November 17-20, 2014: River Watchers from Akins High School led a project in the community as part of the Service Learning Program. This program is made possible by Impact Austin and the $100,000 award to Austin Youth River Watch as the 2014 Environment Grant Recipient. Hands-on projects throughout the 2014-2015 school year will include enhancing and restoring streams and rivers throughout watersheds in the Austin area. River Watchers from nine Austin ISD high schools will participate in 10, week-long service learning projects. Below you can learn more about the service learning project at Tabor Tract:
November 17, 2014
Five River Watchers from Akins High School began their project at Tabor Tract, which is an Austin Water Utility Water Quality Protection Land. Students began by completing the pre-assessment report to analyze the area. River Watchers were then led on a tour of Tabor Tract and Bear Creek by two City of Austin Biologists. They learned about the natural history, riparian ecology, and stream improvement work that they will be involved in during the next three days along Bear Creek at Tabor Tract. While on the tour, River Watchers were shown how to collect native plant seeds and learned more about the species they collected, including Inland Sea Oats, Frostweed, Western Ironweed, Switchgrass, Buttonbush, Canada Wildrye, Silver Bluestem, Maximillian Sunflower, and Plateau Goldeneye. River Watchers concluded their workday by reviewing the tenets of a healthy, functioning riparian zone.
November 18, 2014
Seven River Watchers from Akins High School reviewed the tenets of a healthy riparian zone, discussed karst hydrology, and took another look at the native plant species seeds they collected at Tabor Tract. River Watchers collected more seeds of beneficial native grass and forb species.
November 19, 2014
Five River Watchers from Akins High School reviewed the characteristics and benefits of a healthy riparian zone. River Watchers harvested eight Switchgrass plugs and seeds of native riparian plant species. They planted the Switchgrass plugs and dispersed native seeds along an eroded bank on Bear Creek. River Watchers concluded their evening by dining ‘under the stars’ and chatting with a City of Austin Biologist at Tabor Tract.
November 20, 2014
Six River Watchers from Akins High School harvested more Switchgrass plugs and collected more seeds from Tabor Tract. They planted six Switchgrass plugs and dispersed native seeds along an eroded bank on Bear Creek. River Watchers wrapped up their night by eating pizza, reviewing the themes from their week-long project, and completed the post-assessment of the Tabor Tract Service Learning Project.
