Establish a cover crop on the bare Brays Bayou floodplain patch

The soil baseline named this patch's compaction and zero organic cover; a seeded cover crop is the direct fix the baseline recommended, building structure back into the floodplain soil. Standard: USDA-NRCS Soil Health assessment (infiltration, aggregate stability, organic matter) + SDG 15.3 land degradation neutrality. Proof: before/after site photos + seed-mix documentation + GPS Method (USDA-NRCS soil-health in-situ assessment, ~45-90 min): 1. Navigate to the plot; record GPS; sketch the sampling layout. 2. Photograph each sampling station. 3. Run the infiltration ring; record time to infiltrate 1 inch. 4. Assess aggregate stability and note visible organic matter, roots, and biology. 5. If compaction is in scope, record penetrometer resistance by depth. 6. Collect 0-15 cm cores if a lab subsample is specified; bag, label, complete COC. 7. Enter all measurements with units + depth, GPS, photos into the proof record; sign. Equipment: soil auger or trowel, infiltration ring + measured water + timer, penetrometer (if compaction in scope), clean bucket, sample bags + labels, gloves, GPS phone, camera Done when: Infiltration time recorded; Aggregate stability + organic-matter observation recorded; Each in-scope measurement recorded with units and depth; GPS waypoint + station photos + site sketch

Where

floodplain patch, Brays Bayou at the Chimney Rock Rd crossing, Houston, TX 77081

Pay

$80 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

before/after site photos + seed-mix documentation + GPS

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

intermediate

Open until

2026-09-01

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 120–480 minutes. Method of record: Cover crop establishment per NRCS Conservation Practice Standard 340 (species mix, seeding rate/date/depth for the site) — soil-building DOING under the VM0042 soil-carbon MRV path; assess→seed→verify

Bring

• site-appropriate NRCS 340 seed mix (rate per the plan) + seeder/broadcaster or hand tools at garden scale
• rake/harrow or drill access for seed-to-soil contact
• camera + GPS + a simple rain/irrigation plan for establishment
• gloves + sun protection

Steps

1. 1. ASSESS: photograph the field/plot as found (bare soil, crusting, erosion rills), record GPS boundaries and area, and confirm the seed mix + rate + seeding window against the NRCS 340 job sheet for the site.
2. 2. Prepare the seedbed minimally (rake/harrow surface crust; no deep tillage) and broadcast or drill the mix at the planned rate and depth.
3. 3. Ensure seed-to-soil contact (cultipack/rake-in) and apply establishment water if the plan calls for it.
4. 4. Mark/photograph the seeded boundary and log the seeding date, mix, and rate as the establishment record.
5. 5. VERIFY: return at the plan's check window (10–21 days) and photograph emergence across ≥3 representative spots; log estimated ground-cover percent and reseed thin patches per the job sheet.

If it does not match the plan

• Outside the viable seeding window for the mix -> reschedule; do not seed to fail.
• Herbicide carryover or contaminated-soil suspicion -> stop and route to the agronomist/NRCS conservationist before seeding.
• Erosion gullies beyond seeding's fix -> document and route to the NRCS engineer for structural practice first.

What counts as done

• Seeding record complete: date, mix, rate, area, GPS boundary, before photos
• Emergence check photos at ≥3 representative points inside the window
• Estimated ground cover logged; thin patches reseeded or noted with cause

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.