Record RatsAmarillo College Ceniza Trip 2004

Environmental Site Assessment

Phase I Continued

About ESA

ESA stands for

Environmental Site Assessment There are three phases in ESA

– Phase I: Search for potential problems through research, interviews, and on-site investigation

– Phase II: Test for problems and possible solutions– Phase III: Solves and fixes the problems

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Coordinates:Main House- 30N 23.44’ 98W 0.82’ ’Lower Cabin- 30N 23.463’ 98W 0.886’ Upper Cabin- 30N 23.492’ 98W 0.897’ Gate House- 30N 23.531’ 98W 0.931’

History of Land (1901-1926)History of Land (1901-1926)

1901-1926: 1901-1926: Property changes Property changes hands six timeshands six times

1926: Walterspec 1926: Walterspec Grimmer relieves Grimmer relieves debt by deeding debt by deeding land parcels to land parcels to Mary K. Schneider Mary K. Schneider

(value $2.00/acre)(value $2.00/acre)

The Main HouseThe Main House J. P. Schneider purchased J. P. Schneider purchased

main house from Jacob main house from Jacob Brown for $35.00Brown for $35.00

In 1940, the house was In 1940, the house was moved to its current moved to its current location from Thurman location from Thurman Bend.Bend.

The upstairs and master The upstairs and master bedroom were added in bedroom were added in 1969.1969.

The necessities of life (air The necessities of life (air conditioning, plumbing, conditioning, plumbing, etc.) were added in 1980.etc.) were added in 1980.

The Upper and Lower The Upper and Lower CabinsCabins

These cabins share a sewage system.These cabins share a sewage system. They also have the same utilities.They also have the same utilities. They do not run off the same power, but they They do not run off the same power, but they

do have the same source.do have the same source.

The Gate HouseThe Gate House

This house runs on This house runs on its own sewage its own sewage system.system.

It is isolated from the It is isolated from the other cabins, and is other cabins, and is located near the front located near the front gate.gate.

We think the septic We think the septic tank is underground tank is underground in this vicinity in this vicinity because there is a because there is a depression in the depression in the ground.ground.

This shed might This shed might contain chemicals contain chemicals detrimental to the detrimental to the environment.environment.

History of Lazy J (1941-History of Lazy J (1941-2004)2004)

1941: Ire Puryear gave 1941: Ire Puryear gave easement to LCRAeasement to LCRA

1942: Puryear sells land to 1942: Puryear sells land to RobinsonRobinson

1947: James T. Robison sold 1947: James T. Robison sold to Alden Davisto Alden Davis

1957: Davis Estate sells to 1957: Davis Estate sells to Dorothy Pouch DunningDorothy Pouch Dunning

?: Dorothy Pouch Dunning ?: Dorothy Pouch Dunning sold to G. Charles Childresold to G. Charles Childre

1960: Childre sells to Marvin 1960: Childre sells to Marvin BellBell

1960: Bell conveys 1960: Bell conveys acreage north of acreage north of subdivision to Childre. subdivision to Childre. (The other acres (The other acres made up Siesta made up Siesta Shores Subdivision.)Shores Subdivision.)

1960: Ruth Childre 1960: Ruth Childre sells to Dean and sells to Dean and Virginia JohnstonVirginia Johnston

At Ann and Leonard’sAt Ann and Leonard’s

This is the septic This is the septic system at the Lazy J system at the Lazy J house. It is fairly new house. It is fairly new and does not need to and does not need to be replaced.be replaced.

The Lower Colorado The Lower Colorado River Authority River Authority closely monitors closely monitors water usage in this water usage in this area.area.

Intents and PurposesIntents and Purposes

Obtain old tax records through 2004Obtain old tax records through 2004 Find abstracts for original land grantsFind abstracts for original land grants Investigate deed restrictions for new Investigate deed restrictions for new

developmentsdevelopments

All of the above should be found at the Austin All of the above should be found at the Austin History Center. History Center.

Hours of operation from AHC web page:Hours of operation from AHC web page:Monday-Thursday: 10-9; Monday-Thursday: 10-9; Friday & Saturday: 10-6Friday & Saturday: 10-6; Sunday 12-6; Sunday 12-6

ResearchResearch

We went to the County Courthouse in search We went to the County Courthouse in search of records and were referred to…of records and were referred to…

And we were referred to. . .

We went to the Travis County Archives,

We went to the We went to the Austin City Library Austin City Library for internet research. for internet research. Due to technical Due to technical difficulties, we were difficulties, we were referred to. . . referred to. . .

Due to lack of Due to lack of change and change and excessive parking excessive parking charges, we needed charges, we needed to run to the bank.to run to the bank.

A possible lead was A possible lead was brought up with tax brought up with tax records, but more records, but more information was information was needed for cross-needed for cross-referencing. These referencing. These facts were only facts were only available at. . . available at. . .

Due to continued Due to continued difficulties, we difficulties, we decided a break for decided a break for lunch was in order.lunch was in order.

Asian

cuisine with a

twist

Natural DisastersNatural Disasters

FloodsFloodsTornadoesTornadoesFiresFiresFire AntsFire Ants

FloodsFloodsMajor Documented Floods of Lake TravisMajor Documented Floods of Lake Travis

July 1869July 1869 April 1900April 1900 April 1915April 1915 September 1921September 1921 June 1935June 1935 April 1957April 1957 October 1960October 1960 November 1974November 1974

May 1981May 1981 December 1991December 1991 October 1998October 1998

Tornado of 1997Tornado of 1997

The tornado blew through in 1997, taking The tornado blew through in 1997, taking out acres of trees on the property.out acres of trees on the property.

It took out the power lines.It took out the power lines. Thank God, it didn’t hit any of the houses.Thank God, it didn’t hit any of the houses.

Tornado AlleyTornado Alley

FFIIRREE

The year after the The year after the tornado, 1998, tornado, 1998, Lynn Mertz set Lynn Mertz set the prairie to the the prairie to the east of the house east of the house on fire.on fire.

In the past five In the past five years, there have years, there have been been miscellaneous miscellaneous fires in the fires in the region, but the region, but the cause remains cause remains unknown.unknown.

Photographs of a few burned trees. The cause of the fire is still unknown.

There is no record of seriousdamage caused by a fire onCeniza property.

Fire Ants• Fire Ants (Solenopsis

invicta) are a noisome pestilence.

• They kill small mammals (mice, people, etc…).

• Fire ants came to Alabama with a shipment of bananas from Brazil around 1940.

• The poison Myrex allowed them to increase in numbers.

• Dr. Larry Gilbert at Aggieland (whoop!) has been studying a natural predatory fly-like parasite,

Caenocholax fenyesi, whose larvae feeds on fire ants and is used to organically control fire ants.

• Diatomaceous earth, a molasses-dish soap water mix, lizards or other predators may also be used to combat them.

Potential Hazards

•Chemical spills•Pesticides•Rust•PCB in old transformers•Styrofoam•Animal droppings•Asbestos•Sewage leaks

New Developments in the Area

The increasing development of the area is having both immediate and lasting effects on the environment.These effects will be studied and documented in future reports.

Recommendations

• Kill the fire ants.• Replace septic

systems.• Reduce arthropod

vectors.

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