BHNA wins 2004 Conservation Award for Innovation!

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I am very pleased to announce that the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District has awarded the Barton Hills Neighborhood Association (that’s all of us!!) the recipient of the 2004 Innovation Conservation Award.

Please note this is a particularly significant honor as this is the first year this category of award has been offered and it will only be awarded “when a nomination is deemed extraordinary and a true model for future activities, and may not be given every year.”

The Innovation category honors efforts that “incorporate new and creative practices or represent outstanding efforts in communication and partnership toward the betterment of the aquifer and related environmental issues.” Derek Stuart, BHNA Treasurer (and secret expert gardener!) and Glee Ingram, Chair extraordinaire of Greenbelt Guardian, will accept this award on behalf of BHNA at a luncheon this Friday.

It has been suggested to have a commemorative plaque made for each of the entrances to the Greenbelt (Gus Fruh and Homedale). That sounds like a great idea and we shall put it to a vote at our next BHNA general meeting, October 12.

This award is in recognition of all the efforts made by our members and community in acting on our commitment to protect and enhance the natural beauty and bounty of the Barton Springs and Edwards Aquifer area. It is also an affirming tribute to all those in the past and those in the future who have and will similarly cherish this land. Congratulations on preserving this heritage.

Don Long

President

Barton Hills Neighborhood Association

July 4 Parade Pictures now online

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Sunny skies blessed our neighborhood this year for our annual July 4th Parade, and Barton Hills Drive was alive with red, white, and blue patriotic spirit. Check out the pictures taken by neighbor Bill Newcomb during the parade and afterwards at the gathering at Barton Hills Elementary.

July 17 Greenbelt Guardian Workday Report

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This is getting to be a good habit. We had another great workday on the greenbelt trail, high temperatures not withstanding. What looked daunting at the beginning of the day was achieved, plus some, by the end of the day. We had 20 hardy neighborhood volunteers working side by side with 16 strapping teenagers from the Travis County Juvenile Probation program and their three supervisors, logging in a total of 179 work hours! That kind of team working that many hours can achieve miracles.

Our accomplishments:

  • The entry trail, which had been diminished to a four foot wide path due to creeping bermudagrass, was weeded and cleared to its original eight foot wide expanse, and the rock edges were re-established;
  • The erosion rivulets in the middle of the path were repaired with a new layer of decomposed granite, which was crowned in the center and packed, to protect it from future “gully-washers”;
  • The newly planted trees were all fitted with trunk collars at the base to protect them from weed eater injuries;
  • The three-foot tall overgrowth along the sides of the trail was “mowed” with the weedeater, civilizing its appearance;
  • The revegetation area that we worked on six months ago had become completely overgrown with resprouting of Chinaberry and Ligustrum trees, plus poison oak, johnson grass and ragweed – brave souls ventured forth and cleared the area, to give breathing room to our newly planted trees;
  • The upper trail was further reinforced with cedar side bars, to keep the trail intact along the steep embankments;
  • The retaining walls that help support the banks of our new bridge were repaired and extended, as the high waters had washed some of the stones down the channel;
  • New boulder steps were added to make the transition of earthen trail to the rock flats safer during muddy periods;
  • Bags of trash were collected, reducing the aftermath of exuberant youthful celebrations of the return of flowing water.

Many thanks to all of the volunteers for their hardy and enthusiastic participation. The next workday is scheduled for Saturday, October 16, in preparation for the National Trails Day tour, which will take place on Saturday, October 23.

Glee Ingram