Kickin It With My Birches by LASA Ezine

kickin it with my birches EZINE FALL 2021

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Meet the outdoorsmen

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Juliana Josephs

Hi, my name is Juliana Josephs! I’m a freshman at LASA highschool. I enjoy gardening, hiking, dancing, listening to music, and exploring new places. I’ve lived in Austin my whole life and I love orange cream soda. I am nice, kind, pleasant, and charming. I am obviously the most talented at Indesign in the group. The end.

Sage Powell Hi I’m Sage and I love hiking, exploring, coffee, and listening to music. My favourite thing is mixing them all together. I especially love listening to music through my superbass pro magnetic sound cancelling megaboom wired bluetooth headphones. Swipe up for the link.

Liam Shalabi Hi, I’m Liam Shalabi and I am 14 years old. I enjoy hanging out with my friends and playing videogames. The quote I relate to the most is “I need a room full of mirrors to be surrounded by winners.” Kanye West.

Deki Tshomo

Hey, my name is Deki Tshomo! I’m a freshman at LASA and I really enjoy working with my group :). I occasionally like to paint, code, and study fashion design. I also enjoy knitting, photography, and writing which are some new hobbies ive recently started. Creating this magazine was quite fun but a little bit painful to do. However, it all pays off haha - or does it ...

Hudson King I am a freshman at LASA high school. I always try to be efficient with my time, but I do have trouble concentrating. I may not be creative, but I bring good insight to the group. I also hate art.

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Raised Garden beds containing different types of spring vegetables. Courtesy of Central Texas Gardener.

Featuring Austin Gardeners Learn how to improve your garden. By Juliana Josephs Kickin it With My Birches 8

Gardening, if done properly, is one of the most beneficial things for us and our environment. From the huge environmental benefits, like cleaner air and water, to the more personal benefits, like a more stress free life, there are many advantages to starting a garden. Austin is not always the optimal place to start a garden. You might have tried gardening multiple times, and something always got in your way. Whether it be the hot, humid climate or the rocky, hard to manage terrain, there are many opstiticals. The Austin climate could make it difficult for gardeners to do their thing. Luckily, they have ways to adapt. Linda Lehmusvirta is a writer, producer, and editor for Central Texas Gardener KLRU. It is her mission to help new gardeners avoid careless mistakes she made when first starting. She helps people avoid these things that could be detrimental to the well being of their gardens. “The first thing is to be aware of your situation, where the sun is, where the light is,” Lehmusvirta said “Is it sunny in the morning and in the afternoon? Is it sunny all day and shady all the time?” You must take into consideration your surroundings. When gardening, take into consideration what the soil is like, what your relationship with the sun is, and how big your plant will grow. This should help you tremendously if you are a beginner gardener. “You have to think about what the plant wants. It’s not what you want, it’s what the plant wants,” Lehmusvirta said.

Salvia Leucantha also known as Mexican Bush Sage in full bloom. Courtesy of Central Texas Gardener

“

It’s not what you want, it’s what the plant wants,” Lehmusvirta said. Although it may be tempting, there is no need to fight nature. Not only is the use of pesticides and fertilizers unnecessary, but it also damages the environment. These pesticides that so many people rely on, are running into our water and damaging the relationship between us and our ecosystem. “We want to have a sustainable garden,” Lehmusvirta said “So to find plants that are happy to be here. And part of that happiness goes along with if the plant is happy in its location and has a better chance.” A sustainable garden means not over-watering your plants and not planting out of season. For many, gardening can be a very therapeutic activity. Discovering how a certain plant grows, what seasons it thrives in, what

bugs help them out, or even just saving some money on groceries, gardening has too many benefits to count. “I garden out of curiosity, figuring out what grows, how it grows, what kind of wildlife it attracts, how it responds to the sun, how it responds to the season,” Lehmusvirta said. “I also think it really connects us to the seasons and we become more intimate with the weather and with the environment through gardening.” Gardening is a very creative thing. People can express themselves or their tastes through the layout or design of their gardens. It’s always a welcomed challenge to create something that voices your personality. Others like it for the scientific aspects, like wanting a plant to grow a certain way, or wanting a certain fragrance. “I think it’s a way to explore your creativity. Some people find their creative outlet in gardening like musicians or artists with a paintbrush or with a graphic Kickin it With My Birches 9

Monarh Butterfly landed on Orange Zinnia. Courtesy of Central Texas Gardener designer pen,” Lehmusvirta said. “Some people particularly love a particular kind of plant or a group of plants, or they want to have fragrance around them that’s soothing to them or they want flowers of a certain color.” Finding a creative outlet in gardening could be a soothing pastime for many. Getting better acquainted with the outdoors has been proven to help with stress and depression as well as other illnesses. “I’ve met many people over the years of all different ages who find it relaxing and satisfying and rewarding when they’re struggling with a great illness like cancer,” Lehmusvirta said. Gardening can be soothing and therapeutic to anyone. The connection between people and Kickin it With My Birches 10

plants helps out both us and our environment. When you think of gardening you might think about pulling up weeds on a hot day, but gardening in reality doesn’t have to be a stressful activity at all. Denise Delaney is the Conservation Program Coordinator with the Watershed Protection Department. She works with Grow Green Austin, an organization all about sustainable green spaces and water conservation. Delaney works to keep our water clean by educating gardeners and landscapers about the dangers of using pesticides. “The water quality part has to do with pesticides and fertilizers that get into our waterways,” Delaney said. “Grow Green is all about teaching people how to

take care of and make a landscape without using toxic chemicals and fertilizers that are salt-based because the fertilizers get in the water and then it creates algae blooms and algae sucks the air out of the water, and then it affects the fish.” There are many ways that our water has become polluted. The use of fertilizers and pesticides is one of the biggest ones. Not using these things is essential to creating a sustainable garden. “Sometimes you can do something physical, you can just take a hose and spray the little boogers off the plant, ‘’ Delaney said, “You don’t have to use a pesticide.”

It is very important to

identify the problem with your plant before making any changes. You may think pests are bothering your precious plants, but the problem could very well be the soil. It is equally important to appreciate the importance of beneficial insects to a garden or green space. Killing them with pesticides will only harm your plants. A very common mistake among beginner gardeners is the unnecessary use of bug repellent. “A lot of the insects that are out there naturally are beneficial, right. They’re part of the system. So one thing is not spraying a bunch of pesticides all over the place and killing them all,” Delaney said. Jim Willmann is the Vice President of Sunshine Gardens, a community garden in Austin, Texas.

Community gardens are

important to cities for several reasons. Willmann said that Sunshine Garden both provides lots of green space to the city, and brings people together. If you are a gardener, Wilmann recommends contributing to a community garden. It brings people with similar interests together and is great for the environment. At Sunshine Gardens, you are provided with tools and plots of land and are free to plant whatever they want as long as it doesn’t affect a nearby plot. Sunshine Gardens will be having a plant sale spring 2022 where they will sell plants to help fund their gardens. According to Wilmann, they often sell Heirloom tomatoes, sweet & hot peppers, eggplants, and herbs. They also occasionally sell plants that are more on the rare side. Lots of the

plants you cannot find in nurseries. Gardeners and plant collectors from all over Texas travel to visit this plant sale annually. There are so many positives to gardening from cleaner air and water to the vast mental health benefits to the wonderful community. Although it may be challenging at first, starting a garden will pay off in the long run.

Pink Cherry Blossom Courtesy of Central Texas Gardener

Coneflowers in full bloom. Courtesy of Central Texas Gardener. Kickin it With My Birches 11

INTO the WILDERNESS By Sage Powell

a peek into austin’s green identity river place nature trail River Place Nature Trail is a 5 mile Austin hike that is open to pets. The path runs by a series of waterfalls and multiple bubbling creeks. The trail itself is a set of multiple smaller trails that you can explore to your own leisure. The trail is also littered with ponds filled with turtles and fish.

mount bonnell Mount Bonnell is Austins tallest point at 781ft. It has a total of 102 steps up to a limeston pavilion that looks out over Lake Austin. The mountain is open to pets and its parking lot is open from 5am-10pm. The total distance of the hike is 1.5 miles but is worth the glistening water and hazy sunsets you can witness from the top.

mayfield nature preserve Mayfield Nature Preserve is a 24 acre piece of land open to the public. The preserve is open from 5am-10pm. The park has multiple hiking trails and is filled with wildlife such as peacocks, koi fish and turtles. The preserve is the perfect mix of ponds and gardens to explore.

wild basin wilderness preserve Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve is a 227 acre park open from 9am-4pm. Guests are open to hike its 2.5 mile trail and observe the habitat protecting multiple endangered species. The park also facilitates student education. Information provided by: Time Out Kickin it With My Birches 12

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its

FERNLEYa problem austinite behaviour taking a toll on green spaces By Sage Powell

hat used to be misty green forests swaying in the breeze on a cool morning, the dew dripping into the glistening town lake, is now a bustling city of skyscrapers. Through the morning mist, people are constantly running to get to their jobs, leaving their trash for the animals. The forests are now crumpling under the weight of their job. Working overtime to care for the city, making up for the humans without a care for nature at all. Known as “tree huggers” for their care of the environment and nature, Austinites have recently been needing to work in overdrive to preserve the beloved outdoors. A decline in Austin’s natural health won’t just affect the flora and fauna, these declines in natural wellness will affect many Austinites as well. The pollution caused by Austin’s rapid growth is not only affecting industries, but also the stability of Austin’s community and environment; which will only worsen if recent trends continue. But you may be thinking, what’s being done about this, and how can you take part in keeping Austin weird, beautiful and healthy? Carinne Maravilla, an Environmental Educator for the nonprofit Keep Austin Beautiful, Kickin it With My Birches 14

said that our greenspaces circle back to the community and their availability determines much more than what’s visible on the surface. “Making the city’s natural spaces accessible to everyone... really makes a difference,” Maravilla said. “Not just environmental health, but people’s mental health.” The Austin outdoors has turned into a sanctuary for many people during quarantine. Staying connected to your community is one of the hardest challenges faced when living in complete isolation, and there is no doubt that nature has taken a huge part in preserving our sanity. “I think that people just need to get out and make connections, and being outside has been a safe space for… a lot of people during this time,” Maravilla said. But how is this rapidly growing city and all this outside moving traffic affecting Austin’s greenspaces? “They’re talking about expanding 35 in downtown right now and [it’s]one of the most congested traffic spots on I-35 in Texas,” Maravilla said. “Then you have to think about how that affects the community, [and] what businesses and apartments are

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The Zilker Botanical Gardens, home to prehistoric dinosaur footprints, has been developed to resemble its time in the Cretacious period 144-65 million years ago. Managed and credited to the Austin Parks and Recreation Department as well as the Austin Area Garden Council.

The Austin Parks Foundation, involving the community in maintaining Austin’s well loved trails like St. Edward’s Park and Greenbelt.

going to be sacrificed for that through development.” And what about the parks? We’re seeing drastic changes in our local environment due to pollution such as the growing filth in Town Lake, but what can be done to mitigate this illness in our growing city? “Something that we’re facing here in Austin is climate change,” Maravilla said. “We’ve had more floods in recent years. [As] a floodplain, we’re prone to that. Making sure that there are parks around to absorb some of that rainfall” is crucial. Austin’s efforts to adapt to the growing community are extensive. Many educational programs are making environmental information more accessible for the younger generations, as well as the overall Austin community. “I could go on about how many cool organizations there are Kickin it With My Birches 16

in Austin,” Maravilla said. “Doing things to help the environment and the community.” Not only are nonprofits such as Keep Austin Beautiful taking part in sharing information but “Austin has a zero-waste initiative goal by 2040,” Maravilla said. “They want to divert 90% of what’s going in the landfill away so that we’re consuming less of things that are getting in the landfill that should be recycled are getting recycled or they’re being turned into something new,” Maravilla said. Emphasis on taking part in supporting the Austin outdoors is so important because it’s the foundation for the Austin community and its unique culture. Taking your part by either planting a tree, working with a foundation like Keep Austin Beautiful, using reusable bags or simply riding a bike instead of driving. Every

change in lifestyle that you make is making a difference in your community. Austin is shared and it should be taken care of the same way it has taken care of you. “I think if you can get civically engaged somehow, it really makes a difference because it’s seeing what’s going on in your community [and] how it affects you,” Maravilla said, “but also making those connections. I think it’s so important to be connected.” Chuck Foster, a Project Leader for the Austin Parks Foundation never hesitates to get involved in taking care of parks, and urges many to do the same. “You can always find a way to do something to help keep our parks clean,” Foster said, “whether it’s getting together with your friends on a weekend, or coming out [to] help volunteer. There’s always a way.” Austin’s cleanliness may not be the only factor in keeping

Keep Austin Beautiful Austin Parks and Recreation Austin Parks Foundation

Foster said. D’anne Williams, a Project Manager and Landscape Architect for Austin Parks and Recreation emphasize the importance of parks on health and vice versa. “It’s always important to have recreation opportunities for people and there are so many studies that show how green space and recreation are so important to human development, growth and emotional wellbeing,” Williams said. The Austin Parks Foundation strives to better Austin by involving the community and working hand in hand to make a difference. Those small changes are the ones that matter. Those are the ones that bring Austin together. “I’m always amazed at the programs that our staff put on for recreation centers for the kids, Austin green. Land space issues adults and seniors alike,” Williams on top of climate issues may be said. “I’ve got to say, as the parks troublesome in the foreseeable employee, I’m really grateful to be future. able to work for this department. “We’re developing to I’m always just very proud of the a point where you may get work that we do.” landlocked, which means that The amount of information you just can’t develop much more available on how to take care of where there’s not much land available, that sort of thing,” Foster Austin is immense. Finding it and putting it into effect is what many said. “As I’ve gotten more and people lack. more involved with the Austin “[When] I started working Parks Foundation, I really have for the parks department, I had become more [of] a champion for not a clue of everything that we this space out there as Parkland helps develop things for recreation do,” Williams said. “It’s really incredible… I see us working more and involvement with families.” It’s important for Austin to in partnership with community groups, both Neighborhood take into account that it’s already Association, and nonprofits. Like I made public spaces and it needs said, other departments within the to take care of those. Austin has space despite the rapid growth that city as well.” Getting out and taking is happening. care of Austin is what brings the “I think we just need to community together. Do your part do a better job of seeing what’s so that Austin’s nature can do its already out there and just not own. overbuild on certain things,”

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Austin Parks

A map of Austi parks By, Juliana Josephs

Pease Park

Pease park is a favorite of university of Texas students and teachers. The park is quite scenic with tall sculptures. The park includes a dog park, a splash pad, a community garden, and a massive sphere-shaped treehouse.

Courtesy of The Austin Chronicle

Zilker Park

Zilker Park, right off ladybird lake, is one of Austin’s most loved parks. Founded in 1917, it has always provided fu n for all ages. Some of the parks attractions include: Barton Spings pool, a disc golf course, sand volleyball courts, hiking trails,, and an amazing view of the Austin Skyline.

Courtesy of Fine Art America Kickin it With My Birches 18

Courtesy of AustinTexas.org

Bull Creek Park

Bull Creek Park is a beautiful park that Austin locals love. If you enjoy hiking, mountain biking, volleyballing, or dogwalking, you would love Bull Creek Park. This park is a hotspot for dog owners. If you have a dog that enjoys swimming, I reccomend this park

Courtesy of CBS Austin

Rosewood Park

Rosewood Park is a great option for familes with small children. It’s most popular for its sports, fields, plauground, swimming pool, and picnic area.

Courtesy of G R Kids Courtesy of Clipartmax

Boggy Creek Park

Boggy Creek park is great for anyone who loves to hike. There is a trail that runs by the Boggy Creek Greenbelt that both hikers and runners enjoys. If you love the outdoors or you just want to enjoy some peace by the creek, check out Boggy Creek Park. Courtesy of Austin Parks

Courtesy of PikPng Kickin it With My Birches 19

Wildlife Today What’s happening in the world of wildlife today! By: Hudson King

Beautiful picture of an Austin, Texas campground

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You’re sitting on a park bench looking out at the beautiful Austin scenery when you hear a rustling in the bushes. You swing your head around to see a tiny lizard climbing on the branches. “I wonder what his story is?” you think. Austin wildlife is everywhere you look. Every living creature and plant is part of the vast ecosystem Austin has to offer. But their lives aren’t as good as you think. Due to industrialization, wildlife has had to adapt to live in the 2000’s, and many problems have risen due to human actions. Luckly, people such as rehabbers and wildlife biologists are working on creating a better place for wildlife. Kelly Simon has worked at Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) for over 20 years. She has a mission to protect wildlife. “I wanted a job with Texas Parks and Wildlife, because I supported the mission of wildlife conservation and I thought Texas Parks and Wildlife had probably the greatest reach and the most tools to accomplish what I wanted to do,” Simon said. “I applied for a gajillion jobs and the one that I got an interview for was in the wildlife, what was then the Non Game and Rare Species Program.”

She now is an Urban Wildlife Biologist for the Travis County area. Unfortunately, there are a few things that wildlife is facing in the 2000’s. “Texas is a private property, and as much as I like that, it does make my job a lot harder. Because instead of just saying I’m from the government, and that this is what we’re doing on this property, I have to actually influence people to get them to want to do something. As you can imagine, especially over the last several five or 10 years, it’s really hard to do that.” Kelly also talked about invasive species in Texas that overall hurt the ecosystem immensely. Texas naturally has bunch grasses. Simon said most pastures have started using KR bluestem and Bermuda grass, both of which are invasive species. “Unfortunately KR bluestem and Bermuda grass are both turf forming grasses, and a lot of our grassland nesting bird species as well as our amphibians and reptiles and even a lot of insect species are dependent on those bunch grasses,” Simon said. “They’re not able to use grasslands that are made out of Bermuda grass or KR bluestem. Huge issue. So you look out and you see this beautiful Hayfield, and it would be fantastic for Kickin it With My Birches 21

Texas Parks and Wildlife Logo Over a Beautiful Background Courtesy of TPWD

Dickcissels and Meadowlarks but because they are a turf forming grass might as well be a parking lot.”

rehabilitating animals for 30 years. He is always busy and is definitely doing his part in helping wildlife. “I got in a Swainson’s hawk and two Mississippi kites from the rehab center up in Derrick Wolter, a Senior Wildlife Biologist Lubbock, Texas,” Sones said. “They’re in pretty who oversees 14 counties in Texas, added on to good shape. I’ll Release them bring migration. what wildlife is up against. I’ve got a fair number of birds that are not “Well, they’re losing a lot of habitat and so releasable. That we use for programs present lab that’s one of the big things in our part of the world presentations. I’ve got the Mississippi kite sitting is we’re seeing high amounts of land fragmentation here looking at me now. That’s really a nice, sweet in Texas, specifically Central Texas,” Wolter said. bird and I got a screech owl out back. Both of them “And then we’re seeing along with that a lot of are basically imprinted on me. Got a swainson’s direct loss of habitat because of just the mega hawk here looking at me. He doesn’t like me, but hyper-growth of subdivisions, and commercial he performs well on programs. So yeah, I’ve got a buildings, and retail outlets, restaurants. Then number.” also we lose a lot of the functions that land would perform, such as groundwater recharge, in a flood abatement. Maybe even carbon-capturing. Wolter, Simon, and the biologists working There are all these different functions that land at TPWD are also doing a lot to help wildlife. performs.” “So one of the things I’m proudest of is influencing Bastrop to become an official bird city,” Simon said. “A lot of times, cities will come to us Luckly, people are doing things to overcome and say we want to become a bird sanctuary these challenges, and they are not always and that word really doesn’t mean anything. wildlife biologists. Ed Sones has been Birds are already protected by federal and Kickin it With My Birches 22

state law, so there’s no real sanctuary you can offer birds that isn’t already available to them. What you can do is create habitat that makes that area more valuable to birds and more safe to birds. So for example, by controlling what kind of lighting you use in the nighttime, or by looking at the kind of plants that you allow in development.”

to work very hard to get it. There are a lot of certification programs out there that, honestly, you know, as long as the city applies for it, and pays their entry fee, they’ll get it. We wanted this to be different. And we promised that if they attain it, then we would promote the heck out of them.”

Wolter also talked about what he has done. This was no easy task, and cities would have He said there isn’t one specific thing he has done, to spend a lot of time and resources to do this. So, but it’s all the little things that contribute to a Simon helped make a program that would give bigger difference. cities a reward. “The first thing you have to do is ask what’s “We have a program called Texas Bird City. It’s in currently happening when you meet with the cooperation with the National Audubon Society,” landowner,” Wolter said. “[Then ask] what do you said Simon. “So we offer a certification level that want, what’s happened on your land. Built from is really kind of hard to get, and those cities have there we go to what do you want it to look like or how do you want it to behave and that’s where I come in. I make recommendations that benefit their target species or their targeted goals. A lot of times, it could be brush management, it could be modifying some of the mowing habits, maybe Ed Sones they’re over mowing and sometimes that’s not examining an Owl gonna be beneficial to some of the species they’re Courtesy of Ed interested in.” Sones

“

Even if it seems impossible, everyone doing their part will make Earth a better place. “It’s just those incremental changes So it’s hard to take a property by property that help as a whole...”

good picture of it, but over time, we’re hoping that our presence by helping each of those individual landowners make an incremental change that’s added up to a bigger positive!

”

- Derrick Wolter

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Austin TX WILDLIFE

By: Hudson King

Quick Facts!v A quick guide to common wildlife you’ll find in Austin and facts about them! Mexican Free Tailed Bats

he bats found in Austin are Mexican Free

Tailed Bats. Around 1.5 Million bats mirgrate from Mexico every Spring. On their nighly flights, they can collectivly eat up to 500,000lbs of bugs! These include mosquitos, moths, beetles, and more! Courtesy of Dreamstime

Nine-Banded Armadillo

he armadillo is Texas’ official small state

mammal. The only type of armadillo in Texas is the Nine-Banded Armadillo. These creatures have armor-like skin to protect themselves from predators. Armadillos usually live from 12-15 years and sleep up to 16 hours a day.

Courtesy of Reddit

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Opossums

possums are the only marsupials in the U.S.

While they may look frightening with their teeth, they are mostly just for show and aren’t dangerous creatures. Opossums also play dead which is what we call “playing possum”.

Courtesy of Shuttershock

Diamond BACK RATTLESNAKES

hese snakes are venomus and can kill

humans, so stay away! Diamond Backs usually eat small animals and birds. Interestingly, animals such as deer and cows see these snakes as threats so they will try and trample them.

Courtesy of Adobe Stock

Fox Squirrles

ox squirrels have long, furry tails. They

have grey fur on top and light brown fur on their

Courtesy of Shuttershock

underbellies. These squirrels use holes in trees as nests for their young. Every week, fox squirrels can consume their own weight in seeds and nuts. Fox Squirrels can live up to 18 years.

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Outlet Suffice Changes impacted on Austin’s Water By Deki Tshomo

It started back in early June through August that many officials within Austin’s City Council is on the lookout for clean quality water and environmental changes that lead up to a changes within Austin’s water. Their main goal is to maintain a balance of clean quality water for the environment and city. The officials have come up with leading new changes to develop Austin’s Water Quality. Luke Metzger and Heather Cooke, an executive environmentalist and chief administrator (respectively) of Austin’s City Council, have come to enhance the water’s quality that will enhance the people of Austin’s vision of what clean water means. Administrative Chief of Austin Waters, Heather Cooke, is part of the Water and Wastewater Commission, which is an advisory group of volunteers that were appointed. Each member is appointed by a city council member. They serve as a liaison between the Austin City Council and our department; the Austin Water Department at the city of Austin. “Our department brings a lot of items to the City Council for their approval,” Cooke said. “A lot of contracts, have to be for construction projects that we have to do to maintain our infrastructure. We have to purchase a lot of things: equipment, chemicals, that kind of thing to run our plants of that nature, and Kickin it With My Birches 26

then we have other kinds of special services that we need.Cooke’s Council members goal’s are to review all of the items, almost all of the items that go to city council regarding our department, and almost all of them go through that commission first for their review.” This helps visualize Cooke’s plan on what the commision does and creates a vision to preserve Austin’s environment and seek better quality water. In February, Austin suffered widespread power outages and a loss of safe drinking water due to extreme cold weather that impacted most parts of Texas. People’s homes were collapsing because the pipelines connected to houses were insufficient against Texas’ change in weather. Electricity is a big source of energy for most people, so this was the main cause for people’s lack of heat and food. Cooke explains that she notices the lack of Austin’s heating piping system within people’s homes and learn to take into consideration while helping to decide for the commission what their next goal should be for developing better housing systems. Her team makes sure to take these advancements and place them into action. It allows Austin to have less problems in the future during a freeze storm, and not risk anybody’s life to be in danger. “We also added the

winter storm, the big storm that happened back in February. This commission decided to form what they call a working group,” Cooke said “They added more goals for this year, as a result of that storm to help our department with what’s called an after action review, where our department staff have been working very hard to review what happens during that period in February in terms of the impacts to our water and wastewater plants, and all the piping system.” Within these past few years, Austin’s Waters has been maintaining clean drinking water and sustaining a healthy water system. No doubt, this is good news for the people of Austin and the environment surrounding or being in any bodies of water. “We are maintaining that high quality of water and during the winter storm, of course, we had the issue of what was called a boil water notice and I don’t remember what the requirement was because the water pressure got very low and there was so much water being lost from all the leaks going on with all the pipes being burst. Our storage capacity got lower and lower, and when pressure gets below a certain point, we are required by state law to issue the boil water notice. The pressure helps to make sure the water quality stays high once it’s in our system so we had the issue of a boil water notice.” Cooke said. “Then just about a week there we

Locals around Austin love to experience one of Texas’ best lakes and rivers- here we have a view of Lady Bird Lake surrounded by the city and trees. Photo Credits due

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Photo credits due Richard Whittaker

Metzger and his Economic Campaign gather at the White House for a Press Conference about Climate Change

“

The Climate Equity Plan? I’m not familiar with it, but the goal is to get to 100% renewable energy and including helping people install solar panels in their homes and improving efficiency in their homes, helping people get into electric cars, electric bikes, build more sidewalks, bike lanes, and solutions to get zero carbon.

had to do that during the height of the winter storm but then we were able to keep testing. We have test sour water quality as we’re required to do by state and federal law. We have our own labs that do this testing to make sure the water is safe throughout our system and our tests were all looking fine and good. Then it was safe to lift the boil water notice that people no longer had to boil their water by February 23,” Cooke said “Bringing this into effect has brought changes and advancements from preventing any further harm to anybody. It’s also considered informational to gather data for any upcoming extreme weather alerts.” Executive environmentalist, Luke Metzger and his advocate organization have efficiently been working hard to create a sustainable and drinkable water and to investigate the problems with policy solutions. “We work to get media attention, Kickin it With My Birches 28

get on TV, get the word out or work to build powerful Coalition’s and environmental lists with doctors, faith leaders and others,’’ Metzger said, “We work to get our members to communicate with decision makers by calling and signing petitions, things like that.” The influence and promotions from Metzger’s organization help provide sustainable and maintainable discourse for their campaign, allowing them to handle effects and changes that could serve as Austin’s biggest concern for the environment. In March 2021, in-person legislative meetings were closed due to the strong COVID standards that were held to protect staff and health. The meetings and events holding testimonies have limited and shifted towards online schedules. However, there were benefits for both parties in the legislation for holding online conferences and acknowledging a source of contact. “That’s great. Some opportunities,

”

some ways we’re able to reach people easier by doing things online,” Metzger said, “But also, nothing really replaces that face-to-face interaction. For example, lobbying at the legislature. We’ve been having to operate with one hand tied behind our backs.” Metzger finds that testimonies and committee hearings went well and that there have been little to no struggle from the restrictions of COVID that served over the past couple of years. Although numbers of hearings have reduced in court, being online allows for people to have discourse but remain socially distant. The continuation of Metzger’s goal of clean quality water is reaching more than it ever did within the last decade. Water quality increases the amount of resistance it has towards bacteria becoming stronger and firm protections. “From developments in our creeks, there’s still more that needs to be

done,” Metzger said. “We know that dogs have died due to exposure to toxic algae blooms. We know that there’s unsafe levels of fecal bacteria in about half of Austin’s creeks. So there is more to be done. However, Austin has definitely made progress.” Officials such as Cooke and Metzger, help keep the city in stability with our environment to have future updates and reliability on the new campaigns helping to reach an enriched goal in Austin.

A lady flows through the Mackenzie River, making her way down to the end of the stream.

A river flowing through the forests of Austin’s Creeks.

Barton Creek’s Stream passes through the city of Austin where citizens enjoy the daily view of the water. Photo credits due AustinTexasImages

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ENVIRONMENTAL WATERS The envrionments affects and interecaction with water By Deki Tshomo

When the sun is interacting with the waters, water evaporates leaving the sun to soak up its waters and condense the water into clouds. The clouds become condensed and eventually will hold to much water and let tiny little raindrops pour onto the ground of the earth. Precipitation starts to occur allowing the earth to register the water that was once apart of this land and this cycle of water starts again. Till the day ever comes again so does the sun. The sun will come again to lighten up your day until the fall of the rain begins that day.

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Plants living under the sea give the habit of relying on the sun as its source of energy. Leaving the water to help supply the corals and weeds nutrients. Fish and other sea creatures of the deep feed off these plants to survive and keep their natural balance within the ecosystem. Water essentially gives off the main source for these living beings to survive and a habitat that can fit their living circumstances.

Trees produce CO2 which benefits most human beings by giving humans the supply of molecules needed for the human body. But what about water? Water simply gets the CO2 from the trees and reflects back to the atmosphere without any of the water inhaling the molecules animals. The way that animals show back is to simply reproduce that CO2 into O2 to give back for trees to keep producing.

Through the process of tectonic blades, the mountains form a huge gap and let the lead of water flow between. This provides a good sustainance for any living being near the mountains leaving them with the natural resources found in the wild, supplied for them out in the wild. In fact, water nuturates the mountains keeping them in contact without any future collapse from happening. Mountains that are wide and far give off the most rivers and long and thin mountains give off the supple of water in the soil.

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How To become a Better rower Learn the best Water Sport In Austin By: Liam Shalabi

Information provided byTexas Rowing Center Kickin it With My Birches 32

Join a team so you can learn from them and they can teach you some important skills

Set aside at least an hour and a half to practice everyday. 11

4 5 6

1 2

3 4 8

Take advice from your team and choaches seriously.

Take care of your body and health to be in great condition.

Always keep a postitive mindset

Finally focus on other exersises besides rowing to build strength that can make you faster on the water

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Austin Soccer Just Got Subbed On Learn about one of the fastest growing soccer clubs in Austin By Liam Shalabi

t’s the last minute of the game. The score is tied 3-3. He starts running as fast as he can down the sideline. He screams for the ball. A few seconds later, he sees the ball flying across the air towards his feet. The fans around start cheering. He cuts in and shoots. The ball curves around the goalkeeper, and it smashes into the back of the net. He just won the game for Cap City Soccer Club. Cap City Soccer Club is one of the more recent soccer clubs formed in Austin. Like other companies, Cap City

Ryan Hastie in blue leads(center) his team into a UPSL game. Courtesy Capital City Soccer Club Kickin it With My Birches 34

did suffer during COVID-19, but recently it has seen a huge increase in players looking to play soccer during the pandemic. The owners of Cap city are huge soccer fans and played from a young age. Patrick Miller and Ryan Hastie have a fondness for the game, so they decided to come together and create their own club in 2018. The two decided to manage the Marbridge Fields near the Marbridge Foundation. After a while of taking care of these fields, they could finally train at them. These small steps paved

the way for a very popular soccer club in the future. Cap City was not always such a big club. It was originally a club called Liverpool. Hastie and Miller were coaches there, but a dispute over the quality of training fields caused Miller and Hastie to separate from Liverpool and start forming Cap City. “That was just the way it was run and we actually didn’t like changing Liverpool into Cap City,.” Miller said. “It happened a little bit differently where Liverpool and I separated.”

This split between the coaches and the club turned out to be a great obstacle.. Even though the pandemic severely impacted their club after the lockdown, a lot of players from other clubs came to Cap City after their club shut down. “You realize that nothing is guaranteed, Miller said “You could lose pretty much everything that’s normal in life in a heartbeat.” The co-owners started hiring coaches that would help them train their players to have the core values of the club. Coaches that focus on technical work and teamwork. “We’re always on the lookout for good coaches that have a good

understanding of soccer, and they have a good understanding of what it takes to be a good coach,” Hastie said. This search for coaches that fit the Cap City play style pushes the players of this soccer club to be the best version of themselves they can be. The players getting constantly better is what makes Cap city unique and at the top of their divisions. “And I think here in America, there are so many other sports that are just ahead of soccer that get a bit more respect, that’s a big thing that’s been holding soccer back here for a while,” Hastie said. Hastie is originally from Nottingham, England. In his home country,

soccer has a lot more presence. This past history of English soccer gives Hastie a unique perspective on how to coach. Hastie provides a unique style of coaching that makes the lessons you learn from soccer stick with you through your life. He is now the captain of Cap City’s UPSL team Cap City also has a strong connection between teammates. That is one of the main values that keep the soccer club strong and together. Christian Tedjeda a coach at Cap City knows all about being in a team. “Being part of a team is always good,” Tedjeda said, “It teaches you accountability [and]

responsibility.” The lessons that you learn in a team play an important role on and off the field. You need to hold yourself accountable, so that you wont make mistakes. You need to be responsible for not only your own growth, but your teammates’ growth as a soccer player. The Cap City Soccer Club also has a semi-pro team. This team is only for the best of the best of the soccer club. It’s mostly made up of coaches that work for Cap City. These coaches are all leaders, so they know when to step up and take responsibility. “Leadership

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Capital City player runs down the field with the ball at his feet Courtesy of Capital City Soccer Club

is a very big part of training and coaching,”Hastie said “Leadership is basically helping the teammates around you.” Since the coaches of the Cap City teams are also playing semi-pro games, they not only learn from watching the teams they coach play, they can also learn new things from the games. Hastie as the captain of the UPSL team has the job of controlling all of his teammates on the field

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and making decisions for the team about what to do. This shows that even in stressful situations he can still keep his head cool and command a team. Coaches like Hastie, Tejeda and Miller all agree that Cap City is a club that focuses on technical skill. These coaches prefer to build up a player rather than having a player with a lot of skill already. “I would say my favorite age to coach is

probably your age, 13. It’s just before they’ve got to an age where they think they know everything in life,” Miller said. “They’re still a little bit coachable, still able to help mold their skill sets, their fundamentals.” Despite the coach’s preference for young, impressionable players, they are happy to accept a player of any age. The only requirement is that they have to be fit enough to play. “Fitness is very,

very crucial,” Tejeda said. “If we cannot run for the 35 minutes or however long [the] half is, we’re going to be hurting our team pretty, pretty drastically.” Coronavirus has impacted many jobs and businesses including the new club this past year. It affected the new soccer club in multiple ways. First, they had to shut down in-person practice, causing them to start online training. This was not the best way to train in a team sport, so they had to find a way to get back in person without endangering anyone. Second, is that the influx of new players almost completely stopped. This taught the owners a valuable

lesson, which is you cannot rely on everything to work out. “We did online training for a little bit, a very, very short period of time. But obviously, a team sport like soccer, you’re going to get the best experience being with other people and teammates and coaches.”, Miller said These ups and downs defined Cap City on their way to be a dominant soccer club. The perseverance of the co-owners has shown as their coaching style is winning them trophies. Cap City Soccer Club has been doing extremely well with the recent influx of players and with the incredible coaching, they will continue to gain new players and rise to the top of Austin Clubs.

The logo of Captial City Soccer club. Courtesy of Capital City Soccer club

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