Memorial Park Demonstration Project Vegetation Advisory Workgroup Seed Mix Focus Group Meeting Summary November 10, 2015

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Memorial Park Demonstration Project Vegetation Advisory Workgroup Seed Mix Focus Group Meeting Summary November 10, 2015 Meeting Purpose: Finalize Seed Mix Discuss Procurement Process Monitoring and

1 Memorial Park Demonstration Project Vegetation Advisory Workgroup Seed Mix Focus Group Meeting Summary November 10, 2015 Meeting Purpose: Finalize Seed Mix Discuss Procurement Process Monitoring and Management Future Engagement General Introductions and Welcome: Carolyn White opened the meeting with an overview of the meeting agenda, and then she asked everyone to check in and introduce themselves. The goal of the meeting was to finalize the seed mix that will initially stabilize the site, and then develop into a native riparian groundcover/understory. After introductions, Carolyn then asked everyone to review the meeting notes from Meetings #1 and #2 and requested corrections by the following week. She explained that the notes will be posted on the project website under the Vegetation Advisory Workgroup page. Phased Seeding and Herbaceous Planting: Carolyn reviewed the phased seeding approach discussed in the last meeting and asked the group to review the revised seed mix list that was distributed (Attachment A). The general plan was outlined. Phase A a general seed mix to stabilize the site to be applied as construction is completed. The seed will need to be commercially available, or readily available through vendors. Note the inland seaoats has been replaced with slender wood oats. Scott Barnes suggested keeping inland seaoats in the mix, since based on his experience, this grass will help with erosion control and does not seem to spread much in the area. The group suggested including both species. If initial seeding is completed while soil temperatures are low, then the cool season mix would be used. Wildflower species from HCFCD's standard mix could be added (Attachment B). Jed Aplaca asked if the cool season mix had been tested in plots, such as the warm season mix plots. Jeff Jowell replied that this mix has been used on project sites, but not on test plots. Jaime Gonzales suggested removing Bird's Eyes and Tropical Milkweed. After discussion, the Group decided to keep Texas Bluebonnet in the mix for public appeal. The warm season mix would be applied once soil temperatures increased. Plugs of gamagrass and switchgrass would be planted immediately after construction in the upper toe protection area (just below bankfull elevation). Phase B additional seed or plugs for species diversity. At this time, sources of seed or plugs for these species are largely unknown. The seed/plugs may be brought to the site by other interested groups.

2 This seeding/planting may occur shortly after the Phase A seeding. Tree and seedling planting would occur either around the same time or after Phase B seeding. Phase C forbs, sedges, and additional forest understory species to be planted for diversity. The seed/plugs may be brought to the site by other interested groups. Group Feedback: Jim Dobberstine suggested limiting the diversity of the grass species in the Phase A mix, since the purpose of the grass mix is for initial stabilization, and the monitoring for invasive species and germination success would be more straightforward. Sources of eastern gamagrass and switchgrass were discussed. Carolyn will send out a revised list to the Group and asked that possible sources for additional species be identified. In reviewing the seeding/planting list, the Group was reminded that the effort is to establish a riparian forest. Katy Emde reminded the Group of the list of herbaceous plants that were surveyed in the project area. The Group determined that these species could be included in the Phase C planting effort, if sources are available. Possible sources of plants include: Texas AgriLife (Marissa Sipocz) or Natural Resource Conservation Service. Plant Material Procurement: Carolyn briefly outlined the proposed seed procurement process for Phase A: Finalize Phase A Seed Mix (species and %) Bid out the seed mix to suppliers Adjust species, sources, quantities, etc. ONLY IF NEEDED Report to Focus Group the final Phase A Seed Mix and sources Sourcing seed and plants identified in Phase B and C will require coordination with the Group and other interested parties. Monitoring and Management: The basic monitoring of initial seeding is for site stability and invasive species management. This will be done by HCFCD, in accordance with the permit. Currently, the cover threshold for allowable noxious invasive species is at 10%; Jim suggested that a 5% cover threshold be considered for management activities, so that these species are managed prior to becoming a problem. More academic questions that may be raised in the monitoring and management efforts, such as the spread of certain plant species, or quantitative assessment of shade development, may require broader involvement of the environmental community. The Group suggested that the Buffalo Bayou riparian corridor be looked at comprehensively and that groups managing the downstream and upstream reaches be included in discussions of long-term vegetation monitoring and riparian management. HCFCD Seed Mix Focus Group Meeting #3 Summary 2

3 HCFCD will work through the MPDP Vegetation Advisory Workgroup to formalize this coordinated effort. It was suggested that the Bayou Preservation Association take on role of riparian habitat community coordinator. Next Steps and Closing: A revised seed/plant list will be distributed to the Group for input. exchange is expected to finalize the plant lists. The results of the Seed Mix Focus Group will be reported in the first quarter of 2016 to the Vegetation Advisory Workgroup and incorporated in the project planting plan. Consider sources of hard-to-find plant species. Possibly work on a harvest plan for summer 2016 to growout species by commercial nursery or others. The Group was invited to the seed plots at the nearby dry detention basin (P ), located north of the Beltway. Attendees: Focus Group Members Jed Aplaca Scott Barnes Jim Dobberstine Katy Emde Jaime González Mickey Merritt Guest Kelli Ondracek HPARD HCFCD Staff Jeff Jowell Jason Krahn Beth Walters John Watson Carolyn White HCFCD Seed Mix Focus Group Meeting #3 Summary 3

4 Attachment A

5 Memorial Park Demonstration Project Vegetation Advisory Workgroup: Seed Mix Focus Group PHASE A Initial Stabilization Warm Season Grass Seed Mix Common Name Latin Name % Seed Possible Source NWI SR Comments South Texas Side Oats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula 12 Seed Douglass King Dilley Slender Grama Bouteloua repens 8 Seed Douglass King Chaparral Hairy Grama Bouteloua hirsuta 8 Seed Douglass King Atascosa Texas Grama Bouteloua rigidiseta 12 Seed Douglass King Welder Shortspike Windmillgrass Chloris cucullata x verticillata 2 Seed Douglass King Mariah Hooded Windmillgrass Chloris cucullata Bisch. 2 Seed Douglass King slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum 3 Seed Hoffmann inland seaoats Chasmanthium latifolium 3 Seed Wildseed FAC 5 Oso Germplasm Hall s Panicum Panicum hallii Vasey var. filipes 4 Seed Douglass King purple threeawn** Aristida purpurea 2 Seed Seed separately indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans 10 Seed * (Audubon for plugs) Relatively tall grass little bluestem Schizachrium scoparium 5 Seed * (Audubon for plugs) purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis 4 Seed carpetgrass Axonopus affinis 5 Seed comm available Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum 7 Seed * (Audubon for plugs) Harrison Germplasm purpletop Tridens flavus 6 Seed * (Audubon for plugs) Relatively shade tolerant TOTAL 100 * Seed will be planted in Phase A. Plugs of these species may be available for Phase B, as well. ** Preferred substitution arrowfeather threeawn (Aristida purpurenscens). See Phase B list.

6 Memorial Park Demonstration Project Vegetation Advisory Workgroup: Seed Mix Focus Group Cool Season Mix Common Name Latin Name % Seed/Plug Possible Source NWI SR Comments Velvet Panicum Dichanthelium scoparium 20 Seed FACU 4 Virginia Wildrye Elymus virginicus 40 Seed FAC 5/6 Texas Wintergrass Nassella leucotricha 40 Seed Texas Bluebonnet Lupinus texensis Seed Prairie Verbena Glandularia bipinnatifida Seed Showy Primrose Oenothera speciosa Seed Indian Blanket Gaillardia pulchella Seed Plains Coreopsis Coreopsis tinctoria Seed Mexican Hat Ratibida columnifera Seed Drummond Phlox Phlox drummondii Seed Wine Cup Callirhoe involucrata Seed Clasping Coneflower Rudbeckia amplexicaulis Seed Wild bergamot, Beebalm Monarda fistulosa Seed NAS Grasses (plugs for bankfull and lower) Common Name Latin Name # Seed/Plug Possible Source NWI SR Comments switchgrass (NOT ALAMO) Panicum virgatum Plug FAC 9 eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides Plug FAC 9

7 Memorial Park Demonstration Project Vegetation Advisory Workgroup: Seed Mix Focus Group PHASE B Additional Planting for Diversity Grasses Common Name Latin Name % Seed/Plug Possible Source NWI SR Comments splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius Seed/Plug??/HAS brownseed paspalum Paspalum plicatulum Seed/Plug??/HAS longspike tridens Tridens strictus Seed/Plug??/HAS longspike silver bluestem Bothriochloa longipaniculata??? arrowfeather threeawn** Aristida purpurescens Seed/Plug??/HAS chalky bluestem Andropogon capillipes Seed/Plug??/HAS * If seed is available to include in Phase A, as replacement for purple threeawn (Aristida purpurea), then remove from Phase B.

Memorial Park Demonstration Project Vegetation Advisory Workgroup: Seed Mix Focus Group PHASE C Additional Planting for Riparian Forest Succession Forbs, Sedges, Other Common Name Latin Name %

8 Memorial Park Demonstration Project Vegetation Advisory Workgroup: Seed Mix Focus Group PHASE C Additional Planting for Riparian Forest Succession Forbs, Sedges, Other Common Name Latin Name % Seed/Plug Possible Source NWI SR Comments swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides Plug Belaire cherokee sedge Carex cherokeensis??? frog fruit Phyla nodiflora??? FAC 4 water willow Justicia americana??? OBL 7 white-top sedge Rhynchospora colorata??? FACW 5/6 false mint Dicliptera brachiata??? Reseeds readily Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana??? Rhizomatous mountain spikerush Eleocharis montana??? OBL 6 Carolina elephantfoot Elephantopus carolinianus??? Edge of woodlands lateflowering boneset Eupatorium serotinum??? FAC 5 Indian Blanket* Gaillardia pulchella??? Peppergrass Lepidium virginicum??? Narrow-Leaf Water Primrose Ludwigia octovalis??? FACW 3/4 Cut -Leaf Primrose Oenothera laciniata??? Rhizomatous Evening Primrose* Oenothera speciosa??? Rhizomatous Curly-Topped Smartweed Polygonum lapathifolia??? Pennsylvania Smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum??? Dotted Smartweed Polygonum punctatum??? Clasping Coneflower* Rudbeckia amplexicauli??? Dwarf Palmetto Sabal minor??? Tall Goldenrod Solidago canadensis??? FACW 6/7 Rhizomatous Southern Salt Marsh Aster Symphyotrichum divaricatum??? Heath Aster Symphyotrichum ericoides??? Spreads by rhizomes Panicled Aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum??? Spreads by rhizomes Calico Aster Symphyotrichum laterifolium??? Spreads by rhizomes Small-Flower White Aster Symphyotrichum racemosum??? Rhizomes, colonies Water? Winter? Bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis??? OBL 5 * Species included in the Cool Season Seed Mix for Phase A. S:\Open\MPDP Veg Advisory Workgroup\Seed Mix Focus Group\Deliverables\Final Draft Seed Mixes - Phased.docx

Memorial Park Demonstration Project Vegetation Advisory Workgroup Seed Mix Focus Group Meeting Summary October 13, 2015

Memorial Park Demonstration Project Vegetation Advisory Workgroup Seed Mix Focus Group Meeting Summary October 13, 2015 Meeting Purpose: Finalize Seed Mix Discuss Procurement Process Prepare for Final