Document a limestone spring margin on the Frijole Ranch loop trail, site 1, Frijole Ranch, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, near Salt Flat, TX 79847 (public National Park Service historic ranch and museum, trailhead for the Smith Spring and Manzanita Spring Loop) (2026-07-30)

This limestone spring or seep margin along the easy Smith Spring and Manzanita Spring Loop shows invasive plant cover or bare eroding soil with no photo record to prioritize it for hand restoration. Standard: US EPA National Wetland Condition Assessment rapid method, applied here to a limestone spring or seep margin along the Smith Spring and Manzanita Spring Loop from Frijole Ranch, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Culberson County. SDG 6.6 and 15.1. Proof: document only stand off photo log plus margin condition note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note Method (US EPA National Wetland Condition Assessment rapid method, applied here to a limestone spring or seep margin along the Smith Spring and Manzanita Spring Loop from Frijole Ranch, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Culberson County. SDG 6.6 and 15.1.): 1. 1. From the easy Smith Spring and Manzanita Spring Loop trail at Frijole Ranch, photograph a bare or invasive choked limestone spring or seep margin without leaving the established trail. 2. 2. Note whether the margin shows invasive plant cover, bare eroding soil, or intact native wetland cover. 3. 3. Photograph the nearest trail marker or the Frijole Ranch museum for reference. 4. 4. Record a ranked follow on note naming the margin for the restoration crew. Done when: document only stand off photo log plus margin condition note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note

Where

Frijole Ranch, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, near Salt Flat, TX 79847 (public National Park Service historic ranch and museum, trailhead for the Smith Spring and Manzanita Spring Loop)

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 margin 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: EPA National Wetland Condition Assessment (rapid method)

Bring

• GPS phone
• quadrat frame
• invasive-species ID reference
• boots
• insect protection
• camera

Steps

1. 1. Navigate to the wetland edge; record GPS; stay on stable ground.
2. 2. Photograph 3 quadrat stations.
3. 3. At each station, estimate percent cover native vs invasive; identify the dominant invasive.
4. 4. Note hydrology / water level and any disturbance.
5. 5. Enter cover percentages, invasive ID, hydrology, GPS, photos into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• Standing water + wildlife (snakes/alligators) -> maintain distance; never sample alone.
• High invasive cover -> flag for a management/removal plan.

What counts as done

• Percent cover native vs invasive recorded at 3 stations
• Dominant invasive species identified
• Hydrology / water-level note recorded
• GPS waypoints + quadrat photos

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.