RESTORATION & REHABILITATION

Date & Time

January 11, 2020
9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Location

Onion Creek Water Quality Protection Lands
Rutherford Ranch House

6425 FM 967
Rutherford Ranch House
Buda, TX 78610
United States
Map It

Coordinator:

• Stuart Bailey, stubug@me.com, (cell) 512-784-7994
• Kathleen Gallagher, kwilliamsgallagher@gmail.com
• Jane Nelson, jane.nelson@me.com

Reading Assignment:

Agenda:

9:00 – 9:15 Check-in, Coffee & Snacks

9:15 – 9:25 Welcome, 3 “Mini Interpretations”

9:25 – 9:30 Class Overview & Introduction of Speakers

9:30 – 10:15 Kevin Thuesen – 15 Years of Conservation Work on the WQPL

10:15 – 11:00 Devin Grobert – Restoration Techniques on the WQPL

11:00 – 11:15 BREAK

11:15 – 12:15 Matt McCaw – Water Quality & Wildland Conservation: The Big Picture

12:15 – 1:00 LUNCH

1:00 – 1:15 Audrey Stewart – Volunteer and Learning Opportunities on the WQPL

1:15 – 2:30 WQPL Staff – Field Restoration Tour

2:30 – 3:00 Questions, Closing Remarks, Announcements, Class Evaluation

Driving Directions:

From Austin, head south on IH35. Take exit 225/Onion Creek Pkwy. Follow the frontage road and turn right onto FM 1626. Continue on 1626 through lights at Manchaca Rd. & Brodie Lane. At the intersection with FM 967, turn right and continue driving west on FM 967 to the entrance gate, which is 3.4 miles ahead on the left immediately past a pair of mailboxes.

Google Maps Link:
https://goo.gl/maps/ON9o8

Latitude/longitude – type or cut and paste into google maps these
coordinates – 30.096463, -97.930351

Most map programs will also use this address –
6425 FM 967, Buda, TX 78610

Logistics:

• Bring a lunch.
• Bring water for the hike.
• Wear appropriate shoes and clothing for a grassland hike.
• Sun protection/insect protection

Speakers:

• Kevin Thuesen : Program Manager, City of Austin, WQPL
  Kevin’s holds a BA in Anthropology/Archaeology from UTSA as well as a Master’s of Science and Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of North Texas.  He has worked professionally with numerous aspects of the natural world including ecological restoration, caves and karst, as well as water quality issues. He is a former President of the Texas Society for Ecological Restoration.  He has served as the program manager for the WQPL for over 17 years and has over 20 years working with environmental matters for public utilities.  In his spare time he enjoys just about anything that involves the outdoors and has hiked some of the epic trails in Patagonia, Iceland and, of course, Big Bend.

 

• Devin Grobert : Biologist, City of Austin, WQPL
  Devin has been working to restore ecosystems of Central Texas for over 12 years, and especially enjoys working with seeds, fire, volunteers, caves, and data.

 

• Matt McCaw : Senior Biologist, City of Austin, WQPL
  Matt works with many fine folks at the Wildlands to plan and implement land management and ecological restoration activities on the roughly 11,000 acres of fee simple lands.  “We break a lot of stuff, but usually we can fix it.”

 

• Audrey Stewart : Conservation Program Coordinator, City of Austin, Wildlands Conservation Division (WCD)
  Audrey manages volunteers for the WCD. She has a master’s degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from The University of Texas at Austin and has worked with volunteers and the general public as an environmental educator with municipal, nonprofit, and research institutions for more than 14 years. 

 

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