Date and Time: March 28, 2026 at 9:00am
Meeting Location: In Google Maps Labeled Equestrian & Nature Trails off Bear Creek Drive. area (GPS 29.82391, -95.63393). We may carpool to another location with limited parking if the group is open to it.
Things To Bring: We may wander off trail- so boots/closed toe shoes and bug spray recommended.
Please bring adequate hydration and other items you may require to be comfortable. I anticipate we will be in full sun part of the time, so dress appropriately.
Field Trip Overview: Bear Creek Park and the Addicks Reservoir landscape offer an excellent setting to examine how large-scale flood control infrastructure, soil conditions, and long-term land management shape vegetation patterns in west Houston. Constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1946 and 1948, Addicks Reservoir required extensive earthen fill for its dam and outlet works while leaving much of the upstream impoundment relatively undisturbed topographically. Today, ongoing modernization and watershed repair efforts by USACE and the Harris County Flood Control District continue to maintain reservoir safety and flood capacity, providing important context for managing ecological resources within an active engineering system.
Within the periodically impounded areas, the absence of grazing and prescribed fire since the 1950s has driven significant woody encroachment. Much of the equestrian trail corridor is now forested, dominated by species such as Chinese tallow, sugarberry, American elm, green ash, and water oak. Despite heavy canopy development and invasive pressure, these areas retain a fairly diverse understory, allowing discussion of successional dynamics, constraints on active management, and the challenges of balancing flood control with habitat goals.
If the group elects to carpool, we will also visit several prairie pockets maintained primarily by edaphic conditions rather than management. These clay-rich and locally saline barrens restrict woody growth and support highly diverse native prairie communities, including locally adapted and endemic species. Across forested, prairie, wetland, and riparian settings, the trip will emphasize plant identification, the role of soils and hydrology in shaping habitats, and how adaptive management strategies can be applied within the operational realities of a high-profile flood control landscape.
Leader Bio: Andy Newman is a restoration ecologist, botanist, and longtime advocate for Texas native plant communities based in Houston. With more than 17 years of experience working across prairies, wetlands, forests, and riparian systems, Andy brings a sciencebased yet deeply observant approach to understanding landscapes. His work is rooted in careful attention to plant communities, ecological processes, and the stories written into the land by water, soils, disturbance, and time. Whether in the field or sharing knowledge with others, Andy emphasizes curiosity, observation, and respect for the complexity of natural systems.
As Vice President of the Native Plant Society of Texas – Houston Chapter, Andy is dedicated to
strengthening connections between people and the native landscapes of the Gulf Coast. He is an active speaker, mentor, and field educator, often blending science with creativity through nature journaling, scientific illustration, and art. These practices shape how he observes and communicates the natural world, helping make ecology more accessible and meaningful to diverse audiences. Andy looks forward to supporting the chapter’s mission through education, conservation, and thoughtfulstewardship—fostering a deeper appreciation for native plants and the ecosystems they sustain.
Additional Coordination Details: Please contact Bob Romero for any further coordination details at
bobromero@gmail.com or by phone at (713) 248-6030.
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