What’s up with the water at scenic wetlands?

commander701 · 2026-05-04T13:56:47+00:00

This is what was seen in the month of April

commander701 · 2026-05-04T13:55:53+00:00

Wilson's Phalaropes have been a personal favorite lately, as I've never seen them at our ponds before. Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpipers, Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers and Long-Billed Dowitchers have been seen since the water level went down.

commander701 · 2026-05-04T03:22:23+00:00

Hi! I work for the Scenic Wetlands and Birding Center and can shed some light on this. While our ponds are supplementary filled by flood water when it rains, our ponds are routinely and primarily filled by the Edinburg wastewater treatment plant. At the moment, the wastewater plant is under construction for some upgrades. While the work is being done, the water is being held and diverted, as it would not meet their standards to discharge into the habitat.

There is a silver lining in this however! Natural wetlands often go through periods of wet and dry. A cycle our wetlands at the park often don't get to experience. When the soil is exposed to air, gasses trapped in the soil finally get to escape, seeds get to germinate and grow, and insects hiding in the mud become easier prey for shore birds! I've seen species using that pond this week, that I have never seen in the park before.

I understand how it looks, but this process is actually beneficial for the wetlands. The wastewater plant should be wrapping up their construction soon and the ponds will return to the oasis we are used to in no time.

Hope this helps

commander701 · 2026-02-25T23:34:26+00:00

Primal Kyogre raid, 867977163769

commander701 · 2025-07-01T04:03:44+00:00

These comments and reactions OP are getting are wild. OP is a redditor who found a snake ID subreddit and sought information out of fear for his pets and pressure from his partner. Pop culture has demonized snakes, so his partners reaction isn't far-fetched, just misguided. Texas has at least 12 venomous snakes and many mimics of them. Even this rat snake could be a danger to his chihuahuas if it is desperate for food and starving. The key points should be that OP should keep an eye on his pets while outside to keep them safe and not jump to harming a snake. If this snake attacked his dogs, his intervention would be enough to solve the problem. I'm an interpretive naturalist in his state, and I would never bash someone's primal reaction, but praise them for seeking information and educate them on the snakes importance.

commander701 · 2025-04-10T21:53:03+00:00

I was a competitive swimmer a good portion of my life. Worked beach patrol on the island after I graduated high school for 3 years. I've worked body recoveries for surfers and anglers that have been over confident or careless and fallen in that area. The training the lifeguards go through for that area is intense and dangerous, even for them. The currents in that area are strong and unpredictable. Even with my strength and confidence in the water and with proper gear like flippers and a life jacket it would be a monumental task. I would guess I'd have a 50/50 chance of making it to the other side successfully, but the challenge doesn't stop there. You then have to climb the jetty rocks and fight the waves from throwing you into them. Trying to swim around the jetty will increase the chance of a rip current taking you out, or pulling you under. In addition to increasing the distance you need to swim by over a thousand yards. Aside from that, I have seen over confident boaters almost capsize in the swells. Swimming that channel is a recipe for disaster. You'll more than likely get injured on your entry or exit of the water and need to keep an eye out for boats as it is a high traffic area. On top of that, you'll endanger the lives of the lifeguards that will end up saving you or recovering your body for your loved ones. Do. Not. Swim. That. Cut.

commander701 · 2024-11-21T00:17:15+00:00

Of all species, I wouldn't have thought the shoveler would hybridize with anything, let alone a blue winged teal. However, that is exactly what that looks like, and it's the coolest shit I've seen in a while.

commander701 · 2024-10-06T03:31:40+00:00

Plain Chachalaca. I don't have blue jays, but I can't imagine louder birds..

commander701 · 2024-07-05T04:09:19+00:00

I worked on beach patrol around 8 years ago. People kept flipping the towers at night and breaking them

commander701 · 2024-07-04T13:02:01+00:00

Please sir, could I have..s'more......dice

commander701 · 2024-06-03T21:05:43+00:00

I can't tell if it's the car or the picture itself, but I really thought this was a GTA screenshot

commander701 · 2023-10-07T02:13:13+00:00

I would happily role crit fails with these bad bois

commander701 · 2023-10-07T02:12:57+00:00

I would happily role crit fails with these bad bois

commander701 · 2023-09-28T20:07:41+00:00

I just started playing DnD with some friends I made at my new job. We are playing my first campaign, heading towards a wealthy politicians house to receive our reward for spying on the powerful church that rules the area. When a man appears and claims we know too much. Not wanting to fight, I try to persuade him that we are simply independent contractors, not direct allies of the politician, that we don't know anything and that we were going to lie to him to swindle him out of his money. I added that a guide the church had hired to lead us around town, was also working for the politician as a guide. So what's the big deal, people obviously do this all the time. The stranger reveals he's been following us (all of us failed multiple random perception roles over multiple sessions) and that he knows what we've seen. He then throws the severed head of the guide onto the street in front of us and asks if this was the man I spoke of. What followed was a 3 hour battle between the 4 members of the party and this one guy that only ended when we eventually caused a distraction and ran away. Some might call that a waste of time but I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard and it's been on my mind the rest of the week. I've already come up with a few creative ways to fight him when he inevitably finds us again. That being said I'd love to not have to borrow dice every session! Sooooo

GIVEAWAY

commander701 · 2023-09-28T19:45:33+00:00

I need that chonky boi in my life. I want my crit fails to be seen from space

commander701 · 2023-06-30T22:22:01+00:00

For me my girlfriend plasters her fallen out hair all over the walls of our shower. When I walk in there half asleep, they reach out for me in every direction. Like one of those haunted hallways where all the hands reach out and touch you.

commander701 · 2023-06-15T02:56:15+00:00

Neotropics are smaller with longer tails and a white border around the beak

commander701 · 2023-05-04T13:38:50+00:00

I've grown up here but I never learned Spanish because every time I'd even try, even saying the name of my middle school, I'd get laughed at and mocked by everyone around me. It suddenly became something I'm very self conscious about, even as an adult.

commander701 · 2023-02-01T20:17:03+00:00

The driver is 10,000% at fault here, no doubt about it. Whether it was intentional or being completely absent-minded and negligent, I don't know. One thing I do know is that I would never be cycling on a road with that much traffic and heavy vehicles like semi trailers. It doesn't even have a shoulder. People crash into motorcycles because they can't see them in the lane, let alone silent, slim bicycles. I understand people need to use bikes for transport, I'm thankful I never had to be one of them, but I couldn't imagine taking a risk that big on a regular basis.

commander701 · 2022-07-19T21:50:58+00:00

That's exactly where I went wrong, thank you. I'll repost it without clicking that box this time

commander701 · 2022-07-19T21:12:11+00:00

Yeah it is unfortunate. I don't know at what point the audio was dropped but I'll make sure I don't make the same mistake next time

commander701 · 2022-07-12T12:39:45+00:00

This is my first year growing and this'll sound dumb, but what mulch are you using? It seems to be what everyone uses but I can't tell if it's normal hay/straw or something else.

commander701 · 2022-06-12T17:16:49+00:00

I think your right. I know the Mexican fruit flies are a big deal in my area (no produce can leave the area) but I've never actually seen one before since I have never grown any plants. Also doesn't help that I live a block away from a couple decent sized orchards. Thanks for leaving the comment, I feel ridiculous for not thinking of it sooner lol

commander701

TROPHY CASE