Stabilize bare playa-margin ground with native seed, segment 5, Salt Basin trough, public county road right of way west of Van Horn, Culberson County, TX 79855 (2026-07-28)

This segment of the Salt Basin playa margin sheds fine gypsum and salt dust into the wind every dry day, ground that a hand-seeded native cover would otherwise hold in place. Standard: USDA NRCS Soil Health assessment practice (infiltration, aggregate stability, wind-erosion condition) plus SDG 15.3 land degradation neutrality, applied here to the Salt Basin playa margin, gypsum-veneer dune, and bolson floor near Van Horn, Culberson County, Texas, a Chihuahuan Desert endorheic basin. Proof: before/after photos plus area-treated record plus seed-mix record plus GPS Method (USDA NRCS Soil Health assessment practice (infiltration, aggregate stability, wind-erosion condition) plus SDG 15.3 land degradation neutrality, applied here to the Salt Basin playa margin, gypsum-veneer dune, and bolson floor near Van Horn, Culberson County, Texas, a Chihuahuan Desert endorheic basin.): 1. 1. Confirm the segment with Culberson County road staff and photograph the bare, wind-eroding ground before starting. 2. 2. Hand-broadcast a native, salt and gypsum tolerant seed mix (fourwing saltbush, alkali sacaton, and similar species) over the bare segment, hand tools only, no power equipment. 3. 3. Hand-rake the seed lightly into the surface and set a temporary erosion-control mat or brush cover where the segment is steepest. 4. 4. Water in where accessible and photograph the treated segment from the matching before vantage, recording the seed mix and area covered. Done when: before/after photos plus area-treated record plus seed-mix record plus GPS

Where

Salt Basin trough, public county road right of way west of Van Horn, Culberson County, TX 79855

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 plus area-treated record plus seed-mix 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.