Seed native shortgrass cover on the Rita Blanca National Grassland, site 2, the public Rita Blanca National Grassland, US Forest Service public land, near Dalhart, TX 79022, Dallam County (a shortgrass High Plains segment), or a resident's own rural property with the owner's consent (2026-08-04)

The survey above found a bare or wind-scoured shortgrass segment on the public Rita Blanca National Grassland near Dalhart, and a hand seeded native shortgrass mix would otherwise leave this reclaimed Dust Bowl segment open to further wind erosion for another season. Standard: USDA NRCS conservation practice standard 550 range planting plus standard 643 restoration of rare or declining habitats (shortgrass High Plains restoration on reclaimed Dust Bowl marginal farmland), applied here to a segment of the public Rita Blanca National Grassland near Dalhart, TX, Dallam County, far northwest Texas Panhandle. SDG 15.1 and 15.3. Proof: owner or right of way consent record plus before after photos plus species and area seeded record plus GPS Method (USDA NRCS conservation practice standard 550 range planting plus standard 643 restoration of rare or declining habitats (shortgrass High Plains restoration on reclaimed Dust Bowl marginal farmland), applied here to a segment of the public Rita Blanca National Grassland near Dalhart, TX, Dallam County, far northwest Texas Panhandle. SDG 15.1 and 15.3.): 1. 1. Confirm the segment with the US Forest Service district office, or the property owner if on private land, and photograph the bare or eroded segment before starting. 2. 2. Hand rake the surface only to loosen the top layer of soil, no power equipment, no digging below the surface. 3. 3. Hand broadcast and hand plant a native shortgrass seed mix suited to the far northwest High Plains (blue grama, buffalograss, western wheatgrass). 4. 4. Hand mulch the seeded area with certified weed free straw and photograph the seeded segment from the matching before vantage, recording species and area seeded. Done when: Written or recorded permission from the property owner, or confirmation the work stayed on the public grassland access road or trail; Before photo of the bare or eroded segment; Confirmation only hand tools were used, surface only, no digging below the surface; Native species and area seeded recorded; After photo of the seeded segment from the matching vantage

Where

the public Rita Blanca National Grassland, US Forest Service public land, near Dalhart, TX 79022, Dallam County (a shortgrass High Plains segment), or a resident's own rural property with the owner's consent

Pay

$155 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

owner or right of way consent record plus before after photos plus species and area seeded record plus GPS

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

Level

intermediate

Open until

2026-09-03

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

• Written or recorded permission from the property owner, or confirmation the work stayed on the public grassland access road or trail
• Before photo of the bare or eroded segment
• Confirmation only hand tools were used, surface only, no digging below the surface
• Native species and area seeded recorded
• After photo of the seeded segment from the matching vantage

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.