Big Thicket Reporter - 2007/09/10

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THICKET OF DIVERSITY KICKOFF TRIUMPH

The Biodiversity inventory kickoff on Saturday, June 16 was a huge success! Over 380+ folks of all ages turned out, and morning and afternoon thundershowers failed to dampen spirits.

Pres. Jimmy Simmons, Lamar University keynoted the event. Gillian Bowser, CESU-NPS outlined the Thicket of Diversity Project. The Preserve used the Kickoff assembly to honor Rose Ann Jordan for her many years of service as Volunteer Coordinator.

Seminars were presented by Juliana Hinton (McNeese) on "Water Bears"; Stuart Marcus on Trinity River NWR; Mike Hoke (Shangri La), "Birds / Ivory-billed Woodpecker"; Sharon Odegar (NPSOT), "Exotic Vs. Native Plants"; Mike Howlett (Jesse Jones Park), "Frogs and Toads"; David Henderson (Naturalist, "Butterflies"; Chris Comer (SFA), "Bats"; and Jane Packard (TAMU), "Slime Molds."

Dr. Carl Knight and his Eastfield College delegation exposed "Ugly Bugs" and "Greedy Plants" using electron microscopes. Guided walks were held at Kirby Nature Trail and more presentations were made by J. Gonzalez (Katy Prairie) on "Frogs"; E. Realzola (TAMU), "Whirligig Beetles"; Dave Lewis (GSMS), "Fungi"; Pedro Chavarria (TAMU), "Animal Tracking"; and Dale Kruse (TAMU), "Mosses and Liverworts.

Geraldine Watson exhibited her "Good Ole Days" paintings. Michael Black displayed Thicket photographs. Richard Donovan signed his book, Paddling the Wild Neches. Booths included Fire Ecology, Deanna Boensch; Nature Conservancy, Wendy Ledbetter; Butterflies, D. Henderson; Ecospace Invaders, Lisa Jameson; NPTSOT, Sharon Odegar, Golden Triangle Sierra Club, Jan Ruppel and P. Judice; and Preserving Rare Beauties and Beasts, Mercer Arboretum. Activities especially for kids were arranged by Leslie DuBey and the T-R-T Rangers.

BTA's Linda Brindle, Ann Roberts, Cathy Albrecht, Marion Holt, Kathryn Walker and Preserve staffers Leta Parker, Pollard Mobley, Nellie Martinez, et al sold T-shirts, barbecue tickets, and signed up volunteers.

Kickoff Barbeque Luncheon

Kickoff - Ugly Bugs?

PRESERVE ADDS LAND!

On May 18, title passed to the U.S.NPS on two tracts, 562.09 acres and 15.5 acres located on the west side of the Neches River below the Beaumont Unit, properties were mitigation lands donated by Edwin Arnaud III. Another magnificent gift from a generous friend of conservation

On June 30 The Conservation Fund closed on a 4600-acre Temple-Inland tract that joins the Beaumont Unit from the salt water barrier to I-10. This is a beautiful cypress-tupelo swamp laced with waterways and canals. It will be a big tourist destination equal to the Everglades or the Boundary Waters eventually. TCF will transfer the property to NPS following the donation process.

Acquisition of land authorized in the 1993 Addition Act moves along steadily thanks again to The Conservation Fimd. On July 6 BTNP acquired a 171.99 acre tract along Big Sandy Creek at the Polk/Tyler county line.

More good news: Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG) was sentenced on June 20, 2007 in Beaumont Texas to pay $10 million in the Eastern District of Texas as part of a national $37 million criminal settlement involving deliberate vessel pollution. In accordance with the plea agreement, OSG will make a $1,160,000.00 community service payment to the National Park Foundation for the explicit goal of funding environmental projects and initiatives designed to benefit, preserve and restore the environment and ecosystems in the Eastern District of Texas. In addition, OSG will make a payment of $870,000.00 to The Conservation Fund to further the acquisition of land to be added to Big Thicket National Preserve. [Shucks! Why not the whole $37 million?]

VICK FOUNDATION GIFT

By Pete Gunter

We would all like to believe that somewhere in this green world there will never be constructed the Lake of Fire Tanning Salon, or Bubba's Digital Carwash, or Sweet Millicent's Beauty Shoppe and Chainsaw Repair. It would be a place where kids could run, where canoers could stop and rest, where hikers could rest in the dappled shade of cypress and oak. Such a place at the confluence of Beech Creek and Village Creek (4.4 acres) at the confluence of Beech Creek and Village Creek now exists. It will become part of the Big Thicket National Preserve.

When the BTNP 1993 Addition Act was made law, it had a couple of drawbacks. Land authorized for acquisition on the Village-Big Sandy Creek corridors contained only timber company land; private lands were left out. This left numerous gaps in the corridors, occasionally with weekend cabins or vacant land that might someday be developed. The major task of the Big Thicket Natural Heritage Trust is to try to fill these gaps. Legislation also required that timber company lands be exchanged for national forest lands. When that didn't work, "exchanges" had to be interpreted as land purchased and conveyed by some agent distinct from the federal government.

One small but all-important gap has just been filled and (as stated above) in a perfect place: the intersection of Beech and Village Creeks. Purchase was made possible by a donation of $16,500 by the Vick Family Foundation of Dallas. Established in 2003, the Foundation has contributed to Civil War site preservation, to Nature Conservancy, and to education (Dallas Magnet Schools).

The Big Thicket Association extends its thanks to the Vick family and to the Big Thicket Natural Heritage Trust. To say that we are grateful would be to raise understatement to new heights.

THE N.P.C.A. VISITS THE THICKET

Tom Kiernan, Pres. NPCA, announced April 10 the establishment of a Texas Office in Dallas that will advocate for Big Thicket, Big Bend and other parks. Suzanne Dixon serves as Senior Program Manager and Kieran says she brings "an extraordinary amount of energy, vision and enthusiasm to our work in Texas."

July 10-11, Dixon and Regional Program Director Robin Martin met with the Superintendent and division chiefs (individually) and Dusty Pate (Oil & Gas). Their schedule included a land tour with Keith Flanery and Leslie DuBey, and a boat tour with DuBey and Johnny Stafford. They joined BTA officials for lunch and information exchange at the Field Research Station, which was followed by a visit with the fire team in Woodville.

NPCA has vigorously supported the Preserve BEFORE and AFTER its establishment in 1974. We remember with pleasure all the good works of Paul Pritchard, Laura Loomis, Joan Moody, David Simon Randy Rasmussen, and James Nations.

PRESERVE OVERVIEW

By Ann Roberts

HOAGLAND AND GOURGES DEPART

Hoagland to Corps of Engineers, by Supt. Todd Brindle. The most important objective of the Big Thicket National Preserve is to preserve the unique combinations of ecosystems that exist side-by-side in the Thicket. Thus the role of the Chief of Resources Management is extremely important. Curtis Hoagland took over that important job on March 31, 2004, after the position had been vacant for about two years, and worked hard to get the resources management program back up and running.

During his time at Big Thicket, Curtis led the effort to restore 100 acres of longleaf pine in the area beside the visitor center. Curtis also established a very successful bird banding program, and managed the reintroduction of approximately 800 Texas Trailing Phlox into Big Sandy and Turkey Creek Units. Most importantly, Curtis increased research interest in the Big Thicket in a number of ways, especially by committing the Preserve to an All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. Curtis brought together several BTA leaders and a number of scientists to form the Thicket of Diversity. Some fifteen taxonomic working groups (TWiGs), led by scholars recruited by Curtis, are now involved in identifying and recording life forms in the Thicket.

Unfortunately for the Thicket and its friends, Curtis is leaving the Preserve. On August 5, 2007 Curtis will start a new job with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District Office. At his new position, Curtis will be managing the Missouri River Mitigation Project which will entail restoring wetlands and shallow water habitats that have been degraded by installation of locks and dams along the river. Curtis’ departure leaves a huge void in the Preserve staff. He will be missed by all who knew him and worked with him. We wish him well in his new job. Best of luck Curtis!

Gourges to Gulf Islands NS, by Chief Ranger Mark Peapenburg: Big Thicket Staff and friends will miss Protection Park Ranger Brian Gourgues as he has accepted a transfer to a similar position with Gulf Islands National Seashore in Ocean Springs Mississippi. Brian’s move will provide him with additional opportunities for career enhancement and will bring him closer to family in Slidell Louisiana. Brian has been at Big Thicket since June of 2003 and will begin in his position at Gulf Islands on August 5th.

Brian’s commitment to resource protection and his contributions to managing the Preserve’s radio system, physical fitness, emergency medical services and search and rescue programs will be sorely missed. But his coworkers and friends wish him well in his new endeavor.

ENTERGY FUNDS T-R-T PROGRAM

The Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program uses teachers from area schools who spend the summer as "rangers" and take their knowledge back to the classroom. This year Energy joined in supporting the program by funding two of the four TRTs with a grant to BTA.

Will Watkins (returning for his second year, Drue Jarvis, Candace Doerr, and Keith Glazener are at work in the Resources Education programs and activities for the summer season. Erin Fucik (SFA student) is working in the Resources Management Division.

The Preserve and BTA extend our thanks to Entergy for their continuing support. Their largesse over the years has included support for all of our science conferences and many years of support for Marysee Prairie restoration. Entergy also participated in purchasing the land adjoining the Visitor Center. In the 1980s they donated about 40 acres to the Larsen Sanctuary.

BLACK BEAR TASK FORCE MET JULY 26

Nathan Garner Chair, convened the Black Bear Task Force at the Field Research Station on July 26 with 45 participants.

Highlights of the meeting included a presentation by Tim Siegmund (SFA) on bear bait stations and black bear sightings. Conservation updates were given by Paul Davidson (BBCC) and Ricky Maxey (TP&W).

Committee reports involved Habitat Identification and "Bear Necessities."

Attorney Gilbert Adams hosted the luncheon.

WHY IT’S CALLED THE BIG THICKET!!

by Bruce Drury

The Big Thicket is aptly named!! The point was made very clear to me on June 11 when I got lost in the thickest of the Thicket.

Hurricane Rita did damage all through the area, but the Jack Gore Baygall Unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve took a terrible hit. When the maintenance staff of the Preserve went to open up the Old Wagon Road Trail in the JGB Unit, they could not find the trail, not even the trees that had received blue paint markers three years ago. Maxine Johnston knew the trail well and volunteered to mark it for the clearing crew. I volunteered to help her.

Hurricane Rita created a mess that frustrated even the redoubtable Ms. Johnston. One hundred foot trees had been knocked down, putting a huge amount of debris on the forest floor. That tangle was exacerbated by the fact that the fallen trees left the canopy open, providing sunlight to whatever plants that were ready to compete. Grape vines, titi, yaupon, and all sorts of other plants immediately fought to occupy the now sunny forest floor. Finding the trail was indeed a difficult task.

On June 11 Maxine and I worked out way from the backend of the trail, hoping to meet up with the clearing crew. By noon we were exhausted by the hard work of hacking our way through the underbrush in 90 degree heat, high humidity, and no wind, so we decided to call it a day. On the way back to out cars, we came to a tree fall that we had circumvented before. Maxine went left and I went right. She found her way back to the trail, but I did not.

Maxine waited by our cars for some two hours and then reported my absence. In the meanwhile, I was struggling through the brush, and apparently lost consciousness as a result of dehydration and heat. I regained consciousness during the night and huddled under a tree fall waiting for dawn. The Preserve had mounted a search with dogs in the afternoon but it was unsuccessful, partly because I was unconscious and thus could not hear the rescuers.

The Preserve mounted a systematic search the next morning. Now that I was conscious, I followed an old fence, and finally heard one of the three search groups. Once we met up, they pushed fluids and helped me to slowly exit the Thicket by means of a trail that another crew cleared out with machetes. I spent two days in the hospital rehydrating, and ridding myself of all the little critters that had decided the previous night that my body would make a good home.

I am now fully recovered and, I hope, somewhat smarter from the ordeal. I shall be forever in the debt of the Preserve staff, and hope that I can in some way repay that debt in the future. I also wish to note the professionalism of their rescue procedure. Although I was in no shape to evaluate the effort, my firefighter son, Mike, was extremely impressed. He said that everything was done exactly as it should have been. In addition I want to thank Randy Eason, Bob Boensch, my son-in-law Paul Schiesler, and my son, Mike, all of whom joined the rescue crew. Also, I was well cared for by the ambulance crew and the staff at Christus Saint Elizabeth.

My wife Donna waited patiently as did Maxine Johnston and others. Their concern was very important.

On Sunday, July 22, 2007 I went back to the Jack Gore Baygall Unit and hiked part of the Old Wagon Road. I stayed on the trail!

BIG THICKET EVENTS

August 20, Thicket of Diversity, Executive Council and members, Field Research Station, 10:00 AM

Sept. 18-19-20, Pineywoods Experience, Jefferson-Lufkin-Beaumont [713-523-3302]

Sept. 22, Big Sandy Creek, Jackson/Battise Trail, Workday [936-262-8522]

Oct. 13-14, Big Thicket Day / Weekend (Details in next issue)

Oct. 27, Jack Gore Baygall, Old Wagon Road Trail, Workday [936-262-8522]

Marysee Prairie workdays scheduled 1st Saturdays, Oct.-May