Document baygall bog condition at the Beech Creek Unit, segment 1, Beech Creek Unit, Big Thicket National Preserve, Tyler County, TX (trailhead on FM 2992, public national preserve) (2026-07-28)

A baygall, a forested acid-seep wetland along this unit's spring-fed drainage, has no current condition baseline, and invasive woody growth is encroaching on the native shrub layer that holds this seep's soil and water quality. Standard: US EPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocols plus watershed-health condition assessment practice, applied here to the baygall and hillside-seep wetland communities at Big Thicket National Preserve's Beech Creek Unit and the cypress and tupelo slough at Martin Dies Jr. State Park's Cherokee Unit, Tyler County, Texas. SDG 6.6 and 15.1. Proof: document-only stand-off photo log plus encroachment-area estimate plus GPS plus ranked follow-on note Method (US EPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocols plus watershed-health condition assessment practice, applied here to the baygall and hillside-seep wetland communities at Big Thicket National Preserve's Beech Creek Unit and the cypress and tupelo slough at Martin Dies Jr. State Park's Cherokee Unit, Tyler County, Texas. SDG 6.6 and 15.1.): 1. 1. From the Beech Creek Unit's accessible boardwalk or trail, photograph invasive woody encroachment and any sediment choking the baygall's forested seep drainage without leaving the trail. 2. 2. Note the approximate area of encroachment and any bare or eroding ground at the seep face. 3. 3. Photograph the nearest trail marker or bridge for the crew's reference. 4. 4. Record a ranked follow on note naming the segment for the restoration crew. Done when: document-only stand-off photo log plus encroachment-area estimate plus GPS plus ranked follow-on note

Where

Beech Creek Unit, Big Thicket National Preserve, Tyler County, TX (trailhead on FM 2992, public national preserve)

Pay

$90 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

document-only stand-off photo log plus encroachment-area estimate plus GPS plus ranked follow-on note

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

Level

entry

Open until

2026-10-27

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 30–60 minutes. Method of record: EPA dry-weather / AMD field screening

Bring

• GPS phone
• pH meter or strips
• conductivity meter
• ammonia + iron test kit as specified
• surfactant screen if specified
• gloves
• camera

Steps

1. 1. Navigate to the outfall/reach; record GPS; photograph it, capturing any visible flow or staining.
2. 2. Note whether flow is present in dry weather (yes/no).
3. 3. Measure and record pH, conductivity, and each specified analyte per kit instructions.
4. 4. Log any color, odor, floc, or aquatic-life observation.
5. 5. Enter all readings with units, GPS, time, and photos into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• Dry-weather flow present with elevated conductivity/ammonia/surfactants -> flag suspected illicit discharge for the responsible agency.
• pH < 6 with visible iron floc -> tag suspected acid mine drainage; recommend metals lab panel.

What counts as done

• pH + conductivity recorded with units
• Each specified analyte recorded with a value
• Dry-weather flow present? recorded yes/no
• GPS waypoint + timestamped photo

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.