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BIG THICKET

October-November-December 2013 Reporter Issue #120

BIG THICKET DAY, October 12 Big Thicket Day 2013 began with ences. She provided a litany of his a board and membership meeting achievements, including his 18-year with Jan Ruppel, President, presiding. summer workshops for Environ- mental Science Teachers, his publi- The keynote speaker was Dr. Ken cations, research, awards, and other Kramer, former Executive Direc- awards received and offi ces held. tor of the Lone Star Chapter, Sierra Club and current volunteer Water Mona Halvorsen reported on the Resources Chair and Legislative Thicket of Diversity, All Taxa Biodiversity Advisor, who addressed “Our State’s Inventory. (See Diversity Dispatch). Water Future – Progress and Chal- lenges.” Kramer noted that the Leg- Michael Hoke, Chair of the Neches islature made signifi cant eff orts this River Adventures Committee, pre- year to advance water conserva- sented a PowerPoint that included tion and to fi nance infrastructure, plans for curricula-based student use. and he outlined challenges ahead. Dr. Ken Kramer was the keynote Dr. James Westgate gave the elec- speaker for Big Thicket Day Ann Roberts, Chair of the Awards tion report for the Nominating Committee, presented the R.E. Committee. All nominees were After lunch, committees met to work Jackson Conservation Award to Dr. elected including Betty Grimes as on upcoming plans and projects. James Westgate, Secretary plus two new directors — Professor of Earth and Space Sci- Leslie Dubey and Iolinda Gonzalez.

Presidential Footnotes … By Jan Ruppel Because of the government shut- have a number of activities devel- the preservation and protection of down we held BTA’s 49th Big Thicket oping to celebrate throughout the the Big Thicket region and continue Day at First Baptist Church in Sara- year. One will be the to support the Thicket of Diversity, toga. Thank goodness for good Rally…what is it? It’s a fundraising our partnership with the Big Thicket neighbors. I want to thank all who event. This paddling event will take . We want to be came and learned of the fi nancial place September 6th and will coin- able to count on you to help make and project growth the BTA has cide with the announcement of a our future vibrant and our anniver- undergone this year. new Paddling Trail. sary celebration one to remember.

Our focus next year will include cel- We are hoping you will step up to ebrating the concurrent anniversa- join us in celebrating the achieve- ries of BTA’s 50th & BTNP’s 40th. We ment of our mission and goals for Conservation Outlook

VILLAGE CREEK STATE PARK: Village Creek State Park has sidering how Davis Hill could be PROJECT LONGLEAF embarked on an initiative to rebuild opened on a limited basis. the area’s longleaf forests and on Beaumont Enterprise, Tim Monzingo, Tuesday, contractors were burning Sierra Club worked with TPWD to September 25, 2013 mountains of brush ... Village Creek set up service days to remove inva- Generations ago, thick forests of State Park decided a eucalyptus sive species from the park. On the longleaf pines stretched from the fi eld planted some years ago by a fi rst workday September 28, vol- eastern shores of Virginia down timber company and purchased by unteers cleared tallow trees along along the coast to to East the state would be a perfect envi- Davis Bayou. Another workday is Texas. Over decades forests that ronment to help re-establish long- scheduled for Saturday, October 26, covered more than 90 million acres leaf pines. to remove yaupon from the “pocket have dwindled to a little more than prairie” on the hill. The 3 million acres, according to the More than 30 acres of brush pile group meets at the Subway in USDA’s Natural Resources Conserva- burned Tuesday as part of roughly Cleveland at 8:00 AM. Others may tion Service ... 180 acres planned for replanting, gather at the intersection of SH 105 said Ryan Witt, the forest operations and FM 2518 at 8:30 AM. Foresters and caretakers of pub- manager for Raven Environmental lic lands want to re-establish the Services, Inc. While performing volunteer ser- , considered among vices, you can enjoy Davis Hill — a the most important species of trees DAVIS HILL STATE PARK diverse and scenic park atop a salt in the South because the trees and The Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club dome where the highest elevation forests they create are habitats to made a special push during the last is 266 feet above sea level. at least 29 threatened and endan- legislative session to try and open gered species, according to the state parks that have never opened USDA… to the public. TPWD is now con-

Volunteers at Davis Hill State Park are working to clear .

2 October-November-December 2013 Big Thicket Reporter #120 Diversity Dispatch

Mona Halvorsen gave an update at Of 30 Taxa Working Inventory TWIGs are active, and 2 are being the annual meeting, on the Thicket Groups (TWIGs), 15 have completed recruited. of Diversity, All Taxa Biodiversity projects, including amphibians, Inventory Project. Bryophytes (historic), Formicidae Alex Dye, an intern with the Thicket (ants), freshwater fi shes, freshwater of Diversity All-Taxa Biodiversity She distributed tables that recorded mussels, Lepidoptera and Noctui- Inventory, presented a Science 2,790 species identifi ed; 12 were dae (butterfl ies and moths), lichens, Café program on current mapping new to science, and another 30 are Odonates (dragonfl ies and damsel- techniques used in documenting pending that designation. Other fl ies), photography, pseudo-scor- resources and research in the Big data indicate that 267 species are pions, , Tardigrades (water Thicket. The program was held at new to the Preserve, and 133 spe- bears), and Mordellidae (tumbling the Logon Café in Beaumont, at cies are new to the State. fl ower beetles). An additional 13 6:00 PM on Thursday, September 19.

East Texas Miscellany

Grant of $2.7 million for presented by Dr. David Creech, About STARK Cultural Venues: Kountze Hike/Bike Trail Director Stephen F. Austin Mast The Stark Museum of Art, Shangri Beaumont Enterprise, Sept. 4, 2013 Arboretum and Pineywoods Native La Botanical Gardens and Nature Plant Center; Monday, November Center, The W.H. Stark House and The Texas Transportation Commis- 4, 2013 at 6:30 PM, Charles Dar- Frances Ann Lutcher Theater for the sion will grant $2.7 million to fund a win and His Revolutionary Idea, pre- Performing Arts are venues of the hike and bike trail in Hardin County. sented by Bryan “Fox” Ellis, Fox Tales STARK Cultural Venues of Orange, The trail, which will be just over six International; Monday, November Texas that provide signifi cant miles long, will run from the City 18, 2013 at 6:30 PM Exploring for resources for the study and enjoy- of Kountze to the Big Thicket Visi- Native Plants: Lessons from Nature ment of art, nature, history and cul- tor Center. Construction should be for the Garden, presented by Rick J. ture. completed by fall 2014. Lewandowski, Director, Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Cen- Hardin County Shangri La Lecture Series ter. Historical Commission ORANGE, Texas, October 7, 2013 The HCHC hosted a regional meet- - Shangri La Botanical Gardens All lectures in the Exploration and ing of historical commissions. Oct. and Nature Center is excited to Discovery Lecture Series will be 19, 11:00 AM in the Legion Hall/ announce the program for its held in the Discovery Theater on County Seat Entertainment building upcoming “Exploration and Dis- the grounds of Shangri La Botani- next door to the Museum of Har- covery” Lecture Series. The series cal Gardens and Nature Center. Call din County. The groups network on includes: Monday, October 21, 409.670.9113. common goals of historic preserva- 2013 at 6:30 PM, The China Con- For reservations www.shangrilagar- tion. Each commission reported on nection... the Plants, People and Plans dens.org. their projects. of an Emerging Horticultural Giant,

Big Thicket Reporter #120 October-November-December 2013 3 Preserve Overview by Ann Roberts

PRESERVE REOPENS TO VISITORS land agencies will retain annual fee serve in a photo contest to repre- Big Thicket National Preserve re- authority after December 8 of this sent the Southwest Region of the opened to visitors October 17. Visi- year. Fees are extremely important (NPS) in their tors can access public areas, roads, for the parks, which lost an esti- 2014 collectible stamp set. These facilities, and other public services mated $7.2 million in fee revenue stamp sets, which include photos of immediately. Big Thicket National during the shutdown. ten regional winners and a national Preserve has been closed since stamp, will be sold in NPS visitor October 1 due to the lapse in Con- Also, thanks go to Dennis Galvin, centers nationwide in 2014. gressional appropriations. NPCA Board member, for testify- ing before Congress Wednesday An NPS employee, Michael Black, “We are excited, happy to be back at a marathon 5-hour hearing of took the winning photo of 10-Mile at work, and welcome visitors to the House Committees on Natural Bayou, located in the Beaumont Big Thicket National Preserve,” said Resources and Oversight and Gov- Unit of the preserve. It depicts Supt. Neighbor. “Autumn is a par- ernment Reform -draped bald cypress ticularly special season to enjoy all trees lining the bayou and refl ected that the Preserve has to off er.” PRESERVE WINS PHOTO CONTEST in it, and captures the beauty, still- News Release. Sept. 6, 2013 ness, and mystery of the waterways Hunting: The Preserve is again issu- On September 4, 2013, Eastern that characterize this region. ing hunting permits. Beech Creek National, a cooperating association Unit has 77 remaining, Big Sandy that supports the national parks, This recognition of Big Thicket Creek Unit - 52, Lance Rosier Unit - announced that they selected a National Preserve is particularly 425, and Neches Bottom Unit- 86. photo of Big Thicket National Pre- appropriate at this time, as the pre- All available permits for the Beau- …continued on page 5 mont and Jack Gore Baygall Units have been issued. NPCA SAVES F.L.R.E.A. reported by Suzanne Dixon, Texas offi ce, NPCA One provision that was added to this bill thanks to NPCA and its staff is an extension of the Federal Lands Recreation and Enhancement Act, through December 2015. The act provides an important source of revenue to all of our public lands, including more than $200 million each year to national parks. NPCA’s Government Aff airs department led a funding coalition letter to House and Senate leaders requesting that the extension be included. The extension buys more time for a Contest winner: Michael Black’s photo of 10-Mile Bayou — the color photo comprehensive reauthorization and appears in the Big Thicket Reporter color version on our website at www. ensures that NPS and other public bigthicket.org.

4 October-November-December 2013 Big Thicket Reporter #120 Preserve Overview Big Thicket Natural …continued from page 4 Heritage Trust serve will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2014. This is the fi rst time that the preserve has been featured as a BTNHT met Oct. 13, with Pres. Ellen Buchanan presid- regional stamp in this program. In addition to national ing. Buchanan reported on the meeting of the Land recognition, Big Thicket National Preserve will also Trust Alliance. She also reviewed details of a proposed receive $500 from Eastern National to support its inter- conservation easement in cooperation with The Con- pretive program. servation Fund. Several properties are pending transfer to the National Preserve. Various “housekeeping” details Eastern National is a non-profi t association that pro- were covered including purchases, mailouts, etc. duces and sells educational material in bookstores in over 150 national parks. Since its incorporation in 1948, it has donated over $100 million to the NPS to support B.T.A. News park projects, particularly educational and interpretive A Big Thicket sized “Thanks” goes to TCEQ-SEP. BTA has programs. received the third year grant of $35,000 from the TCEQ- SEP thanks to the LSC Sierra Club. Funds provide sup- OIL AND GAS port for the Thicket of Diversity specifi cally for Neches BTNP has pending two Environmental Assessments on River research. Sept. 23, 2013: (1) Century Exploration LLC proposal to drill and produce the Phineas #3 and Wile E. The ExxonMobil Foundation Volunteer Involvement Wells from a location outside the Beaumont Unit; (2) Program awarded a matching grant to BTA for volun- proposal to drill and produce the Fort Apache Energy, teer hours completed for Hardin County Cleanup day Inc. (FAE), Baptist Foundation #1 and Nordin #1 wells using Eastex canoes. Thanks to Exxon-Mobil as well as from surface locations outside the Turkey Creek Unit. to Mary Kay Manning who submitted the request.

The 2006 oil/gas management plan assessed the total direct, indirect, connected, secondary, and cumulative Big Thicket Association Membership impacts of multiple wells drilled inside and just out- Mail checks (payable to BTA) to side the BTNP. Ideally, BTNP should acquire the mineral P.O. Box 198, Saratoga, TX 77585-0198 estate, but such a possibility is remote. BTA Dues $ 15.00 Active HUNT RETURNS TO U.S. $ 25.00 Supporting Charles Hunt has been appointed by NPS to lead the $ 10.00 Senior / Student offi ce that includes Chesapeake Bay Gateways and $ 25.00 Institution, Organization, Business Watertrails Network and the Captain John Smith Chesa- $500.00 Life Membership peake and Star-Spangled Banner national historic trails. Designated contributions: The Bay watershed includes parts of Delaware, Mary- Land Fund land, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Legacy Fund Hunt most recently served as Regional Director for the American Battle Monuments Commission. He managed 23 sites in France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Bel- THICKET OF DIVERSITY - ATBI gium. Checks payable to Big Thicket Association -ATBI

Hunt was formerly Regional Issues Coordinator for $ 25.00 Species level $ 500.00 Class level the Big Thicket National Preserve. BTA recognized his $ 50.00 Genus level $1,000.00 Phylum level achievements here with two awards -- The R.E. Jackson $ 100.00 Family level $5,000.00 Kingdom level Award and a Distinguished Service Award. $ 250.00 Order level

Big Thicket Reporter #120 October-November-December 2013 5 Big Thicket Association P.O. Box 198 NONPROFIT ORG. Saratoga, TX 77585-0198 U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 1

Big Thicket Reporter published quarterly by Big Thicket Association (www.bigthicket.org)

Editors Maxine Johnston | Ann Roberts ([email protected]) Layout Connie Blakley ([email protected]) Send address changes to address noted above

WEB SITES Big Thicket Association www.bigthicket.org Big Thicket National Preserve www.nps.gov/bith Black Bear Task Force www.bbcc.org Conservation Fund www.conservationfund.org Gulf States Mycological Society www.gsmyco.org National Audubon Society www.goldentriangleaudubon.org www.houstonaudubon.org UPCOMING EVENTS National Parks Conserv. Assoc. www.npca.org October 26 Davis Hill State Park work day with TP&W (see page 2) Native Plant Society of Texas www.npsot.org October 26 Nature Conservancy Dinosaur Days at the Entergy Museum, 9:00-1:00; Neches River Adventures www.nature.org/texas hosts three tours; sign up at booth on grounds at Entergy Museum Outdoor Nature Club, Houston www.outdoornatureclub.org November 2 – Marysee Prairie Workday Sierra Club Group www.texas.sierraclub.org/triangle Texas Conservation Alliance November 2 thru November 23 www.TCAtexas.org Neches River Adventures boat tour every Saturday, 10:00-12:00. Reserva- tions required: call 409-651-5326 for reservations. Village Creek State Park wwww.tpwd.state.tx.us.park

6 October-November-December 2013 Big Thicket Reporter #120