Big Thicket Reporter - 2006/06/02

ALL TAXA BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY PROJECT

An All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory is in the works for BTNP. This is probably the most significant project undertaken in the Preserve's 32-year history.

The Preserve plan will replicate the ATBI project of Discover Life in America that sought to inventory an estimated 100,000 species of living organisms in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and developed checklists, reports, maps, databases, and natural history profiles that describe the biology of that rich landscape. According to reports, "The species level of biological diversity is central to the ATBI, but the project is developed within an ecological and conservation context and encourages understanding at other levels of organization, including genetic variation within species and ecosystem descriptions."

Like the GSMNP project, the Big Thicket Plan will use the DLIA structure with Taxonomic Working Groups that lead the effort for particular groups of organisms. The Plan involves:

1) coordination across ALL taxonomic groups;

2) taxonomic Working Group (TWIG) organization;

3) taxonomic inventory in an ecological and conservation context;

4) a Geographic Information System (GIS) as an organizing and analysis tool;

5) involvement of students of all ages and the public.

ATBI project organization meeting, Feb. 27, 2006

The ATBI:

1) supports and enhances the basic conservation mission of the National Park System;

2) develops the idea that Parks are oases, storehouses, and protectors of biological diversity, not just recreational areas or vacation destinations;

3) creates basic information for management (you cannot manage what you do not know). Information from the ATBI will be important for counteracting existing threats to the parks and for detecting and resisting new threats.

Curtis Hoagland, Chief of Resource Management at BTNP, presided at the first meeting on Feb. 27 at the Field Research Station in Saratoga. BTA was asked to serve as an "umbrella" for group structure. At a called meeting on March 11, the BTA board approved a charter to facilitate organization of the project, and the board named Dr. Bruce Drury, and Wendy J. Ledbetter as BTA representatives to the ATBI Executive Committee.

The second meeting was held at the Houston Area Research Center in the Woodlands and an organization structure was approved that included formation of committees for Funding/Planning, Education Outreach, Data Management, and Science/Technical. The third meeting will be held May 1st in Saratoga.

LOGGING NEAR TURKEY CREEK TRAILHEAD

This large tract of land on the south side of FM 420 along the entire southern boundary of the Turkey Creek Unit is being logged, apparently for a subdivision? The owner is out-of-state; the tract was formerly owned by Louisiana-Pacific. This is the view seen by visitors to the Kirby Nature Trail -- the most visited trail and site in the Preserve.

Logging along FM 420

BTA is working with Hardin County Officials and the Conservation Fund to ask landowner to create a buffer adjacent to FM 420 in order to protect the visitor experience. The Conservation Fund, and possibly the Magnolia Garden Club, are exploring oportunities to acquire a portion of this tract to provide long-term security for the Kirby Nature Trailhead and Staley Cabin. Historic restoration of the Staley cabin and the surrounding grounds is being considered.

BIG THICKET STRATEGIC PLAN PROGRESS

The Big Thicket Association held a scoping meeting for a BTNP Strategic Plan on March 1l. Julie Shackelford (Program Director, The Conservation Fund, Texas Office) was the facilitator-consultant for the session. Shackelford was formerly with Texas Parks and Wildlife and led the Planning Group that developed the Texas Wetlands Conservation Plan.

BTA recently appointed a Steering Group to develop a long-range plan for the Big Thicket National Preserve. The Preserve confronts numerous problems and challenges, and the committees will review goals, consider strategies and approaches, and propose actions. The Plan will recommend how the Preserve should look, how to protect resources, how to deliver visitor services, and what personnel and funding are required for operations.

BIG THICKET NATIONAL PRESERVE HEADQUARTERS NEWS

Big Thicket National Preserve has notified the public of an assessment proposal to "reestablish an administrative facility" (i.e., headquarters building). Hurricane Rita damaged the leased building in Beaumont, formerly headquarters. Preserve employees are currently working in a variety of locations including the Beaumont Annex Building, the maintenance building, the visitor center and temporary trailers set up near the maintenance facility building north of Kountze, in Hardin County. The current proposal seeks to reestablish an administration building and provide greater consolidation of Preserve staff in one location.

NPS requires assessments for any building proposed, and the Preserve must look at alternatives. This time the alternatives are:

1) no action,

2) construct building near existing Visitor Center,

3) lease facility in Beaumont or Sour Lake,

4) modify the NPS-BTNP Field Research Station.

Preserve planning documents dated 1977, 1980 and 1991 recommended location at the US 69 / FM 420 location, and that is not likely to change.

The Environmental Assessment complies with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to provide the decision-making framework to identify potential issues and impacts to park resources and values and mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts. The NEPA process provides for opportunities for public comment. BTA is on record as supporting the existing Preserve planning documents.

You may submit written comments to the address 6044 FM 420, Kountze 77625, Attention: Chris Peapenburg. For more information call 409.951.6700.

PRESERVE OVERSIGHT, By Ann Roberts

Oil and Gas Plan: NPS recently adopted a long-term oil and gas management plan for BTNP. According to news releases, the plan was begun in 1998 when public scoping meetings were held. The plan includes the usual no-action alternative as well as alternatives that identify Special Management Areas sensitive to oil and gas operations that could result in adverse impacts. For more information visit the website http://parkplanning.nps.gov or call Haigler "Dusty" Pate, O&G Program Manager.

Fire Program: The Tyler County Booster reports that a Citizen's Group was formed to provide a permanent home for the National Park Fire Management Program that has been housed in the Texas Forest Service facility. Chairperson Judith Haney announced that Lonnie Grissom, Jr. would donate land on US 69 south of Woodville for the structure. Cong. Kevin Brady met with local officials and helped to secure funding.

Funds for the program are budgeted through the NPFMP. The Preserve currently has five full-time employees and seasonal staff for the administration and ground operations of the Fire Management Program. The team suppresses wildfires if arson-caused or if the fire threatens private property adjacent to the Preserve boundary. In addition the Program is responsible for support of fire operations for three other operating park units in the state of Texas (Padre Island National Seashore, LBJ Grasslands and San Antonio Missions.)

Interim Supt. Pete Hart departs in April for a trip to Italy, and he just became a member of BTA, so we assume he wants to hear from us occasionally. This is his fourth hitch as an "interim" since his retirement from NPS in 2001.

Field Research Station: A lot of exciting visitors came to the FRS lately. There have been ATBI meetings, Strategic Plan meetings, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory volunteers, St. Michaels College (Vermont) volunteers, and Nature Conservancy fire teams.

St Michaels College (Vermont) spring break volunteers

Field study groups include Dr. John Abbott, University of Texas (studying insects), Dr. Joseph Colosi, DeSales University (Pennsylvania), and Dr. Barry Sullender, Rice University. Coming soon are return visits from a Indiana State University team led by Chris Gentry; Dr. Carol Thompson, Tarleton State College; and in May, another visit from Dr. Abbott with another University of Texas group.

University of Texas Field Group, Dr. John Abbott at right

Dr. Tony L. Burgess, Texas Christian University, has launched a course titled "Biodiversity: Inquiry and Methods" and has decided to use Big Thicket for their one long field trip in June. The Preserve will designate the repository for all specimens and copies of data.

Dr. Carl Knight, Eastfield College (who has a long history with BTA), reports a National Science Foundation $1.8 million grant for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program, "Project Pathways." The project is funded for five years. The program expects to increase the "diversity of individuals pursuing and completing science degrees and careers." Dr. Knight and his associate, Jeff Hughes, met with Curtis Hoagland, Resource Management Chief, and Maxine Johnston March 13th. Thirty interns may be working in Big Thicket and using the Field Research Station for the project.

EAST TEXAS MISCELLANY

Magnolia Garden Club hosted a program featuring Dr. James Nations, NPCA Vice-President for State of the Parks, who spoke at their meeting on March 7, held at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas in Beaumont. J. Kristian Pueschel, Director of Development at NPCA, accompanied him. Nations directed his remarks to the status of national parks in general with specific comments directed to Big Thicket National Preserve. NPCA's "State of the Parks" report on Big Thicket was published in July 2005. The Club helped to fund the report.

The Magnolia Garden Club has been among the faithful advocates for Big Thicket long before the Preserve was established and has continued its involvement. The Preserve has also benefited from its support of Texas trailing phlox reintroduction, but most impressive of all, the Club donated 22 acres of superb slope and floodplain forest on the west-south side of Village Creek at U.S. 96 near Silsbee.

Rush Creek Field Trip: BTA substituted a field trip to Rush Creek in Tyler County for the scheduled trip to Black Creek (Rosier Unit) on February 25 - again because of hurricane damage. Houston Sierrans, 12 strong trekkers, joined 8 BTA members (categories not mutually exclusive) in a steady downpour - slipping and sliding down steep inclines and trying to maintain footholds while ascending slopes of scenic and precipitous ravines for about three hours. Amazingly, the group emerged soaked and muddy with cheerful smiles.

Bluegrass jammers at Triple Creek RV Park

Triple Creek RV Park owner Jerry Pesson welcomed the soggy group and insisted that they come inside to eat lunches and to enjoy some bluegrass jamming. It was a hoot when Charles Glenn (BTA member and one of the bluegrass jammers) requested that the group play a song especially for the wet visitors, to wit: "I Don't Look So Good Naked Anymore." Gotta go back there soon to enjoy their regular Saturday night programs that specialize in bluegrass, country, and gospel.

East Texas Springtime: Springtime greens are bedecking the woods running the gamut from soft yellow greens (oaks) to delicate blue greens - all of which will turn to dark summer greens too quickly. Thankfully, Mother Nature is doing her best to mask the depredations of Rita. First there were mayhaw blossoms, bright maple samaras, and yellow jessamine, followed by redbud, fringe trees, and now dogwood and wild azalea. Most of the trees that bloomed after Rita (like fringe trees) are doing their thing again. However, the news that spring is here (tra-la) hasn't reached the pecan trees yet.

The backyard bird population dropped off drastically this year - the usual numerous goldfinches, e.g., were reduced to a few pairs. The cardinals, chickadees, and wrens persist, and the other day an immature pileated appeared.

If you don't live in East Texas, you're underprivileged!

Spring arrives at Field Research Station

EVENTS

• Spring Panorama (Saturday walks led by BTNP rangers) Wildflower walks at the Sundew Trail, 10:00 AM, Hickory Creek Savannah Unit. For directions and information, please call 409-951-6725
  • April 15
  • April 29
  • May 13
• April 22, TRNWR, Earth Day event at Champion Lake in Liberty County, 11-2:00.
• Apr 29, Day canoe trip to explore the proposed Neches River Canoe Recreation Area north & east of Pine Street in Beaumont. GT Sierra, Contact Wendy Mires, 409-883-2619
• Apr 29-30, TCONR Annual Wilderness Pow Wow at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area in the Davy Crockett National Forest. FMI: Contact tconr@texas.net
• May 9-11, East Texas Tourism Association Conference (see story)
• May 13, Pyramid Magnolia Inventory: Meet at 9 AM, Saturday in the parking lot at Brookshire Brothers in Newton, SW corner of the intersection of Highways 87 and 190. Wear long pants and closed toe shoes; bring water and insect repellent. Binoculars would be helpful to identify MAPY at a distance. We should be finished around midday. Please email Sandi Elsik elsik@rice.edu if you are interested in helping or have questions.
• BTA Board Meetings, quarterly, 2006
  • April 8, Saratoga
  • July 8, TBA
  • October 14 (Also Big Thicket Day), Saratoga