I am currently in the middle of a semester here at Palo Alto. We are required to write a series of essay’s for my humanities class. This essay I will write today will cover our environment. I am going to tell you about a wildlife preserve here in San Antonio. The name of this preserve is Mitchell Lake and it is located on the south side of San Antonio. This Lake has a unique past and I would like to give you some information about this place.

Mitchell lake preserve is located on the south side of San Antonio not too far from our college campus. This place was not always a wildlife preserve. Before this place was a preserve it had a lot less flattering job. This was the site of a waste management plant that treated raw sewage from the city of San Antonio. In fact this area was not the most popular site for the residents who lived nearby. However it was tolerated by everyone here because they realized the need for this treatment facility. The sewage treatment plant stopped releasing the sewage into the lake preserve in 1987. Mitchell Lake had more to offer than just a dumping site for raw sewage. The series of wetlands in the area is a haven for many species of birds. The lake is positioned on a natural migratory bird route and serves as a resting point for tens of thousands of birds each year. Bird-watchers come from all over the world to see the unique variety of birds that visit there. Among the more than 300 species observed are pelicans, egrets, roseate spoonbills, wild ducks, and hawks.

The preserve has gotten so popular that is attracting bird watchers from around the world. It is rare to have a place to go and see so many different species of birds. The city of San Antonio realized that this was in fact a unique habitat and that it would be a good idea to protect it. At the same time developing the area would provide tourist easier access to the preserve. But in December 2002, SAWS Board committed $1.5 million to improve roads and bridges on the property and to build a visitor's center. Those improvements were substantially completed in January of 2004.The visitor's center was created through the restoration of the Leeper House, a historic building relocated to the lake from the McNay Art Museum. The converted building features a meeting room, testing lab, office and disabled-accessible restrooms. Eventually Mitchell Lake will be part of a Mission Trail with hiking and biking paths. So if you like to do stuff in the outdoors I would suggest you take a trip to Mitchell Lake. Bring you a good set of binoculars and enjoy all of the different species of birds that frequent the area. This is a place so close to home where you can go and enjoy the environment in a purer sence. A place that has not been spoiled by man so enjoy!