SANDIA

WETLANDS RESTORATION PROJECT DESCRIPTION (DRAFT 7/27/11) Balmorhea, Texas

Tierra Grande Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists, Landowners Ellen and Don Weinacht, Project Coordinator David Hedges, Project Document Madge Lindsay

Table of Contents Statement of Purpose Background Summary Wetland Site Tract (Figure 1) Recent Updates Development Areas & Work 1. Communications & Website Construction (Team 1) 2. Water (Team 2) 3. Vegetation Management Group (Team 3) 4. Development & Maintenance of Facilities (Team 4) 5. Legal (Team 5) 6. Biological Monitoring (Team 6) Committee Teams/Assignments & Meetings Project Schedule - Milestones and Work Schedules Project Volunteer Hours, Manpower, Donations and Support Project Costs, Accounting and Funding Press Releases

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE (or Mission Statement) Demonstrate through the regeneration of private resources the ability to create and enhance habitat for the benefit of wildlife.

BACKGROUND SUMMARY The Sandia Wetlands project was inspired by the hundreds if not thousands of waterfowl and other birds including the Sandhill Crane that are visible in the fall at New Mexicos premier wildlife watching sites Bosque del Apache and Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge(s). Located on Reeves County Road 313 (at the intersection of Interstate Highway I-10 and Texas Highway 17) in Balmorhea, Texas, the Sandia Wetlands Project came to life after a group of Texas Master Naturalists including the landowner traveled to Bosque del Apache and Bitter Lake NWR in New Mexico. After seeing this wildlife spectacle and preserve(s), landowners Ellen and Don Weinacht of Balmorhea, TX decided that they had both water and land currently not used for ranching that could be used as a place for restoring some of the wetlands long lost from the original Sandia Springs (located off Texas Highway 17). Sandia Springs headwaters is currently owned by the Nature Conservancy of Texas. Wetlands once emanating from it have been drained over the years for agricultural use. Dave Hedges, resident of Fort Davis, Madge Lindsay and Van Robinson supported the landowners in their decision by offering their help to launch the project. Hedges with his birding experience and knowledge of shorebirds set about to help the landowners proceed with the work. This included scheduling land surveys, dozer work, and procuring water control structures to begin filling the wetlands from the Reeves County Water District irrigation canals that run on Weinacht lands. Unit # 1 was filled when its dozer work was completed May, 2011. Unit # 2 (both shown on the site map included) was filled on June 10th, 2011. Water for the project comes mainly from Sandia Springs and as needed from Balmorhea Lake, where the Weinachts own water rights. At the annual meeting of Tierra Grande Texas Master Naturalists on June 11th the members adopted the Sandia Wetlands as a local conservation project. They agreed to assist as volunteers in its restoration and help with development and maintenance to make this a functioning conservation site and potentially a public wildlife-viewing site. This document is a draft of the planned work with the landowner who is taking responsibility for the projects funding.

SITE LAYOUT

Recent Updates (Since 6/14/11) ---All Committees have met and many new developments have taken place at the project. 1. New water control structures in place in the Wetlands and all wetlands sites have been disked with a tractor to take out weeds and set up better bed for shorebird invertebrates. 2. Noxious vegetation at the project site has received herbicide to for weed control. 3. Nature Conservancy partnership press release sent and picked up by local papers. 4. In a meeting in June, 2011 Nature Conservancy of Texas agreed to enter into the project as a partner providing technical guidance for the wetlands project. 5. Don and Ellen Weinacht are entering into a lease with Nature Conservancy for water from the Sandia Springs preserve. 6. Water measuring devices installed at wetlands. 7. A new wetlands unit was constructed at the project in June, making it three units instead of two. 8. Website is up go to http://sandiasprings.wordpress.com/BSP Biological Checklists sent to Website (Mary Lou Saxon). 9. Trees have been planted on site at the project. Shorebird Migration has begun. Bird sightings from Dave Hedges thus far include: 7/26/11
Phalarope 2 Bairds Sandpiper 2 Semi-palmated Sandpiper 1 Solitary Sandpiper 1 7/24/11 Bairds Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpipers

Yellow-headed Blackbirds (about 50) (Not a shorebird, but loved by birdwatchers)

(TEAM 1) COMMUNICATIONS & WEBSITE CONSTRUCTION Create a Link on TMN Blog Site Ability to post observations and photos concerning Vegetation Water Bird Sightings Other biodiversity (TEAM 1) COMMITTEE CHAIR: Mary Lou Saxon CO-CHAIR: Barbara Novovitch COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Name E-Mail Phone No. Mary Lou Saxon msaxon@sbcglobal.net 214 634 2286 Barbara Novovitch bbnovo@gmail.com 432 386 4102 Beth Nobles texasmountaintrail@gmail.com 432 234 0002 Tex Toler textoler@gmail.com 512 658 8839 432 729 4772 Anne Adkins anne@adkins.com 432 426 3961 anne@marfapublic radio.org 432 729 4578 Pete Szilagy peteattexasmountains.com 249-0541

Action Notes/Meeting Date(s)/Next Meeting First meeting is to be held at Marfa Public Radio 3pm on June 18, 2011. Hello, We just this minute broke from our Website committee meeting. We made some important decisions. We are going to create a Google Group for inter committee information and updates, Every committee chairperson can submit documents (postings/updates/photos) to it, and it is accessible to our group members only (who join the site). And then there will be a website for more general information and photos. Tex is in charge of the Google Group site and I am in charge of the website , with the help and support of the other website committee members. We need everyone to know that all information needs to be backed up and our group is not responsible for document storage. People need to keep copies of all their photos docs etc... We will pass on log in information to all committee chairmen and officers of Tierra Grande at a later date. Our next meeting will be after the TG event on July 29 but we will be in touch by email. Mary Lou

(TEAM 2) WATER Investigate and locate current information on Sandia Springs Output Water Available for Wetland Project Understand Saturation of Soil Understand Water Evaporation Rates Schedule Water Releases (TEAM 2) COMMITTEE CHAIR: Melanie Stewart Pace CO-CHAIR: COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Name E-Mail Phone No. Melanie S. Pace melanie.pace@mrpacecpa.com Jill Goodwin rinconda@satx.rr.com Kate McKenna bigsky@texasmountains.com Joan Osper joanoesper@me.com Madge Lindsay madgelindsay@me.com 432-426-2339 Action Notes/Meeting Date(s)/Next Meeting Next Meeting is Thurs. evening 7 p.m. June 16th at Melanie Paces Home 102 Clearview Drive, Fort Davis, TX (Limpia Crossing 1st street to the right, after entering the community passed the mailboxes. )

 WATER COMMITTEE MONITORING REPORT, JUNE 20, 2011, 8:30 A.M. By: Observers, Melanie Pace and Madge Lindsay We were at the site at 8:30 a.m. and observed the following: CANAL FLOW: APPROX. 60 gals. per minute

WATER LEVELS: Unit #1 = 6" of water (60% water coverage with soils from dried mud to moist soils to wet marsh, to a 6" pool) Unit #2 = 4.8" of water in the pool (20% water coverage with mostly dried mud, moist and wet soils to a small pool with less than 5" of water) EVAPORATION RATES: HIGH---Estimated to be about 50% (temperature highs the past two weeks have been over 100 degrees up to 108 degrees; W/Moderate winds RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON OBSERVATIONS: Top Priority-----NEEDS MORE WATER OBSERVATIONS OF: Vegetation:Mesquite needs control, lots coming back after water recedes Cottonwood Tree (1) may be dying, others look healthy Maintenance:Water Measurement gauges are good but hard to read with binoculars from the perimeter and road, Melanie checking into this. Birds; Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Mexican Duck Killdeer Swallows (? barn or cliff) Scaled Quail Lesser Night Hawk Meadow Larks Say's Phoebe Mourning Doves Sparrow (sp.) (1) (1) (2) (6) (2) (1) (2) (2) (2) (5)

Butterflys: Dragonflys

Spicebush Swallowtail Species (?)

(1) (5)

 Report on Evaporation Rates by Joan Oesper, Team 2/WATER I have contacted the Texas Parks and Wildlife office here in Alpine, who were not much help on migration timings. I will next look at possible resources at Sul Ross, and also contact Mark Lockwood, who is at Davis Mountains state park. As for evaporation rates, the USDA office was a little more helpful. The Texas Water Development Board has data on evaporation from Balmorhea Lake from 1954 to the present. The annual surface evaporation in inches during that period ranges from a low of 51.31 in 1990 to a high of 93.09 in 1994. This may be what we use for a first approximation, but I think the evaporation rate on our shallowly covered acreage will be somewhat higher than that from a lake. Evaporation rate depends on the temperature of the water, the temperature of the air, the area of air-water surface, the humidity, and the airflow past the air-water surface. The USDA people were not terribly knowledgeable about evaporation, but I will look for resources at Sul Ross on this as well. The TWDB web site also has detailed information on monthly evaporation rates from Balmorhea Lake, with the winter months having a relatively low evaporation rate of about 2-3 inches/month, and evaporation in May, June, July, and August at a much higher rate of 6-11 inches/month. Measurement of an acre foot: an acre foot is the volume of water that will cover one acre of land to the depth of one foot, equal to 43,560 cubic feet of water. (There are 43,560 square feet in one acre.) An acre foot is equal to 325,851 gallons of water. Thus, one inch of water on one acre would be 27,154 gallons. One cubic foot contains 7.480 gallons of water. The following are some useful websites I found: http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/ Texas Water Development Board website http://www.regionfwater.org/files/regionf/Final/Final%202011%20Plan/Chapter %201c.pdf This is a survey of springs in the Balmorhea area and where the spring water comes from. Dated 2010 http://midgewater.twdb.state.tx.us/Evaporation/evap.html Evaporation/Precipitation data. The quadrangle we are interested in is # 604. http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/publications/reports/GroundWaterReports/OpenFile/Open-File97-03.pdf A TWDP report, Evaluation of Diminished Spring Flows in The Toyah Creek Valley, Texas. Dated 1997

 Water Committee Report on Bird Migration Timing and Water Levels I have some information about migration times from Mark Lockwood of Davis Mountains State Park. (We exchanged phone messages back and forth, but I was not able to talk to him directly.) He said that migratory birds are present in the trans-Pecos area during most of the year, except a period from about June 10 to July 15. So 11 months of the year there is a migratory bird presence. The first shorebirds begin their migration during the last part of July. The heaviest period of duck migration is Oct-Nov., and many of them stay throughout the winter. The last of the spring migrating shorebirds leave the area by early June. I believe it is also important to maintain some water in the wetland to maintain a food source for the birds, so even during the times of low migratory bird numbers, the wetland nature should be maintained. We can't flood the acres a few weeks ahead of their arrival and expect a ready food source to be present right away. I will look up further migration timings of individual species, such as sandhill cranes, etc., but will not have time for this until after July 11. We are taking a vacation to California during the next 1 1/2 weeks. (My daughter, who we are going to visit there, may have some helpful information. She did an internship at the International Crane Foundation in Wisconsin last year.) I also anticipate that I will need to go to Wisconsin sometime soon, because my brother-in-law is seriously ill with cancer and is not expected to live long. Sorry about these delays, but I will try to do what I can when we are in town. Joan Oesper

(TEAM 3) VEGETATION MANAGEMENT GROUP Investigate and recommend: Control Methods Mechanical vs. Chemical Control Cost Comparison When to Activate and Schedule Work (TEAM 3) COMMITTEE CHAIR: Felicia Brailas CO-CHAIR: Mary Malmgren COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Name Phone E-Mail Anne Marler..........432-294-2943..........mamarler@att.net Carol Edwards.......432-426-2314..........bbbirder@sbcglobal.net Felicia Brailas........432-426-2066..........fbrailas@fdisd.com Mary Fenton..........432-426-3817..........mary.fenton@ttuhsc.edu Mary Malmgren......432-837-9637..........mary.malmgren@gmail.com Susan Penney........432-426-2326..........4redpenney@gmail.com

Action Notes/Meeting Date(s)/Next Meeting Reminders: Our next scheduled meeting is Friday, June 17 @ 1pm at Carol Edwards' home in Fort Davis and Our team's first priorities are: 1) where to plant cottonwoods trees (within the next week) 2) cleaning water channel of sedge, etc

 TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST VEGETATION COMMITTEE REPORT: JUNE 30, 2011 This report will focus on the part of the discussion regarding a plan to control unwanted plant species and promote plant species that would contribute to the Sandia Wetlands goals of attracting and supporting wildlife. Jason Wrinkle discussed the following issues based on his observation of the plant life in the Sandia Wetlands project. The Bermuda grass in the current area is not well established and should be removed as soon as possible as it will be more difficult to eliminate once it is well established. Bermuda grass will continue to grow even under water. Recommendation was to divert the water and drain the wetland areas as soon as possible and apply Rodeo at the maximum strength and spray as soon as possible, hopefully within the next two weeks. Jason explained that it is the most used and safest aquatic herbicide for such use. See attached Rodeo label to answer any questions regarding environmental impact. The decision was made to cancel the TMN work day on July 9th due to the mosquitoes and to ask for volunteers from the maintenance and vegetation committees to help with the spraying of the Bermuda grass on the 9th. The mesquite is wide spread and should also be removed. However it is low growing and does not have enough growth to spray so the suggestion was made to wait until next spring as at least 4 feet of growth is needed to be effective. Recommendation was to look for first buds on the mesquite and spray 60 days after bud break; use a combination of Remedy and Reclaim and spray on leaves. The mixture is 1% Remedy + 1% Reclaim mixed in water. The mesquite tree recognizes the spray as a carbohydrate and stores it later in the root crown. It is at this time when the herbicide begins to kill the root crown of the mesquite. Recommendations for adding plants included: Pecos sunflower (a rare native sunflower, in Texas found only at Sandia Springs and Diamond Y Spring; we will need to get permission to gather seed from US Fish and Wildlife Service since it is an endangered plant; Black Willow to serve as a wind break to decrease evaporation; Desert Willow, and Cotton Woods; It was further discussed that all these trees will use more water to become established but will eventually become more efficient users of water such as the large cotton woods lining the irrigation ditches in the area. All of these trees will use more water during the early stages of life. However these native trees are simply part of the native system.

REPORT OF SANDIA WETLANDS PROJECT MEETING WITH NATURE CONSERVANCY REPRESENTATIVES The Nature Conservancy Jason Wrinkle Desert Program Manager Dan Snodgrass Associate Director of Conservation Lands Texas Master Naturalists Ellen Weinacht Madge Lindsay Dave Hedges Mary Fenton Randy Ersch Land Owner Don Weinacht

(TEAM 4) DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF PROJECT Investigate and Recommend: Coordinate changes and repairs Design & install better water gates Monitor & maintain dikes & berms Monitor mechanical removal of vegetation Plan and enhance public access Signs (TEAM 4) COMMITTEE CHAIR: Bill Broyles CO-CHAIR: COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Name E-Mail Phone No. David Hedges hdhedges@gmail.com 432 426-2237 David Mainz dlmainz@sbcglobal.net 432 837-9533 Bill Broyles billb@bigbend.net 432 364-2270 Becky Hart beckyhart19@gmail.com 432 837-7297 Trish Olvera smilingo@sbcglobal.net 432 386-6386 Michael McCollum ringtailrecords@sbcglobal.net 432 426-2497 Action Notes/Meeting Date(s)/Next Meeting A meeting is planned for June 19th at 1:00 pm at Dave Mainz's house.
The maintenance committee is meeting now and appreciates the update. Our most immediate project will be to build gates to control the water. Also planning to meet July the 9th at 8am at the project and all comers are invited. We will be planning to install the first gate and do mesquite control. Come get your feet wet. Maintenance committee.

 Report to Water Committee from David Hedges on June 17, 2011 Water measurements stakes installed at Sandia Project (painted yellow w/black markings) On June 17, 2011 After installation of stakes Water Measurements in Pool # 1 = 4.5 inches (Pole installed 10 in Mud at # Zero) Water Measurements in Pool # 2 = 6.0 inches (Pole installed in 6 inches deep) (nearest to the road) (Each knotch is an inch) Hatch marks on the stakes (#s at 6 and 12) and (#1 to 16)

(TEAM 5) LEGAL Define the most efficient organizational structure to address the following: Texas Master Naturalists/Tierra Grande/landowner relationships Site Responsibility & structure holding accountability, etc. Limits of Liability Public Access Potential Grants (?) (TEAM 5) COMMITTEE CHAIR: Robert Steele CO-CHAIR: COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Name E-Mail Phone No. Steve Bickerstaff SBickerstaff@law.utexas.edu Mimi Smith smithmimi.smith02@gmail.com John Pace johnpace@mrpacecpa.com Madge Lindsay madgelindsay@me.com 432-426-2339 Robert Steele r_e_steele@msn.com Action Notes/Meeting Date(s)/Next Meeting The group will meet in two weeks (June 25th, SAT) 12 noon at the stone village market in Ft Davis.

 Date: June 22, 2011 From: Bob Steele To: Steve Bickerstaff John Pace Mimi Smith Madge Lindsay RE: Sandia Spring Wetland I have given some thought to the project, and my ideas and suggestions follow: Tierra Grande can act as an advisor. John researched this and identified this as a permissible project. o Based upon Johns comments, it appears that there is no reason for Tierra Grande to enter into any lease, nor does it have the capacity to do so. o Advice on the project is limited solely to the plants, wildlife, and water. No legal advice can be given to others,i.e., to the owner. There is an element of self interest here. I suggest that the Board of Directors consider this and make a formal finding that adequate disclosure has been made. This is especially important since Ellen is president of chapter. The Chapters charter and bylaws make reference to a code of conduct and ethics. I have been unable to locate. Liability issues really fall upon the owner (Ellen). I suggest that some type of memorandum of understanding be signed by Tierra Grande and owner. Any signage giving attribution to Tierra Grande should be clear that Tierra Grande is an advisor on wildlife and plants only. Control remains solely with landowner. Any other thoughts are welcome. I apologize for being unable to attend this Saturday.

Report from John Pace, Legal Committee

Outlined below is some food for thought. The Tierra Grande Texas Master Naturalist program is a chapter under the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Parks & Wildlife umbrella. In other words it looks as though Tierra Grande is a 501(c)(3) as an extension (integrated auxiliary) of these two governmental agencies and not a standalone 501(c)(3) entity or covered under a group 501(c)(3) exemption. There is a required set of bylaws (attached), a Chapter Operating Handbook (attached) and a Chapter Management Guidelines (attached). In the Chapter Management Guidelines there is a list of acceptable and unacceptable projects for volunteers. One of those projects criteria is as follows. Conducting wildlife management Bad or unacceptable activities on your own land Conducting wildlife management - Better practices/activities on public land Teaching/assisting landowners to - Best develop their own wildlife management plans that the landowner would carry out The project in Balmorhea would seem to fit the last category but implies that ownership and control of the project would be the landowners and not the Chapters, which seem to preclude a lease by the Chapter unless permission was obtained from the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Parks & Wildlife oversight organizations. The first category (conducting wildlife management activities on your own land) is probably linked to the prohibition in the Bylaws and in the federal law for nonprofits that a no member can obtain a private benefit by being a member of the organization.
The Comptrollers office regards the chapter as an exempt entity and it is in good standing. David Mainz is listed as the registered agent. John John Pace, CPA

(TEAM 6) BIOLOGICAL MONITORING Investigate and monitor site biota with the following: Develop baseline data Type and Scope of Surveys Collect and record Data files and format Ongoing data collection (TEAM 6) COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dana Milani CO-CHAIR: COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Name E-Mail Phone No. Dana Milani silverstrand3@netzero.com Carol Edwards bbbirder@sbcglobal.net Linda Hedges linda.k.hedges@gmail.com Laura Belkin lbelkin@sbcglobal.net Action Notes/Meeting Date(s)/Next Meeting The group will most likely to be meeting either the 24th or 25th of June to start our baseline survey. On June 16th, the Biological Monitoring Committee sent Balmorhea State Park Biota Checklists to the Mary Lou Saxon for the website.

PROJECT GOALS, MILESTONES AND WORK SCHEDULE (Note the meeting schedules for each team) To be completed.

PROJECT VOLUNTEER HOURS, MANPOWER, DONATIONS AND SUPPORT To be compiled. Everyone track their hours and turn in to Becky. (To be completed)

PROJECT COSTS ACCOUNTING AND FUNDING (To be tracked by Project Leader and Landowners)

Press Release: FOR RELEASE DATE: June 30, 2011 Contact: Ellen Weinacht (432) 375-2325 Dave Hedges (432) 426-2237 SANDIA WETLANDS PROJECT TO RECEIVE WATER AND TECHNICAL GUIDANCE THANKS TO NATURE CONSERVANCY Landowners Don and Ellen Weinacht are entering into an agreement with The Nature Conservancy of Texas to purchase additional water for the Sandia Wetlands Project being reconstructed on their lands near Balmorhea, TX. In addition to the water sale, TNC has agreed to join in the collaboration by providing technical guidance to the conservation project. The projects purpose is to educate and demonstrate the ability to create and enhance habitat for the benefit of wildlife through private resources. It was adopted as a conservation project by the Tierra Grande Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists at its annual meeting on June 11, 2011. The four-acre wetland project led by volunteer David Hedges, project coordinator, is currently under construction with the Weinachts providing the land, water and materials and the TX Master Naturalists Chapter volunteers providing planning and manpower. The Sandia Wetlands project is approximately three miles from the original Sandia Springs in Balmorhea, the remaining portion now owned by The Nature Conservancy of Texas. The Conservancys Sandia Springs Preserve is located just off Texas Highway 17 east of town. Inspired by the Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico, the partners are working to provide new habitat and bring back shorebirds, wading birds and waterfowl that have been lost through time. A website about the project is being launched and will include photos and details concerning the project. END