— by Katherine Uitz

The NPSOT-Williamson County Chapter made huge strides forward in invasives remediation in the city of Leander by partnering with the city and Master Naturalists to remove invasives along the Mason Creek Trail. On August 15th, we held our first of many planned invasive removal events along the trail, and 24 amazing volunteers showed up for the cause armed with clippers, chainsaws, and enthusiasm. In three hours, the volunteers cleared out four truck and trailer loads of Chinaberry and Wax-leaf Ligustrum.

Mason Creek Trail runs from South West Drive through to Bagdad Road. Mason Creek is a spring-fed creek that runs cold and clear even in the hottest summer months. A wide diversity of native plants make their home there including American Elm (a tree of concern), Pecan, Osage Orange, Cottonwood, Western Soapberry, Roosevelt weed, Silk Tassel, Agarita, Supplejack, Crossvine, Frostweed, Liatris, Pearl Milkvine, Roughleaf Dogwood, Prairie Flameleaf and Evergreen Sumacs, Bladderpod, and others.

Unfortunately, there is also an abundance of Chinaberry, Chinese Tallow, Japanese Honeysuckle, and Ligustrum creating a proverbial wall of invasives choking out natives and blocking access to the creek. Clearing out these invasive species will allow our native plants to prosper, provide access to the creek, and present us a unique opportunity to plant riparian natives.

The city of Leander’s conservation program manager, Bill Teeter, sees the Mason Creek project as an ongoing volunteer project and public education opportunity. Regular volunteer events such as the one on August 15th will be necessary to complete the project, and regular maintenance will follow. The next big event will take place at the beginning of November, and we are talking about a smaller volunteer event between now and then.

If you, like me, are keen on spreading your love of native plants into the community and are eager to show the good citizens of Leander what it means to rewild a lovely greenbelt corridor, I invite you to please join us at one or more of the invasive pull events. And bring your biggest clippers!

(Watch for future announcements about our next planned work day.)