bastrop county - treefolks

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BASTROP COUNTY COMMUNITY REFORESTATION PROGRAM

TOGETHER we are the tools for RECOVERY

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE YEAR I PLANTING SEASON

PAGE | I

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE 1. ESTIMATED OVERALL TREE AVAILABILITY FOR REFORESTATION OF THE LOST PINES FOREST IMPACTED BY THE 2011 BCCF�««««««««««��

TABLE 2. BCCRP PLANTING AND EVENT SHEDULE«««««««««««««««��

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1. IMPACT AREA OF 2011 BASTROP COUNTY COMPLEX FIRE (BCCF)

FIGURE 2. PARCELS SENT APPLICATIONS

FIGURE 3. PARCELS WITH RETURNED APPLICATIONS ON FILE (AS OF FEB 15, 2013)

FIGURE 4. PARCELS SERVED THROUGH TREE PLANTING VENDOR

FIGURE 5. PARCELS SERVED THROUGH COMMUNITY PLANTING EVENTS

FIGURE 6. PARCELS SERVED THROUGH TREE PLANTING WORKSHOPS

LIST OF APPENDICES

APPENDIX A. APPLICATION FOR REFORESTATION SERVICES

APPENDIX B. TREE PLANTING SITE PLAN

APPENDIX C. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES FOR TREE ESTABLISHMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

APPENDIX D. LANDOWNER’S HANDBOOK

APPENDIX E. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

APPENDIX F. PROGRAM OVERVIEW

MISSION STATEMENT��

STATEMENT OF NEED��

PURPOSE��

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES��

KEY COMPONENTS��

YEAR 1 PLANTING SEASON (January 2012 through March 2013)��

YEARS 2 THROUGH 5 PLANTING SEASONS (November 2013 through March 2017)��

YEAR 1 PLANTING SEASON (January 2012 through March 2013)��

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH��

POST-PLANTING EVALUATION��

YEARS 2 THROUGH 5 PLANTING SEASONS (November 2013 through March 2017)��




PAGE | II




PAGE | 1

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) is to promote recovery and restoration of Bastrop County, its communities, and residents affected by the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF) by providing reforestation services to eligible program participants through the utilization of volunteers and large-scale, community-based education and outreach opportunities focused on planting available native, drought resistant loblolly pine seedlings.




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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) is a multi-year reforestation initiative whose mission is to promote recovery and restoration of Bastrop County, its’ communities, and residents affected by the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF) by providing reforestation services to eligible program participants through the utilization of volunteers and large-scale, community-based education and outreach opportunities focused on planting available native, drought resistant loblolly pine seedlings.

The BCCRP is designed to provide qualifying landowners with free reforestation services, opportunities for volunteerism and community engagement, and an increased awareness and understanding of forest succession and best tree planting and care practices.

STATEMENT OF NEED

The wildfires that occurred in Bastrop County over Labor Day weekend, 2011 were devastating. Over 34,000 acres of woodland burned in the Lost Pines area of the county; of that 11,360 was privately owned land classified as moderate to severely burned. Due to the intensity of the Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF), the subsequent erosion and soil loss, and the ongoing drought, it is very unlikely that the unique Lost Pines ecosystem will recover without facilitated reforestation.

Through the existing capacity of state and private agencies, reforestation plans were initiated on Bastrop State Park, Griffith League Ranch, and large private tracts for the 2012 planting season. However, no reforestation assistance was available for the majority of private tracts. This catalyzed the formation of a public – private partnership to develop a free reforestation program to address the gap in service for private landowners while considering the unique ecosystem and habitat considerations associated with the genetically unique Lost Pines loblolly pine tree (Pinus taeda) and the federally endangered Houston toad (Bufo hustonensis). The result is the establishment of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) and development of the Comprehensive Plan. This Plan provides a roadmap for tree planting and community engagement activities focused on healing the environmental and emotional scars of the community.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the BCCRP Comprehensive Plan is to share the vision and implementation strategies needed to reforest the Lost Pines Region of Bastrop County, Texas, while balancing the recovery and reforestation needs within the year 1 service area with the land use goals and objectives of eligible property owners.

The BCCRP is a component of the Lost Pines Forest Recovery Campaign and is designed to provide free reforestation services for private landowners, educational activities, and volunteer coordination through a public-private partnership between several local, state, and national organizations.




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Bastrop County, in conjunction with TreeFolks, Inc., an Austin based urban forestry non-profit organization, and Loomis Partners, a Bowman Company, a local Engineering, Land Surveying & Environmental Consulting firm, will be responsible for the development and implementation of the year 1 Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program from November 15, 2012 through April 30, 2013.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The overall goals and objectives of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program include:

1.� Develop a Comprehensive Plan to share the vision and implementation strategies required to achieve the BCCRP mission.

2.� Provide for the fair and equitable distribution of Lost Pines loblolly pine trees and hardwoods for the year 1 planting season.

3.� Ensure trees are planted properly and all participants understand basic tree planting principles.

4.� Engage program partners, the community and volunteers in tree planting events.

5.� Balance recovery and reforestation needs within the year 1 service area with the land use objectives of eligible property owners.

KEY COMPONENTS

Key components of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program include:

1.� Provide coordination between partner groups to ensure resources are maximized

2.� Present landowners with clear, courteous, and effective communication

3.� Provide quality control for tree planting

4.� Ensure the BCCRP process is transparent, fair and environmentally sound

5.� Provide for feedback from partners and landowners

6.� Provide volunteer opportunities

7.� Provide data management and analysis

8.� Ensure the program has the resources needed to accomplish the mission




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TABLE 1. ESTIMATED OVERALL TREE AVAILABILITY FOR REFORESTATION OF THE LOST PINES FOREST IMPACTED BY THE 2011 BASTROP COUNTY COMPLEX FIRE.

Annual Planting Season

(November – March)

Reforestation Program Year 1

(2012-2013)

Year 2

(2013-2014)

Year 3

(2014-2015)

Year 4

(2015-2016)

Year 5

(2016-2017)

Estimated Total Tree Availability

Per Program

(2012 -2017)

Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP)

282,627*

600,000

0

0

0

882,627

Bastrop State Park (BSP) 227,950* 500,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 1,927,950

Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP)

63,000

125,000

200,000

170,000

120,000

680,000

Griffith League Boy Scout Ranch (GLR)

50,000 250,000 250,000 250,000 250,000 1,050,000

Total Estimated Trees Available Annually: 625,577 1,475,000 950,000 820,000 670,000 4,540,577 * Actual number of loblolly pine seedlings planted during the Year 1 planting season

YEAR 1 PLANTING SEASON (January 2012 through March 2013)

The year 1 planting season (January through March 2013) will focus primarily on efficiently and effectively planting 63,000 loblolly pine and 2,100 mixed hardwood seedlings on privately owned land and parks affected by the Bastrop County Complex Fire.

Community engagement and landowner education are key components of the BCCRP. TreeFolks will provide information about forest succession, general tree planting and care, and how to volunteer or support the BCCRP to all applicants, neighborhood and community groups and to the general public. Individual volunteers and community groups will be actively recruited to assist with planting events and BCCRP activities as feasible.

YEARS 2 THROUGH 5 PLANTING SEASONS (November 2013 through March 2017)

Upon completion of the Post Planting Analysis (page 8) this plan may be updated to include improvements that may improve the delivery and success of this program.

It is anticipated that at least 125,000 trees will be available to the BCCRP each planting season for the next four years to accelerate recovery of the Lost Pines loblolly pine. The total estimated quantity of loblolly species available for the BCCRP through 2017 is 680,000.




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COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

YEAR 1 PLANTING SEASON (January 2012 through March 2013)

Program Duration, Availability, and Qualifying Criteria Year one of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program is being carried out from November 15, 2012 through April 30, 2013. Nearly 63,000 native loblolly pine tree seedlings and 2,100 native hardwood species are available this planting season for the BCCRP, to be planted by March 15, 2013. Due to the limited number of trees available for planting this planting season, the BCCRP developed an intake and prioritization process based on the following criteria:

1. A Right of Entry was filed with Bastrop County by December 1, 2012, 2. The site is in the heavy burn area, and has moderate to highly erodible soils, 3. The site was previously forested.

An letter introducing the program and an application for year 1 reforestation services was mailed to 930 parcel owners who met the above criteria on December 17, 2012 (Figure 1) (Appendix A).

As TreeFolks receives applications, they provide confirmation to the landowner that the application has been received and schedules a site visit with the landowner. During the site visit, TreeFolks’ Reforestation Coordinator learns about the landowner’s goals, explains the process of forest succession, and works with the landowner to develop the planting plan for the parcel. The landowner is not required to be present during the site visit but must review and approve the Tree Planting Site Plan (Appendix B) prior to it being scheduled for planting.

Trees will be planted according to the Technical Guidelines for Tree Establishment and Quality Assurance (Appendix C); these are reforestation best management practices tailored to the planting conditions of the Lost Pines ecosystem. They include instructions for tree handling and planting to achieve reforestation, Firewise recommendations, and planting specifications that reflect the unique conditions of the Lost Pines ecosystem, including habitat consideration for the endangered Houston toad. Due to the limited number of trees available for planting this season, many landowners may receive site visits but may not be scheduled for tree planting services until the second or possibly third planting seasons.

An application for reforestation services will be sent to all remaining parcel owners affected by the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire in the late summer or fall of 2013.

Tree Planting and Distribution Methods As of February 15, 2013, applications have been received for services on 362 parcels that total 2,447 acres (Figure 3). Due to the limited number of trees, safety consideration for volunteers, distribution of sites throughout the burn area, and variety of tract sizes, three modes of tree planting will be utilized in year 1 serving an estimated 88 parcels on a total of 172 acres, 119 acres of which will be planted.

Sites will either be planted by the tree planting vendor - American YouthWorks Texas Conservation Corps, or by volunteers during a Community Planting Event, or landowners will




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receive trees through a Tree Planting Workshop. All trees planted through the BCCRP will follow the Technical Guidelines for Tree Establishment and Quality Assurance (Appendix C).

The tentative planting and event schedule for year 1, including the estimated number of trees planted per planting event is included in Table 2. Details for each distribution mode and the estimated number of trees to be planted through each are summarized below.

TABLE 2. BCCRP PLANTING AND EVENT SCHEDULE BY MODE

Annual Planting Season

(January 2012 – March 2013)

Mode

Number of Planting Events

Number of Other Events

Parcels Planted

Trees Planted

Number of Volunteers

Volunteer Hours

Tree Planting Vendor (American YouthWorks Texas Conservation Corps)

18 days

27

43,023

Community Planting Event 7 8 11,650 295 1180

Tree Planting Workshop* 1 70 2,500 20 80

Community Wide Tree Distribution Event* 1 5,000 15 60

Community Presentation 3

Total: 26 4 105 62,173 330 1,320

*Estimated

Tree Planting Vendor (American YouthWorks Texas Conservation Corps)

Made possible through a grant from the Austin Community Foundation, American YouthWorks Texas Conservation Corps is scheduled to plant approximately 55,000 seedlings on 143 acres (38 landowners, 27 parcels) between February 4, 2013 and March 1, 2013 (Figure 4). Planting crews will receive training on proper tree planting techniques in accordance with the methodology described in the Technical Guidelines (Appendix C) prior to the scheduled planting start date.

Volunteer-based Community Planting Events

Beginning January 26, 2013 through March 9, 2013, approximately 5,000 seedlings on 9 acres (6 landowners, 8 parcels) will be planted through volunteer-based Community Planting Events (Figure 5). Commitments from H-E-B, the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office and individual volunteers made it possible for the BCCRP to provide several Community Planting Events for year 1. For each Community Planting Event, all volunteers will receive training on proper tree planting techniques in accordance with the methodology described in the Technical Guidelines (Appendix C).

Tree Planting Workshops

Approximately 2,500 seedlings on 17 acres (46 landowners, 70 parcels) will be planted through a Tree Planting Workshop (Figure 6). The BCCRP established a Tree Planting Workshop as a method to locally distribute seedlings to year 1 applicants directly. This method preserves the BCCRP




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priority to serve landowners in the order applications were received, while considering the increased number of landowners that could be served by hosting a centralized training and tree distribution event. Year 1 applicants meeting the following criteria have been invited to receive trees through a Tree Planting Workshop:

1.� Applications received prior to January 1, 2013 2.� Parcel less than 0.75 acres 3.� Parcel located in the Tahitian Village or Pine Forest subdivisions

The Tree Planting Workshop will be held in the Tahitian Village neighborhood. Landowner’s must attend in order to receive trees and planting assistance. They will be asked to register online, by phone or email and will indicate if they would like planting assistance or prefer to plant trees (up to 100) without assistance. Topics covered during the Tree Planting Workshop will include an overview of the BCCRP, training on the spacing and planting criteria in accordance with the methodology described in the Technical Guidelines (Appendix C), and hands on demonstrations. TreeFolks staff and BCCRP partners will review Tree Planting Site Plans with landowners at the workshop before they receive trees to ensure the proper number of trees is allocated to each parcel. Volunteers will attend the training and will be assigned to landowners requesting planting assistance immediately following the conclusion of the workshop.

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Education and community outreach are the foundations for successful reforestation and recovery of the Lost Pines Region. Educating the community and program participants on the importance of proper reforestation techniques and care of seedlings is essential to the recovery of the burn area and the overall success of the BCCRP. Community engagement will facilitate connections between landowners, community groups, and individual volunteers to promote healing for a community recovering from the devastating environmental and emotional scars of the wildfire.

TreeFolks is a nonprofit urban forestry organization that has been serving Central Texas for nearly 24 years. TreeFolks’ mission is to grow the urban forest of Central Texas through tree planting, education and community partnerships; they specialize in providing high quality volunteer experiences to promote tree planting and care. TreeFolks will support the education, outreach and community engagement aspects of the BCCRP by:

1.� Developing resources that ensure program quality and consistency including:

a.� Application for BCCRP Reforestation Services (Appendix A) b.� Tree Planting Site Plan (Appendix B) c.� Technical Guidelines for Tree Establishment and Quality Assurance (Appendix C) d.� Landowner’s Handbook (Appendix D) e.� Frequently Asked Questions (Appendix E) f.� Program Overview (Appendix F)




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2.� Meeting landowners on their property, explaining the process of forest succession, discussing their reforestation goals, and planting trees with the method that best fits the site requirements and the landowner preferences.

3.� Providing presentations about the BCCRP, forest succession, and tree planting and care to neighborhood associations and other community groups.

4.� Maintaining a website that explains the BCCRP and answers frequently asked questions about tree planting and care.

5.� Providing prompt and courteous communication to all citizen, media and partner inquiries.

6.� Promoting opportunities for partners and volunteers.

POST-PLANTING EVALUATION

The following data will be collected and reported annually or as needed to determine the efficacy of the BCCRP:

1.� The number of parcel owners and the associated acreage who:

a.� are eligible for BCCRP services b.� have been invited to apply for services c.� are enrolled d.� have been served

2.� Mode of planting, number of events, number of trees

3.� Number of volunteers, total volunteer hours

4.� Site visits performed

5.� Tree Planting Site Plans created

6.� Survival study

7.� In-kind contributions and the overall budget

8.� Number, location, topic of outreach events and number in audience

9.� Projection of service areas

10.� Identify resource shortages or service interruptions to manage landowner expectations

11.�Partner and landowner feedback




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YEARS 2 THROUGH 5 PLANTING SEASONS (November 2013 through March 2017)

Upon completion of the year 1 Post Planting Evaluation, this Comprehensive Plan will be amended to reflect implementation modifications that may improve program delivery and allow partners to most effectively meet the mission of the BCCRP.

The following activities are planned:

1.� Provide all participating landowner’s with a Handbook, Tree Planting Site Plan, and satisfaction survey

2.� Complete Post Planting Evaluation

3.� Update BCCRP Comprehensive Plan

4.� Schedule remaining 274 applicants for site visits from the December 2012 enrollment

5.� Enroll all remaining landowners with property affected by the wildfire (summer 2013)

6.� Maintain records of landowner communications, properties visited, Tree Planting Site Plans created, and sites scheduled for planting

7.� Maintain community presence through presentations and outreach to community groups, website, and communication to existing and prospective volunteers

8.� Evaluate Post Planting data and identify opportunities to improve program delivery

9.� Plant trees during the next 4 planting seasons (November – March) ending March 2017

More than 600,000 trees have been provided by the Apache Corporation and the Arbor Day Foundation. Through collaboration with program partners including Bastrop County, Bowman Consulting Group, American YouthWorks Texas Conservation Corps, Texas A&M Forest Service, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Apache Foundation, Arbor Day Foundation, the Lost Pines Recovery Team, H-E-B, McCoy's Building Supply, the Bastrop County Sherriff's Office, TreeFolks, and hundreds of committed landowners and volunteers, reforestation and recovery of this unique region can be achieved.




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THANK YOU TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS Major contributors include: Bastrop County, H-E-B, Apache Foundation, Arbor Day Foundation, Austin Community Foundation, American YouthWorks Texas Conservation Corps, Texas A&M Forest Service, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, McCoy’s Building Supply, Bastrop County Sherriff's Department, Bowman Consulting Group, TreeFolks and members of the Lost Pines Recovery Team.


Created: 2/27/2013 Author: GSM Source Data: Texas Forest Service, Bastrop County, and/or NAIP; Coordinate System: NAD 1983 StatePlane Texas Central FIPS 4203 Feet Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic Units: Foot US

BASTROP COUNTY COMMUNITY REFORESTATION PROGRAMTOGETHER we are the tools for RECOVERY

´0 2.51.25 Miles

Fire Perimeter

FIGURE 1. IMPACT AREA OF 2011 BASTROP COUNTY COMPLEX FIRE (BCCF)



´0 2.51.25 Miles

Fire Perimeter

Parcels Sent Applications

FIGURE 2. PARCELS SENT APPLICATIONS

APPLICATIONS SENT TO OWNERSOF 930 PARCELSTOTAL ACREAGE OF PROPERTIES:8871 ACRES



´0 2.51.25 Miles

Fire Perimeter

Projected Years 2-5

Projected Year 1

FIGURE 3. PARCELS WITH RETURNED APPLICATIONS ON FILE (AS OF FEB 15, 2013)

APPLICATIONS RECEIVED: 362 PARCELSAREA OF RECEIVED APPLICATIONS: 2,447ACRES

R35384

R36906R35378

R61251

R27736

R27728

E SH 21

FM 1441

KC DRPORTER RD

COUNTY RD

KELLEY RD

CHAROLAIS

DR

PINE TREE LOOP

LISA LN

´

Created: 2/27/2013 Author: GSM Source Data: Texas Forest Service, Bastrop County, NAIP Coordinate System: NAD 1983 StatePlane Texas Central FIPS 4203 Feet Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic Units: Foot US

FIGURE 4. PARCELS SERVED THROUGH TREE PLANTING VENDOR(AMERICAN YOUTHWORKS TEXAS CONSERVATION CORPS)


R38597

R38828

R38595

R38766

R38765

R39667

R38764

R38763

R38810

R38607

R59835

R40981

R40980 R38797R38703

R38892

R38908

R38798

R38911

R78938

R37580

R40936

R38781

R38672

R38673

R40988

R38926

KAANAPALI LN

MA

NAW

IAN

UI D

R

PINE SHADOWS LN

R103279

R76924

R16218

R61496

R18125

R16116

R21436

R21436

PARK ROAD 1C

ALU

M C

REE

K R

D

GOTIER TRACE RD

FELIX DR HU

DS

ON

RD

´

´´

0 0.70.35 Miles

0 0.50.25 Miles 0 0.650.325 Miles


BCCRP YEAR 1 - TXCC

R28648

FM 1441

OLD FIRETOWER RDWHISPERING PINES DR

BLUEBONNET DRG

RE

Y W

OLF

LN

SA

GE

RD

´


FIGURE 5. PARCELS SERVED THROUGH COMMUNITY PLANTING EVENTS


R47682

SECOND ST

R35346

R35394

R35426

KC DR

KELLEY RD

E SH 21

PORTER RD

´

´ ´

0 0.30.15 Miles

0 0.050.025 Miles 0 0.10.05 Miles


BCCRP YEAR 1 - COMMUNITY

R47133

´


FIGURE 6. PARCELS SERVED THROUGH TREE PLANTING WORKSHOPS


R38846

R38880

R38268

R38996

R38943

R29426

R38923

R38944

R38920

R26032

R39653

R38927

R38997

R38843

R38998

R38939

R38999

R39000

R32921

R40939

R39654

R40945R40946

R39658

R40942

R25976

R40930R40929

R40941

R31805R32508

R29418R33009

R23953

R26646

R33517

R26610

R23337

R32247

R25137R22416

R28683

R33510

R26552

R28922

R25129

R26610

R23665

R37884

R23329

R32807

R28914

R28906

R37876

R37316

R38196

R30362

R26916

R27763

R32462

R31492

R26097

R22408

R26089

R38220R38204

R37724

E SH 71

TAH

ITIA

N D

R

MC

ALL

ISTE

R R

D

MAK

AHA

DR

KON

A DR

HEK

ILI D

R

KAILUA LN

PAPA

WAI

DR

KOLOIKI LN

ALELE

DRK

OO

LUA

DR

PUKOO

DR

FOREST LN

PINE HILL LOOP

KAELEPULU DR

KAAPAHU

DR

N PA

HIH

I DR

PEACE HAVEN LN

WOODL

AND

CT

KANI LN

KU

KU

I CT

ULU

PAU

CIR

R20890

R21416

R18341

R70974

COTT

LE T

OWN

RD

O G

RA

DY

RD

PO

WE

LL R

D

FELIX DR

TEXA

S K

ILN

PL

´

´

´

0 0.050.025 Miles

0 0.350.175 Miles

0 0.550.275 Miles


BCCRP YEAR 1 - WORKSHOP

TreeFolks, Inc. • PO Box 704 • Austin, TX 78767 • (512) 443-5323 • www.treefolks.org

��

Bastrop�County�Community�Reforestation�Program�Offer�Letter�for�Year�1�Tree�Planting�Services�

�December�16,�2012��First�Name�Last�Name�Address�City,�State,�Zip�Property�ID�Number:��Dear�First�Name: �On� behalf� of� Bastrop� County,� we� are� pleased� to� announce� the� launch� of� the� Bastrop� County� Community�Reforestation�Program�(BCCRP),�a�multiͲyear�reforestation�initiative,�whose�mission�is�to�promote�recovery�and�restoration�of�Bastrop�County,� its’�communities,�and� residents�affected�by� the�2011�Bastrop�County�Complex�Fire� (BCCF)� by� providing� reforestation� services� to� eligible� program� participants� through� the� utilization� of�volunteers� and� largeͲscale,� communityͲbased� education� and� outreach� opportunities� focused� on� planting�available� native,� drought� resistant� loblolly� pine� seedlings.� � The� BCCRP� is� designed� to� provide� qualifying�landowners�with�the�opportunity�to�apply�for�enrollment�as�a�potential�recipient�for�reforestation�services�at�no�cost�to�the�landowner.��

TreeFolks� is� a� nonprofit� organization� with� a� mission� to� grow� the� urban� forest� of� Central� Texas,� and� will�administer�the�Bastrop�County�Community�Reforestation�Program�on�behalf�of�Bastrop�County.��Currently�in�the�final�stages�of�review�and�approval,�the�Year�1�BCCRP�Tree�Planting�Services�Plan�goal�is�to�plant�nearly�60,000�trees�between� January�15�and�March�1,�2013.� �Due� to� the� limited�availability�of� seedlings� in�Year�1,�planting�efforts�have�been�prioritized�to�include�only�properties�that�meet�the�following�criteria:��within�the�heavy�burn�area,�with�soil�erosion�potential,�and�land�with�preͲwildfire�tree�canopy.� �Eligible�properties�for�Year�1�services�must�also�have�had�a�Right�of�Entry�form�on�file�with�Bastrop�County�by�December�1,�2012,�not�be�a�participant�in�the�EFRP,�and�the�applicant�must�own�the�eligible�property.��

Analysis�of�existing� available�data� resources� identifies� that� your�property� (Property� ID�Number)�has�met� the�above�criteria.��If�you�are�interested�in�the�opportunity�to�apply�for�receipt�of�trees�or�tree�planting�services,�we�encourage�you�to�submit�the�attached�application�as�soon�as�possible�to�the�address� listed�on�the�application.��TreeFolks�will� send� confirmation� after� receiving� your� application.� � TreeFolks�will�make� every� effort� to� serve�landowners�who�meet�the�above�criteria�in�the�order�in�which�applications�were�received.��If�you�are�eligible�for�trees� or� tree� planting� services� but� are� not� scheduled� for� planting� services� in� Year� 1,� you�will� be� served� in�subsequent�planting�seasons�when�larger�amounts�of�drought�hardy�loblolly�pine�seedlings�will�be�available.��If�not�chosen�for�Year�1�tree�planting,�we�ask�for�your�patience.��The�demand�for�trees�and�reforestation�services�is�high�while�the�availability�of�loblolly�pine�seedlings�is�extremely�low.��

Please� visit� www.treefolks.org/reforestation/� for� information� about� the� Bastrop� County� Community�Reforestation�Program.��For�assistance�with�the�application�and�other�project�inquiries,�please�contact�TreeFolks�by�phone�at�(512)�443Ͳ5323�or�eͲmail�[email protected].��Sincerely,��Carly�Blankenship�Program�Coordinator,�TreeFolks

http://www.treefolks.org/reforestation/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.treefolks.org/

��

��

Bastrop�County�Community�Reforestation�Program�Application�for�Year�1�Tree�Planting�Services�

�The�Bastrop�County�Community�Reforestation�Program�goal�for�Year�1�is�to�plant�nearly�60,000�trees�between�January�15�and�March�1,�2013.� �Due�to�the� limited�availability�of�seedlings� in�Year�1,�TreeFolks�has�prioritized�Year�1�planting�efforts�to� include�properties:��within�the�heavy�burn�area,�with�soil�erosion�potential,�and�land�with�preͲwildfire�tree�canopy.��Eligible�properties�for�Year�1�services�must�also�have�had�a�Right�of�Entry�form�on�file�with�Bastrop�County�by�December�1,�2012,�not�be�a�participant�in�the�EFRP�program�and�the�applicant�must�own�the�eligible�property.��TreeFolks�will�make�every�effort�to�serve�landowners�who�meet�the�above�criteria�in�the�order�in�which�applications�were�received.��Applicants�who�are�eligible�for�tree�planting�services�but�are�not�scheduled�for�planting�in�Year�1�will�be�served�in�subsequent�planting�seasons�when�larger�amounts�of�loblolly�pine�seedlings�will�be�available.��TreeFolks�will�send�a�confirmation�shortly�after� receiving�your�application.� �For�questions,�please�contact� (512)�443Ͳ5323�or��eͲmail�[email protected].�

�Mail�completed�applications�to:�

TreeFolks�Attn:��Reforestation�Program�

P.O.�Box�704�Austin,�TX�78767�

��First�Name:��_________________________________��Last�Name:��___________________________________��Property�Address:��__________________________________________��City:��_________��Zip�Code:��_______��Mailing�Address�(if�different):��_________________________________��City:��_________��Zip�Code:��_______��Primary�Phone�Number:��(______)________________��Secondary�Phone�Number:��(______)_______________��EͲmail:��_________________________________________��Property�size�(in�acres):��_____________________��Property�ID�Number(s):��________________________________________________________________________��Preferred�Notification�Method:��Mailing�Address��EͲmail��Primary�Phone��Secondary�Phone� ��Have�you�received�services�from�other�tree�planting�assistance�programs�such�as�the�Emergency�Forest�Restoration�Program�(EFRP)�or�other�services�to�plant�native�loblolly�pine�seedlings?��If�so,�please�explain.��No��Yes,�______________________________________________________________________________________��What�percent�of�standing�trees�will�be�cut�down�from�your�property�by�February�1,�2013?��None�of�my�trees�will�be�cut�down�from�my�property��1%�Ͳ�49%��50%�Ͳ�99%��All�of�my�trees�will�be�cut�down�from�my�property��Other:��_________________________________________�

If�you’ve�had�trees�cut�down�on�your�property,�what�did�you�do�with�the�felled�trees?��(Will�not�affect�your�ability�to�receive�trees)��Do�livestock�graze�on�your�property?��If�yes,�please�provide�a�brief�description�of�how�you�will�protect�the�newly�planted�trees�from�being�grazed.��Have�you�implemented�any�erosion�control�techniques�on�your�property?��If�so,�please�provide�a�brief�description.��(Will�not�affect�your�ability�to�receive�trees)��TreeFolks�will�coordinate�a�small�number�of�events�for�volunteers�to�help�plant�trees�on�private�land.��Would�you�allow�TreeFolks�to�coordinate�a�tree�planting�event�on�your�property�if�it�meets�our�criteria�for�volunteer�events?��Yes��No��

��I�certify�that�I�am�the�owner,�or�an�owner’s�authorized�agent,�of�the�property�described�above�(Grantor).��I�grant�a�Right�of�Entry�and�Use�to�said�property�to�the�Grantee:��TreeFolks,�its�employees,�agents,�contractors,�subcontractors�and�volunteers�for�the�purpose�of�assessing�the�need,�implementation�and�followͲup�assessments�for�the�Bastrop�County�Community�Reforestation�Program.��TreeFolks�shall�notify�the�Grantor�no�less�than�twentyͲfour�(24)�hours�in�advance�of�any�and�all�entry�and�use�to�said�property�owner�from�the�grantee,�its�employees,�agents,�contractors,�subcontractors�and�volunteers.�This�entry�and�use�agreement�shall�remain�in�effect�for�five�(5)�years�and�will�cease�upon�change�of�ownership�or�at�the�request�of�the�grantor.��I�agree�to�hold�harmless�the�grantees�named�above,�and�any�of�their�employees,�agents,�contractors,�subcontractors�and�volunteers,�for�damages�of�any�type�whatsoever,�either�to�the�aboveͲdescribed�property�or�to�a�person�situated�thereon�during�the�authorized�activities�described�above.��I�release,�discharge,�and�waive�any�action,�either�legal�or�equitable,�that�might�arise�by�reason�of�any�action�of�the�Grantees,�while�implementing�the�Bastrop�County�Community�Reforestation�Program�on�the�property.��Upon�request,�I�will�mark�any�sewer�lines,�septic�tanks,�water�lines,�and�utilities�located�on�the�described�property.��I�certify�the�information�listed�above�is�true�and�accurate�and�agree�to�the�terms�and�conditions�of�the�Bastrop�County�Community�Reforestation�Program.��Signature:��__________________________________________________��Date:��_______________________��Printed�Name:��______________________________________________�

�For�TreeFolks�Use�Only�

�Date�Received:��_______________��Confirmation�Date:��_______________��Employee�Initials:��___________��



MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) is to promote recovery and restoration of Bastrop County, it's communities, and residents affected by the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF) by providing reforestation services to eligible program participants through the utilization of volunteers and large scale,

community-based education and outreach opportunities focused on planting available native, drought resistant loblolly pine seedlings.

APPENDIX C

TECHNICAL GUIDELINES FOR TREE ESTABLISHMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE


COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR YEAR 1 PLANTING SERVICES

Prepared by:

TreeFolks & Loomis Partners, a Bowman Company



TECHNICAL GUIDELINES

Page | 1

Introduction

The mission of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) is to promote recovery and restoration of Bastrop County, its communities, and residents affected by the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF) by providing reforestation services to eligible program participants through the utilization of volunteers and large-scale, community-based education and outreach opportunities focused on planting available native, drought resistant loblolly pine seedlings. A Landowner Handbook (Appendix D) was created to help landowners make informed land management decisions and to provide information regarding various techniques to care for both planted trees and natural regeneration. These Technical Guidelines for Tree Establishment and Quality Assurance have been tailored to meet the needs of the BCCRP. While program participants are not required to implement all guidelines within this document, the technical specifications within this resource guide will ensure higher survival rates and accelerate the growth of the newly planted seedlings. Resource information, technical guidance, recommendations, and photographs used in the preparation of this Technical Guide for Tree Establishment and Quality Assurance have been provided courtesy of the Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMU FS) and tailored specifically to meet the needs and objectives of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) and it's participants. Although extensive effort has been put forth to ensure this guidance document is a universal resource tool for all recipients of BCCRP reforestation services, it is understood that not all recommendations included within this document may be relevant or applicable for implementation on each individual property receiving reforestation services through the BCCRP. Landowner's eligible for participation in the BCCRP are encouraged to seek additional guidance pertaining to the specific conditions of their property before implementing any management activities in preparation for receipt of reforestation services through the BCCRP, as well as, before implementing any post-planting management activities. Refer to the Landowner’s Handbook for guidelines regarding tree planting and tree care for Bastrop County at http://treefolks.org/reforestation/. All reforestation guidance and recommendations within this Technical Guide do not supersede, and are subject to the relevant provisions and requirements of the Lost Pines Habitat Conservation Plan (LPHCP) for Bastrop County, Texas. For questions regarding activities that may be subject to provisions and requirements of the LPHCP please contact Bastrop County’s LPHCP Administrator at (512) 332-7284 or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Austin Ecological Services Field Office at (512) 490-0057. Additional information and guidance is also provided on the Bastrop County website: http://www.co.bastrop.tx.us/site/content/lostpineshabitat. Your efforts to restore the forest resources lost in the Bastrop County Complex Fire should positively impact your property by improving: property value, aesthetic appeal, biological diversity, wildlife habitat, water quality, native plant succession and may increase fire safety if a wildfire should occur in the future. Your desire to manage your property will provide benefits that your family and your community will enjoy for many generations.

http://treefolks.org/reforestation/




Page | 2

OVERVIEW The Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) will plant approximately 60,000 loblolly pine and mixed hardwood seedlings in year 1 between January 15 and March 15, 2013 on privately owned land and parks affected by the Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF). It is anticipated that at least 125,000 trees will be available to the BCCRP each planting season for the next four years to accelerate recovery of the Lost Pines loblolly pine. The following guidelines will define the parameters for tree planting, establishment and quality assurance for drought hardy loblolly pine and mixed hardwood seedlings within the BCCF area. Purpose

� Balance the recovery and reforestation needs with the land use goals and objectives of the affected property owners selected for receipt of reforestation services through the BCCRP

� Accelerate the recovery of drought hardy loblolly pine and mixed hardwood trees � Improve quality of soil, air and water resources � Provide suitable wildlife habitat � Protect watersheds � Enhance aesthetic value

Where Applicable

� Privately owned parcels within the Bastrop County Complex Fire area not participating in the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP).

Species to Consider

� Drought hardy Loblolly pine (local seed source) � Mixed hardwood species native to Bastrop County

Large Stature Trees Small-Medium Stature Trees

American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) Gum bumeila (Sideroxylon lanuginosum)

American elm (Ulmus americana) Mexican plum (Prunus mexicana),

Winged elm (Ulmus alata) Possumhaw (Ilex decidua)

Cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia) Red mulberry (Morus rubra)

Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis) Roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii)

Black hickory (Carya texana) Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana)

Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) Cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana) Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis),

Coastal live oak (Quercus virginiana) Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) Eves necklace (Sophora affinis) Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) Flameleaf sumac (Rhus lanceolata) White ash (Fraxinus americana)

Hackberry (Celtus sp.) Native pecan (Carya illinoinensis) Osage orange (Maclura pomifera)

Western soapberry (Sapindus drummondii)




Page | 3

TREE PLANTING AND ESTABLISHMENT A Tree Planting Site Plan (Appendix B) outlining the projected planting parameters will be created for approved BCCRP applicants using GIS software and will include necessary and applicable GIS datasets available for development of the final planting plan. GIS datasets, if available for the site, will include post-burn aerial imagery, 2012 Bastrop County Appraisal District parcel data (August 2012), 2-foot contours, street centerlines, 911 address point locations for existing and destroyed structures, and creeks, streams, open waters, and wetland areas mapped by the National Hydrography Dataset and National Wetland Inventory, and other available GIS datasets as applicable. The Reforestation Coordinator will use the Tree Planting Site Plan to conduct an on-site reforestation consultation with the landowner or authorized representative to identify the number of trees the property can receive, verify spacing requirements, mark the planting parameters with stakes or pin flags, educate landowners on the technical guidelines, determine the method for planting, and provide general information regarding forest succession and the goals of the BCCRP. The Tree Planting Site Plan will be used by the tree planting vendor or TreeFolks and trained volunteers on the designated planting date to plant the seedlings. Any deviations made from the Tree Planting Site Plan during planting will be noted and recorded. Planting Rate Given the variability in parcel size, plantable acreage, terrain, Firewise guidelines, and landowner preference for reforestation on their property, planting rate and distribution of seedlings for each parcel will be determined during the on-site reforestation consultation. Reforestation services provided through the BCCRP should incorporate the following planting parameters, to the extent practicable, in the development of the Tree Planting Site Plan for each program participant receiving reforestation services. Site specific factors will determine the planting rate for each parcel, and planting will be conducted primarily under burned/dead standing trees, therefore a standardized tree spacing, as well as, the overall target planting density (trees per acre) is not likely to be achieved nor required for BCCRP participants. For those reasons, seedling planting efforts will be focused on achieving an even distribution of seedlings across the total plantable acres (as defined in the Tree Planting Site Plan), preferably utilizing a systematically random, mosaic planting pattern, and to the extent possible adhering to the minimum spacing and allowable range parameters defined below. All on-site reforestation consultations will be conducted according to these Technical Guidelines, and adapted as necessary in order to balance the need for recovery and reforestation with the goals and objectives of property owners. The loblolly pine and mixed hardwood seedlings should be planted with a maximum 8 foot x 10 foot spacing where there is a determined distance in feet between each seedlings and each row of seedlings, without creating a "plantation style" distribution, unless otherwise stated by the landowner. In order to monitor that seedlings are being planted properly, various quality control and assurance methods will be applied, as applicable to the planting site in an effort to increase survivability of the planted pine seedlings. The number of properly planted seedlings for each planting site should be within 30 percent of the written specification as described on the Tree Planting Site Plan. The following table includes the recommended spacing requirements with allowable margins, and should be used as a guide to allowable planting densities unless otherwise stated by the landowner in the Tree Planting Site Plan (Appendix B).




Page | 4

Spacing (ft.) Trees Per Acre (TPA) Recommended Range (TPA) 8 X 10 544 381-718

Although the overall per acre planting rate of a parcel may be within the recommended stocking range as described in the above table, it is undesirable for some areas to be overstocked and some areas to be under stocked. The Reforestation Coordinator should be consulted before any changes are made to the spacing standards and/or seedling distribution pattern identified in the Tree Planting Site Plan. Buffer Requirements To reduce the risk of future wildfire damage, a required thirty (30) foot buffer from any home, structure and utility lines will be set in place. An eight (8) foot buffer is required along fences, driveways, sidewalks and streets to prevent damage and allow enough space for future fire suppression efforts. The buffer requirements are required for all planting sites. These guidelines were determined using recommendations from Firewise Landscaping in Texas1, Technical Guidelines for Emergency Forest Restoration Program2, and Bastrop Complex Wildfire Case Study3 which have been amended by the BCCRP to account for spacing challenges on small acreage sites. In an effort to ensure that all BCCRP applicants selected for reforestation services are able to receive seedlings, exceptions to these standard setbacks for future fire suppression efforts and proximity buffers will be made on a case-by-case basis by the Reforestation Coordinator during the time of the on-site reforestation consultation. Any and all exceptions to the recommended standards of the BCCRP as outlined in this technical guidance document will be defined clearly and accordingly on the Tree Planting Site Plan. Any questions pertaining to the technical specifications of a Tree Planting Site Plan should be brought to the attention of the Reforestation Coordinator immediately. Planting Techniques The seedlings will be hand planted by the specified tree planting vendor or volunteers who have received thorough training on the technical guidelines for the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program. The Reforestation Coordinator will train, coordinate and oversee the tree planting vendor and volunteers and provide quality assurance inspections periodically to ensure the trees are properly planted. Planting vendors and volunteers will use the Tree Planting Site Plan to identify parameters and spacing requirements for tree planting.

Proper Equipment for Hand Planting: � Dibble bar – Should have a blade at least 10 to 12 inches long and 3 to 4 inches wide. � Hoedad – Blade should be kept sharp and be between 9 to 12 inches in length. � Plug bar – Generally have a round or conically shaped blade that is approximately 6 inches long

and 1.5 inches in diameter and should only be used for planting containerized seedlings. � Planting shovel – Generally are shovels with an approximate length of 11 inches. � Sharpshooter – Generally reinforced blades that are 4 to 5 inches wide and 12 to 15 inches long.

Proper Planting – Container Seedlings:

1 Firewise Landscaping in Texas. Publication. Texas A&M Forest Service, n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2012 2 Technical Guidelines for Emergency Forest Restoration Program, Publication. Texas A&M Forest Service, n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2012 3 Risenour, Karen, Sean Rissel, Wade Powell, Rich Gray, Mike Fisher, and Julie Sommerfeld. Bastrop Complex Wildfire Cast Study. Rep. n.d. Texas A&M Forest Service. Web. 11 Dec. 2012




Page | 5

� Drought Hardy Loblolly – Seedlings should be planted deep with the top of the plug below ground level. A second hole is needed to correctly pack seedlings and the soil around the seedling should be packed snuggly with your foot after planting.

� Mixed Hardwood – Seedlings should be planted deep with the top of the plug below ground level. A second hole is not needed to pack plug seedlings but the soil around the seedling should be packed snuggly with your foot after planting.

The following illustration shows the proper hand planting technique:

The following criteria will be used to judge whether a pine seedling has been planted properly: � Soil must be packed firmly around the planted seedling. All seedlings must pass a “four-needle” test, i.e.

seedlings must remain firmly planted when pulled by four needles. � Roots should be planted vertically with only lateral roots in a horizontal plane. A root angle of up to

thirty (30) degrees from the vertical is permissible. � Roots should not be twisted, balled or planted in U-, V-, J-, or L-shaped manner. � Seedling must be planted such that the root collar is at or slightly below ground level. No more than ½

inch of the root ball’s top will be permitted above ground.




Page | 6

Seedling Care Proper care of seedlings from lifting and packaging until they are actually planted is extremely important. Seedlings come in both boxes and bags but both should be placed in cold storage as soon as possible. The most vital precautions involve keeping the seedlings moist, not allowing them to dry out, freeze, or experience excessive heat, and storing them properly until the seedlings are properly planted. During transport from pickup point to the tract, bags/boxes must not be stored more than three deep. Cold storage is highly recommended for bagged seedlings whenever possible. Dormant seedlings can be held at temperatures from 32 - 40 F for no more than 10 weeks, but a maximum of 6 weeks is preferred. Exposure to freezing temperatures and air temperatures greater than 70 F for more than two hours is unacceptable and can result in a major decrease in seedling survival. Steps must be taken to protect seedlings if they are left on the job site overnight (i.e. covering or storing in a structure and stacking properly). Small tears in bags should be patched with duct tape. Tears that cannot be fixed with tape will require placing the torn bag in another seedling bag. Torn seedling bags should not be placed in garbage bags as the seedlings are more susceptible to overheating. The date and seedlings type information must remain with the seedlings. Prior to taping, torn bags should be checked to make sure the seedlings have adequate moisture. Damage to seedlings should be avoided during handling. Seedlings should never be ripped apart, as this can damage the root systems, foliage or cambium. Never allow seedlings to dry out, freeze, or get too warm. Exposure of the roots system in the open for more than twenty (20) minutes should be avoided. Trees culled ahead of time should be covered with wet burlap or newspaper soaked in water if the twenty (20) minute period is exceeded. Seedlings should be covered in the planting trays or kept moist by other means. Bags should not be exposed to direct sunlight, as this can cause lethal heating of the seedlings. Internal bag temperatures greater than 85 are lethal and should be avoided. Storage of seedlings before planting and during transport:

� Seedlings should be picked up from the nursery as close to the planting date as possible � Store seedlings in cold storage until the planting date � Keep containers closed to minimize drying of the roots � Seedlings should be transported in an enclosed trailer if possible but at the very minimum they should

be covered to protect containers from possible wind damage Storage of seedlings during planting:

� When possible take only as many seedlings to the tract that can be planted in 1 day � Water the plugs if soil moisture is low at time of planting � When on site, seedlings should be stored in the shade, in a structure, or under an insulated tarp to

protect them from excessive heat and cold � Container temperatures should remain above freezing and below 65 F � If excess trees are placed back in storage containers, first check the soil moisture and add water to

ensure the trees remain moist If the seedlings are still incased in a container, tree planting vendors and volunteers will follow the guidelines below to extract from the tubes:

� Press the sides of the container together to loosen the plug from the container




Page | 7

� Carefully grasp the root collar located near the top of the soil and pull plug from the container. If plug does not extract easily, continue to press the sides of the container until it is loose. Do not force the plug to extract when resistant as this may because damage to the roots and stem

� Place the extracted plug horizontally into a box or bag and cover with wet burlap or newspaper until they are ready to be planted

� If plug is not moist at the time of extraction, add water to the rootballs before covering Tree planting vendors and volunteers should look for the following problems:

� Small root collar diameters – seedlings with root collars less than 1/8 inch � Crown less than 5 inches in length – from the root collar to the bud should be greater than 5 inches � Tap root not 5 inches – tap roots should be greater than 5 inches � J- or L- rooting – seedlings with taproots that are J or L shaped out of the container � Dry seedlings – seedlings that are very dry (usually due to damage to the container and/or improper

storage) � Disease – seedlings that show signs of fusiform rust or have galls or balled roots � Discoloration or stem weak – usually indicates the seedlings have become overheated in the bag and

will not survive if planted � Moldy or rotten odor – usually indicates the bag has overheated and/or there was too much moisture in

the sealed bag � Bag data – lift date, storage date, correct species, variety and related seedlings information for the site

QUALITY ASSURANCE CRITERIA AND METHODS Quality assurance inspections will be completed periodically as soon after planting as practical. Failing to complete inspections within a timely manner does not allow enough time to replant areas or an entire tract if necessary and may cause the replanting to be postponed. Also if it is determined the cause of a failing inspection is due to poor planting technique, then the Reforestation Coordinator can address the issue within a timely manner to allow the vendor or volunteers to correct their mistakes. The Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program does not require every site to be inspected and there is no set number of inspections per acre. However, the Reforestation Coordinator should maintain periodic inspections to ensure the seedlings are properly planted. Once at the tract, the inspector should orient their self and use their map to navigate to their plot:

� Mark the center of the plot with a pin flag � Using a plot radius tape or device, count and check all seedlings in the specified plot radius � Seedlings should be checked for proper planting depth, proper closure of the hole, and proper packing

of the seedling in soil. To check that seedlings are properly packed, grasp a seedling by 4 needles and gently pull on the seedling. If the seedling moves up or down then the seedling is not properly packed.

� Results should be documented on the seedling inspection form � Continue to the next plot, if necessary and repeat

The following should be checked on each plot:

� Spacing – 8’ X 10’ (544 trees per acre) +/- 10% (min =490, max = 598)




Page | 8

� Planting depth – Minimum of ½ inch of soil above the plug and maximum of ½ inch of soil below the top of the plug

� Properly packed – 4 needle test; 2nd dibble hole closed; soil sealed around plug � Planting angle – Trees should be planted straight and not laid over or pushed over when packed

The inspector should also look for the following problems while on site:

� Small root collar diameters – seedlings with root collars less than 1/8 inch � Crown less than 5 inches in length – from the root collar to the bud should be greater than 5 inches � Tap root not 5 inches – tap roots should be greater than 5 inches � J- or L- rooting – seedlings with taproots that are J or L shaped out of the container � Dry seedlings – seedlings that are very dry (usually due to damage to the container and/or improper

storage) � Disease – seedlings that show signs of fusiform rust or have galls or balled roots � Discoloration or stem weak – usually indicates the seedlings have become overheated in the bag and

will not survive if planted � Moldy or rotten odor – usually indicates the bag has overheated and/or there was too much moisture in

the sealed bag � Bag data – lift date, storage date, correct species, variety and related seedlings information for the site

Once the entire tract has been inspected, the inspector should then determine the total trees per acre planted. The total trees per acre should be within 30% above or below the original planting site plan. Above ground problems should be documented for each plot and deducted from the plot total while below ground problems will be deducted from the total inspection number and both will be used to determine whether the tract passes or fails. The above results and criteria should be recorded on the planting inspection form and kept on file. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS Texas Best Management Practices (BMPs) for forestry should be followed during all reforestation and other silviculture operations. Texas BMP guidelines can be viewed at http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/sustainable/bmp_manual or by visiting your local Texas Forest Service office. The Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program is limited to hand planting due to restrictions for the endangered Houston Toad. Grazing should be excluded from all planted sites for the first five years or until the terminal bud is 4-5 feet above ground level. Exclosures are recommended to protect trees from browse or other animal damage. Due to the limited number of trees available each year and the large amount of acreage to reforest, there is no assurance that BCCRP trees will be replanted due to loss or damage from animals, drought, vandalism, natural mortality, or other causes. It is recommended that landowners implement measures described in the Landowner’s Handbook to increase accelerate recovery of the Lost Pines ecosystem and to achieve their individual land management goals.

http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/sustainable/bmp_manual

BASTROP COUNTY COMMUNITY REFORESTATION PROGRAM TOGETHER we are the tools for RECOVERY

APPENDIX D

LANDOWNER'S HANDBOOK %$67523�&2817<�&20081,7<�5()25(67$7,21�352*5$0�

�

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) is to promote recovery and restoration of Bastrop County, it's communities, and residents affected by the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF) by providing reforestation

services to eligible program participants through the utilization of volunteers and large scale, community-based education and outreach opportunities focused on planting

available native, drought resistant loblolly pine seedlings.

�

Prepared by: TreeFolks & Loomis Partners, a Bowman Company



LANDOWNER'S HANDBOOK

Page | 2

Introduction

History/Background The Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF) was the most destructive wildfire in Texas history impacting over 34,000 acres of the unique Lost Pines ecoregion in Bastrop County, Texas. The Lost Pines ecoregion, an area of isolated loblolly pines, is a significant draw for tourism, residential, and economic growth in Bastrop County as well as a significant portion of the remaining critical habitat for the endangered Houston toad. Of the 34,000 acres burned, 11,360 acres of privately owned land were moderately to severely burned, meaning that the recovery of any significant vegetation on these lands under natural conditions, are not likely to occur within at least two growing seasons with adequate rainfall.1 According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, approximately 38 percent of the trees were killed from the initial burn with an additional 40 percent expected to diminish shortly after the fire. This means nearly 1.5 million trees with a diameter of 5 inches or greater are expected to die from the Bastrop County Complex Wildfire.2 In addition, the intensity of the fire and lack of available nutrients in the soil destroyed or stunted the regeneration of much of the loblolly pine seed bank available in the soil. Therefore, proactive measures to reforest the native loblolly pines are needed to accelerate the recovery of the Lost Pines ecosystem. Our Thanks The resource information, technical guidance, and recommendations used in the preparation of this Landowner's Handbook have been provided courtesy of the Texas A&M Forest Service and tailored specifically for you to meet the needs and objectives in restoring your land. Although extensive effort has been put forth to ensure this Landowner's Handbook is a universal resource tool for all recipients of BCCRP reforestation services, not all recommendations included within this handbook may be relevant or applicable for implementation on each individual property receiving reforestation services through the BCCRP. Each Landowner is encouraged to seek additional guidance from the resource links provided below and in each section before implementing management activities. Landowner Participation: This Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) Landowner Handbook was created to help you make informed decisions concerning the future of your land and to provide various techniques on how to care for trees once they are planted. Your desire to better manage your property will provide lasting benefits that your family will enjoy for future generations. While there are no requirements for program participants to implement items in this Handbook, the recommendations contained herein may provide higher survival rates and accelerate the growth of your newly planted trees. Your efforts to restore the forested lands lost in the Bastrop County Complex Fire should help to improve the aesthetic appeal, biological diversity, wildlife habitat, water quality, native plant succession and increase fire safety if a wildfire should occur in the future. To promote the BCCRP’s mission for comprehensive ecosystem recovery, it is recommended that you care for your new trees in the most environmentally sensitive manner as possible to avoid any additional soil loss and

1 Lost Pines Habitat Recover Project Master Plan, Lost Pines Recovery Team. 10 April, 2012. 2 Resources Assessment & Response Report, 10 Nov 2011. p 215.




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Photo courtesy of Texas Forest Service.

water quality degradation. The Lost Pines ecosystem is home to the federally endangered Houston toad, therefore newly reforested areas on your property should be cared for with hand tools only. It is important that before implementing any land management activities on your property, to contact your local LPHCP administrator for information on appropriate land management techniques and implementation strategies within the critical habitat of the Houston toad http://www.co.bastrop.tx.us/site/content/lostpineshabitat. For questions related to the use of chemicals to implement any management activities on your property please visit: http://bastrop.agrilife.org/ or contact Rachel Bauer, the Bastrop County Texas AgriLife Extension Agent at (512) 581-7186. For questions related to forest stand improvement practices please visit: http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu or contact Daniel Lewis, the Bastrop County Texas A&M Forest Service Forester at (979) 968-5555. For questions related to the Lost Pines Habitat Conservation Plan for the Houston Toad please visit: http://www.co.bastrop.tx.us/site/content/lostpineshabitat or contact Colton Stabano at (512) 332-7284. For questions regarding the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program, please visit http://treefolks.org/reforestation/ or contact Dan Pacatte, TreeFolks program coordinator at (512)443-5323.

Firewise Landscaping

What is Firewise Landscaping? The primary goal of Firewise landscaping is fuel reduction. It provides for recommendations to limit the level of flammable vegetation and materials surrounding the home. It also teaches people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action now to prevent losses. 3 Protecting your property from the ravaging effects of a wildfire is an important consideration for property owners in rural areas. Wildfires in heavy forest cover can be particularly devastating when access is limited. Firebreaks help increase access to remote areas of your property, provide access routes to fight fire, and can serve as a protective barrier in the event of a wildfire. The recommended minimum width of a firebreak is 8 feet and may be maintained as bare ground or with managed vegetation. Firebreaks should provide access and create a break in fuel to the perimeter of the property. They are typically established around the perimeter of the property; however internal breaks for large properties are also a good idea. You should adopt Firewise landscaping techniques around your home while restoring your property to protect the structure from wildfire. The Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program recommends trees to be planted at least 30 feet from structures such as homes, garages and sheds and a minimum of eight feet around fencing. To learn more about simple techniques and fire-resistant plant recommendations that are important in protecting your home from wildfire, please visit www.texasforestservice.tamu.edu and www.firewise.org.

3http://www.firewise.org/about.aspx. Accessed 12 February, 2013.

http://www.co.bastrop.tx.us/site/content/lostpineshabitat

http://bastrop.agrilife.org/

http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/

http://www.co.bastrop.tx.us/site/content/lostpineshabitat


http://www.texasforestservice.tamu.edu/




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Forest Succession What is Forest Succession? Forest succession is the process of change in species composition over time. The Lost Pines ecosystem is unique to the Central Texas area because of an isolated population of drought-hardy loblolly pines. These loblolly pine trees reached the climax or final stage of succession meaning they could reproduce successfully beneath their own shade and maintain the community indefinitely under present conditions. While typically loblolly pine trees are tolerant of wildfire, the extreme fire temperature and behavior that occurred increased the likelihood that natural regeneration of pine and other hardwoods will be delayed. This may allow colonization by invasive species, soil erosion, and decreased habitat for wildlife including the Houston Toad. So What Does This Mean? Pro-active restoration efforts by the community and landowners are needed to ensure the ecosystem recovers in a healthy manner. While recovery of the Lost Pines forest will likely take decades, there are a number of measures we can implement to help accelerate its’ recovery. The most common measure include: replanting native plant species, managing invasive species, and implementation of erosion control techniques. Replant Native Plant Species: There may be little to no natural regeneration of the Lost Pines loblolly pines and other hardwoods within the moderate to heavy burn areas, therefore it is vital to replant both native hardwood species and Lost Pines loblolly pines. While loblolly pine trees may be available for sale at some nurseries, it is important for consumers to realize that these are not the Lost Pines loblolly pine tree which is adapted to the climate of Central Texas. Below is a list of recommended trees to plant in Bastrop County:

Large Stature Trees Small-Medium Stature Trees

American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) Gum bumeila (Sideroxylon lanuginosum) American elm (Ulmus americana) Mexican plum (Prunus mexicana),

Winged elm (Ulmus alata) Possumhaw (Ilex decidua) Cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia) Red mulberry (Morus rubra)

Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis) Roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii) Black hickory (Carya texana) Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana)

Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) Cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana) Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis),

Coastal live oak (Quercus virginiana) Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) Eves necklace (Sophora affinis) Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) Flameleaf sumac (Rhus lanceolata) White ash (Fraxinus americana)

Hackberry (Celtus sp.) Native pecan (Carya illinoinensis) Osage orange (Maclura pomifera)

Western soapberry (Sapindus drummondii For more information about recommended native tree species, visit the Lady Bird John Wildflower Center’s Native Plant Database at: http://www.wildflower.org/plants/.

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/




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Manage Non-native and Native Invasive Species: Both non-native and native plants may become invasive, displacing native vegetation. This is a threat to the endangered Houston toad and a healthy forest ecosystem. A common native shrub that may require control is yaupon holly, which is re-sprouting more quickly than other native species and therefore, can be considered invasive. The best practice to ensure invasive species do not dominate your landscape is to remove them from your property while they are young. By managing invasive species, native trees and vegetation will be more likely to establish thus increasing plant diversity. Find additional information about invasive plants at http://www.texasinvasives.org/. The following images depict the most common invasive species in Central Texas:

Chinese tallow

(Triadica sebifera) Chinaberry

(Melia azedarach) Wax-leaf ligustrum (privet)

(Ligustrum japonicum) Yaupon holly

(Ilex vomitoria)

Nandina (Nandina domestica)

Giant reed (Arundo donax)

Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Images courtesy of www.texasinvasives.org and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Erosion Control techniques: The potential for severe soil erosion and accelerated water runoff exists after a wildfire due to the lack of vegetation and ground cover which stabilize the soil. To reduce this risk mulch areas containing steep slopes and bare soil, spread seed mixes approved for the Lost Pine ecosystem, or install water bars from felled tree trunks and limbs. Learn more about erosion control techniques at http://bastroprecovery.org/soil-and-erosion/.

http://www.texasinvasives.org/

http://www.texasinvasives.org/

http://bastroprecovery.org/soil-and-erosion/




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FIGURE 1

Tree Planting Techniques

Loblolly Pine Seedling Planting Instructions

Proper care of seedlings until they are planted is extremely important. The most vital precautions involve keeping the seedlings moist, not allowing them to dry out, freeze, or experience excessive heat, and providing cold storage until the seedlings are planted. Seedlings should be planted as soon as they are received and only during the planting season between mid October and mid March. This program is designed to mimic natural reforestation patterns therefore seedlings should be planted on an 8 x 10 foot spacing with an estimated density of 544 trees per acre, unless otherwise stated in the Tree Planting Site Plan. Seedlings should be planted at least 30 feet from structures and eight feet from fencing to protect your home from future wildfires and to allow access along property lines. Proper planting techniques are essential for the program’s success and will allow for greater number of seedlings to survive. Recommended tools for planting include: dibble bar, hoedad, plug bar, planting shovel or a sharpshooter. Loblolly pine planting instructions are illustrated in Figure 1.

All seedlings should pass a “four-needle” test once planted which means the seedlings should remain firmly planted when pulled by four needles. Roots should not be planted in a U-, V-, J-, or L-shaped manner where the tap root is curved at the bottom. The root ball should be completely below ground once planted. Pin flags are being used to mark the location of each planted seedling. They allow for accurate spacing during planting, quality assurance opportunities, and follow up survival assessment. Pin flags will also help landowners protect trees from damage and/or provide supplemental water and mulch.

Newly planted and mulched pine seedling. Photo courtesy of TreeFolks.




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Photo courtesy of Texas Forest Service.

Images courtesy of International Society of Arboriculture.

There are many benefits to planting young seedlings compared to larger containerized trees. They have greater chances of survival with minimal care and resources; they also have less potential for root problems which are inherent with containerized trees. Due to the limited availability of seedling trees and the desire for taller, more mature trees, many landowners may wish to plant container grown trees.

Container Tree Planting Instructions

1.� Dig a hole 2-3 times the width and no deeper than the depth of the root ball. Keep the top of the root ball even with the ground and place tree on firm, undisturbed soil.

2.� Tickle the Roots: Remove tree from container and loosen soil and roots along outside edge of root ball. Prune any roots growing in a circle around the root ball.

3.� Backfill the hole with the original soil and no additives. Gently tamp the soil until the hole is filled.

4.� Build a 3” tall mulch ring 3 feet around the tree keeping the mulch at least 2” from the trunk. Mulch keeps the soil moist, protects the tree and adds nutrients to the soil

5.� Water every 7-10 days, year-round for 2 years.

Tree Maintenance and Protection

Mulch, water, and protection are three key elements to tree maintenance. These following recommendations are not required but may increase the survival and growth rates of both seedling and containerized trees. Mulching Mulch is an important tool that when properly applied provides a variety of benefits to the forest ecosystem including protection against soil erosion, preserving soil moisture, increasing organic matter of soil, reducing grass and weeds that compete for resources, and insulating the soil against temperature extremes. Trees growing in a forest typically have plenty of mulch from leaf litter and underlying duff layer, but areas affected by the fire and landscaped trees grow in very different conditions which benefit from mulch. Spread mulch in a shallow circle around the tree using the rule of thumb: keep mulch a thumb’s length away from the trunk and at a thumb’s length deep (2-3 inches). For seedlings apply mulch in a one foot radius around the trunk and for container trees apply mulch in a three foot radius from the trunk. Mulch applied at any additional distance from the trunk is not wasted; it will help improve the soil for future tree root growth.

Proper Mulching

Improper Mulching




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Watering Seedling trees planted through this program do not require irrigation, the program is designed to mimic natural forest regeneration patterns. However, if a landowner can provide periodic water when rainfall is scarce it will increase the chances for survival and may give the trees’ growth rate a small boost. If feasible, water each seedling tree with approximately ½ gallon of water once a week during periods with little to no rainfall. You can do this by turning a hose on a low trickle for 2 minutes on each tree, place a ½ gallon of water in a bucket with holes drilled in the bottom next to the tree, or with a drip irrigation or sprinkler system. Over watering can be harmful for young trees so follow the recommended watering instructions for your trees.

Protection

Deer, cattle and other wildlife love to nibble on young seedlings, especially when the abundance of surrounding vegetation is low. This browsing will stunt the growth or kill the trees unless they are protected. If feasible, especially on small lots or in places where regeneration is the main land management goal, consider placing small tomato cages or mesh tubes around trees for their first two years in the ground.


THANK YOU TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS

Browse protection. Image courtesy of TreeFolks.

Watering sketches courtesy of TreeFolks.



MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) is to promote recovery and restoration of Bastrop County, it's communities, and residents affected by the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF) by providing reforestation services to eligible program participants through the utilization of volunteers and large

scale, community-based education and outreach opportunities focused on planting available native, drought resistant loblolly pine seedlings.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS What is the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program? The Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) launched in December 2012, with the mission to promote recovery and reforestation of Bastrop County, it’s communities, and residents affected by the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF) by providing reforestation services to eligible participants through the utilization of volunteers and community based education and outreach opportunities focused on planting available native, drought resistant loblolly pine seedlings. TreeFolks, a local nonprofit organization that specializes in urban forestry, tree planting events and volunteer engagement, is administering the program. Program partners include Bastrop County, Bowman Consulting, American YouthWorks Texas Conservation Corps, Texas A & M Forest Service, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Apache Foundation, Arbor Day Foundation, the Lost Pines Recovery Team, H-E-B, McCoy's Building Supply, and the Bastrop County Sherriff's Office. Program Duration, Availability, and Qualifying Criteria Year one of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program is being carried out through March 15, 2013. Nearly 60,000 native loblolly pine tree seedlings and native hardwood species are available this planting season for BCCRP and will be planted by March 15, 2013. Due to the limited number of trees available for planting this planting season, the BCCRP developed an intake and prioritization process based on the following criteria:

1. A Right of Entry was filed with Bastrop County by December 1, 2012, 2. The site was in both the heavy burn area, with moderate to highly erodible soils, 3. The site was previously forested.

Where and when can I sign up for BCCRP? An invitation letter introducing the program and application for year one reforestation services was mailed to 930 parcel owners who met the above criteria on December 17, 2012. If you received an application in the mail, you met the qualifying criteria for year one and are eligible to apply for reforestation services at this time. Please complete your application and mail it back to TreeFolks as soon as possible. Applications will be sent to all remaining parcel owners affected by the 2011 Labor Day wildfires in the late summer or fall of 2013. The latest information about this program will be available on three websites: http://treefolks.org/reforestation/, http://treefolks.org/lostpines, and http://www.bastroprecovery.org. How is this program funded? Major contributors include: Bastrop County, H-E-B, Apache Foundation, Arbor Day Foundation, Austin Community Foundation, American YouthWorks Texas Conservation Corps, Texas A & M Forest Service, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, McCoy’s Building Supply, Bastrop County Sherriff's Department, and members of the Lost Pines Recovery Team.


MISSION STATEMENT



What is TreeFolks? TreeFolks is a nonprofit urban forestry organization that has been serving Central Texas for nearly 24 years. TreeFolks’ mission is to grow the urban forest of Central Texas through tree planting, education and community partnerships. How are you going to plant 60,000 trees in 6 weeks? A combination of methods will be utilized to plant trees this planting season. TreeFolks reforestation coordinator will meet with applicants on site to develop a tree planting plan and determine the best method for planting the site. The site will either be planted by our tree planting vendor - American YouthWorks Texas Conservation Corps, during a volunteer-based community tree planting event, or landowners will receive a predetermined number of trees through a tree planting workshop. Can I volunteer? Yes, volunteers are critical to our success, please register at http://treefolks.org/volunteer-opportunities/ Volunteer opportunities are also available with Bastrop State Park at http://arborday.org/texas What happens if I am selected to participate in the program to receive reforestation services but there are not enough trees to plant my property this planting season? Approved applicants for year one will receive planting services in the order in which applications are received. Due to the limited number of trees available for planting this season many landowners may not receive tree planting services until the second or possibly third planting season. As TreeFolks receives applications, they will provide confirmation to the landowner that the application has been received, and schedule site visits as quickly as possible. During the site visit, the landowner and TreeFolks’ reforestation coordinator will develop the planting plan and determine the most efficient way to plant the parcel. If my parcel is selected to receive trees during a Tree Planting Workshop, how will the trees be planted? Year 1 program participants selected to receive trees at a Tree Planting Workshop will go through a short training course on how to handle, plant and care for their trees before receiving the trees. If you feel that you may need assistance to plant your trees, please let TreeFolks know at the time of the site visit, or as soon as possible before the distribution event. Trained volunteers will be available to assist landowners immediately following the training. If you would like to learn more about planting loblolly pine seedlings, watch the Texas A&M Forest Service video on Youtube. If I did not qualify for participation in this program, are there any other reforestation services available? At this time, there are no other reforestation programs offering reforestation services for this planting season. The latest information about this program and other reforestation services will be available on three websites: http://treefolks.org/reforestation/, http://treefolks.org/lostpines, and http://www.bastroprecovery.org. Can I buy trees through this program or from other vendors? The BCCRP offers tree planting services at no charge. We are not aware of any vendors selling “the unique to this area” drought resistant, Lost Pines loblolly pine trees. Be careful of nurseries selling non-native species of loblolly pines as they are not likely to survive in our soils and climate. The pines found in Bastrop County are genetically unique drought-tolerant loblollies different than those found in the forests of eastern Texas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xqeKRsaa0E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xqeKRsaa0E


MISSION STATEMENT



What trees other than Loblolly pine are recommended for Bastrop? We recommend that only native trees be replanted in Bastrop. A few of the most common native trees found in Bastrop County are listed below. For a full list of recommended species, please visit: http://bastroprecovery.org/trees-forests/ Large Stature: American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), American elm (Ulmus americana), Winged elm (Ulmus alata), Cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia), Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), Coastal live oak (Quercus virginiana), Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii), Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), Native pecan (Carya illinoinensis), Western soapberry (Sapindus drummondii). Small Stature: Mexican plum (Prunus mexicana), Possumhaw (Ilex decidua), Roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii), Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana), Cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana), Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), Eves necklace (Sophora affinis), Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum), Flameleaf sumac (Rhus lanceolata). What do I do about standing dead and felled trees? If you are signed up for the Private Property Debris Removal (PPDR) program and your trees are marked, the vendor will be cutting and removing in the near future. Cutting slows down during the Houston toad breeding season but still continues. If you have not signed up for PPDR but need your trees removed you will need to find a vendor on your own. You may contact Go Green International who is now offering tree removal at no cost to Bastrop County residents. www.gogreeninternationalinc.com I’m on the list to receive tree planting services; what can I do now to prepare my land? Pro-active restoration efforts by the community and landowners are needed to ensure the ecosystem recovers in a healthy manner. While recovery of the Lost Pines forest will likely take decades, there are a number of measures we can implement to help accelerate its’ recovery. The most common measures include replanting native plant species, managing invasive species, and implementing erosion control techniques. The Lost Pines ecosystem is home to the federally endangered Houston toad. It is important that before implementing any land management activities on your property, to contact your local LPHCP administrator for information on how to appropriately implement recommended land management techniques, http://www.co.bastrop.tx.us/site/content/lostpineshabitat. To learn more about these recovery measures visit: http://treefolks.org/reforestation/ What are the Lost Pines? A unique feature to Bastrop County, the Lost Pines are a disjunct segment of loblolly pine forests of east Texas, and home to the endangered Houston toad. What is the Houston toad? The Houston toad is an endangered species that makes its’ home within the Lost Pines ecosystem of Bastrop County, and depends on healthy and mature forest ecosystems with mixed species composition, significant canopy cover, an open understory layer with an herbaceous component, and breeding pools with shaded edges. Adult Houston toads are medium-sized (2 to 3.5 inches) with females larger and bulkier than males. As with most toads, they are stout-bodied animals with short legs and rough warty skin. The Houston toad is a very secretive species and is seldom seen, except on warm, humid evenings during its breeding season (January-June, with a peak in February and March), when males call to attract females. Calling males at a breeding pond is known as a “chorus.” The chorus heralds the coming of spring. Echoing through the forest, the high clear trills

http://www.gogreeninternationalinc.com/



MISSION STATEMENT



sound much like the tinkling of small bells. To learn more about this unique species and its habitat visit http://www.co.bastrop.tx.us/site/content/lostpineshabitat. What is the Lost Pines Habitat Conservation Plan (LPHCP)? The basic foundation of the Lost Pine Habitat Conservation Plan is that humans can coexist with the Houston toad. In fact, the long term preservation, restoration, enhancement, and management of toad habitat in Bastrop County is dependent on private landowners because the vast majority of known and potential habitat exists on private property. In April 2008 Bastrop County was issued an “Endangered Species Incidental Take Permit” from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that covers approximately 124,000 acres of known and potential Houston toad habitat within the county. This permit, with its associated Lost Pines Habitat Conservation Plan (LPHCP), offers a simplified process for obtaining authorization for incidental take under section 10(a)(1)(b) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for a variety of activities and provides regulatory certainty for local landowners and other community interests. The permit allows Bastrop County to issue certificates of participation to landowners for harming the toad or its habitat while engaging in otherwise legal land-use activities, including agricultural or forestry practices, wildlife management, land development, and certain other land-use activities. Landowners can voluntarily participate in the county’s LPHCP in a variety of ways. Whether simply continuing with existing land-use activities, building a new home or business, or developing a subdivision, participation in the LPHCP provides the coverage necessary to ensure compliance with the ESA. For additional information on the LPHCP contact your local LPHCP administrator, http://www.co.bastrop.tx.us/site/content/lostpineshabitat. What are the qualifications to receive a Right of Entry (ROE) form and where can I get one?

1.� You must be in the Burn Area 2.� Your land must have been previously forested

You can email Sue Cerf at the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management: [email protected]. Can I go pick up free mulch? Directly after the January 26th, 2013 Community Planting Event at George Ross Lakes Park off FM 1441, there will be mulch available for pick up on a first come, first serve basis until it is gone from the parking lot near the park.

TOGETHER we are the tools for RECOVERY THANK YOU TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS



PROGRAM SUMMARY

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) is to promote recovery and restoration of Bastrop County, it's communities, and residents affected by the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF) by providing reforestation services to eligible program participants through the utilization of volunteers and large scale, community-based

education and outreach opportunities focused on planting available native, drought resistant loblolly pine seedlings.

The Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) is a free, multi-year community based tree planting program for private landowners affected by the Bastrop County Complex Fire. TreeFolks is leading the BCCRP to restore the Lost Pines loblolly pine forest on private property. This is done by meeting landowners on their property, explaining the process of forest succession, discussing their reforestation goals, and planting Lost Pines loblolly pine trees in the appropriate areas and with volunteers where feasible. All landowners with property affected by the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire will be invited to apply for services. There are nearly 600,000 trees available for this multi-year program.

The results of the first phase of this program (Nov 2012 – April 2013):

� An application to 930 landowners based on environmental criteria

� 65,000 trees planted by March 9 for approx 85 landowners on 172 acres

� Volunteer and community group tree planting events

� AYW – Texas Conservation Corps planting sites not suited for volunteers

� Tree planting workshop for small acreage tracts

� A roadmap for the next 4 years of program delivery

� Coordination of 10 public and private partners Next steps include (May 2013 – May 2014):

� Schedule applicants from the December 2012 enrollment for site visits & planting

� Send applications to remaining landowners with property affected by the Bastrop County Complex Fire (Summer 2013)

� Maintain records of properties visited, planting plans and sites planted � Plant trees during the next planting season (Nov 1, 2014 – March 1, 2014)

� Perform survival evaluations

� Provide customer and partner feedback opportunities

� Identify opportunities to improve program delivery

� Provide general tree planting and care information to community

Program information: http://treefolks.org/reforestation/ or http://bastroprecovery.org/ Volunteer information: http://treefolks.org/volunteer-opportunities/ BCCRP Reforestation Coordinator: Dan Pacatte, [email protected], (512) 443-5323

Contributing partners include: American Youth Works Texas Conservation Corps, Apache Foundation, Arbor Day Foundation, Bastrop County, Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office, Bowman Consulting, H-E-B, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Lost Pines Recovery Team, McCoys Building Supply, Texas A&M Forest Service, and TreeFolks.

Figure 1. TreeFolks Reforestation Coordinator Dan Pacatte meeting with a landowner.

Figure 2. Loblolly pine sapling.


http://bastroprecovery.org/

http://treefolks.org/volunteer-opportunities/


bastrop county - treefolks

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