One of the many ways Rotary is addressing challenging environmental issues is through its commitment to supporting education initiatives. This includes promoting the protection and restoration of our natural resources. The Melissa Rotary Club coordinated with Blackland Prairie Master Naturalist and Heard Museum Educator, Dave Powell, to bring the community up to speed on relevant programs in Collin County. As Collin County continues to experience rapid urbanization of previously undeveloped farms and natural spaces, Dave Powell gave a meaningful and timely presentation on how development affects the environment.
The Texas Master Naturalist Program is a partnership between the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and other local partners. The Program’s mission is to support the beneficial management of natural resources at the local level within communities throughout Texas through education, outreach, and service. Since 2007, Dave Powell has been a member of the Blackland Prairie Master Naturalist Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists. He has been involved in Prairie Restoration at Erwin Park in McKinney for almost a decade. Powell has also been a volunteer trail guide and contract educator for the Heard Wildlife Sanctuary and Natural Science Museum for the past 20 years. Collin County is situated within the Blackland Prairie region, which stretches from the Red River to San Antonio. The preservation and restoration of the Blackland Prairie is a crucial element of protecting our community’s natural environment here in Collin County. The root systems of the tall grasses within the Blackland Prairie extend far into the ground and function to purify the rainwater. These vital plants also convert the nitrogen in the air into nutrients for the soil. Powell’s presentation guided us through his work in local communities to reclaim the prairie environment in local parks. These projects are made possible through partnerships between Blackland Prairie Master Naturalists and local governing entities. Some examples of these partnerships are the Erwin Park Restoration with the City of McKinney, the Farmersville Prairie Restoration with Collin College, and the Wylie Prairie Restoration with the City of Wylie.
The Blackland Prairie Master Naturalists Chapter also partners with private property owners through the program HOME (Helping Owners Manage Environments) to help guide residents in our community in creating habitats, increasing biodiversity, and educating about sustainability. This program is designed to help all residents, from landowners to homeowners to apartment occupants, by helping them achieve their goals for their own spaces.
Through this Melissa Rotary Club-sponsored presentation, Dave Powell was able to communicate with local residents about Blackland Prairie restoration on their own private property in Melissa, as well as stimulate ideas for future projects that would protect and restore Melissa’s publicly owned open spaces. For more information on Blackland Prairie Master Naturalists, visit their website at https://txmn.org/bptmn/