COMMONS FORD NEWS SEGMENT ON KXAN

News reporter Jim Swift produced a great news segment on the Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Project for KXAN Channel 4 in Austin (NBC). You can read and see thehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif segment here

NATIVE SEED PLANTING AT COMMONS FORD

Major developments in the last few weeks at Commons Ford. The initial seeding plan called for use of a broadcast seeding technique with the assistance of volunteers. Behind the scenes discussions led to the development of a new partnership with Native American Seed based in Junction, TX. While discussing the seed mix alternatives for the prairie, NAS suggested that a no-till drilling process would likely provide a higher seed germination rate. Unfortunately, the restoration budget was not sufficient to allow for the no-till drilling process. NAS, having taken a significant interest in the project and understanding the importance of every native prairie restoration effort, offered to conduct the no-till drilling for a substantially reduced fee resulting in a in-kind contribution to project.

The end result is that, on the weekend of February 24, 2012, we completed the seeding process using the no-till drilling method. The seed mix was prepared in consultation with NAS, Travis Audubon Society and Balcones Canyonland Preserve representatives as well as research conducted by Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Organization volunteers. The mix contains 67 native grasses and forbs which are appropriate for the sandy loam soil type and which are geared toward attracting and sustaining prairie bird species which depend on such vegetation for food, nesting and cover. Some of the species in the mix include little and big bluestem, side-oats grama, bush sunflower, American basketflower, Texas cupgrass and many more. Check out the pictures!

Restoration of Commons Ford: Progress Report

The arrival of cooler weather has spurred the restoration process at Commons Ford. With each passing day, the site is approaching the day when the native prairie seeds will be returned to the soil. When the restoration process was begun, the 40 acre site was covered in invasive grasses and shrubs. In the past, shrub growth here was limited by periodic fires, which used to sweep across the state in regular patterns. With the arrival of European settlers, fires began to be suppressed due to both safety issues and the monetary damage they would cause to crops, cattle and property.

In addition to the loss of fire, the widespread practice of planting exotic grass species has also had an impact on the native prairie ecosystems. Commons Ford, in its state prior to restoration, was the perfect example of what happens when a prairie system is disrupted by a combination of loss of fire and invasion by exotic plants. The woody plants, mainly mesquite, had taken over the prairie. Invasive grasses, namely Johnson grass, Bermuda grass and King Ranch Bluestem dominated the plant composition.

Here is a picture of the prairie, pre-restoration....






And here is a picture of it today....







The prairie is now in the process of being tilled and disked. This process breaks up the soil, which serves multiple purposes. First, it helps to break up and kill any remaining live roots. Further, it aerates the soil, inundating it with oxygen. This gives newly planted seeds the best chance of succeeding and taking over the prairie patch.

The disking and tilling is done using this machine, which is called a mole board plow.








The mole board plow process is then following by disking with a different device which smoothes the soil, preparing it for seeding. The smooth soil ensures direct contact with the seeds.


Seeding is scheduled for late March, early April. It will be exciting to see what changes this spring will bring!

Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Project Receives a Grant from TogetherGreen

The Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Project has received another grant which results in complete funding of the budget for the native prairie restoration project which will bring the central tract of Commons Ford Park back to its former tall grass glory. The grant is from TogetherGreen, a joint venture between the National Audubon Society and Toyota. The Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Organization was awarded a grant of $15,000 which will be used to pay a portion of the seed costs. Initial planting is scheduled for the winter of 2011/2012.

TogetherGreen was launched in 2008 in order to fund conservation projects, train environmental leaders, and offer volunteer opportunities that will significantly benefit the environment. The Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Organization is involved in this project with numerous partners including Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Native Prairies Association of Texas, Austin Parks Foundation and Travis Audubon Society. The grant is awarded in recognition of the long-term beneficial effects which the restoration will have on endangered and threatened grassland bird species.

Recently, Stu Wilson, long time Travis Audubon Society member and active birder, as well as co-founder of the Organization, attended the Innovation Grants Training Workshop at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Conference topics included how to keep a project well funded and ways in which to evaluate the success of the project. We are happy to announce that our project seems to be right on track!

Now that the funds are secured, it is time to get down and dirty (quite literally) with the prairie restoration process. The first herbicide treatment of the invasive grasses was done in July. Before planting can commence, we will apply one more herbicide treatment and disc the 40 acre tract in order to break up the sod and destroy any remaining invasive roots.

Thanks so much to TogetherGreen, National Audubon, and Toyota for this grant. Without the generosity of organizations like this, our dreams of restoring Commons Ford Prairie would be much harder, even impossible, to achieve.

To find out more about TogetherGreen, visit them at their website.

Commons Ford PRO to Receive Grant from Austin Parks Foundation

Earlier this week, Austin Parks Foundation advised Commons Ford PRO that it would fully fund its most receipt grant request in the amount of $25,000. This grant ensures that the organization has sufficient funds to purchase the native seed needed for the planned December planting. A BIG THANK YOU to Austin Parks Foundation!

The Austin Parks Foundation (APF) is a non-profit advocacy group that works with volunteers as well as city departments in order to maintain and improve our cities green spaces. Our parks are our inheritance to our future generations. Maintaining the integrity of Austin parks is a big job that cannot be done by one small group alone. Thus, APF awards grants like the one given to the Commons Ford Restoration Project to organizations in order to allow other organizations to plan and make improvements to city parks.

If you would like to get involved with APF, there are several ongoing opportunities available, including Adopt-a-Park programs and trail building and maintenance. See the APF website for more information or to become a member.

UPDATE ON RESTORATION:

The first stage of restoration, removal of mesquites, began in May. Efforts to remove the invasive grasses in the future prairie will begin in mid-July. The park may be closed for a few specific days during the removal process, but should be open during its normal hours on all other days. Signs marking the treatment area will be posted with specific details regarding the treatment process. For more information regarding Commons Ford rules and hours, see the Austin Parks and Recreations departments website.

Moving Forward: Prairie Restoration Set to Begin

It has been a very productive month for the Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Project. The wheels of progress have begun to move, taking the project closer to the final goal of removing the invasive plant species that have taken over the prairie and returning it to its historic, native tall grass prairie glory.

This progress is due, partly, to $2,000 raised through Birdathon contributions. Many of those contributions came from Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Organization members. A big THANK YOU to all who donated to this worthy cause. This money will be used immediately in connection with the next phase of the project, the removal of invasives as well as the smaller mesquite.

Mesquite is a native prairie scrub bush that, due to the suppression of fire, has taken over far more than its fair share of the land. In a natural prairie system, scrub plants, such as mesquite, would have been removed periodically when fires burned the prairie. When fire began to be suppressed in the 1800's, however, primarily due to farming, ranching, and a general increase in human population, mesquite was allowed to grow unchecked. This fire suppression led to this thorny scrub brush growing into thick stands, blocking out light for the plants below and becoming a general nuisance for humans and wildlife. The Commons Ford tract exemplifies this unchecked mesquite growth.

Due to its thickness and thorniness, the first phase of any invasive removal must start with clearing the mesquite. While a few mesquite/oak mots and larger trees will remain as habitat and cover for birds and other wildlife, a majority of the mesquite will be cut down and its trunk treated with herbicide in order to kill the roots. Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) personnel will conduct the mesquite removal. It is expected that the park will remain open during the mesquite treatment process, but PARD will place signs about the treatment and the treatment area will be well marked.

Once the mesquite has been cut and treated, the next removal phase will begin. This phase involves removal of the non-native grasses which are primarily King Ranch Bluestem, Bermuda and Johnson grass. Due to the drought and resulting burn ban, this phase will not likely include a prescribed burn. A discing process will be used as a substitute. This process utilizes a tractor-like machine to till the soil, breaking it up and thoroughly uprooting the plants.

While the treatment process will take hard work and may temporarily make the prairie tract look bare, it is all in good cause. By this time next year, instead of looking at scraggly mesquite and King Ranch bluestem, park visitors may be treated to the first signs of new growth including a field of colorful wildflowers!

We would like to thank everyone for their continued support of the project. We will keep you posted on the progress of the invasives removal as it progresses.

Last week the Westlake Picayune printed an interview with Ed Fair and an update about the Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Project.

Birdathon 2011 and the Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Project

It's that time of the year again, when birders all over central Texas brave the humidity and heat of Texas spring to get out and count birds for a cause. Migration season is in full swing and it is possible to see over a hundred species in one day, especially with the keen eyes of our own local Travis Audubon super birders! This year, you can help the Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Project by pledging a Birdathon team.

Each year, Ed Fair and his Bird-a-Thon team "Gone Pishing" head out to count birds in central Texas. On May 7th, 2011 he will be heading out with three other seasoned Audubon birders in order to see how many species can be sighted within a single county - Travis County. This year, all the funds raised by Ed for his Birdathon team will go directly to the Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Project.

This is a critical time for the project. Now that the plant and wildlife surveys have been completed, it is time to get to the business of removing invasive species, prepping the land for seeding, and the seeding itself. While most of the funds needed for the project have been raised from a combination of generous private donations and grant money, the project is still shy of its projected budget. The funds raised by the Birdathon team will help to put the restoration project in full swing!

If you would like to help with the project by sponsoring the "Gone Pishing" Birdathon team, just send us an email at commonsfordpro@gmail.com. Let us know how much you would like to pledge per species. Once the Birdathon is complete, we will calculate your pledge based on how many species were counted. Last year Ed's team counted 148 species, just to give you an idea of how much to pledge! Alternatively, you are also welcome to simply make a donation in any amount that works for you! Cash, check and credit card donations are accepted. No amount is too large or too small, because everything and anything helps!

Good luck to all of the Birdathon teams! Your passion for wildlife and conservation is what makes projects such as the Commons Ford Grassland Restoration Project possible!