The Trustees of the Cibolo Preserve have selected Suzanne Young and Clark Terrell, MD, to join their board in the stewardship of the Preserve’s unique natural habitat. These two new trustees know the environmental importance of protecting nature through research at the Cibolo Preserve, a 653-acre private property located adjacent to the Cibolo Center for Conservation. “Their wealth of knowledge about nature and regard for the Boerne community make them special additions to the board of the Cibolo Preserve. We are indeed fortunate to have them both as trustees on our team,” said Candace Andrews, Chairman.
Founded by environmental steward H.W. (Bill) Lende in 2008, the Cibolo Preserve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation whose mission is to protect the natural habitat in the Cibolo Creek watershed, spanning 1.5 miles of Cibolo Creek in the Trinity Aquifer recharge zone downstream from Boerne City Park and the Cibolo Nature Center. This unique natural habitat laboratory is utilized for environmental research by The University of Texas at San Antonio – College of Sciences, Cibolo Center for Conservation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Commission for Environmental Quality, and U.S. Geological Survey. Because of the importance of reducing the human footprint on the natural habitat and being mindful of safety concerns regarding the river canyon and falls, the Preserve does not permit public access.
Suzanne Young is widely recognized for starting the Bigtooth Maples for Boerne project. She was a founding member of the Boerne Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas [NPSOT] and received the state’s NPSOT Presidential Award for the Bigtooth Maples project in 2007. A Master Naturalist, she also is a member of the Kendall County Historical Commission and served for 16 years on the citizens’ organization “Keep Boerne Beautiful.” She feels “honored to be asked to help continue Bill Lende’s legacy. The research mission of the Cibolo Preserve helps to understand how preservation of native natural open space and the Cibolo Creek watershed contributes directly to ground water infiltration and aquifer recharge.”
Clark Terrell, MD, nearing retirement after 35 years as a psychiatrist, has carried a love and respect for nature from childhood experiences on his grandparents’ small farm in northwest Texas. He has trained with experts in field biology, providing opportunities in the past 20 years to participate in surveys primarily involving populations of native birds and plants. He too stated that he was “thrilled to serve as a trustee to carry forth Bill Lende’s vision of preserving the property for research, education, and watershed protection. Such work is critical for the future of Boerne, Kendall County, and the remarkable Hill Country.”
In the rapid development of Boerne and Kendall County, the Cibolo Preserve stewards the natural environment and contributes to a better understanding of aquifer recharge, water quality, and native plants and animals.