Restore an Edwards Plateau to Chihuahuan Desert transition scrub segment at the Devils River State Natural Area, plot 8, Devils River State Natural Area, Del Norte Unit, 21715 Dolan Creek Road, Del Rio, TX 78840 (public Texas state natural area) (2026-07-29)

This Edwards Plateau to Chihuahuan Desert transition scrub segment is losing native ground cover to invasive plants and woody encroachment, structure this borderland's wildlife depends on. Standard: USDA NRCS Soil Health assessment plus native scrub and grassland restoration practice, applied here to the Edwards Plateau to Chihuahuan Desert transition scrub at the Devils River State Natural Area, Val Verde County, Texas. SDG 15.1 and 15.3. Proof: before after photos plus area cleared record plus species and count record plus GPS Method (USDA NRCS Soil Health assessment plus native scrub and grassland restoration practice, applied here to the Edwards Plateau to Chihuahuan Desert transition scrub at the Devils River State Natural Area, Val Verde County, Texas. SDG 15.1 and 15.3.): 1. 1. Confirm the segment with Texas Parks and Wildlife staff and photograph the invasive choked or bare transition scrub before starting. 2. 2. Hand clear invasive plants and woody encroachment from the scrub with hand tools only, no power equipment. 3. 3. Hand plant native bunchgrasses and desert adapted shrubs at the design spacing to restore the transition scrub's open structure. 4. 4. Photograph the restored segment from the matching before vantage and record species and count. Done when: before after photos plus area cleared record plus species and count record plus GPS

Where

Devils River State Natural Area, Del Norte Unit, 21715 Dolan Creek Road, Del Rio, TX 78840 (public Texas state natural area)

Pay

$160 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 species and count record plus GPS

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

Level

intermediate

Open until

2026-08-28

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.