Restore a sand sagebrush and shinnery oak prairie patch near Harbor Bay, site 4, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Harbor Bay day use area, near Fritch, TX 79036 (public National Park Service unit) (2026-07-30)

The survey above found mesquite encroachment or bare disturbed sand crowding out this sand sagebrush and shinnery oak prairie patch near Harbor Bay, and hand clearing plus hand seeding native cover would otherwise restore lesser prairie chicken habitat on this Canadian River valley sand. Standard: Xerces Society pollinator habitat installation guidelines (native forb and grass mix, no-till establishment) plus USFWS lesser prairie-chicken habitat guidance for sand sagebrush and shinnery oak prairie, applied here to Lake Meredith National Recreation Area's sandy Canadian River valley terrain, Hutchinson County, Texas Panhandle. SDG 15.5 biodiversity. Proof: before after photos plus species and seed rate record plus GPS Method (Xerces Society pollinator habitat installation guidelines (native forb and grass mix, no-till establishment) plus USFWS lesser prairie-chicken habitat guidance for sand sagebrush and shinnery oak prairie, applied here to Lake Meredith National Recreation Area's sandy Canadian River valley terrain, Hutchinson County, Texas Panhandle. SDG 15.5 biodiversity.): 1. 1. Confirm the patch's boundary with National Park Service staff and photograph the mesquite encroachment or bare disturbed sand before starting. 2. 2. Hand clear encroaching mesquite seedlings from the patch with hand tools only, no power equipment. 3. 3. Hand seed native sand sagebrush and shinnery oak understory seed onto the cleared patch at the design rate. 4. 4. Photograph the treated patch from the matching before vantage and record species and seed rate. Done when: before after photos plus species and seed rate record plus GPS

Where

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Harbor Bay day use area, near Fritch, TX 79036 (public National Park Service unit)

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 species and seed rate record plus GPS

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

Level

intermediate

Open until

2026-08-29

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 90–300 minutes. Method of record: Pollinator habitat strip establishment per Xerces Society native forb/grass planting guidelines (site-appropriate regional mix, no-till drill or hand-broadcast seeding) — SDG 15.5 biodiversity; assess→seed→verify

Bring

• regional native forb/grass seed mix (Xerces Society or state pollinator-plan approved) at the planned rate
• no-till drill or hand broadcaster + rake for seed-to-soil contact
• camera + GPS + boundary marking flags/stakes
• gloves + sun protection

Steps

1. 1. ASSESS: photograph the strip/margin as found (bare ground, existing weeds, adjacent crop or pasture edge), record GPS boundary and area, and confirm the native mix + rate + seeding window against the site plan.
2. 2. Prepare the seedbed minimally (light raking of surface crust or weed knock-down already completed by others; no deep tillage) and mark the planting boundary.
3. 3. Broadcast or drill the native forb/grass mix at the planned rate and shallow depth appropriate to the species mix.
4. 4. Ensure seed-to-soil contact (rake-in or roll) and photograph/log the seeded boundary, mix, and rate as the establishment record.
5. 5. VERIFY: return at the plan's check window and photograph emergence across ≥3 representative points along the strip; log estimated native cover and flag bare gaps for reseeding.

If it does not match the plan

• Outside the viable seeding window for the regional mix -> reschedule; do not seed to fail.
• Existing weed pressure needs herbicide knock-down first -> route to a licensed applicator as a separate job before seeding.
• Strip drains directly to a waterway with no buffer -> route to the conservation planner for a setback plan first.

What counts as done

• Seeding record complete: date, native mix, rate, area, GPS boundary, before photos
• Emergence check photos at ≥3 representative points inside the check window
• No pesticide/herbicide applied by this crew during establishment

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.