Volunteers needed to help weed and prune the native-plant teaching garden at Gullett Elementary School on Saturday, August 23, from 9 am to noon. Please bring gloves, hand pruners, loppers, weed pullers, leaf bags, and mosquito repellant, if you have any. We need to pull invasive plants out of the native plant beds and prune back the

natives to get ready for fall bloom. Some tree pruning is also needed. Park on the street along Hunt Trail, near the teacher parking lot. Walk around to the back of the school near the portable buildings, and you'll see the garden. Contact Pam at 302-3467 if you have any questions.

Volunteer to Conserve Wildlife Habitat In Your Community
 
Join the National Wildlife Federation's nationwide team of volunteers who serve their communities as Habitat Stewards! City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department and NWF in partnership with Travis Audubon Society are offering a specialized training to teach you how to help others create and restore wildlife habitat in backyards, schoolyards and other private and public areas.  This training is offered through the City's new Wildlife Austin program and will help Austin become certified by NWF as the first Community Wildlife Habitat in Texas!

Training topics include:

** Native Plants for Wildlife
** Attracting Birds & Butterflies
** Natural Water Features
** Landscape Design

Habitat Stewards receive:
** 30 hours of intensive, hands-on training
** A comprehensive training manual including regional resources
** Advice and practical training from local conservation professionals
** Field trips and hands-on educational sessions with other community members

Training Dates:

Thursday Sept. 11, 6:00-9:00pm, First Unitarian Universalist Church
Saturday Sept. 13, 9:00-3:30pm, Location Tentative
Thursday Sept. 18, 6:00-9:00pm, Mayfield Park & Preserve
Saturday, Sept. 20, 9:00-3:00pm, Austin Nature & Science Center
Thursday, Sept. 25 6:00-9:00pm, Austin Nature & Science Center
Saturday, Sept. 27 8:30-1:00pm, Camp Mabry
Thursday, Oct. 2, 6:00-8:00pm, Location Tentative
Saturday, Oct. 4, 8:30-12:00pm, Blunn Creek Preserve

In return for training, volunteers must provide 30 hours of service to NWF within one year of the training. Projects include: helping neighbors transform their landscapes to benefit wildlife, writing an article for a local newspaper or distributing habitat information at a local festival.

Training fee: $40.00

All classes must be attended!  Must have Austin address to register.

Registration deadline is August 29, 2008. Enrollment is limited.

Cancellation policy applicable.

For more information: Visit www.keepaustinwild.com  or contact the Wildlife Austin program, 327-8181x29, alice.nance@ci.austin.tx.us.

Training co-sponsored by Travis Audubon Society & supported by Austin Nature & Science Center, Mayfield Park, Hornsby Bend Center for Environmental Research and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Wow! Thank you volunteers and neighbors for your tremendous contributions at the NW Pond Clean-up.

Much work was done across the entire pond area, it is hard to summarize the many improvements made by the volunteers.

Secret #1 : We had fun! One of the most common comments was: “This wasn’t what I expected, I didn’t expect to have so much fun” “You need to tell people how much fun it is.” It can be difficult to communicate the fun of each volunteer event, but I can guarantee that we usually make a mess, have some fun, and improve our parks.

If you have a chance, please drop by the NW Park pond to see the difference. I highly recommend a quick walk around the pond to get the full impact of the volunteer improvements. (Special thanks to the TEXAS ROWING CENTER for donating the use of kayaks. Without their generous donation, much of the work would have been impossible.)

Secret #2: A LOT of work was completed. Here is a quick review:

Algae removal - volunteers netted, raked and pumped yards and yards of duck tail and wolfia from the pond. Teams of 6-8 volunteers had to coordinate moving nets, stringing them across the pond, then dragging the nets to the shore. Volunteers on the shore used asphalt rakes to pull the algae to shore, where it will dry out and be removed by PARD at a later date.

Cleared cattails and vines growing over the cliff-side. Volunteers had to work from kayaks, or the base of the cliff to remove the overgrowth, and then use the kayaks to ferry the clippings to shore.

Algae removal – after much of the larger algae was cleared, a team of 4-6 volunteers worked together to draw smaller algae to a pump to spill on the shore. (It too will dry up.) Please take time to thank Greg P for his tremendous work on this project. It was mucky work!

Weeded and reseated the stone edging for the decomposed granite paths from the basketball court to the parking lot. Picked up hundreds of bottle-caps and trash from the basketball court.

Painted railing along the retention wall behind the pond. (To get a complete idea of how much railing is in NW Park, drive down to the pond.. and then take a 360 look around.. there is a lot of railing.)

In addition to neighborhood volunteers our efforts were enhanced by a tremendous groups of students from the prestigious Telluride program. This competitive program attracts students from all over the world, these students were a tremendous asset, they worked hard… got covered in muck and paint and made a significant positive impact on NW Pond.

Secret #3: Volunteer energy is key. None of these events would happen without volunteers. If you have a passion for Allandale Shoalmont green spaces, you are welcome to join in. Projects and events are planned based on volunteer interest. What interests you?

Regards,

Linnea Lemon
Allandale Beautification Chair

Trash pick up
Pull trash and debris from the pond,  so the fishies have a healthy place to live.

Algae clean-up #1 
Greg has a plan for removing algae that requires some equipment, and volunteers to help manage a pump, and other supplies.  He  will need help submurging and configuring the pump,  weighted trash can, and related equipment.

Algae clean up #2 
4-6 of volunteers string a weighted rope across the surface of the pond.  The rope has 60ft of weighted  nets attached.  As the volunteers gently drag algae across the pond, volunteers in kayak help from the water.
When it gets close to shore, volunteers rake the algae up onto the grass to dry out. Repeat

Clear vines
Volunteers will clear vines and overgrowth from the cliff-side of the pond. Lopers, rakes and a second kayak will help pull the vines away from the wall.

Cattail thinning
The cattails along the edge of the pond, and the island are overgrown. Volunteers will "weed" the pond -making their best effort to get the cattail tubers while removing the plants.
Volunteers may need to coordinate to get access to the cattails, and to get them onto the shore.

Path clean up
Weed and reset edge of decomposed granite paths around basketball court.

Paint patrol
There are hundreds of feet of railing that need to be painted. We have the paint, gloves, brushes... just need to pick a section and paint. We need supervisors to the teams to spread out, and to coach them on "best practices" in painting.

Watermelon brigade
Need 2-3 people to cut up watermelons, and put them into cooler with ice. We provide watermelon, coolers and ice.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/07/24/0724budget.html

July 26 Pond Clean up
Updated Task and Supply lists


Supplies needed:

• Pool Skimmers  (4+)
• Flat bottomed fishing boat
• Drag nets
• Life jackets (If you want to be on the water)
• Cardboard/boxes - painting and moving debris - Thank you Linda Devine, Lemons
• Clean milk or juice jugs (with handles) - Thank you Sorrentos, and Kay Newell!
• Kayaks or Canoes - Thank you Texas Rowing Center for donating the use of the Kayaks!
•  Leaf rakes (8-10) - Thank you Malcolm St. Romain
•  Snacks - Malcolm St. Romain
• Wheel Barrows (2) - Lemons

Tasks we need help with:

Supervisors for

Algae removal - 3 Team leaders - Have 1, need 2 more

Painting - 1 team lead

Clearing out cattails - need 2

Removing Invasive trees from island - Need 1

Skimming and relocating algae piles

Tree Planting

Pond Management - adjusting rocks along the bank, identifying potential habitat improvement

• Kayak pick up - 2 kayaks - Thanks Malcolm
• Deliver Painting Supplies - Thanks Dave
• Picking up and delivering leat rakes - Thanks Malcolm
• Fish population - selection  - 

View Larger Map

Due to the dry spell, the algae problem at the NW Pond has bloomed out of control this season.

The PARD staff are out there today skimming algae off the pond.  If you have a chance to hop over there, please give them a big thank you.

While we worked on a long term solution, removing the algae is going to be our best bet. (In previous years, the pond was drained when algae grew out of control.. and we want to avoid that...)

Short term:
 

Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park pond clean up
July 26 , 2008
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Need Volunteers for a couple of hours to get all of the trash that is in and around the fishing pond. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. We will have kayaks (that have been donated by the Texas Rowing Center) for those who plan on getting into the pond. If you plan to kayak, you’ll need to dress appropriately. We will need a few volunteers to be ready to get in! We want this pond to be free from bottles, cans and any litter so that the fish will be happy! The pool will be open for swimming, so pack a swim suit for a post-clean up swim!

Long term:
Park Planning meeting July 9th, 6:30 PM NW Recreation Center

Representatives from PARD and Watershed protection will be there for a discussion of possible solutions. The meeting with start with a brief education session bringing everyone up to speed - and then meet about long term solutions.

This information will be used when applying for grants and other assistance.

Long Term:
Green Cities Presentation August 6th, 6:30 pm NW Recreation Center

Reps from the COA Green Cities program will provide information on what we each can do to protect our water sources. 

July 26 Pond Clean up

Supplies needed:

• Clean milk or juice jugs (with handles) - to make algae scoops
• Kayaks or Canoes -  Thank you Texas Rowing Center for donating the use of the Kayaks!
• Leaf rakes (8-10) 
• Snacks
• Wheel Barrows (2)
• Pool Skimmers  (4+)
• Flat bottomed fishing boat
• Drag nets
• Life jackets (If you want to be on the water)
• Cardboard/boxes - painting and moving debris - Thank you Linda Devine

Tasks we need help with:

• Team leaders
• Algae removal - 3 Team leaders  - Have 1, need 2 more
• Painting - 1 team lead - position filled
• Clearing out Duck tails - need 2
• Removing Invasive trees from island - Need 1
• Skimming and relocating algae piles
• Pond Management - adjusting rocks along the bank, identifying potential habitat improvement
• Kayak pick up -  2 kayaks  - Thanks Malcolm
• Deliver Painting Supplies - Thanks Dave
• Picking up and delivering leat rakes
• Fish population - selection  - 
• Tree Planting

 

NW Park is really Beverly Sheffield Park

It is a non-flowing quiescent pond with a high nutrient load.

Rain and run-off provide water. A gravel drain, a remnant of the quarry that was there, provides drainage to Shoal Creek.

Some residents report springs in the area. This phenomenon is evanescent seepage, giving the impression of water “bubbling up” – but is not a spring.

Aeration of the pond typically occurs when there is rain. The rain places pressure on the pond volume, forcing water through the drain. The new water and water movement to Shoal Creek refresh the water content and aerate the remaining water.

In addition to the lack of aeration, the pond gathers and condenses nutrients from lawn run-off. This nutrient rich environment promotes algae growth.

Volume:  ~200,000 Gallons
Algae: Duck tail

To keep a pond in the area, the algae issue must be addressed. The water flows into the water supply, so chemical treatments are not an option. There is no quick-fix.

Short term:

• Skim off the algae

Longer term:

• Pond aeration via a pump or fountain
• Neighbor education