Install erosion-control matting on a rugged sandstone-hill cutbank at Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway, site 4, Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway, Mineral Wells, TX 76067 (public state park)

A rugged sandstone-hill trailside cutbank in this park is bare and actively eroding, washing sediment into the trail and creek with every Cross Timbers downpour, and no matting or native seed holds the slope yet. Standard: USDA NRCS Soil Health assessment and restoration practice (infiltration, aggregate stability, organic matter, native root structure), applied here to Western Cross Timbers sandy loam soil under eastern redcedar encroachment and rugged sandstone-hill erosion. SDG 15.3 land degradation neutrality. Proof: before/after photos + area-treated record + pin-count confirm + native-seed record + GPS Method (USDA NRCS Soil Health assessment and restoration practice (infiltration, aggregate stability, organic matter, native root structure), applied here to Western Cross Timbers sandy loam soil under eastern redcedar encroachment and rugged sandstone-hill erosion. SDG 15.3 land degradation neutrality.): 1. 1. Confirm the eroding cutbank or slope with state park staff and photograph the bare, eroding sandstone-hill surface before work. 2. 2. Rake the slope surface by hand from the stable trail base to key in loose material, working up-slope from a stable stance only. 3. 3. Lay coir erosion-control matting flush against the slope and pin it with biodegradable stakes at the manufacturer's spacing, then overseed with a native Cross Timbers grass mix. 4. 4. Photograph the pinned, seeded matting from the matching before vantage and record the treated area. Done when: before/after photos + area-treated record + pin-count confirm + native-seed record + GPS

Where

Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway, Mineral Wells, TX 76067 (public state park)

Pay

$175 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 photos + area-treated record + pin-count confirm + native-seed record + GPS

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

Level

intermediate

Open until

2026-09-10

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 45–90 minutes. Method of record: USDA-NRCS soil-health in-situ assessment

Bring

• soil auger or trowel
• infiltration ring + measured water + timer
• penetrometer (if compaction in scope)
• clean bucket
• sample bags + labels
• gloves
• GPS phone
• camera

Steps

1. 1. Navigate to the plot; record GPS; sketch the sampling layout.
2. 2. Photograph each sampling station.
3. 3. Run the infiltration ring; record time to infiltrate 1 inch.
4. 4. Assess aggregate stability and note visible organic matter, roots, and biology.
5. 5. If compaction is in scope, record penetrometer resistance by depth.
6. 6. Collect 0-15 cm cores if a lab subsample is specified; bag, label, complete COC.
7. 7. Enter all measurements with units + depth, GPS, photos into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• Infiltration > 30 min/inch or high penetrometer resistance -> flag compaction; recommend cover crop / reduced traffic.
• Very low organic matter / no visible biology -> flag degraded; recommend amendment plan.

What counts as done

• Infiltration time recorded
• Aggregate stability + organic-matter observation recorded
• Each in-scope measurement recorded with units and depth
• GPS waypoint + station photos + site sketch

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.