Document a relict maple canyon forest segment at McKittrick Canyon, site 2, McKittrick Canyon day-use area, end of McKittrick Canyon Road off US Highway 62/180, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, near Salt Flat, TX 79847 (public National Park Service day-use trailhead, gate open 8am to 5pm) (2026-07-30)

This relict bigtooth maple and canyon hardwood forest segment along the established first stretch of the McKittrick Canyon day-use trail shows invasive plant cover or bare eroding soil with no photo record to prioritize it for hand restoration. Standard: USDA NRCS Soil Health forest floor and understory restoration practice, applied here to McKittrick Canyon's relict bigtooth maple and canyon hardwood forest, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Culberson County, far West Texas. SDG 15.1 and 15.5. Proof: document only stand off photo log plus segment condition note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note Method (USDA NRCS Soil Health forest floor and understory restoration practice, applied here to McKittrick Canyon's relict bigtooth maple and canyon hardwood forest, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Culberson County, far West Texas. SDG 15.1 and 15.5.): 1. 1. From the established, easy first stretch of the McKittrick Canyon day-use trail near the parking lot and ranger station, photograph a bare or invasive choked relict maple or canyon hardwood forest segment without leaving the maintained trail. 2. 2. Note whether the segment shows invasive plant cover, bare eroding soil, or intact native relict hardwood cover. 3. 3. Photograph the nearest trail marker or ranger station landmark for reference. 4. 4. Record a ranked follow on note naming the segment for the backcountry restoration crew. Done when: document only stand off photo log plus segment condition note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note

Where

McKittrick Canyon day-use area, end of McKittrick Canyon Road off US Highway 62/180, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, near Salt Flat, TX 79847 (public National Park Service day-use trailhead, gate open 8am to 5pm)

Pay

$90 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

document only stand off photo log plus segment condition note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note

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

Level

entry

Open until

2026-10-29

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.