Main/Military Plaza in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

The New Blossoming of San Pedro Creek

Photographed By James Hulse, January 8, 2023

1. The New Blossoming of San Pedro Creek Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The San Pedro Creek Culture Park project has reintroduced aquatic plants that once grew here but disappeared as urban development impacted the creek beginning in the 1800s. Though it was necessary to build the creek channel of concrete to retain its flood carrying capacity, protective pockets were built into the creek edges and hardy aquatic species were planted there. These plantings provide natural water filtration. and help treat pollutants including sediment, metals, oil, and excess nutrients that still enter the creek. They also provide urban wildlife with food and shelter. Fish, birds, turtles, frogs, snakes, insects, and human beings all benefit.

Captions
1: Broadleaf Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia): Arrow shaped leaves and bright white flowers help identify this aquatic plant. Native Americans valued this nutritious food source whose starch-risk tubers form on rhizomes buried in the mud. Ducks also feed on them, giving rise to the nickname "duck potatoes."
2: Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata): The purple flowers of this aquatic plant bloom progressively upward and provide nectar

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to bees and butterflies. The seeds are eaten by ducks and other waterfowl. Pickerelweed excels at removing excess nutrients and other pollutants from the water.

[Spanish Text]
El Nuevo Florecimiento de San Pedro Creek
El Proyecto Del Parque Cultural San Pedro Creek reintrodujo plantas acuáticas que antaño crecían aquí, pero desaparecieron por el impacto del desarrollo urbano en el arroyo a partir del siglo XIX. Aunque fue necesario construir el canal del arroyo con concreto para conservar su capacidad de carga de inundaciones, se construyeron bolsillos de protección en los bordes del arroyo y se plantaron especies acuáticas resistentes. Estas plantaciones proporcionan una filtración natural del agua y ayudan a tratar los contaminantes, como los sedimentos, los metales, el aceite y el exceso de nutrientes que todavía ingresan en el arroyo. También proporcionan alimento y refugio a la fauna urbana. Así se benefician los peces, los pájaros, las tortugas, las ranas, las serpientes, los insectos y los seres humanos.

Subtítulos
1: Punta de Flecha de Hoja Ancha (Sagittaria latifolia): Los hojas en forma de fecha y las flores blancas brillantes ayudan a identificar esta planta acuática. Los nativos americanos valonsban esta fuente de alimento nutritivo cuyos tubérculos, ricos en

The New Blossoming of San Pedro Creek Marker next to the waterfalls in the park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, January 8, 2023

2. The New Blossoming of San Pedro Creek Marker next to the waterfalls in the park

almidón, se forman en rizomas enterrados en el barro. Los patos también los comen, dando lugar al apodo de "papa de pato."
2: Espigas de agua (Pontederia cordata): Las flores púrpuras de esta planta acuática florecen de forma progresiva hacia arriba y proporcionan néctar a abejas y mariposas. Los patos y otras aves acuáticas se comen sus semillas. Las espigas de agua son excelentes para eliminar el exceso de nutrientes y otros contaminantes del agua.

Erected 2022 by San Pedro Creek Cultural Park. (Marker Number 25.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas.

Location. 29° 25.514′ N, 98° 29.784′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in Main/Military Plaza. Marker is at the intersection of West Commerce Street and Camaron Street, on the right when traveling west on West Commerce Street. The marker is located along the north side of Commerce Street near the creek. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 321 West Commerce Street, San Antonio TX 78205, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Mexican Revolution (a few steps from this marker); Commerce Street (a few steps from this marker);

The view of the New Blossoming of San Pedro Creek Marker from across the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, January 8, 2023

3. The view of the New Blossoming of San Pedro Creek Marker from across the street

Plaza de Armas: Center of Commerce and Government (within shouting distance of this marker); The Buried Past is Never Lost (within shouting distance of this marker); Spanish Governor's Palace (within shouting distance of this marker); A Richly Layered History (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Healing Arts West of the Creek (about 300 feet away); A Poor Settlement Takes Shape at the Northern Frontier of New Spain (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.

Also see . . . Where beauty meets purpose. San Pedro Creek Culture Park (Submitted on January 21, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 49 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 21, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.