Document a bare gilgai clay-mound segment near Waxahachie, site 2, a public county road right of way in the northern Blackland Prairie near Waxahachie, TX 75165, Ellis County (a Blackland clay gilgai hog-wallow mound and depression segment), or a resident's own rural property with the owner's consent (2026-07-31)

This Blackland clay gilgai mound and depression segment near Waxahachie shows bare compacted clay or sparse cover with no photo record to prioritize it for hand planted native prairie restoration. Standard: USDA NRCS conservation practice standard 643 restoration of rare or declining habitats plus standard 550 range planting (Blackland Prairie gilgai microtopography, the clay hog-wallow low mound and depression complex that ponds water after rain), applied here to a segment near Waxahachie, TX, Ellis County, northern Blackland Prairie belt. SDG 15.1 and 15.5. Proof: document only stand off photo log plus segment condition note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note plus owner or right of way consent record Method (USDA NRCS conservation practice standard 643 restoration of rare or declining habitats plus standard 550 range planting (Blackland Prairie gilgai microtopography, the clay hog-wallow low mound and depression complex that ponds water after rain), applied here to a segment near Waxahachie, TX, Ellis County, northern Blackland Prairie belt. SDG 15.1 and 15.5.): 1. 1. From a public county road right of way, or a resident's own rural property with the owner's consent, photograph a bare or grazed-out Blackland clay gilgai mound and depression segment near Waxahachie. 2. 2. Note whether the mounds and depressions show bare compacted clay, sparse cover, or intact native prairie cover. 3. 3. Photograph the site from a fixed reference point for future comparison. 4. 4. Record a ranked follow on note naming the segment for the native prairie planting crew. Done when: Written or recorded permission from the property owner, or confirmation the observation was made from the public road right of way; Photo of the segment taken from the public road right of way or the property with consent; Note of the segment condition (bare compacted clay, sparse cover, or intact native prairie cover); Ranked follow on note naming the segment for the native prairie planting crew

Where

a public county road right of way in the northern Blackland Prairie near Waxahachie, TX 75165, Ellis County (a Blackland clay gilgai hog-wallow mound and depression segment), or a resident's own rural property with the owner's consent

Pay

$85 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 plus owner or right of way consent record

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

Level

entry

Open until

2026-10-30

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 45–120 minutes. Method of record: Point-count / transect species survey (Breeding Bird Survey + Xerces pollinator-count protocols)

Bring

• binoculars
• field ID guide or app
• GPS phone
• data sheet / recorder
• timer
• camera

Steps

1. 1. Navigate to the first survey point; record GPS; note start time, weather, and wind (surveys pause in rain/high wind).
2. 2. Wait a settling minute, then run a fixed-duration count (e.g., 5 min) within a fixed radius; record every species seen/heard and the count of each.
3. 3. Photograph the habitat and any species you can; note any threatened/target or invasive species.
4. 4. Move to the next point along the transect (keep points >=200 m apart) and repeat the count.
5. 5. Record total effort (points, duration) and observer.
6. 6. Enter the per-point species lists + counts, GPS, weather, effort, and photos into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• Threatened/at-risk or target species observed -> flag for the land steward (with location) for protection planning.
• Invasive species dominant / native diversity very low -> flag for a management plan.
• Rain or high wind -> pause/reschedule; counts under poor conditions are not valid.

What counts as done

• Per-point species list with counts recorded
• GPS waypoint + fixed count duration/radius recorded per point
• Weather, wind, start time, and total effort recorded
• Habitat photos + any species photos

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.