Often overlooked, grasses play a very important role in the ecology of West Texas. They provide forage for animals, nest material for birds, and stabilize soil with their mats of fine roots. Several species found in the Amistad area are invasive exotic species, and put native vegetation at risk of being overgrown. One example is the Arundo donax cane, growing along the edges of the lake. It out-competes native plants along the edges of waterways in thick, impassible walls.
Did You Know?
Lake Amistad is a binational reservoir shared by the U.S. and Mexico. The international boundary is marked with bouys up the middle of the Rio Grande channel. The word Amistad is Spanish for the "friendship" between the two countries.