Travis County Parks Projects

Invasive Species Control at Balcones Preserve: Remove invasive Johnson grass and Brazilian vervain and replace with native grasses. Conservation Advisor: Johanna Arendt, Community Liaison

Invasive Species Control at Balcones Preserve: Remove invasive vicna and replace with native grasses. Conservation Advisor: Johanna Arendt, Community Liaison

Fish and Wildlife Management at Travis County Parks: Establish Purple Martin Houses for mosquito control at Northeast Metro or other parks. Conservation Advisor: Park Supervisor.

Balcones Preserve. Conservation Advisor: Johanna Arendt

​BCP is a 32,255-acre system of preserves in western Travis County that protects endangered and threatened species, some of which are found nowhere else on earth. About 3,500 acres of the BCP are regularly open to the public for hiking, including popular destinations like Hamilton Pool Preserve, Barton Creek Greenbelt, and Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve. 
BCP has been the lucky recipient of a number of Eagle Scout, Hornaday Award, and Gold Award projects including the building and installation of chimney swift towers and trail markers. One project we need help with this coming year is removing vinca, also known as periwinkle. This invasive groundcover crowds out native plants including tree saplings, making it difficult for the forest to regenerate. Removing vinca is a good activity fo​r a group because it’s relatively easy, there’s plenty of shade, and you can talk while you work. We often combine vinca-pulling with a guided hike on the preserve. 

Additional Projects.  Conservation Advisor:  Shaun Auckland

1)  Resource Recovery:  Establish recycling program at Travis County Parks.  This Project would include painting the barrels, setting up collection stations and developing education and outreach to visitors on the weekend.

2)  Air and Water Pollution Control:  Establish diffusion areas on downslopes of park, especially where run-off flows to nearby creeks.  Project would include planting wildflowers or regional native grasses in “no-mow areas” to prevent diffuse and trap waste before it flows into creeks and streams.