I got to spend almost four hours yesterday in the afternoon working at the Onion Creek Water Quality Protection Lands in Hays County. The day started a bit cold with lows in the thirties, but by 1 pm it had warmed up enough to be comfortable to work outside as long as your dressed warmly.

I was part of a team of about 15 Hays County Master Naturalists, led by Tom Watson, and we worked to clear Ashe Junipers at two different sites on the property.

The junipers are native, but they originally grew on rocky hillsides and ravines. They have spread beyond their original confines, due to overgrazing of grasslands and suppression of wildfires as our land became settled. They compete for water with grasses and other trees. The City of Austin is restoring the Water Quality Protection Lands to grasslands in order to enhance their ability to filter and recharge water in the aquifers. The junipers are also known locally as “cedars” and cause the dreaded allergy, “cedar fever“. Cutting the tree down below any green needle will kill it. Typically, we cut it down at the ground.

Removing a small juniper

The first site we worked, along Onion Creek, had been cleared of large junipers by our chapter. We swept along the bank looking for any seedlings or “re-sprouts”. Since the large junipers have been cleared, the berries have a chance to germinate and if not regularly cleared, in only a few years, the area will once again have a juniper problem. While very easy to nip with lopping shears, the seedlings can be hard to see.

It was nice to see Onion Creek had water in it, because it was dry the last time I saw it. The recent rains have helped, but are not enough. The water is also muddy indicating we’re seeing erosion upstream.

A view upstream

And downstream

The second site we worked was adjacent to a stock tank and had not recently been cleared because the trees were larger and harder to take out with just our lopping shears.

It was a beautiful afternoon to spend working outdoors. As Tom summarized, “We laid down a lot of wood”  yesterday and I’m glad I was able to help!