Bull Creek District Park Visit

Last week, I had a bit of time while on my way to a speaking engagement, so I stopped for a visit at Bull Creek District Park.  This is at the southern end of Bull Creek Greenbelt, is now the site of an 0n-leash dog park, and was the site of tremendous flooding in August 2010 where major amounts of rock and gravel changed the very nature of the falls and swimming hole.

That said, much of the restoration work started by the Bull Creek Foundation and Bull Creek Off-leash group and continued by American Youthworks E-Corps working under contract to the City’s Watershed Protection has remained and in most cases, is thriving despite the long hot summer and continuing drought.

I took some photos showing various areas, especially along the previously barren (dirt and rock) creek banks looking better than they have in years.  I also pulled out about 10 ligustrums that had sprouted up near one of the big oak trees.

The park is special to me as a longtime volunteer along Bull Creek and we dedicated the trail and an area to Inga Van Nynatten, a wonderful graduate student and then National Parks Service staffer who helped us get the Bull Creek Greenbelt Trail effort going back in mid-1990s and who died far too young in 2000.

Bull Creek Greenbelt

A picture from a tour a few weeks back.  One of the sites of several It’s My Park Day projects!   Please volunteer if you haven’t yet.  We have 1,300 people signed up, but still have 1,700 spaces left!

 

Help Out At Bull Creek over the holidays…

Having a good holiday season? Super. Not getting as much exercise as you’d like? Feeling a little sedentary?

Lower Bull Creek Greenbelt is a beautiful place to get out, take a hike, do a little park maintenance and improve one’s outlook. You are, of course, welcome to do these things on your own. Additionally, Sunday and Thursday afternoons and Monday and Friday mornings we’re providing opportunities for individuals, families and groups to participate in organized activities. Depending on group preference, there will be maintenance activities like invasive plant removal, trail repair, and trash removal. Another possibility is a hike through the 175 acre park, highlighting some unique attractions like the old house, trees that are candidates for Austin Tree of the Year, and grasses 6 feet tall. And if these days and times don’t fit your schedule, call; we should be able to schedule something suitable.

Groups will be small. Email (gsnsj@sbcglobal.net) or call (340-9932) George Innis to arrange details. This schedule will continue through Jan 9, 2011.

First of many workdays at Bull Creek Trail

Our friends at Bull Creek Foundation, led by George Innis, Jerry Levenson and Skip Cameron, led the first of many monthly workdays at Bull Creek, focusing on the trail along the western side of the creek. There’s a lot more to do and they can use lots of volunteers on Sat, Oct 16 from 9 am to noon.

Bull Creek Volunteer Clean-up/Trail Repair workday

Our friends at Bull Creek Foundation need help for the first of many workdays required to clean-up and rebuild the trail along Bull Creek Greenbelt due to record flooding (over 15 feet!) First workday is Sat, 9/11 from 9 am to noon.

We will gather at the paved parking lot East of Hwy 360 on Old Spicewood Springs Road – Search for 5312 Old Spicewood Springs Rd 78731 in Google maps.

Wear closed toed shoes or boots, long pants (jeans), long sleeved shirt, hat, gloves, and eye protection. Wear sunscreen. Bring a water bottle.

Mending Fences at Bull Creek Greenbelt

George, Jerry and Skip repaired portions of cedar (ashe juniper) fence at the northern end of Bull Creek Greenbelt.  Great work you guys!

Bull Creek Is Flowing

Out on a good morning survey of the Bull Creek greenbelt trail with Volunteer George Ennis, I snapped this photo of hidden falls.  Lots of flowers blooming and plenty of trail and greenbelt projects in store for the northern segment of the trail.

The Old Days At Bull Creek (District) Park

While the city is considering changes to the Off Leash Area at Bull Creek District Park (if so, the foundation is advocating for a new off-leash area to replace the existing one should the city close it temporarily for restoration or permanently) we’d thought we’re share some of the history of the park through these brochures, it was a private run park in the 1950s by the Moore family before they sold the land to the city.  It looks like it’s been a place to swim for some time…

Thanks to BCDOG, Bull Creek, Gables Volunteers

Look at this great new cedar fence along Lakewood Drive at Bull Creek District Park.  Funded by an Austin Parks Foundation Park Grant, it will keep dogs away from cars zipping along Lakewood.  Congrats to Debra Bailey of BCDOG for a very successful workday.

Understory

Last weekend I visited two different trails that have had extensive non-native plant removal. It was really neat to see the difference in the understory of these areas compared to, say, Shoal Creek. At Gus Fruh Trail, the Greenbelt Guardians have waged a years-long campaign against ligustrum. The result is an open understory with a wide variety of native trees and plants coming up. Lots of diversity. Same thing at Bull Creek Greenbelt – you can see further into the woods and there are all kinds of different things growing. (Including lots of poison ivy – a native – so be careful if you visit!)

I’m sure Charlie will want me to point out, we’ve been working hard to restore Shoal Creek’s natural balance, too, by removing invasives like ligustrum, nandina, and chinaberry.