Hand-clear creosote and mesquite encroachment at Kokernot Park's desert grassland, site 3, Kokernot Park (Historic Kokernot Field), 400 Loop Road, Alpine, TX 79830 (2026-07-27)

Creosote and mesquite seedlings are crowding out native Chihuahuan Desert grass cover at this public city park, ground that once held better against wind erosion before the woody brush moved in. Standard: USDA NRCS Soil Health assessment and restoration practice (infiltration, aggregate stability, organic matter, native root structure), applied here to Brewster and Jeff Davis Counties' Chihuahuan Desert grassland and sky-island montane woodland under brush encroachment, bare-ground erosion, and wind-driven dust. SDG 15.3 land degradation neutrality. Proof: before/after photos + area-cleared estimate + species record + GPS Method (USDA NRCS Soil Health assessment and restoration practice (infiltration, aggregate stability, organic matter, native root structure), applied here to Brewster and Jeff Davis Counties' Chihuahuan Desert grassland and sky-island montane woodland under brush encroachment, bare-ground erosion, and wind-driven dust. SDG 15.3 land degradation neutrality.): 1. 1. Walk the assigned grassland opening with city parks staff and photograph the creosote and mesquite seedling encroachment as found. 2. 2. Hand-cut and bag young encroaching creosote and mesquite seedlings with loppers and a hand saw only, hand tools only, no power equipment. 3. 3. Stay within the confirmed park boundary and leave established native grass tussocks undisturbed. 4. 4. Photograph the cleared opening from the matching before vantage and record the approximate area hand-cleared. Done when: before/after photos + area-cleared estimate + species record + GPS

Where

Kokernot Park (Historic Kokernot Field), 400 Loop Road, Alpine, TX 79830

Pay

$165 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-cleared estimate + species record + GPS

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

Level

intermediate

Open until

2026-10-26

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.