The Texas Community Forestry Awards Program chose American YouthWorks to receive the 2010 Texas Community Forestry Award of Merit. The award was given to American YouthWorks Environmental Corps Program for their improvements to Bull Creek District Park in Austin, Texas. The Texas Community Forestry Awards Program is sponsored by the Texas Forest Service and the Texas Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. The annual award recognizes those who have a role in building stronger communities by planting, maintaining or protecting trees. Each award winner will receive a numbered, remarked and framed, limited-edition print of a painting specially commissioned for the program. This year’s award painting will be of the National Champion Rio Grande Cottonwood in Fort Davis, Texas.
Before Restoration. No vegetation and highly compacted soil.
During Restoration. Erosion control devices in place, planting started.
Project complete. Planted vegetation is filling out the planted area.
The Bull Creek Restoration Project was a partnership with the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department and American YouthWorks Environmental Corps Program and was completed at Bull Creek District Park. Environmental Corps members installed erosion control devices to protect the roots of several large Live Oak trees and to prevent sediment from entering Bull Creek. They also reduced the compaction of the soil under the Live Oak trees. Next they planted native vegetation that had been unable to survive in the highly compacted soil.
Bull Creek District Park is now much more attractive to visitors and hospitable to wildlife and the health of the Live Oak trees is improving. In addition, the installation of erosion control measures and planting of native vegetation contributes to improved water quality in Bull Creek.
The award will be presented to Paul Stuffel, Field Coordinator for Environmental Corps, at the 31st Annual Texas Tree Conference.
Please see our webpage for more information about Environmental Corps.
