Clear non-native growth and seed a native mixed-grass savanna opening at Ballinger City Lake, patch 4, Ballinger City Lake (Lake Ballinger) public shoreline, Valley Creek, approximately six miles northwest of Ballinger, TX 76821 (public City of Ballinger reservoir, Runnels County) (2026-07-28)

A mesquite savanna opening at this public reservoir's shoreline sheds rain instead of holding it, its native mixed-grass understory crowded out or bare, ground that a Concho Valley mixed-grass seed mix would otherwise anchor. Standard: USDA NRCS Soil Health assessment and restoration practice (infiltration, aggregate stability, organic matter, native root structure), applied here to the semiarid mixed-grass and mesquite savanna and cropland-edge erosion around Ballinger City Lake and FM 2111 in the Concho Valley upper Colorado River country of Runnels County, Texas. SDG 15.3 land degradation neutrality. Proof: before/after photos plus area-cleared record plus seed-mix/area record plus GPS Method (USDA NRCS Soil Health assessment and restoration practice (infiltration, aggregate stability, organic matter, native root structure), applied here to the semiarid mixed-grass and mesquite savanna and cropland-edge erosion around Ballinger City Lake and FM 2111 in the Concho Valley upper Colorado River country of Runnels County, Texas. SDG 15.3 land degradation neutrality.): 1. 1. Confirm the treatment patch with City of Ballinger staff and photograph the bare or non-native-encroached mesquite savanna opening before starting. 2. 2. Hand-clear non-native growth from the patch with hand tools only, no power equipment. 3. 3. Hand-broadcast a native little bluestem, sideoats grama, and buffalo grass seed mix across the cleared ground at the labeled application rate and rake it in. 4. 4. Water in the seeding and photograph the finished savanna patch from the matching before vantage, recording the seed mix and area seeded. Done when: before/after photos plus area-cleared record plus seed-mix/area record plus GPS

Where

Ballinger City Lake (Lake Ballinger) public shoreline, Valley Creek, approximately six miles northwest of Ballinger, TX 76821 (public City of Ballinger reservoir, Runnels County)

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 plus area-cleared record plus seed-mix/area record plus GPS

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

Level

intermediate

Open until

2026-08-27

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.