” as it pertains to conservation projects.

August 10th-Mid September, 2011
-Using a brand new iphone app designed at MIT solely for this project, students will collect ecological data on 5 restoration sites around the city.

Fall 2011
-Based on the findings and observations of the studies conducted by the students, a restoration strategy will be devised tailored to each separate site. These plans will include trash pickup, introduction of native plant species, removal of invasive plant species, and more. This phase of the project will involve civic organizations, volunteers, and members of the community. The students, along with community support, will do the necessary restoration to the five chosen resacas. This restoration will include the construction of a greenhouse to grow native plants. The greenhouse will be constructed at the Learning Gardens at
Lincoln Park.

Spring 2011
-The resacas will be on their way to being veritable wetland habitats for wildlife and healthy water systems. To ensure the appreciation and continuation of such care for our natural world, observation points will be constructed at select sites for all the public to enjoy. These points may include paths, boardwalks, and birdblinds.