Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Series, the podcast that celebrates the thrill of outdoor activities and the beauty of our natural world.

This is the 7th episode of our collaboration with Visit El Paso to promote El Paso, Southwest Texas, New Mexico, and Juarez, MX, as they host the OWAA's 2024 annual conference this year.

Today, we have a remarkable journey to share with you as we explore the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park. John Sproul, this incredible natural oasis's dedicated program coordinator and manager, is joining us.

John takes us on a fascinating trip through time, from his early days in the San Francisco Bay area to his pivotal move to the desert southwest in 1978, where he embarked on his lifelong mission at Rio Bosque. He sheds light on the historical transformations of the Rio Grande region, from human interventions like dam constructions to the extensive restoration efforts that began in the 1970s.

We'll delve into the ambitious projects that transformed this park, including creating wetlands and establishing a thriving ecosystem.

DISCUSSION

1. The Historical Context of Rio Grande on the region.
2. Creation and development of Rio Bosque Park, established in 1973.
3. Restoration and stewardship efforts, including the involvement of entities like Ducks Unlimited, city departments, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit groups.
4. Ecosystem changes and restoration efforts, including the Introduction of wetland habitats and the impact of a federally funded water project on the park.
5. The rebuilding of historic river channels, creating large shallow basins, installing water delivery systems, and clearing non-native vegetation.
6. Activities and Attractions at Rio Bosque Park: Attractions for exercise, photography, birding, and running, educational tours, school groups, and ongoing research
7. Community Involvement and Stewardship: Friends of the Rio Bosque, collaboration with various agencies and city departments, and the role of the University of Texas at El Paso's Center for Environmental Resource Management.

LEARN MORE

To learn more about Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, visit their website at https://www.utep.edu/cerm/rio-bosque/rio-bosque-home.html.

NEXT STEPS

If you enjoy podcasts devoted to outdoor adventure, find us online at https://outdooradventureseries.com. We welcome likes and comments, and if you know someone who is also an outdoor enthusiast, please share our site with them.

KEYWORDS

John Sproul, Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, UTEP. The University of Texas at El Paso, Visit El Paso, OWAA, Howard Fox, Outdoor Adventure Series, Outdoor Adventures, Podcast Interview

#JohnSproul #RioBosqueWetlandsPark #UTEP #TheUniversityofTexasatElPaso #WildlifeScience #VisitElPaso #OutdoorAdventureSeries #OWAA2024 #PodcastInterview

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