Clear invasive growth and replant native baygall shrubs at the Beech Creek Unit, segment 3, Beech Creek Unit, Big Thicket National Preserve, Tyler County, TX (trailhead on FM 2992, public national preserve)

This baygall's forested seep drainage carries invasive woody growth choking the native titi and sweetbay shrub layer, ground cover that once held this seep's soil and filtered its slow, acid-stained flow. 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: before/after photos plus growth-area-cleared record plus species/count record plus GPS 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. Confirm the treatment segment with National Preserve staff and photograph the invasive-encroached baygall drainage before starting. 2. 2. Working from stable footing only, hand-cut and bag invasive woody growth with loppers and a hand saw only, hand tools only, no power equipment, no cutting of mature titi, sweetbay, or other native baygall shrub species. 3. 3. Replant native baygall shrub and seep species (titi, sweetbay, fetterbush) at the design spacing along the treated segment. 4. 4. Water in the planting where accessible and photograph the finished restoration from the matching before vantage, recording species and count. Done when: before/after photos plus growth-area-cleared record plus species/count record plus GPS

Where

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

Pay

$190 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 growth-area-cleared record plus species/count record plus GPS

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

Level

advanced

Open until

2026-09-11

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.