2021 Wildflower Guide

Check out some of the wildflowers you can find out at the Canyon this spring, and on which trails to find them with our Wildflower Checklist & Photo Guide! This educational trifold out shows 35 types of wildflowers you can find at Government Canyon State Natural Area, as well as provides names, size of flower and plant, and when it is in bloom.

Click here to print your own copy or swing by the Visitor Center to pick up a copy on your next visit. Thank you to our amazing guide Jennifer Weaver for putting the guide together.

Click on the image above to access the guide.

Click on the image above to access the guide.

TPWD Hosting VIRTUAL Wildlife Tax Valuation Workshop

Do you have an agriculture tax valuation on your land? Are you interested in wildlife management? You are invited to attend our upcoming Wildlife Tax Valuation Workshop!

 2021 Wildlife Tax Valuation Workshop

Saturday, March 6th from 8am-12pm

Register TODAY by completing on-line registration on the Wildlife Tax Valuation Registrationpage. Make sure to select the March 6th virtual workshop.

Location 

This workshop is VIRTUALThe virtual workshop link and instructions on how to participate in the workshop will be sent to registered participants the week of the workshop.

Workshop Description

Texas Parks and Wildlife will host a free VIRTUAL workshop for landowners interested in Wildlife Tax Valuation on Saturday, March 6th. Sign-in starts at 7:45am. Our program will begin at 8am and will end at 12pm. Biologists will provide an overview of the wildlife tax valuation, wildlife management plan development, and applicable management practices. There will be a Q&A session and opportunity for individual plan preparation with a TPWD Biologist.

Who should attend?

Texas landowners interested in wildlife tax valuation for their property.

Topics to be covered

  • Overview of Wildlife Tax Valuation

  • Habitat Evaluation

  • Target Species Selection

  • Requirements and Wildlife Management Plan Development

  • Seven Wildlife Management Practices

  • Filling out the Wildlife Management Plan and Annual Review

  • Help with Individual Plan Preparation

*You may attend any workshop regardless of the county you live in or where your property is located.

*Landowners must have a current 1-D-1 appraisal to be eligible for the Wildlife Tax Valuation. 

*Everyone is welcome to attend the workshop to learn even if they do not have property or a 1-D-1 appraisal.

*An email will be sent the week of the workshop with the link to participate in the workshop and instructions on how to log in.

Questions? Contact 

Jessica Alderson

210-309-2416

Jessica.alderson@tpwd.texas.gov

Let’s Take Time to Walk

by Billy Lambert, FoGC President

When I was a child, my father took me to many Volksmarch Walking Events. Every weekend we joined our walking group and walked a marked path directing participants through  parks, historic sites, old court houses towns  in and around San Antonio and central Texas. It was a great way to meet people and explore places. 

About 20 minutes into each walk, I would begin asking my dad questions about the scenery, the water, and the people we met. His answers just lead us further down the path  to the next interesting site and to my next question. It was his way of letting me explore and think about the things we saw and experienced together.

This spring I have found my self walking more. Walking is a nice a respite from work any daily challenges, and I have found that time walking with my wife and daughter has brought us closer together and put us in the same rhythm. Most importantly it forces the three of us to focus on what is in front us. This pulls us out of own thoughts and helps me keep focus.

This year has been hard for many people; many have shouldered tremendous burdens and suffered tremendous losses. Many people have found things out of their control and solutions overwhelming. Walking gives ourselves a break from these burdens and allows us to share a space with someone. Walking helps us to keep our personal lives together.

If you want to join us for a walk at Government Canyon State Natural Area (GCSNA), the Rangers and volunteers are still working and welcoming visitors albeit with limited capacity. The Texas State Parks website lists the hours and instructions for reservations. If you can not make it to the Canyon, check out the virtual tours the Canyon staff have been putting together including a tour of the Dino tracks and the Wildlife Wednesday videos for kids. In addition to the Canyon, San Antonio has many green spaces and trails winding through many neighborhoods where you will find that people are returning to their porches and sending their distanced hellos.

With time, things will be better, but this is not to say our lives will be less hectic. Our world is ever changing, I know many of you already understand the benefits of walking, and maybe you share the same privilege I received at a young age while walking with my family. I do encourage you to actively seek out people who have never been to Government Canyon or any of the local parks or trails and invite them for walks. Share a moment together. Share the same rhythm. Take the time to get to know someone, even at six feet apart. 

Explore together.

20181020_Plateau_Goldeneye.jpg

Meet the New Super

Nick Maloukis, Superintendent

Greetings!  My name is Nic Maloukis, and I’m the new Superintendent at Government Canyon State Natural Area. I took over responsibilities on September 1st, of 2019. Some of you know me from my previous work at GCSNA, but for those who do not, here’s a little bit about me.

I was born and raised in Austin, Texas (South of the River and Inside the City Limits) where I was in the first graduating class from Charles Akins High School. I was accepted to Southwest Texas State University in 2003 and Graduated from Texas State University – San Marcos in 2007 with a B.S. in Resource and Environmental Studies and a Geology Minor. While in college, I started my career with Texas State Parks as a volunteer at Enchanted Rock SNA, then as a Summer Intern at McKinney Falls in 2007, and a Summer Intern at GCSNA in 2008. I hired-on as a PPO/Interpreter at Government Canyon in January 2009. Most recently I was the Park Superintendent at Martin Creek Lake State Park for a 6-year period between 2013 and 2019. I am also a certified CPR/AED/First Aid instructor for TPWD, a Type I Wildland Firefighter Trainee, and a Wilderness First Responder. 

My wife of 11 years, Amanda, five-year-old son, Caleb, and Rhodesian Ridgeback, Walker, are all extremely happy to be back in San Antonio. In my free time, I enjoy playing disc golf, driving my jeep, and going on adventures with my family in the great outdoors.  

My vision for the Canyon is to continue the work of Deirdre Hisler and Chris Holm. The mission of the Canyon has not changed. It’s all about water. We are here for recharge. We protect the water quality and quantity entering the recharge zone of the Edwards Aquifer. We provide a space for the public to recharge their souls through communion with nature in a natural area. While we are working to achieve these goals, we research and protect a multitude of flora and fauna and continue to contribute to the professional body of knowledge in the field of resource conservation. In addition to our natural resources, we protect our vast cultural resources, ranging from 110-million-year-old dinosaur tracks, to prehistoric Native American sites, to Historic roads, and vestiges of San Antonio ranching heritage. I plan to work hard to ensure my team of staff and volunteers has all the support they need to continue this important work. I would like to thank everyone who lends a hand, volunteering their time, for being part of the legacy of Government Canyon State Natural Area.   

IMG_20190809_003102.jpg

Virtual Wildflower Hike

Due to social distancing this spring, our Activities Committee has not been able to offer guided hikes and workshops. In lieu of our in-person hikes, join our guide Jennifer on this spring’s virtual wildflower hike! Follow along with Jennifer as she points out this springs beautiful wildflowers found on Lytle’s Loop.

Virtual Wildflower Hike - Park 1

Follow-along Guide - Part 1

Virtual Wildflower Hike - Part 2

Follow-along Guide - Part 2

Remembering our friend, Nick Kotz

Prominent author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nathan “Nick” Kotz died suddenly on Sunday, April 26th after an accident at his home near Broad Run, Virginia. He was 87 years old.

Mr. Kotz was a grandchild of Nathan and Anna Kallison, one of San Antonio’s and South Texas’ most prominent ranching, retail and real estate families. Mr. Kotz was responsible for helping Texas State Parks acquire a portion of their family’s ranch for inclusion in Government Canyon State Natural Area (GCSNA) in 2002. Since that time he has been a strong supporter of the canyon/natural area and donated significantly to the construction and completion of the Nathan and Anna Kallison Amphitheatre at GCSNA. 

In 1968, working for the Des Moines Register, Mr. Kotz won the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting “for his reporting of unsanitary conditions in many meat packing plants, which helped insure the passage of the Federal Wholesome Meat Act of 1967.”

He also worked at The Washington Post and as a freelance writer. Mr. Kotz received the Sigma Delta Chi Award for Washington correspondence, the Raymond Clapper Memorial Award and the first Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Award. His study of American military leadership won the National Magazine Award for public service. His book “Wild Blue Yonder: Money, Politics, and the B-1 Bomber” (2006) won the Olive Branch Award.

His most recent book, The Harness Makers Dream: Nathan Kallison and the Rise of South Texas, tells the story of Ukrainian immigrant Nathan Kallison's journey to the United States. He is best known for his 2005 book Judgment Days: Lyndon Baines Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr., and the Laws that Changed America  chronicling the roles of US President Lyndon B. Johnson and Martin Luther King Jr. in the passage of the 1964, 1965, and 1968 civil rights laws.

View the Washington Post article on Nick Kotz here.

Newest Project at GCSNA - Campground Walking Paths

The current walking paths at the 25-site campground experiences large mud buildup after rainfalls, making it difficult for campers to travel to and from the parking area and campsite. Due to the high clay content in the soil, this mud is very sticky and extremely difficult to remove. The finished product will consist of limestone blocks similar to the limestone blocks already used at the campground to outline the boundary of each, individual campsite. These blocks will be installed as borders for the walking paths, substantially reducing pathway maintenance requirements while greatly enhancing visitor experience.

Check out Superintendent Nic Maloukis in the video below explain the need for this new project.

Follow the Leave No Trace Practices

Did you know that 9 out of 10 people in the outdoors are uninformed about their impacts? Make sure you are following the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace on your next to the Canyon.

  1. Plan Ahead - “Know before you go"!” Learn everything you can about the are you plan to visit and the regulations of its use.

  2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces - Use designated trails and campsites.

  3. Dispose of Waste Properly - “Pack it in, pack it out!”

  4. Leave What You Find - Do not damage, deface, or remove natural objects or cultural artifacts. Leave them for others to enjoy.

  5. Minimize Campfire Impacts - Use a lightweight camp stove instead of a fire.

  6. Respect Wildlife - Watch wildlife from a distance and never approach, feed, or follow.

  7. Be Considerate to Other Visitors - Don’t disturb others. Preserve the natural quiet.

"Take only memories. Leave only footprints." - Chief Seattle

images-2.png

Volunteer in the Great Outdoors

Government Canyon State Natural Area is looking for motivated people who love the outdoors and want to give something back to Nature. Ask about how to become a volunteer and join the family and the fun!!

Opportunities include:

  • Backcountry and Frontcountry trail building and trail maintenance

  • Hike Leaders and assistants for monthly guided hikes

  • Interpretive Programs and Outdoor Education/ School Groups

  • Special Events: Halloween at the Canyon, Archeology Day, Migratory Bird Day

  • Natural Resources Projects: bird counts, endangered species, native and invasive plants projects

  • Cultural Resources Projects: historic building restoration, archeological sites

  • Administration and Front Office: Visitor Services, fiscal control, clerical

Ask at the Visitor’s Center about how to get started or email John.koepke@tpwd.texas.gov.

President's Note - Fall 2019

by Peter Grojean, FoGC Board President

Well, dear Friends, at the end of this year I will be leaving the board as President. This departure is overdue as I’ve been in this position for six years. It will be time for a new board President with a fresh point of view and new ideas to take over.  

I have learned so much and made so many new friends that I really can say that I received more out of the job than I put into it. I have had the great pleasure of working with dedicated and talented board members, volunteers and TPWD staff. Together we have accomplished much and we all can be very proud of what we have achieved. I consider our major accomplishments to be the Discovery Trail, the Children’s Nature Playscape and the Nathan and Anna Kallison Amphitheater (under construction). Additionally, we have received grants for the Front Country Savannah Restoration Project and re-construction of the JJR Trail. And, we started the annual Recharge Run which has raised many thousands of dollars to support the organization. 

As the Friends and TPWD go forward there is still much that can be accomplished to make Government Canyon State Natural Area more effective in accomplishing its mission. I look forward to being a contributing member of the Friend’s group and watching others do great things!!

Peter Grojean standing with Recharge Trail Run Director Kimberly Aubuchon

Champions Fore Charity

Friends of Government Canyon is participating in Champions fore Charity through the Valero Texas Open.

Formerly known as Birdies for Charity®, Champions fore Charity is a fundraising program that provides participating charities and schools the opportunity to generate contributions through the Valero Texas Open. Champions fore Charity is a no-cost program that gives 100% of the funds raised back to the participating organizations, plus incentives including a 7% match. Funds are generated by soliciting donations from individuals and corporations.

Make a contribution to Friends of Government Canyon now through April 17. Your contribution enables the Friends of Government Canyon to continue providing quality programs and activities for the public and support Government Canyon State Natural Area. Thank you in advance for your support!

Donate to Champions fore Charity here.

Vote for Texas Parks

On Tuesday, November 5 vote for your Texas State Parks! Proposition 5 would dedicate 100 percent of the Sporting Goods Sales Tax (SGST) to Texas state parks and historic sites, which includes state natural areas like Government Canyon State Natural Area.

This is not a new tax, nor will it raise taxes. In 1993, the Texas Legislature passed a law that allowing revenues from the sporting goods tax to be used for upkeep and expansion of state parks, however, historically the funds have gone to balance the state budget. Proposition 5 would make appropriations to the SGST to ensure state parks and historic sites would receive the needed funds to maintain facilities but will also allow the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to provide new outdoor recreational opportunities.

Read more about Prop 5:

Statesman

Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine

The Texas Tribune

Clearing Trails and Finding Community

 by Jeanette Reynolds, FoGC Board Member and Trail Crew Volunteer

Let me start by stating very clearly that I am not a morning person. While I genuinely appreciate waking up early and taking full advantage of the day, I have no intention of being anywhere and interacting with anyone before 9 a.m. So, believe me when I say that showing up by 7:30 a.m. (6:30 a.m. in the summer) to clear trails at Government Canyon State Natural Area is one of THE VERY BEST ways to spend a Saturday morning, in my opinion. 

What makes waking up early on the weekend to help clean-up some of the nearly 40 miles of trails in one of the nation’s largest urban preserves so awesome? Everything! The answer is everything! 

Let me start at the beginning by touching on just some of the admiration I have for Government Canyon State Natural Area, or GCSNA. When I moved to San Antonio five years ago, one of the very first places I ventured to explore in my new city was GCSNA. I love the backcountry trails – the rugged ones that lead you through forested limestone hills across the Balcones Escarpment, an area of deeply entrenched canyons that define the east boundary of the Edwards Plateau ecoregion. (Shout out to all the geology nerds reading this!) While its collection of dinosaur footprints may be how GCSNA is known to most, the easy access to nature is what has played an important role for me in making San Antonio home.

I began to reflect on how I could show my appreciation for the trails that bring me so much peace, delight, and overall wellness. I reached out to John Koepke, the GCSNA staff responsible for Interpreter/Volunteers/Trails/Special Projects, about joining Trail Crew. Like a lot of people these days, I spend a significant portion of my workday inside and inactive at a computer; so the prospect of enjoying the outdoors and getting some serious exercise while making a positive contribution is a no-brainer. There are also multiple other ways to lend your time and talents to supporting the mission of GCSNA, including joining Trail Patrol, leading programming like guided hikes as part of the Activities Committee, or joining the Friends of Government Canyon as a member by making a donation. 

Once you’ve shared your interest in volunteering with Trail Crew, John adds you to his roster. Every quarter, John will reach out to everyone on his roster with a list of upcoming volunteer dates and a request for response with those dates in which you’re interested. Trail Crew volunteering almost always happens Saturday mornings and ends at 12 p.m. Knowing that “life happens,” John will check in via email a week in advance of each Trail Crew Saturday to confirm if you are “IN or OUT.” If you’re “IN,” expect an email by Friday confirming all the details you need to feel ready to participate. This includes arrival location and time, recommended pack list like snacks and water, what to wear (sturdy trousers, closed toe shoes, long sleeves if you’re smart, garden or work gloves, and a hat), and an overview of what to expect. If the weather is unpredictable, John will remind you to look out for an email at 6 a.m. on the morning of your volunteer Saturday, cancelling the trail Crew work.  

You arrive in the morning to the maintenance shed, which is close by the visitor center where the bathrooms are open and waiting for your “last call” morning pee (you know who you are). If you’re like me, by the time you arrive there is already a circle of folks chatting and getting to know each other. This is one of the aspects of the experience I look forward to – meeting new people. The opportunity attracts a variety of individuals and groups representing diverse backgrounds and interest, but with that shared thing in common – showing up at a maintenance shed on the outskirts of town, a little too early for normal people. Just kidding! …I mean showing up at a maintenance shed on the outskirts of town, demonstrating the type of dedication and character you want in a new friend – a new friend who may be wielding a sharp object near your head for the next couple of hours. 

Once everyone is signed-in at the shed (as a volunteer you receive free entry to the State Natural Area for the day), you receive a short briefing and are assigned to a small group led by either GCSNA staff or experienced volunteer leaders. Sometimes all of the small groups work in teams on one specific trail and sometimes they are spread out on a couple of different trails, depending on the need and number of volunteers. 

Then everyone splits up for what may be my favorite part of volunteering with Trail Crew: The ride into the backcountry! Although, in full disclosure, sometimes you’re working in the frontcountry, and while I’m sure that’s fun too – who doesn’t get a thrill from an off-road adventure through a canyon? You’ll ride in a pickup truck or utility vehicle (UTV) to a point as close as possible to where the Trail Crew work will start that morning. Before anyone arrives to volunteer as a part of the Trail Crew, hours of work have gone into identifying areas that need maintenance, and marking larger trees that need to be trimmed.

The purpose of the Trail Crew is to make sure trails are safe for users and passable for an emergency UTV, like a Mule or Gator. The work to clear and widen the trails also helps users follow the intended path. When trails are overgrown, and especially after storms that may wash debris across trails, it can be easy to lose track of the designated path and end up lost. 

The volunteer leader or staff will direct your small team in its work. Only certified staff operate the chainsaws, while staff and trained volunteers may help with weed eaters. As a volunteer Trail Crew member, you will be carrying the cut brush out of sight from the trail and, at times, using hand tools including garden loppers and handsaws to trim small branches and brush. 

Once a certain stopping time is reached or the designated area for work that day has been cleaned and clear, volunteers and staff head back to the maintenance shed to sign-out. …There may or may not be famous baked goodies waiting for you, care of a certain super volunteer. Regardless of whether you indulge, you’ve burned some crazy calories, so it’s best to map out your lunch plan in advance. 

Here are my insider tips for making the best of your volunteer Trail Crew experience:

·       Wear your hydration backpack (ex. CamelBak), if you have one. You won’t want to keep track of a bigger bag or water bottle while you cover what might be miles of trail while you’re clearing debris. You have a better chance of staying hydrated if you can quickly and easily take a swig out of your hydration backpack.

·       Pack earplugs. While you won’t be operating the machinery, you’ll still be nearby. 

·       No need to worry about snakes or other critters, fortunately/unfortunately the Trail Crew will be making way too much noise for any wildlife sightings. But… what a great incentive for coming back to enjoy the fruits of your labor!

·       Keep a towel or quick change of clothes in your car for after you volunteer. You’ll probably be pretty dirty (and sweaty), and won’t want to get all that hard-earned mess all over your seats.

·       Don’t forget to hydrate and stretch when you get home! When’s the last time you cleared brush for a few hours?

·       When you commit to volunteering, add it to your calendar. Just like a budget or grocery list keeps us on track for our goals, adding volunteering to your calendar is a great way to hold yourself accountable to making the time to give back.

I love being active and spending time outside, and care deeply about the GCSNA stewardship and education mission, so volunteering with Trail Crew is a prefect fit for me. What it has also provided me with is a path to community. I have met many wonderful people, some who are visiting GCSNA for the first time as volunteers and others who have been involved with the State Natural Area before it was part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife system. The GCSNA community continues to expand as more and more people discover it and experience the feeling one gets from being out in nature.  

It is easy to take the next step and involved at GCSNA. You can read more about other volunteer opportunities and sign up at here or email John Koepke at john.koepke@tpwd.texas.gov

President's Note - Summer 2019

As we’re plugging away on numerous projects, including our Outdoor Education Amphitheater (stay tuned later this summer for updates!), and the launching of our 6thannual Recharge Trail Run, we were saddened to hear the news of the passing of Dr. Cary Guffy, a veteran volunteer and supporter of Government Canyon SNA. See his remembrance by GCSNA staffer John Koepke here.

Hope everyone has a safe, fun and outdoors summer! Stay tuned and drink plenty of water.

Peter Grojean, President

Remembering Dr. Cary Guffy

This past week we lost Dr. Cary Guffy, a long-time supporter and booster for GCSNA. In the early days he would always volunteer his time and energy to put on wonderful programs pertaining to snakes, scorpions, spiders, salamanders, and all kinds of herps. He organized and coordinated the various herpetological arrays we had placed around the Canyon and was responsible for gathering, recording and establishing our baseline data on herps at the Canyon.

 

Cary was a friendly and energetic man who had great passion about teaching and many of us considered him a friend. He taught biology for more than 20 years at Our Lady of the Lake University and his passing leaves a whole in our community. He will be missed.

Guffy-7.17.03.jpg

Volunteers Needed for our Activities Committee

Ever want to lead a hike, run, or mountain bike ride at Government Canyon? Are you a knowledgeable outdoors person and want to share your love of the Natural Area with others? Our Activities Committee is looking for adventurous, knowledgeable outdoors people to help us lead hikes, bike rides, runs and other outdoor activities. Come help us put on fun and interesting programs and events as a volunteer with our Activity Committee.

Members of the Activity Committee help us plan and organize our wide variety of hikes, education and interpretive events. Topics have a wide range: Wildflowers, Plants and shrubs, Birding, Wildlife, History, Geology, The Edwards Aquifer, Moonlight Hikes, Astronomy and many more! You can be the presenter/hike leader, or help coordinate the program for a guest speaker or assist in other ways. This is perfect for those who want to be part of sharing their love of the outdoors with others. Interested volunteers are asked to complete the TPWD volunteer application and can email John Koepke with questions at John.Koepke@tpwd.texas.gov.