Megan Navarro
WIMBERLEY — A section of Blue Hole Regional Park is getting restored after being part of the landscape for nearly four decades.
Constructed in 1987, the spray field — located around what is called the recreation loop with the soccer fields, basketball and volleyball courts and pavilion — predates the park and was incorporated into the property when Blue Hole was established and for several years, it served as an important component in the city’s wastewater treatment system. It was used at the end of the line for wastewater treatment, where treated wastewater was sprayed and leached into the field.
Since the spray field was officially decommissioned at least a year ago, due to upgrades to the city’s wastewater infrastructure, the three-acre area can now be transformed into a Hill Country prairie with a diverse mix of Texas native grasses and wildflowers. These species will support pollinators, improve soil health, better reflect the ecological character of the Wimberley Valley, according to the Wimberley Parks and Recreation Department, and pave the way for wildlife habitats.
“We are trying to improve the biodiversity in our park. We want to make it more beautiful than it is right now,” said Erica Flocke, park operations manager. “Right now … there’s not wildflowers or native grasses or anything like that. So, once we establish those native plants, it will [improve] our water infiltration, for our aquifer and it’s also going to look good for the park.”
Due to years of inactivity, invasive and non-native grasses have started to grow, so, to prepare the ground for reseeding, parks staff will work to mow the entire spray field and then, lightly till the soil. This will help break up compacted ground and clear space for native seeds to take root.
“Our goal is not to develop it into anything. Our goal is to try to rewild it. We're wanting to make it basically into a native prairie,” Flocke said. “We may eventually connect to some of our trails through this field, but right now, we don't have a plan to do that.”
Currently, Flocke said they are in the process of removing the 12-15-foot fence that has been in place since the area was first constructed. In doing so, staff put out a call to the community to see if there were any people who would be able to use the fence materials — more than 30 people reached out and all pieces have been claimed.
“The fence is being given away to people in the community who want it. So, staff is working on that right now. That's going to take probably a few weeks with that physically down because they also have to remove all posts, which is going to take some time,” Flocke said. “Then, the next step is mowing and tilling the site, which tilling is kind of like breaking up the soil because it's been stagnant and compact for so long and then, eventually, feeding.”
The process of restoring the spray field and turning it into the native prairie is going to take a few years, Flocke emphasized.
“It’s going to look ugly for a while. That’s just how restoration projects work,” she explained. “It’s a little bare at first ... and it’s just going to take time for that native prairie to establish and grow the roots. They grow roots down before they grow tall.”
Learn more about the spray field restoration at bit.ly/3Mkj2ly.
