By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
Members of the Devils River Conservancy (DRC) will be hosting free educational events on Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, in the downtown and San Felipe areas.
To start the weekend, DRC will present a free screening of the documentary, “Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers,” at the Rotary Pocket Park, 614 S. Main St., on Friday, Nov, 6, at 7 p.m.
“Deep in the Heart” is a documentary focusing on the natural resources of Texas rivers. Sergio Lopez, DRC project coordinator, spoke with The 830 Times about the documentary. Lopez said the idea to screen the film came from other members of DRC who know the producers of the documentary series.
Lopez said the DRC has been working on eradicating Arundo donax, also known as carrizo cane, an invasive plant species, from the banks of the San Felipe Creek to make them “more beautiful and accessible” for more people visiting. He said one of the ways to celebrate their success in removing the plants is by showing the documentary to the public, which showcases how beautiful Texas waters are.
Popcorn will be provided for those who attend the screening downtown, and Lopez encourages people to bring their lawn chairs and refreshments.
Members of the DRC will also have a free BioBlitz event involving educational activities for all ages at the Dr. Alfredo Gutierrez Jr. Amphitheater, 1101 W. De La Rosa St., on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. till noon.
Lopez said the people attending the Saturday event have to download an app called iNaturalist, which helps users document plants and animals. People can take photos of the plants and animals in the areas around the San Felipe Creek and upload them to the app, which labels them with their scientific names.
The iNaturalist app helps identify what plants and animals live in the surrounding areas, while also encouraging people to learn about their native environments and how to protect them. Lopez said the app is “very easy” to download and sign into.
Lopez said the goal of Friday’s and Saturday’s events is to introduce members of DRC to the community, talk about the DRC’s goals and encourage more people to participate in future activities, such as planting new plants.
“(These events) are a reminder to really protect our waters, and to explore and get to know all the (species) that live around these waters. The message we want to share is for people to really get out there and get to know all these natural resources that we have so that we can protect them more,” Lopez said.
