Forestry and Range Management: Work with a forestry conservation professional to identify appropriate trees to plant, and how to plant them on Chautauqua Association property. After planting, the Scout would need to develop a watering plan for the next two years to sustain them. The Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage on the trees for longterm public education.
Forestry and Range Management: Trees 2000. The vision is to create a private/publicly-funded tree planting program that would put indigenous trees into public areas. Scout would need to work with a forestry conservation professional to identify appropriate trees to plant, and how to plant them. Scout would need to work with TreeFolks or similar organization to fund trees, and to organize volunteers to plant the trees correctly. After planting, the Scout would need to develop a watering plan for the next two years to sustain them. The Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage on the trees for longterm public education.
Forestry and Range Management: 620 Sound and Visual Abatement. Within the next couple of years, Highway 620 will be experiencing some major improvements at the intersection of Chisholm Trail. Over time, the amount of traffic on this road will increase significantly. Publicly owned areas falling into Brushy Creek might be enhanced with indigenous evergreen plantings that will offer natural long-term noise and visual abatement to Chautauqua and area neighborhoods.Scout would need to work with a forestry conservation professional to identify appropriate trees to plant, and how to plant them. After planting, the Scout would need to develop a watering plan for the next two years to sustain them. The Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage on the trees for longterm public education.
Resource Recovery: Compost bin(s). Scout would need to identify and build compost bins for leaves. Composting plan could also include use of compostible plates used at events. Scout could work with professional at City's Recycling Group or Trash Collection to do the research. Scout then would need to create a plan for continuation of the program. Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage for longterm public education.
Soil and Water Conservation: Rain Barrels or Underground Runoff Collection System. Scout would need to work with conservation professional to identify how water should be collected, and what it would be used for. Then the Scout would need to install the rainbarrels and create a plan for continuation of the program. Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage for longterm public education.
Air and Water Pollution Control: Natural Driveways. City zoning will require additional impervious cover when we explore the public meeting venue we would like to include on the property. It may be unavoidable, but the idea of using a road base that doesn’t put petrochemicals into a runoff and allow water to filter naturally back into the watershed may make more sense. Working with city officials to support a natural road base would allow for Scout to work with conservation professional to identify what materials should be used, and how it should be graded for filtration and run-off. Then the Scout would need to recruit volunteers to install the road base and create a plan for continuation of the program. Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage for longterm public education.
Fish and Wildlife Management: Texas Horned Lizard Breeding Program. Ambitious? Sure. As an endangered species, the Texas horned lizard might benefit from the support of a breeding program. Scout would need to research the species and determine if this is an appropriate habitat, and whether it used to live at Brushy Creek. Scout would need to work with conservation professional to identify what materials should be used to recreate the needed habitat, and how it should be maintained. Then the Scout would need to install the habitat, repopulate the species and create a plan for continuation of the program. Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage for longterm public education.
Energy Conservation: Solar Power. With the building out of the barn on the Chautuaqua Association property, there is an opportunity to include solar as a significant energy source the west side of the building. Costs for including this in the design of our events venue will be explored. Scout would need to work with solar professional to identify what materials should be used to build the solar array, and how to connect it to something needing power (outdoor lights?, water heater, etc.) Scout would to install the equipment and identify and how it should be maintained. Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage for longterm public education.
Energy Conservation: Wind Power. The advent of smaller wind turbines might afford some opportunities to explore electric co-generation. A desire to serve as a model for sustainable energy, would also be an opportunity to showcase options. Scout would need to work with wind power professional to identify what materials should be used to build the wind power capture unit, and how to connect it to something needing power (outdoor lights?, water heater, etc.) Scout would to install the equipment and identify and how it should be maintained. Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage for longterm public education.
Fish and Wildlife Management: Butterfly Garden. In the long-range planning for Chautauqua, it would be of interest to put together a butterfly garden for the property. Working with area Gardening Professionals, it would be a worthy addition to the property.
Soil and Water Conservation:Xeriscape and Controlled Runoff Landscaping. Keeping with Chautauqua’s mission, the area needs terraced areas on the side of the property toward the creek with low maintenance plantings appropriate to our Central Texas Zone. Working with Travis County Master Gardeners, the project would enhance the existing landscape with appropriate drought and deer resistant species that will succeed in our climate.
Community Adopt a Road Program. There is a state program that could be adapted to the local level. Would require developing and getting support for a petition for a local (City of Round Rock or Williamson County) initiative that offers regular cleanups and support signage for businesses and/or organizations to adopt a road within the community.
Creek Cleanup. Part of the Chautauqua Association property extends to the center of Brushy Creek. Flooding from 09/08/10 flattened or killed vegetation on a small outcropping in the middle of the creek. Additional materials (including whole trees) were also caught in the small island. It is has been a goal to remove these materials to prevent further congestion when waters rise, as well as restore previous habitat.
Forestry and Range Management: Trees 2000. The vision is to create a private/publicly-funded tree planting program that would put indigenous trees into public areas. Scout would need to work with a forestry conservation professional to identify appropriate trees to plant, and how to plant them. Scout would need to work with TreeFolks or similar organization to fund trees, and to organize volunteers to plant the trees correctly. After planting, the Scout would need to develop a watering plan for the next two years to sustain them. The Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage on the trees for longterm public education.
Forestry and Range Management: 620 Sound and Visual Abatement. Within the next couple of years, Highway 620 will be experiencing some major improvements at the intersection of Chisholm Trail. Over time, the amount of traffic on this road will increase significantly. Publicly owned areas falling into Brushy Creek might be enhanced with indigenous evergreen plantings that will offer natural long-term noise and visual abatement to Chautauqua and area neighborhoods.Scout would need to work with a forestry conservation professional to identify appropriate trees to plant, and how to plant them. After planting, the Scout would need to develop a watering plan for the next two years to sustain them. The Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage on the trees for longterm public education.
Resource Recovery: Compost bin(s). Scout would need to identify and build compost bins for leaves. Composting plan could also include use of compostible plates used at events. Scout could work with professional at City's Recycling Group or Trash Collection to do the research. Scout then would need to create a plan for continuation of the program. Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage for longterm public education.
Soil and Water Conservation: Rain Barrels or Underground Runoff Collection System. Scout would need to work with conservation professional to identify how water should be collected, and what it would be used for. Then the Scout would need to install the rainbarrels and create a plan for continuation of the program. Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage for longterm public education.
Air and Water Pollution Control: Natural Driveways. City zoning will require additional impervious cover when we explore the public meeting venue we would like to include on the property. It may be unavoidable, but the idea of using a road base that doesn’t put petrochemicals into a runoff and allow water to filter naturally back into the watershed may make more sense. Working with city officials to support a natural road base would allow for Scout to work with conservation professional to identify what materials should be used, and how it should be graded for filtration and run-off. Then the Scout would need to recruit volunteers to install the road base and create a plan for continuation of the program. Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage for longterm public education.
Fish and Wildlife Management: Texas Horned Lizard Breeding Program. Ambitious? Sure. As an endangered species, the Texas horned lizard might benefit from the support of a breeding program. Scout would need to research the species and determine if this is an appropriate habitat, and whether it used to live at Brushy Creek. Scout would need to work with conservation professional to identify what materials should be used to recreate the needed habitat, and how it should be maintained. Then the Scout would need to install the habitat, repopulate the species and create a plan for continuation of the program. Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage for longterm public education.
Energy Conservation: Solar Power. With the building out of the barn on the Chautuaqua Association property, there is an opportunity to include solar as a significant energy source the west side of the building. Costs for including this in the design of our events venue will be explored. Scout would need to work with solar professional to identify what materials should be used to build the solar array, and how to connect it to something needing power (outdoor lights?, water heater, etc.) Scout would to install the equipment and identify and how it should be maintained. Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage for longterm public education.
Energy Conservation: Wind Power. The advent of smaller wind turbines might afford some opportunities to explore electric co-generation. A desire to serve as a model for sustainable energy, would also be an opportunity to showcase options. Scout would need to work with wind power professional to identify what materials should be used to build the wind power capture unit, and how to connect it to something needing power (outdoor lights?, water heater, etc.) Scout would to install the equipment and identify and how it should be maintained. Scout would also need to generate media coverage, and put some signage for longterm public education.
Fish and Wildlife Management: Butterfly Garden. In the long-range planning for Chautauqua, it would be of interest to put together a butterfly garden for the property. Working with area Gardening Professionals, it would be a worthy addition to the property.
Soil and Water Conservation:Xeriscape and Controlled Runoff Landscaping. Keeping with Chautauqua’s mission, the area needs terraced areas on the side of the property toward the creek with low maintenance plantings appropriate to our Central Texas Zone. Working with Travis County Master Gardeners, the project would enhance the existing landscape with appropriate drought and deer resistant species that will succeed in our climate.
Community Adopt a Road Program. There is a state program that could be adapted to the local level. Would require developing and getting support for a petition for a local (City of Round Rock or Williamson County) initiative that offers regular cleanups and support signage for businesses and/or organizations to adopt a road within the community.
Creek Cleanup. Part of the Chautauqua Association property extends to the center of Brushy Creek. Flooding from 09/08/10 flattened or killed vegetation on a small outcropping in the middle of the creek. Additional materials (including whole trees) were also caught in the small island. It is has been a goal to remove these materials to prevent further congestion when waters rise, as well as restore previous habitat.