A place eventually tells you something

 One more note on sense of place: It develops with your capacity to notice things.

There’s a long island in Elmendorf Lake, the wide spot along Zarzamora Creek.

The authorities built a weir dam on the creek in the 1970s, one of the many measures to control flooding.

The island was created as the water backed up, flooding the existing creek channel and also a swampy area.

But which of the channels — north or south — was the main channel? Which was the swamp?

On the island, there are 14 old cypress trees, all facing the north channel. Cypress trees stand on the banks of every stream in Central Texas. These 14 testify that the north channel was the original, and they grew up on its banks. 

These witnesses give testimony to all who have eyes to see. But you have to get out and see the place first, and then you have to think about what your see.