The main canyon on this property and the namesake of the natural area is called Government Canyon because there was a road through it which was surveyed by the Army shortly after Texas became a state. It was used by the Army to supply other forts that protected the area from incursions out of Mexico. The goal for the trip was the stream up there because with this area a recharge zone for the aquifer streams seldom flow because the water sinks rapidly into the porous limestone.  With the very wet weather we have been having there is far more water than usual.

There was a time, before we pumped so much water from this aquifer, that the stream flowed at all times, but this has not been true for many years. Since the park was not open to the public, we were allowed to take vehicles up the old road, and we also did some maintenance and litter removal along the way. With Pam's ankle still not fully recovered, she would never have gotten that far in as we were about four miles up the canyon. 

We had a great afternoon and were able to do some service to the park along the way. And with three couple participating it was great fun as well. The area has some of the most environmentally sensitive features of the recharge system.