Restore a limestone spring margin on the Frijole Ranch loop trail, site 3, 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)

The survey above found a bare or invasive choked margin at this limestone spring or seep along the Frijole Ranch loop trail, and hand cleared, hand planted native wetland cover would otherwise close that gap at a rare desert water source. 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: before after photos plus species and plant count record plus GPS 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. Confirm the spring or seep segment with Guadalupe Mountains National Park staff and photograph the bare or invasive choked margin before starting. 2. 2. Hand clear invasive plants from the dry margin with hand tools only, no power equipment. 3. 3. Hand plant native wetland sedges and rushes at the design spacing along the dry margin, never entering the spring pool. 4. 4. Photograph the planted margin from the matching before vantage and record species and plant count. Done when: before after photos plus species and plant count record plus GPS

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

$170 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 plant count 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 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.