Please Join us January 15, 9AM - 12 Noon.
Invasive plants, primarily Japanese and Chinese privet (aka ligustrum), continue to be a central focus in our management efforts. Trail and erosion damage repair are next on the priority list and several wire removal projects remain.
We’ll organize into small (3-6 person) crews working individually or in groups on larger tasks.
Please note our starting location which is marked by the blue pin in the map at
http://tinyurl.com/65oww9k
Tools, gloves, treats for break time, and water will be provided.
We need extra wheelbarrows, shovels and picks, so please bring these if you have them.
Please advise George Innis at gsnsj at sbcglobal dot net before by Friday January 14 if you are coming, so he can plan the necessary tools and snacks.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Fall 2010 - Spring 2011 Volunteer Work Days
Work days at the north end of Lower Bull Creek Greenbelt are planned for 9 AM to 12 noon Sept. 11, Oct. 16. Nov. 13, Nov. 14, Dec. 11, Jan. 15, Feb. 12, Mar. 5, Mar. 12, Apr. 9 and May 14.
We will gather at the paved parking lot East of Hwy 360 on Old Spicewood Springs Road which is marked by the red pin in this map or by entering 5312 Old Spicewood Springs Rd 78731 in Google Maps
Wear close toed shoes or boots, long pants (jeans), long sleeved shirt, hat, gloves, and eye protection. Wear sunscreen. Bring a water bottle.
BCF will provide tools plus snack and a water tank at the break.
To help assure a good supply of tools, water, and treats, please notify bullcreekvolunteers at gmail dot com by the Thursday before each work day that you will joining us.
George Innis
We will gather at the paved parking lot East of Hwy 360 on Old Spicewood Springs Road which is marked by the red pin in this map or by entering 5312 Old Spicewood Springs Rd 78731 in Google Maps
Wear close toed shoes or boots, long pants (jeans), long sleeved shirt, hat, gloves, and eye protection. Wear sunscreen. Bring a water bottle.
BCF will provide tools plus snack and a water tank at the break.
To help assure a good supply of tools, water, and treats, please notify bullcreekvolunteers at gmail dot com by the Thursday before each work day that you will joining us.
George Innis
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Friday August 13 12:00 noon Clean-Up
The Adopt-a-Creek group from nearby Brown and Caldwell consultants, led by Anna Whiting, will host a clean up Friday August 13 at 12:00 noon.
Meeting spot is on the west side of 360 between Lakewood Dr and Spicewood Springs Road.
Google Maps address 7872 State Highway Loop 360 Austin TX
http://tinyurl.com/ktso7r
Meet on the north side of the creek at the parking lot.
Please reply to bullcreekvolunteers at gmail dot com if you plan to join us.
Come on out and enjoy a stroll on the trail during your lunch hour.
Meeting spot is on the west side of 360 between Lakewood Dr and Spicewood Springs Road.
Google Maps address 7872 State Highway Loop 360 Austin TX
http://tinyurl.com/ktso7r
Meet on the north side of the creek at the parking lot.
Please reply to bullcreekvolunteers at gmail dot com if you plan to join us.
Come on out and enjoy a stroll on the trail during your lunch hour.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
May 15 Volunteer Work Day
The meeting spot is at 5340 Old Spicewood Springs Rd Austin, TX 78731
The Google map location is http://tinyurl.com/ydtuurj
Let us know that you plan to come help by emailing a few days ahead of each date to George at
gsnsj AT sbcglobal DOT net
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Web Surf and then Visit Great Hills Park
Great Hills Park is one of NW Austin's best neighborhood parks
http://www.greathillspark.org
Created by the idea and hard work of Marie Laing, who also help co-author the City's Adopt A Park Program and a cadre of committed stakeholders, this is a magnificent park.
It has native landscaping, a trail, play scape, pavilion, picnic tables and two chimney swift towers.
There is a wonderful picture page "plants of Great Hills Park" page at
http://www.greathillspark.org/plantphotos/
Check it out!
http://www.greathillspark.org
Created by the idea and hard work of Marie Laing, who also help co-author the City's Adopt A Park Program and a cadre of committed stakeholders, this is a magnificent park.
It has native landscaping, a trail, play scape, pavilion, picnic tables and two chimney swift towers.
There is a wonderful picture page "plants of Great Hills Park" page at
http://www.greathillspark.org/plantphotos/
Check it out!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Check Out EcoTexas
Take a look at http://www.ecotx.org
Lots of good information there on native plants and invasive species.
Lots of good information there on native plants and invasive species.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
We Need Your Help
We Need Your Help
We are looking for individuals, families, companies, groups to "adopt" a part of our parks and trails.
Each volunteer group will help to patrol, detrash, improve and maintain the parks and trails with a little of their time, which can be planned events or on your own when you have time.
We already have one adopting group, employees of Brown and Caldwell have adopted 1/4 mile of the Bull Creek trail on the west side of 360, going south from the low water crossing.
Areas needing adoption are:
1. the District Park (leash free doggie park) on Lakewood Drive,
2. the trail from there to 360 and Lakewood Dr.,
3. the trail on the west side of 360 north from Lakewood Dr.,
4. the trail on the east side of 360 to Spicewood Springs Road,
5. the new Smith Memorial trail west of 360,
6. St. Edward's Park and trail, about 2.5 miles west of 360,
7. St. Edward's mountain bike trail,
8. St. Edward's 1 mile trail going north from the park.
9. NW Balcones Park and Trail
10. Mountainview Park and Trail
Please sign up and become a part of an adoption team!
Send an email to bullcreekvolunteers at gmail dot com
and let us know which of these you would like to help take care of with a little of your time now and then.
We will help those who volunteer to connect with each other and plan their activities, and provide tools as needed.
Make helping Bull Creek your 2008 resolution!
Skip Cameron, President
We are looking for individuals, families, companies, groups to "adopt" a part of our parks and trails.
Each volunteer group will help to patrol, detrash, improve and maintain the parks and trails with a little of their time, which can be planned events or on your own when you have time.
We already have one adopting group, employees of Brown and Caldwell have adopted 1/4 mile of the Bull Creek trail on the west side of 360, going south from the low water crossing.
Areas needing adoption are:
1. the District Park (leash free doggie park) on Lakewood Drive,
2. the trail from there to 360 and Lakewood Dr.,
3. the trail on the west side of 360 north from Lakewood Dr.,
4. the trail on the east side of 360 to Spicewood Springs Road,
5. the new Smith Memorial trail west of 360,
6. St. Edward's Park and trail, about 2.5 miles west of 360,
7. St. Edward's mountain bike trail,
8. St. Edward's 1 mile trail going north from the park.
9. NW Balcones Park and Trail
10. Mountainview Park and Trail
Please sign up and become a part of an adoption team!
Send an email to bullcreekvolunteers at gmail dot com
and let us know which of these you would like to help take care of with a little of your time now and then.
We will help those who volunteer to connect with each other and plan their activities, and provide tools as needed.
Make helping Bull Creek your 2008 resolution!
Skip Cameron, President
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Trail now open daily!
The Bull Creek Water Quality Protection Lands (WQPL) Trail, aka the Matthew and Hazeltine Smith Trail, is now open daily for your hiking, running and biking pleasure. Please be aware that our special agreement between the City of Austin and the Bull Creek Foundation prohibits dogs, fishing, swimming or picnicing. We apologize in advance for these prohibitions, but all of these activities are allowed on the Bull Creek Greenbelt, a 3.5 mile trail, just a short walk away. (We maintain both trails.)
Please remember too that the trail was built and is being maintained by volunteers from the Bull Creek Foundation so please let us know if you see something that either needs to be improved or corrected.
Map to Bull Creek WQPL Trail:
View Larger Map
Thank you!
Friday, November 9, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
History of the Stenis Tract (Bull Creek WQPL)
History of this tract
This 60 acre tract of land with Bull Creek running through the middle of it is known as the Stenis Tract for it's owners Tom and Rowena Stenis and her brother Llewellyn Smith. Rowena and Llewellyn's parents Matthew Irving Smith and Hazeline Ingram Smith bought the land in 1941 for investment and recreation. Matthew was a language professor at U.T. and bought the lower part of the tract from Dorthy Duval and the upper part from Harvey Simon. The property was part of the original James Coleman survey.
The Smith and Stenis families enjoyed their creek side property for over 50 years.
In 1992 the property was put under option for construction of 355 apartments.
That drew the attention of people in the area who thought that this pristine stretch of Austin's only Northern Edwards Aquifer spring fed drinking water supply creek should be preserved. 13 area neighborhoods expressed this sentiment. Council member Ronney Reynolds assisted in actions that led to the tract remaining undeveloped. It took until the voters approved the 1998 City bond election and efforts of Council Member Beverly Griffith to see that funds were allocated to purchase this property. It was purchased in January 1999 as Water Quality Protection Land (WQPL). This is the only tract in Northwest Austin purchased as WQPL.
Volunteers from the Bull Creek Foundation participated in a public process to define public uses for City WQPL in 1999-2000, as part of an overall land management plan which was approved by City Council in late 2000.
It took until November 2005 for Bull Creek Foundation to forge an Agreement with the City to build and maintain an educational hike and bike trail at no cost to the City.
The 1.5 mile loop Matthew and Hazeline Smith Memorial hike and bike trail is now ready for public use after 2 years of work on many Saturdays by a large number of citizen volunteers, including many school groups and Scouts.
This 60 acre tract of land with Bull Creek running through the middle of it is known as the Stenis Tract for it's owners Tom and Rowena Stenis and her brother Llewellyn Smith. Rowena and Llewellyn's parents Matthew Irving Smith and Hazeline Ingram Smith bought the land in 1941 for investment and recreation. Matthew was a language professor at U.T. and bought the lower part of the tract from Dorthy Duval and the upper part from Harvey Simon. The property was part of the original James Coleman survey.
The Smith and Stenis families enjoyed their creek side property for over 50 years.
In 1992 the property was put under option for construction of 355 apartments.
That drew the attention of people in the area who thought that this pristine stretch of Austin's only Northern Edwards Aquifer spring fed drinking water supply creek should be preserved. 13 area neighborhoods expressed this sentiment. Council member Ronney Reynolds assisted in actions that led to the tract remaining undeveloped. It took until the voters approved the 1998 City bond election and efforts of Council Member Beverly Griffith to see that funds were allocated to purchase this property. It was purchased in January 1999 as Water Quality Protection Land (WQPL). This is the only tract in Northwest Austin purchased as WQPL.
Volunteers from the Bull Creek Foundation participated in a public process to define public uses for City WQPL in 1999-2000, as part of an overall land management plan which was approved by City Council in late 2000.
It took until November 2005 for Bull Creek Foundation to forge an Agreement with the City to build and maintain an educational hike and bike trail at no cost to the City.
The 1.5 mile loop Matthew and Hazeline Smith Memorial hike and bike trail is now ready for public use after 2 years of work on many Saturdays by a large number of citizen volunteers, including many school groups and Scouts.
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