Keystone Heritage Park Preview

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Entrance

4200 Doniphan Dr, El Paso, TX 79912Entrance to the Keystone Wetlands.Keystone Heritage Park is a non-profit 52-acre nature preserve that contains a natural wetland, an archaic archaeological site, the El Paso Botanical Garden and the future site of the Chihuahuan Desert Experiencehttps://www.facebook.com/khpgardens/ This tour was made possible by funding provided by EPA grant #NE-01F54901-0

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Introduction

Welcome to Keystone Heritage Park and Botanical Gardens in El Paso, Texas! Keystone Heritage Park has a one mile trail that gives the “Chihuahuan Desert Experience” located on the westside of parks Wetlands. The trail runs parallel to the actual Historic El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (or Translated The Royal Road of the Interior Land). This historic Camino Real ran from Mexico City all the way to Santa Fe, NM. You will be actually walking along the path that Native Americans, conquistadors, pioneers and military have traveled for centuries through the pass of the north or El Paso.

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History

The railroad commission wanted to put a loading and unloading facility on the property. The idea did not sit well with many of the nearby residents. In 1997, a group of concerned residents, raised enough money to purchase the 52-acre land. This group formed the Keystone Archeological Preservation and Protection Association.

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Rio Grande Cottonwoods

The wetland is fed by a natural spring. The large cottonwoods are a sign of the prescence of water in the area. They provide habitat for many birds!

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Upland Birds

Best place for bird watching! Upland habitat includes plants such as four-winged saltbush, creosote bush, and honey mesquite.It also includes birds such as white-winged doves, curved-billed trashers, red-tailed hawks, and Gambel's quail.

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Wetland

Wetlands are a valuable component of our arid landscape for many reasons. They are an important aspect of the hydrology, storing water through the drier parts of the year, minimizing flood impacts, and supporting vegetation essential to both wildlife and livestock.

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Ring-billed Gulls

During the winter months you will see many Ring-billed Gulls. Many migrating birds spend their winters in the Keystone wetlands.

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Raccoon

Raccoons are great at adapting to different environments. They are omnivorous animals. Thier unique hand prints can be found if you look carefully at the ground! Photo by DesertUSA

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Restoration

Through the help of many volunteers, many native plants have been successfully planted in the park throughout the years. The removal of invasive plants has also been possible through continued help. Contact the Park for volunteering opportunities!

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SESI Restoration

Ecological restoration helps with biolological diversity, increases species populations, and increases ecosystem services on degraded landscapes.

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Archeological Site

The Archeological Site was first discovered in the late 1970s by the Corps of Engineers during the construction of flood control dams. Runoff from a thunderstorm washed away the bank of a shallow arroyo revealing a cut-away of an ancient pitch house. Preliminary research revealed the hut was part of a larger village. Carbon dating indicated the site was 4000+ years old.

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Wolfberry

In Spanish the wolfberry is known as Cilindrillo. It is a medium size shrub, with white to pale lavender flowers. They produce red/ orange berries which are edible, which many desert animals eat.

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Pepperweed

In Spanish Pepperweed is often called planta mostaza. Has white flowers that attract many bees. They are edible and do taste like mustard!

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Coyote

Coyotes have drown coats and are the size of a medium dog. They are omnivores and eat lots of desert plants such as mesquite pods! Photo by DesertUSA

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Purple Aster

The flowers will close at night and open during the day. They can grow up to 4 ft tall. They do great on disturbed soils, and some people consider them weeds.

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Botanical Garden

The El Paso Desert Botanical Garden has several native species of plants of the Chihuahuan Desert that exhibit several survival mechanisms that help them survive in regions with high temperatures in the summer, low temperatures in the winter, and less than 10 inches of rain per year!