Document wild-rice stand and trampling condition, zone 1, San Marcos City Park (public city park), 170 Charles Austin Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666, Hays County (2026-08-04)

Texas wild-rice grows in the wild in exactly one place on Earth, the upper San Marcos River, and this reach's trampling pressure from heavy summer river use has no recent photo record to guide parks-staff habitat protection. Standard: US Fish and Wildlife Service Texas wild-rice (Zizania texana) recovery plan stand-condition monitoring guidance plus Texas Parks and Wildlife Department state threatened and endangered species habitat protection practice, applied here to the upper San Marcos River, the only place on Earth Texas wild-rice grows in the wild, Hays County, TX, observation of general stand condition and human-use pressure only, never a collection or in-water survey. SDG 15.5 and 6.6. Proof: document only observation log plus stand condition note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note Method (US Fish and Wildlife Service Texas wild-rice (Zizania texana) recovery plan stand-condition monitoring guidance plus Texas Parks and Wildlife Department state threatened and endangered species habitat protection practice, applied here to the upper San Marcos River, the only place on Earth Texas wild-rice grows in the wild, Hays County, TX, observation of general stand condition and human-use pressure only, never a collection or in-water survey. SDG 15.5 and 6.6.): 1. 1. From a public access point or the maintained bank at San Marcos City Park, photograph a visible stretch of the river channel from the bank, noting the approximate extent and density of any wild-rice stand visible from the bank, without entering the water. Texas wild-rice (Zizania texana) is federally and state endangered and grows in the wild in exactly one place on Earth, the upper San Marcos River; never enter the water at any point, never touch, handle, wade through, or collect any part of the plant, and never publish a precise stand location, at any skill level. 2. 2. Note whether the stand shows worn, trampled, or thinned patches at the water's edge nearest the access point. 3. 3. Photograph the access point itself, noting any informal paths or worn ground leading toward the bank. 4. 4. Record a ranked follow on note naming the stretch for the parks and recreation habitat-protection crew. Done when: Photo of the river stretch taken from the bank or a public access point; Note of the approximate wild-rice stand extent, density, and any visible trampled or thinned patches; Confirmation the water was never entered and no wild-rice was touched, handled, or collected; Ranked follow on note naming the stretch for the parks and recreation habitat-protection crew; GPS waypoint of the surveyed access point

Where

San Marcos City Park (public city park), 170 Charles Austin Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666, Hays County

Pay

$95 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 stand 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 river stretch taken from the bank or a public access point
• Note of the approximate wild-rice stand extent, density, and any visible trampled or thinned patches
• Confirmation the water was never entered and no wild-rice was touched, handled, or collected
• Ranked follow on note naming the stretch for the parks and recreation habitat-protection crew
• GPS waypoint of the surveyed access point

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.