On June 2, 2012 the landscaping committee took a tour of the local Pine Brook Wetlands Restoration Project (see attachments) www.PineBrookWetlands.com - to see examples of native trees, shrubs, and plants in wetlands, forest fringe (that can accommodate flooding) and a native prairie. A wide diversity of trees and plants that can accommodate wet and dry areas, as well as provide habitat for birds, butterflies and wildlife, were seen and discussed. We met in the covered pavilion, to discuss possible concepts desired.
The following is a DRAFT of Nature Friendly Landscaping Concepts that committee members would like to see- please review with others in your section and obtain their input about these concepts:
1) Open spaces, some with wildflower/ butterfly habitat:
a. Native grasses and many wildflowers have deep roots that will hold the soils during flooding. Native American Seed (800-728-4043) is an excellent source of seed and advice. (Used with www.PineBrookWetlands.com project- in wetlands and native prairie areas.) Establishing large patches of native grasses and wildflowers will incorporate natural beauty along bike & hike trail, tolerate both drought and flooding, enhance bird and butterfly habitat.
b. For this habitat to survive without constant re-seeding, Harris County Flood Control needs to mow only once per year, at least 8 inches high, else re-seeding is needed annually. Reducing the mowing should reduce the mowing expense.
c. Signs which say “Wildflower area” can help educate others concerned about this area.
d. This area is best situated in a sunny area, perhaps surrounded by trees with pine mulch underneath, to block out grasses such as St. Augustine which might initially outcompete new seedlings.
2) For forested areas above and below hike and bike trails to beautify areas and provide habitat:
a. The following native trees , planted in mixed species (less prone to disease) with understory trees, and same species clusters of 2-3 trees verses a straight line (which is more prone to flood & hurricane damage) to enhance habitat, and handle flooding: Less Wet: Black Cherry, Black Walnut, Burr Oak, Carolina Buckthorn, Chickasaw Plum, Chinquapin Oak, Compton Oak, Eastern Red Cedar, Elm (Winged), Hackberry(Celtis laevigata), Fringe Tree, Hornbeam, Laurel Oak, Maple (Red), Mexican Plum, Nuttal Oak, Overcup Oak, Pecan, Red Bud (Eastern), River Birch, Senna, Swamp Chestnut Oak , Sweet Bay Magnolia, Sweet Gum, Sycamore (American), Water Hickory, Water Oak, White Oak, Wild Crabapple, Willow Oak. Wetter : Black Gum, Cypress (Bald), Cypress (Pond), Elm(Cedar), Elm (Winged), Hackberry(Celtis laevigata), Maple (Red), Parsley Hawthorn, Persimmon, Roughleaf Dogwood, Swamp Chestnut Oak , Sweet Bay Magnolia, Sweet Gum, Sycamore (American), Water Tupelo, Water Hickory, Water Oak, Willow Oak. Water Tupelo. These native trees when established can best tolerate drought, heavy rains, and flooding. (Note: Loblolly Pines are the least drought tolerant, but can survive in areas with irrigation, and go well along sidewalks without roots becoming an issue )
b. To create habitat (cover, nesting, and food source) that supports birds & wildlife, forested clusters which include an under story of dense native shrubs is critical to support the flocks of annual migrating birds (e.g. 1-2+ thousand migrating robins, cedar wax-wings, warblers, and 300-600 goldfinches) in addition to resident birds and migrating/resident hawks. The following native shrubs planted in mixed and same species, under the native trees above, provide excellent habitat and can handle occasional flooding: American Beautyberry, Arrowwood Virburnum, Possumhaw Holly, Possumhaw Virburnum, Dwarf Palmetto, Yaupon Holly, Southern Wax Myrtle. Corral berry and Turk’s cap go well along shady edges. These areas would also, go well along the edges of native wildflower and native grass areas, as birds need insects to feed their young – and native wildflower & native grass areas will provide an abundance of “baby food” for nestlings! Groupings with understory trees and shrubs also help protect each other against drought, flooding, and hurricane damage.
c. To reduce maintenance by Harris County Flood Control who will handle mowing, trees planted in groupings, and habitat areas (see 2.b.) can be left unmowed. Ideally when planted, pine needle mulch can be used to help prevent weeds. If Tallows are a problem, rather than mow them (which just increases their size underground)- cut and treat with Garlon 3A when trees are saplings- so they will never appear again.
3) Along bike and hike paths- plant larger native trees for shade and native Mexican Plums for incredible fragrance and beauty (white flowers in the spring).
4) Save/Preserve large native trees where-ever possible, and especially if located behind resident’s homes. If possible, preserve roots of large native established trees when grading slope behind residents’ homes.
5) For wetland areas: would like to see an abundance of blooming Lizard Tail, Pickerel. Thalia, Arrowhead and Buttonbush, as well as sedges, Maidencane grass and Sugarcane Plumegrass .
6) Water areas- would like to see a natural stream with some running water, as well as wetland habitat for wading birds and amphibians.
7) Hike & bike paved paths- would like to see gentle winding paths with some changes in topography (Terry Hersey Hike/Bike path in a western suburban area outside of Beltway 8, is a good example)
8) Irrigation is the most important issue for tree survival- especially the first 3-5 years. A 4-5’ tree will double and sometimes triple in size in 3-5 years with ample irrigation. Smaller trees (4-6’) will have a great chance of survival than larger trees (10-15’) and large trees need a longer and more frequent irrigation schedule.
9) Best source of native trees and shrubs (as well as best prices)- Doremus Nursery 409-547-3536. Use Doremus for trees that you cannot obtain from Grants. Grants may be provide the diversity needed, especially for natives that can tolerate drought and flooding.
10) A storage facility (fenced area with irrigation) is needed to temporary store trees before planting. Best time to plant is October- February.
11) Consider interp signs for birds, butterflies, wildflowers, trees, wetland, prairie, and forest habitats.
12) Possible sources of funding and grants:
a. Apache Tree Grants
b. Trees for Houston Grants
c. Texas Parks & Wildlife (although current funding has been suspended)
d. County Commissioner
e. Donations from CLC residents (fund trees at $8-95 per tree) an/or Friends of CLCCA
f. There may be some support from clusters of residents that might provide funds, irrigation and care to a bird/wildlife tree/shrub habitat close to the edge of their properties
13) For the next town meeting need posters of pictures and/or examples of what is desired by mid August, 2012
14) Each group will have 10 minutes to present these concepts in a third town meeting which is tentatively scheduled for Aug 30th.
15) How can we submit other landscaping concepts/ideas as well as input from others? Email Debra Goode, steering committee/ landscaping co-chair atdegmail1@sbcglobal.net 281-280-9944, and Carol Henning, Chair dancerdt@sbcglobal.net or 281-486-4154
Check out the www.CLCGreenPlan.org website:
ü Goals for Advisory groups: http://www.clcgreenplan.org/Vision.html
ü Map of area: http://www.clcgreenplan.org/Maps/CLC_GolfCourse_DetentionPonds_Zoom_Aerial_Mar6_r13.pdf
ü Landscape Architect drawing: http://www.clcgreenplan.org/Images/PrelimAerialArchetDraw.jpg
ü To view presentation of CLC GreenPlan.org see http://www.clcgreenplan.org/
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Community Gardens Meeting June 20
You are invited to attend an open meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at the Freeman Public Library, 16616 Diana Lane, Houston, TX 77062, to discuss proposals for adding a community garden project to the development of the old Clear Lake City Golf Course site.
Community gardens can serve educational, charitable, or personal purposes. They are effective vehicles for building community relationships, creating family friendly outdoor environments, sharing skills, tools and resources between generations, increasing nutrition and local and sustainable sources of food, feeding the hungry, safeguarding greenspace, providing education regarding traditional means of food production and preservation, and increasing physical and mental wellbeing through purposeful outdoor activity.
Please feel free to attend and invite friends. If you have comments, but are unable to attend the meeting, please contact:
Cindy Bandemer
281-787-5558
Friday, June 1, 2012
Dog Park
Dog Park Subcommittee Report 26 May 2012
A dog park is for everyone, young and not so young, short, tall, physically fit or not, and those who are physically challenged. The only requirements we attempt to maintain are that dog parks are close to parking to serve those who are physically challenged and that the dog park be at least 50 yards from residential property, to minimize barking dogs’ disturbance upon neighborhood residential property owners.
A dog park conforms to the lay of the land; no clearing is needed nor is it requiring any specific size or shape. In fact, it is best to leave the land in its present condition, to have hills, trees, and bushes for the dogs to explore and investigate. In our travels with our dogs, we have seen dog parks partially or solely contained within water detention facilities, such as the two dog parks on the west side of Harris County. The Congressman Bill Archer & Millie Bush Dog Parks have been completely flooded during heavy rain events, where the tops of the fencing posts are completely underwater. As far as effective use of the land, a Dog Park is normally occupied 85% of the time and in all types of weather, hot or cold, rain or shine, windy or calm.
The American Veterinary Medical Association, a membership organization, published a study of their members in 2007 that 37.2% of US households own a dog, and most have more than one dog. This is up slightly from their 2001 study of 36.1% of US Households owning a dog.
www.avma.org/reference/marketstats/ownership.asp
What is a Dog Park?
A dog park is a clearly defined location where dog owners can safely and legally exercise and socialize their dog’s off-leash in a controlled environment. Generally, they are enclosed with some type of fencing to prevent or restrict the dog from leaving the designated area.
Off-leash dog parks provide a social setting in which people can gather and interact in friendship. Dog parks are places where dog owners and non-dog owners can delight in the entertaining and interesting interaction of dogs at play. People somehow find it easier to converse with others with dogs as the initial focus, breaking down the usual social barriers that make people in our society perceive others as "strangers."
Dogs improve people's health and increase resistance to disease by providing companionship and unconditional love. Dogs give people something to care for, providing pleasurable activity, such as exercise and providing a source of constancy in our changing lives, stimulate by providing comfort with touch, and being a pleasure to watch.
Dog parks reduce the likelihood that dogs will be let loose in park areas where they could interfere with other park users such as bicyclists, skate-boarders, rollerblading, hikers, and children at play. Providing separate areas for dogs to exercise, segregates dog owners from other users and reduce the risk of collisions, etc. Years of experience at dog parks across the country indicate that dogs are less aggressive in open areas because they are on neutral territory and not constrained by their leashes. Dog Parks allow dogs to learn socialization skills, provides exercise opportunities, tend to bark less in public, and tend to be less destructive at home.
Dedicated dog parks improve public health by keeping dog waste confined to one area. Peer pressure encourages dog owners to pick up after their dogs and keep the park clean. Dog parks provide a centralized area to provide information on dog health, veterinary services, boarding, training, etc.
We are seeking additional volunteers to join our Green Plan Sub-Committee to help create a Dog Park within the former Golf Course.
Please visit our website at www.bark9.com or email me at fred@bark9.com chair of the Green Plan Dog Park Sub-Committee.
A dog park is for everyone, young and not so young, short, tall, physically fit or not, and those who are physically challenged. The only requirements we attempt to maintain are that dog parks are close to parking to serve those who are physically challenged and that the dog park be at least 50 yards from residential property, to minimize barking dogs’ disturbance upon neighborhood residential property owners.
A dog park conforms to the lay of the land; no clearing is needed nor is it requiring any specific size or shape. In fact, it is best to leave the land in its present condition, to have hills, trees, and bushes for the dogs to explore and investigate. In our travels with our dogs, we have seen dog parks partially or solely contained within water detention facilities, such as the two dog parks on the west side of Harris County. The Congressman Bill Archer & Millie Bush Dog Parks have been completely flooded during heavy rain events, where the tops of the fencing posts are completely underwater. As far as effective use of the land, a Dog Park is normally occupied 85% of the time and in all types of weather, hot or cold, rain or shine, windy or calm.
The American Veterinary Medical Association, a membership organization, published a study of their members in 2007 that 37.2% of US households own a dog, and most have more than one dog. This is up slightly from their 2001 study of 36.1% of US Households owning a dog.
www.avma.org/reference/marketstats/ownership.asp
What is a Dog Park?
A dog park is a clearly defined location where dog owners can safely and legally exercise and socialize their dog’s off-leash in a controlled environment. Generally, they are enclosed with some type of fencing to prevent or restrict the dog from leaving the designated area.
Off-leash dog parks provide a social setting in which people can gather and interact in friendship. Dog parks are places where dog owners and non-dog owners can delight in the entertaining and interesting interaction of dogs at play. People somehow find it easier to converse with others with dogs as the initial focus, breaking down the usual social barriers that make people in our society perceive others as "strangers."
Dogs improve people's health and increase resistance to disease by providing companionship and unconditional love. Dogs give people something to care for, providing pleasurable activity, such as exercise and providing a source of constancy in our changing lives, stimulate by providing comfort with touch, and being a pleasure to watch.
Dog parks reduce the likelihood that dogs will be let loose in park areas where they could interfere with other park users such as bicyclists, skate-boarders, rollerblading, hikers, and children at play. Providing separate areas for dogs to exercise, segregates dog owners from other users and reduce the risk of collisions, etc. Years of experience at dog parks across the country indicate that dogs are less aggressive in open areas because they are on neutral territory and not constrained by their leashes. Dog Parks allow dogs to learn socialization skills, provides exercise opportunities, tend to bark less in public, and tend to be less destructive at home.
Dedicated dog parks improve public health by keeping dog waste confined to one area. Peer pressure encourages dog owners to pick up after their dogs and keep the park clean. Dog parks provide a centralized area to provide information on dog health, veterinary services, boarding, training, etc.
We are seeking additional volunteers to join our Green Plan Sub-Committee to help create a Dog Park within the former Golf Course.
Please visit our website at www.bark9.com or email me at fred@bark9.com chair of the Green Plan Dog Park Sub-Committee.
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