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Lick Creek - The Name
There are lots of "Lick Creeks" in Texas and other states. Limestone bluffs along the walls of the creek were formed under the ocean and permeated with sea salt. This is so common that one type of limestone is called "Elk Lick Limestone". If you walk along the bluffs where animals have easy access you will see many scooped-out oval places where animals have licked the rocks for salt. The presence of this salt source may be why Native Americans favored the Levi Rock Shelter archaeological site. They needed salt too. Find a lick and taste it - it's very salty.

The Archaeology
The Levi Rock Shelter is named for Malcolm Levi on whose ranch it was first discovered in the mid-1950's. It is estimated to be the 7th oldest paleolithic site in the United States. People occupied this site some 10,000 years ago or more. Clovis points, carved bone cylinders, scrapers, awls, needles, punches, and incised and painted pebbles were among the many artifacts found here by at least 3 different archaeological "digs". The University of Texas has a collection of these specimens. In a 1979 article by Nick Lasorsa, the site was described as still being" relatively unmolested by modern-day man".

There were 3 known archaeological sites in the West Cypress Hills Subdivision upstream. The developers destroyed 2 of them. They did not get the required surveys or permits. Engineer Ed Moore's comment was "The sites are not what you or I would recognize as an archeological site." (Austin American Statesman July 5, 2004)

Flora and Fauna
The Lick Creek area was settled by pioneers in the early to mid 1800's. There was still an "Indian threat" when early pioneers moved in. The land was used primarily for ranching and farming. One settler wrote home "I have found a land of flitter trees and honey. Come to Texas." Fertile soil, availability of water, and abundant game were among the attractions. Lick Creek is in a canyon surrounded by fields of oak, ashe juniper, mesquite, prickly pear, tasajillo and lace cactus, and native grasses like big muhly, little bluestem, buffalograss, and sideoates grama. Cypress, sycamore and spicebush grow on the creek, where their roots can touch water. At various times of the year native wildflowers with colorful names paint the fields. Almost all of the plants were used by native americans and pioneers as food or medicine. Here are some of the names: milkwort, snow on the prairie, goldenrod, anemones, frog fruit, beebalm, horsemint, skullcap, thoroughwort, queen's delight, mealy blue sage, and slenderlobe passionflower. Lick Creek is graced with a rare orchid, the "Chatterbox Orchid" or Giant Hellebore. The flowers are not really giant, being 1/2 to 1 inch across. Flowers are green and brown and the lower lip of the flower moves in the breeze, earning it the name of chatterbox.

Today Lick Creek and environs still provide habitat for deer, armadillos, coons, possums, nutria, and foxes. Seen less often are the ringtailed cat, bobcats, and the black rock squirrell, all relatively rare. Mountain lions have also been spotted and heard in the area in the past. The mountain lion does indeed sound like a screaming woman, a very scary noise. The creek still shelters turtles and small fish, as well as a few "crawdads". A rainbow variety of dragonflies and butterflies adorn the grasses and blossoms. Monarch butterflies migrate through the canyon on their way south each year.

Lick Creek is a haven for birds. There have been confirmed Golden Cheeked Warbler sightings around the creek. Green Herons and Great Blue Herons fish the waters. Roadrunners and wild turkeys are seen at the banks. Seasonal warblers migrate through. Among the more unusual and colorful birds that may be seen are red-eyed and white-eyed vireos, painted buntings, orioles, tanagers, blue gray gnatcatchers, goldfinches, and house finches. There is a long list of others, too numerous to list here. Developers upstream bulldozed the creek before trying to obtain a wildlife survey or required permits. They did this work just before mating season.

Please Help
Lick Creek still supports and protects a bounty of natural treasures that are the heritage of all. These treasures are fast disappearing from our environs. Responsible development can prevent us all from losing our rightful heritage. The individual citizen must still be on the alert against needless and willful disregard of the land and the laws protecting it.

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