Document the Gorman Falls travertine formation from the viewing platform, visit 2, the Gorman Falls travertine formation and designated public viewing platform, Colorado Bend State Park (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, public state park), Bend, TX 76824, San Saba County (2026-08-04)

The actively forming travertine at Gorman Falls, one of the few places in Texas where this fragile mineral and moss deposit is still growing, has no recent photo record of its viewing-platform barrier condition to prioritize maintenance before visitors wander onto it. Standard: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department active-travertine and karst-spring resource protection guidance plus USDA NRCS conservation practice standard 654 (foot traffic/trail management), applied here to the actively forming travertine deposit at Gorman Falls, Colorado Bend State Park, San Saba County, TX, one of the few places in Texas where travertine is still actively depositing. SDG 15.1 and 15.4. Proof: document only observation log plus barrier condition note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note Method (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department active-travertine and karst-spring resource protection guidance plus USDA NRCS conservation practice standard 654 (foot traffic/trail management), applied here to the actively forming travertine deposit at Gorman Falls, Colorado Bend State Park, San Saba County, TX, one of the few places in Texas where travertine is still actively depositing. SDG 15.1 and 15.4.): 1. 1. From the designated public viewing platform at Gorman Falls, photograph the travertine formation and the barrier or rope-line that keeps visitors off it, without approaching or stepping onto the travertine at any point. 2. 2. Note whether the barrier line is intact, whether any social-trail scuffing shows visitors have gone around it, and whether the deposit looks actively wet and forming. 3. 3. Photograph the site from a fixed reference point for future comparison, and check the sky for building storm clouds before continuing. 4. 4. Record a ranked follow on note naming the platform for the barrier-maintenance crew. Done when: Photo of the travertine formation and its barrier line taken from the designated viewing platform; Note of the barrier's condition and any social-trail scuffing around it; Confirmation the travertine formation was never approached or stepped on during the survey; Ranked follow on note naming the platform for the barrier-maintenance crew; GPS waypoint of the viewing platform

Where

the Gorman Falls travertine formation and designated public viewing platform, Colorado Bend State Park (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, public state park), Bend, TX 76824, San Saba County

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 observation log plus barrier condition note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note

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

Level

entry

Open until

2026-11-03

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

• Photo of the travertine formation and its barrier line taken from the designated viewing platform
• Note of the barrier's condition and any social-trail scuffing around it
• Confirmation the travertine formation was never approached or stepped on during the survey
• Ranked follow on note naming the platform for the barrier-maintenance crew
• GPS waypoint of the viewing platform

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.