Laguna Gloria's Site Assessment and Natural Areas Management Plan

Site Assessment & Natural Areas Management Guidelines
Laguna Gloria
Produced for AMOA-Arthouse by Siglo Group, June 2013

Laguna Gloria: Site Assessment and Natural Areas Management Guidelines
Numerous individuals gave input into this report. Their help is greatly appreciated. Contributors included: Judith Sims (AMOA-Arthouse), Louis Grachos
(AMOA-Arthouse), Terry Quinn (AMOA-Arthouse),Danielle Nieciag (AMOA-Arthouse), Aaron Lovell (AMOA-Arthouse), Cassandra Smith (AMOA-
Arthouse), Jill Nokes (Nokes Landscape Design), Jason Singhurst (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department), Mateo Scoggins (City of Austin), Andrew
Clamann (City of Austin), Mary Gilroy (City of Austin), Kathryn Murray (City of Austin), Clay Bales (Texas Forest Service), Jim Rooni (Texas Forest Service),
Chris Yanez (City of Austin), Matt McCaw (City of Austin), Keith Olenick (Landmark Wildlife Management).
www.siglogroup.com, info@siglogroup.com 512.699.5986
Integrating Land Use and Natural Systems: Siglo Group uses the power of geographic informa-
tion to help our clients integrate land use with natural systems. We specialize in conservation
planning, regional analysis, site assessment, cartography, and spatial analysis. Our work has
contributed to land being set aside in perpetuity for conservation, policies and projects that
work towards more sustainable land use, good development, and a greater understanding of
the attributes and values of land.
Project Team: Jonathan Ogren, Daniel Dietz, Johanna Arendt, Matt Fougerat,
Cullen Hanks, and Juliet Whitsett

Siglo Group
INTRODUCTION, 1
ECOLOGY, 5
Topography, 6
Hydrology, 6
Geology, 7
Soils, 8
Vegetation And Ecological Classification, 9
Historic Land Use Changes, 14
Trees, 16
Wildlife, 17
Potential Wildlife List, 18
Plant List, 19
NATURAL AREAS MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES, 21
Balancing Natural Resource Objectives with Visitor Needs, 22
Off-trail Recreation, 22
Invasive Plants, 23
Invasive Plant Control Methods, 24
Native Plantings, 25
Invasive Species Control Guide, 26
Poison Ivy, 31
Zonal Approach, 31
Zone A: Slope Woodland, 31
Zone B: Floodplain Forest, 34
Zone C: Path to the Point, 36
Zone D: Meadow, 37
Monitoring Progress, 39
Involving The Community, 41
Budget, 41
Schedule, 41
Monitoring Locations, 44
Photopoints, 47
SITE ASSESSMENT, 63
Water Quality Buffers & Floodplain, 64
Critical Environmental Features, 64
Zoning, 64
Historic Designation, 65
Infrastructure. 65
Stormwater Retention, 66
Boardwalk and Docks, 66
Parking, 67
Impervious Cover, 67
Concepts for Future Development, 68
Net Site Area & Allowable Impervious Cover, 69
City Contacts, 69
VISITOR EXPERIENCE, 71
Orientation, Wayfinding, & Interpretation, 72
Pathways, 73
Gathering Places & Services, 74
Scenic Views & Vegetative Buffers, 76
Accessibility, 78
Entry Sequence, 79
Programming, 80
BIRDS & BIRDING, 81
CONCLUSION, 87
SOURCES, 91
Table of Contents

Laguna Gloria
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Laguna GloriaLaguna Gloria
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
TaylorCreek
TaylorCreek
LakeAustin
Scenic DrScenic Dr
M
tBonnellRd
M
tBonnellRd
W
35th St
W
35th St
LakeAustin
00 300’
Property Boundaries
Sources: COA, Travis CAD
Laguna Gloria &
Mayfield Park
Laguna Gloria &
Mayfield Park
Laguna Gloria &
Mayfield Park
Laguna Gloria &
Mayfield Park
AmphitheaterAmphitheater
Art SchoolArt School
Floodplain
Forest
Floodplain
Forest
Driscoll VillaDriscoll Villa
W 35th St
W 35th St
Temple of LoveTemple of Love
Birder’s PointBirder’s Point
Boat RampBoat Ramp
AmphitheaterAmphitheater
Art SchoolArt School
Floodplain
Forest
Floodplain
Forest
Driscoll VillaDriscoll Villa
W 35th St
W 35th St
Temple of LoveTemple of Love
Birder’s PointBirder’s Point
Boat RampBoat Ramp
L a g o o nL a g o o n
1

Siglo Group 2
00 4 miles
Introduction
Laguna Gloria ContextLaguna Gloria Context
Laguna Gloria is an incredible place to
experience art and nature. This report
provides baseline information about the
property for future designers, staff, stake-
holders, and board members of AMOA-
Arthouse to use as they re-envision Laguna
Gloria as a renowned art experience in a
natural setting. The report is broken up into
five sections: Ecology, Natural Areas
Management Guidelines, Site Assessment,
Visitor Experience, and Birds and Birding.
Each of these sections builds on and comple-
ments the others. The end result is a guide
that gives artists, curators, and designers a
framework through which to envision the
futureofthesite.
This should be thought of as a dynamic
document that is added to as new informa-
tion comes to light. The report is grounded
in concepts of ecology, restoration and
sustainable land management. It incorpo-
rates information from previous studies,
field observations (from January to May of
2013), relevant city codes and ordinances, as
well as data from federal, state, and local
databases. It is not meant to be a survey or
fully comprehensive, but rather provides a
snapshot of various aspects of the site that
need to be considered as future plans are
formedandimplemented.
The Laguna Gloria site comprises approxi-
mately 12 acres on the eastern bank of Lake
Austin in Austin, TX. This report focuses on
the natural areas of Laguna Gloria, including
more than 2,900 feet of Lake Austin water-
front. Where appropriate, it also looks
beyond the site's borders at interactions with
the adjacent Mayfield Park and Preserve,
which is approximately 23 acres, and with
LakeAustinitself.
The site is part of the Edwards Plateau
ecosystem and is an ecological refuge,
holding numerous and diverse plant and
animal communities that are now hard to
find in the urbanized Austin Area. Habitats
range from floodplain forest and marsh to
oak savanna, open meadow and sloping
woodland. The site is made up of two major
terraces, with the lower terrace only a few
feet above the water level of Lake Austin.
The upper terrace contains the historic
Driscoll Villa area (approximately 2 acres),
the art school area to the east, and associated
parking and grounds. The terraces are
joined by steep slopes, with a ridge running
down to the Temple of Love. The site's
ecological significance is showcased by the
majestic oak woodlands in the upper areas,
the floodplain forest on the shore of the lake,
the marsh, and the over 210 bird species
recorded at the site, which have made
Laguna Gloria the third most birded site in
TravisCounty.
While the 2-acre historic area containing the
Driscoll Villa and its grounds is of great
significance to any design going forward, it is
not covered in detail here. It has been well
assessed by O'Connor and Levin (1999).
Their compelling retelling of the site's
history includes its ownership by Stephen F.
Austin from 1832 to 1836, two archeologi-
cal sites on the property with potential
human activity as far back as 5,000 years,
and the story of Clara Driscoll's vision,
design, and development of the property.
This report echoes Driscoll's vision of
maintaining the natural elements of the site
and providing a place for visitors to experi-

enceartandnaturetogether.
In the Natural Areas Management Guide-
lines section, a five year plan is outlined for
improving the ecological health of the
property. The management guidelines are
based on the concepts of ecological restora-
tion, which is the process of improving of
the site’s natural ecological functions such
as holding and creating soil, filtering water,
providing habitat for native wildlife, and
maintaining vibrant native plant communi-
ties that include trees, understory, forbs and
grass species. The management guidelines
are meant to improve ecological functions
and enhance the visitor experience in
majestic,healthynativeplantcommunities.
The spaces created naturally by the site's
plant communities can be seen as rooms of a
gallery in which art pieces are displayed. As
with any gallery, and perhaps especially in
this case, the space itself can become integral
to the exhibit. The recognition of the site's
unique natural characteristics and the
coordination of natural areas management
with design, exhibit curation, and art
creation will optimize the overall use of the
site.
The Natural Areas Management Guidelines
section discusses potential management
challenges and recommends a path forward
using a zonal approach based on the prop-
erty'sdistinctecologicalareas:
Zone A: Sloping Woodlands, found§
aroundthehistoricarea;
Zone B: Floodplain Forest, located next§
to the water's edge, and likely the area
mostsensitivetohumandisturbance;
Zone C: Path to the Point, the historic§
walk through the woods that connects
theVillatotheTempleofLove;
Zone D: Meadow, a highly modified§
component of the lower terrace that
offers the most opportunity for change
inthefuture.
For each of these areas, treatments are
recommended throughout a five year period
including invasive species control, restora-
tion, and adaptive management techniques
such as regular monitoring. Information is
provided in both narrative and tabular
formats, and is accompanied by a summary
AerialimageoftheLagunaGloria. Source:Bing
3

Siglo Group
of treatments and a work schedule. For this
plan to be successful, it will require the
ongoing involvement of professional
consultants, AMOA-Arthouse staff,
resource allocation, and ongoing manage-
ment.
Moving forward, numerous regulatory and
physical issues will need to be considered as
well. In the Site Assessment section, this
report looks at water quality buffers and
floodplains, critical environmental features,
zoning, historic designation, infrastructure,
boardwalks and docks, impervious cover, net
site area, and concepts for future develop-
ment. There are various challenges includ-
ing required building setbacks (because Lake
Austin supplies drinking water to the city),
environmental features, substantial slopes,
the site's single-family residential zoning, its
State Archeological Landmark, its partial
historic designation, the risk of flooding, and
the fact that no new impervious cover is
allowed. However, there are new technolo-
gies to reduce impervious cover, and this site
assessment also confirmed that there is
substantial opportunity to increase visitors'
accesstoLakeAustin. Inallcases,becauseof
the uniqueness of the site within the regula-
tory framework, developing and imple-
menting a new design will likely entail
detailed dialogue and cooperation with the
CityofAustinregulatorydepartments.
The integration of the site's ecology, man-
agement, and design will define the visitor
experience into the future. In the Visitor
Experience section, the four management
zones are assessed to understand the move-
ment of individuals through the site, their
potential impacts, and general opportunities
for design into the future. This assessment
should not limit design ideas, but rather
support them by providing information
about the existing and future needs of the
site and its visitors. This section looks at the
site's entry sequence, visitor orientation,
wayfinding system, pathways through the
site, gathering places, scenic views and
vegetative buffers, mobility issues, connec-
tivity, water access, and potential program-
ming. Analyzing the natural area manage-
ment needs and the visitor experience
together allows the two to inform each other
and to illuminate mutually beneficial
opportunities that might not have been
evidentotherwise.
This report touches on key elements to
consider while re-envisioning and designing
the future of the site. The natural structure
of the site offers a framework in which to
integrate land management, design, and the
visitor experience. It is the goal of this report
to support the creation of a place-based art
museum showcasing nationally and interna-
tionally acclaimed artists with a robust
visitor experience that seamlessly combines
artandnature.
4

Laguna Gloria
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
PreserveDriscoll
Villa
Driscoll
Villa Art
School
Art
School
TaylorCreek
TaylorCreek
LakeAustin
Scenic DrScenic Dr
M
tBonnellRd
M
tBonnellRd
W
35th St
W
35th St
LakeAustin
TopographyTopography
00 300’
Property Boundaries
Slopes 15 to 25%
Slopes 25 to 35%
Slopes Greater than 35%
2’ Contours
Sources: COA, Travis CAD
5

Siglo Group 6
The ecological characteristics and history of
Laguna Gloria add up to make the site we see
today. From the creation of the Hill Country
limestone over 200 million years ago and the
rise of the Balcones Escarpment over 12
million years ago to the initial damming of
Lake Austin in the 1890s, events have woven
together to make the literal bedrock, soils,
vegetation communities, and wildlife of
Laguna Gloria. Understanding the ele-
ments mentioned here provides us with the
background to make informed decisions
about natural areas management, design,
andthevisitor'sexperience.
TOPOGRAPHY
The Laguna Gloria site consists of two
relatively flat terraces connected by steep
slopes. The highest part of the site is the
historic area, which has an approximate
elevation of 524 feet above mean sea level
(msl). The property slopes from there down
to the west to the lower terrace, which
includes the meadow and floodplain forest,
which has an approximate elevation of 495
feet above msl. A single ridge, ranging from
502 to 506 feet above msl, extends down the
eastern side of the peninsula to the Temple of
Love. The lowest elevation on the site is
Ecology
approximately 492 feet at the edge of Lake
Austin.
While much of the site is flat, the slopes that
do exist are very steep. Significant slope
percentages include: a 37% rise at the stairs
west of the Driscoll House, 25% near the
amphitheater, and 20% to the west of the
Temple of Love and slopes over 60% behind
the art school. These slopes are significant
when thinking about the risk of erosion and
about human accessibility, especially if new
improvements areadded.
Elements of interest within the topography
include the rock outcrops found from the
eastern edge of the property's waterfront to
the Temple of Love area as well as the rim
rock found behind the art school. The
floodplain forest features microtopography,
small undulations of the forest floor created
through natural forest processes and historic
manipulation of the environment. In
addition, the slopes bordering the southern
and western sides of the historic area that
have been historically altered provide
opportunities for views to the lake and
throughtheproperty.
The topography at Mayfield Park is surpris-
ing and dramatic. Similar to Laguna Gloria,
the historic homestead is on a flat terrace
with a high elevation of 546 feet. Moving
deeper into the site, sheer cliffs drop down to
Taylor Slough in the interior of the property.
In addition to these cliffs, there is undulating
topography that can comfortably bring a
hiker down to the water's edge. The connec-
tion between Laguna Gloria and Mayfield
Park is part of the upper terrace and is
relatively flat until it gets to the water's edge
where there are substantial slopes and rock
outcrops that drop steeply 27 feet to Lake
Austin.
HYDROLOGY
Laguna Gloria is located north of the lagoon
formed by the juncture of Taylor Slough and
Lake Austin. The entire property drains into
Lake Austin and is part of the Lake Austin
watershed. It is important to note that Lake
Austin is the drinking water source for
Austin and the two water treatment plants
currently providing the city with water are
very close to Laguna Gloria. The intake for
the Albert R. Davis plant is only 840 feet
upstream and the intake for the Albert H.
Ulrichplantislessthanamiledownstream.

Based on soils found in the Floodplain
Forest, it is likely that the peninsula and
lower slopes of Laguna Gloria experienced
flooding prior to the initial damming of Lake
Austin in 1890, but the soils were not
perpetually inundated by water as they are
today. Tom Miller Dam, built in 1940 after
two previous dams failed, has created a
constant level lake that does not rise above
492.8 feet and is typically kept at 491.7 feet
(LCRA 2013). The raised water table has
increased the possibilities of what can grow
and sustain itself at the Laguna Gloria site,
from open water, to marsh, to floodplain
forest.
GEOLOGY
The signature “stair-step” topography of the
Balcones Canyonlands lent this region its
name when early Spanish explorers
described the bluffs as looking like a series of
balconies rising up through the hills. This
regional character can be seen in even
relatively small sites such as Laguna Gloria
where the museum and buildings sit atop a
flat “balcony,” which then descends sharply
tothe floodplainforestbelow.
The underlying geologic layer causing this
terracing at Laguna Gloria is the
Fredericksburg group (Kfr). This complex
group includes Edwards Limestone, Bee
Cave Marl, and Comanche Limestone. This
is the same layer that is found at the surface
of the Barton Springs Aquifer recharge zone
and that tops the aquifer on the Jollyville
plateau(Barnes1974).
The Fredericksburg group is famous for
having numerous karst features (caves or
sinkholes), although no such features are
known to occur on the property. While one
may assume that the limestone underneath
Laguna Gloria has fractures that make the
rock permeable, it is not connected to an
aquifer system, being cut off from the
Barton springs segment by the Colorado
River. It is likely that any water that enters
the limestone underneath Laguna Gloria
flows directly into Lake Austin, which makes
water quality protection measures on the site
especially important. This is discussed in
moredetailintheSiteAssessmentsection.
Laguna Gloria sits at the heart of geologic
activity in the area where the Balcones
Faulting occurred somewhere between 12
and 27 million years ago. This uplift,
GeologyGeology
Laguna Gloria
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
TaylorSlough
TaylorSlough
LakeAustin
Scenic DrScenic Dr
M
tBonnellRd
M
tBonnellRd
W
35th St
W
35th St
LakeAustin
00 600’
Kfr-Fredericksburg Limestone
Kgr(u)-Glen Rose Limestone
Kdr-Del Rio Clay
Sources: TNRIS
Kgr (u)Kgr (u)
KfrKfr
KfrKfr
KfrKfr
KdgKdg
7

Siglo Group 8
running northeast and southwest through
Austin, raised what is now the Hill Country
to the west and lowered what is now the
Blackland Prairies to the east for a net
difference in elevation of over 1,000 feet. It
is believed that the faulting occurred over a
geologically short period of time. The Mt.
Bonnell fault is the most dramatic of these
faults with movement of more than 700 feet
(McGlameryandDietz2008).
SOIL
According to map and soil data obtained
from the United States Department of
Agriculture's Natural Resources Conserva-
tion Service, three soil map units containing
three different soil series occur within the
site'sboundaries.
Lu (Less than 1% slope, occasionally
flooded). Approximately 46% of the
property is within this map unit, which
includes all low areas on the peninsula. Lu is
composed primarily of Gaddy soils. This
excessively drained sandy alluvium has been
deposited by the Colorado River in the last
10,000 years. It typically consists of loamy
fine sand up to 17 inches deep, which is
underlain by fine sand. This soil is charac-
teristic of floodplains and is in fact found in
the floodplain forest at Laguna Gloria. It is
notfoundanywhereatMayfieldPark.
Tef (18-40% slopes). Approximately 27%
of the property is part of this map unit. It is
found on the steep south facing slopes in the
eastern portion of the property. Tef is
composed primarily of the Tarrant soils
series, which was formed from the residuals
of weathered limestone. This well-drained
soil has very low water holding capacity and
a basic ph. A typical soil profile will consist
of very stony clay as deep as 6 inches, with
bedrock often found within the first foot. At
both Laguna Gloria and Mayfield Park, the
Sloping WoodlandisfoundinTef.
UuE (1-12% slopes). Approximately 27%
of the property is part of this map unit. This
area includes the higher portions of the
property where the buildings are located, as
well as the land directly adjacent to the trail
that leads to the Temple of Love. 40% of this
map unit is classified as urban land with
miscellaneous soils, and 35% of UuE is
classified as Brackett soils, with minor
components making up the remaining 25%.
The Brackett soil series is well drained with
very low water holding capacity and a basic
SoilsSoils
Laguna Gloria
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
TaylorSlough
TaylorSlough
LakeAustin
Scenic DrScenic Dr
M
tBonnellRd
M
tBonnellRd
W
35th St
W
35th St
LakeAustin
TeF-Tarrant
Lu-Gaddy
UuE-Brackett
VuD-Volente
BrF-Brackett
Sources: USDA-NRCS
00 600’
UuEUuE
TeFTeF
LuLu
TeFTeF
UuEUuE
VuDVuD
VuDVuDBrFBrF

ph. It is a clay loam until bedrock is reached.
Because of the Laguna Gloria infrastructure,
much of the UuE map unit has been manip-
ulated over time, but it is the primary upland
soil at Mayfield Park, and its natural expres-
sioncanbeobservedthere.
VuD (1- 8% slopes). This map unit is found
at Mayfield Park in the valley floor formed
by Taylor Slough. It consists of about 45%
Volente soils, about 20% Urban land, about
25% other soils, and about 10% Rock
outcrop and Mixed alluvial land. The
Volente soil has a surface layer of dark
grayish-brown calcareous clay loam about
22 inches thick. The next layer is brown
calcareous silty clay that extends to a depth
of about 46 inches. The underlying material
isreddish-yellowcalcareousclayloam.
VEGETATION AND ECOLOGICAL
CLASSIFICATION
Laguna Gloria resides within the Balcones
FaultZone,whichisatthefareasternedgeof
the Edwards Plateau ecoregion, less than 1
mile from the Blackland Prairie ecoregion to
the east. The Edwards Plateau is one of four
areas in the United States recognized as a
center of plant diversity for both richness and
rarity (Davis 1997). The Edwards Plateau is
characterized by Cretaceous era limestone
bedrock that supports a mosaic of vegetation
ranging from live oak/ashe juniper savannas
to mixed juniper oak woodlands and decidu-
ous riparian areas. The vegetation in the
region has been modified extensively by
livestockgrazingandurbanization.
Ecological communities have been mapped
on the property based on the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department's Ecological System
Classification database, and were refined
based on field observations. The ecological
systems and vegetation types below repre-
sent the current expression of vegetation on
the property. They are subject to change
over time due to management practices,
changes in site conditions (such as climate
change), or the passage of time since the last
major disturbance (succession). Vegetation
communities found at Laguna Gloria and
Mayfield Park include: floodplain forest,
limestone savanna and woodland, dry-mesic
slope woodland, disturbed vegetation, and
riparianmixedusedeciduousforest.
In addition to this broad scale examination of
vegetation, a list of individual plant species
was created based on site visits during the
Plant CommunitiesPlant Communities
Laguna Gloria
Floodplain Forest
Limestone Savanna & Woodland
Dry-Mesic Slope Woodland
Disturbed Vegetation
Riparian Mixed Deciduous Forest
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
TaylorSlough
TaylorSlough
LakeAustin
Scenic DrScenic Dr
M
tBonnellRd
M
tBonnellRd
W
35th St
W
35th St
LakeAustin
00 600’
Sources: TPWD, Field Observation
9

Siglo Group
late winter and spring of 2013 and a mid-
spring site visit by Noreen Damude in May
2011 as seen on pages 19 and 20. This list is
not exhaustive, especially concerning plants
that are dormant or out of season during late
winterandspringmonths.
Vegetation communities are not just
associations of plant species, but also include
the disturbance patterns with which they
evolved and that help maintain them. In the
floodplain forest, floods would have played a
significant role in depositing sediment and
selecting against plants that are not water
tolerant. In the upland woodlands, wind
and ice storms promote diversity by creating
light gaps and depositing woody debris
when trees are uprooted or large branches
break. Understoryfiresreduceleaflitterand
allow more light to penetrate to the ground,
which increases Spanish oak recruitment,
but reduces ashe juniper seedling abun-
dance. Drought impacts all of the plant
communities. Finally, human management,
mostly in the form of selective species
removal and the planting of non-native
species, has played a substantial role in
LagunaGloria'slandscape.
Floodplain Forest: This vegetation type is
found in the broad valley bottoms of large
rivers in Texas. It is characterized by deep
alluvial soils and a rich variety of deciduous
hardwood species that are not found in
upland areas. At Laguna Gloria, this system
is found on the shore of Lake Austin and
along the entire peninsula except for the
ridgewheretheTempleofLoveislocated.
Laguna Gloria has a rich diversity of over-
story trees in the floodplain forest including
bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) and
cottonwood (Populus deltoids). However,
pecan (Carya illinoinensis), green ash
(Fraxinus Pennsylvania), and box elder (Acer
negundo) are also common, as are the non-
Floodplain ForestFloodplain Forest
10

native invasive Chinese tallow (Triadica
sebifera) and chinaberry (Melia azedarach).
The sub-canopy woody plant assemblage is
equally diverse with dwarf palmetto (Sabal
minor), cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana),
roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii),
possumhaw holly (Ilex decidua), Carolina
buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana), and
Mexican plum (Prunus mexicana) all
present. Unfortunately, the non-native
glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum) is becom-
ing the dominant small tree/large shrub in
much of the area. The herbaceous layer is
relatively sparse, with some patches of wood
oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), Canada
wildrye (Elymus canadensis), spiderwort
(Tradescantia sp.), and horseherb
(Calyptocarpus vialis) found on the penin-
sula. More often, the groundcover consists
of vines with poison ivy (Toxicodendron
radicans) being the dominant native in
shaded areas and mustang grape (Vitis
mustangensis) and trumpet creeper
(Campsis radicans) found in sunny openings.
Non-native vines are abundant too, with the
principal ones being catclaw (Macfadyena
unguis-cati), Japanese honeysuckle
(Lonicera japonica), English ivy (Hedera
helix),andbigleafperiwinkle(Vincamajor).
Portions of the floodplain forest have been
transformed through clearing and filling to
become the meadow area later discussed in
the Natural Area Management Guidelines
section. In this area, extending north to
Dry-Mesic Slope WoodlandDry-Mesic Slope Woodland
Previous floodplain forest that has been filled and mowedPrevious floodplain forest that has been filled and mowed
11

Siglo Group 12
south from the lower entrance from 35th
street to the end of the peninsula, a lawn has
been maintained in Bermuda grass
(Cynodon dactylon), although Texas
wintergrass (Nassella leucotricha), rescue
grass (Bromus catharticus), and an unidenti-
fied paspalum are also present, along with
some native wildflowers. Johnson grass
(Sorghum halepense), and giant reed
(Arundo donax) are two large invasive
grasses found in sunny areas near pathways
andopeningsthatprovidelight.
Limestone Savanna and Woodland: This
ecological system is found throughout
central Texas on Cretaceous limestone soils
in level to rolling topography. At Laguna
Gloria, this ecological site is found chiefly on
the path from the main building to the
(Styphnolobium affine), Mexican buckeye
(Ungnadia speciosa), coralberry
(Symphoricarpos orbiculatus), and
hackberry (Celtis laevigata) are also present.
Like in the floodplain forest, the herbaceous
layer is sparse in many areas, having been
overtaken by English ivy and catclaw vines.
Where not overtaken, native species in the
herbaceous layer such as dewberry (Rubus
trivialis), Turk's cap (Malvaviscus arboreus),
snailseed (Cocculus carolinus), frostweed
(Verbesina virginica), woodoats, and Canada
wildrye are good food sources for birds and
butterflies.
Dry-Mesic Slope Woodland: This system
is found on steep limestone slopes through-
out the Hill Country and in larger patches in
western Travis County, and it provides
habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked
warbler. Laguna Gloria does not have the
correct structure or patch size to support this
endangered species, but this ecosystem does
provide further habitat diversity for the
property. It is found on the steep hill just
below the developed area. It is principally
found on the slopes to the east of the amphi-
theater and below the art school. The
dominant trees in this area include live oak,
cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia), ashe juniper,
Spanish oak, and some extremely large
glossy privet. In some areas, the sub-canopy
is almost exclusively Japanese honeysuckle,
but in the more eastern areas, mountain
laurel, Texas persimmon, wax myrtle
Temple of Love, and the area above the
amphitheater that is not part of the formal
historicarea.
At Laguna Gloria, this ecosystem is domi-
nated by large live oaks (Quercus
virginiana), although Spanish oak (Quercus
buckleyi), ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei), and
glossy privet also are common. The sub-
canopy contains a large number of non-
native species such as Carolina jasmine
(Gelsemium sempervirens), heavenly
bamboo (Nandina domestica), golden
bamboo (Phyllostachys sp.), and bridal
wreath spirea (Spiraea prunifolia), although
natives such as Texas persimmon (Diospyros
texana), possumhaw holly, cherry laurel,
Texas mountain laurel (Sophora
s e c u n d i f l o r a ) , E v e ' s n e c k l a c e
Limestone Savanna & WoodlandLimestone Savanna & Woodland

Laguna Gloria: Site Assessment and Natural Areas Management Guidelines13
Laguna Gloria
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
LakeAustin
Scenic Dr
Scenic Dr
W 35th St
W 35th St
LakeAustin
LakeAustin
19401940
Laguna Gloria
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
LakeAustin
Scenic Dr
Scenic Dr
W 35th St
W 35th St
LakeAustin
LakeAustin
19581958
Laguna Gloria
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
LakeAustin
Scenic Dr
Scenic Dr
W 35th St
W 35th St
LakeAustin
LakeAustin
19751975
Laguna Gloria
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
LakeAustin
Scenic Dr
Scenic Dr
W 35th St
W 35th St
LakeAustin
LakeAustin
19801980
00 250’
00 250’00 250’
00 250’

(Morella cerifera), and Mexican buckeye are
the principal shrubs. In the herbaceous
layer, Turk's cap, frostweed,boneset
(Ageratina havanensis) and cedar sedge
(Carexsp.)arefound.
Riparian Mixed Deciduous Forest: This
ecological system is common along creeks in
western Travis County and all along the
Balcones Fault Zone on the eastern end of
the Hill Country. Ashe juniper (Juniperus
ashei) and plateau live oak (Quercus
fusiformis) are the frequent dominant trees
of this mixed forest. Cedar elm (Ulmus
crassifolia), American sycamore (Platanus
occidentalis), green ash (Fraxinus
pennsylvanica), and sugar hackberry (Celtis
laevigata)arealsocommon.
This system is found along Taylor Slough in
Mayfield Park, but is not found on the
LagunaGloriasite.
HISTORIC LAND USE CHANGES
Historic records and aerial photos can show
us some of the major events that shaped the
ecology of the site we see today. Here we
have images looking over seventy years into
thepast.
1940: The completion of Tom Miller Dam in
1940 and consequent creation of Lake
Austin had a substantial impact on the land.
In this photo, the shoreline as we know it
today is not defined, the southern portions of
the peninsula are in marsh, and much of the
lower terrace appears to have little wood-
land. While it is not clear, it does appear
that layout of the formal grounds around the
DriscollVillahasbeencompleted.
1958: Water-loving vegetation has adapted
to the lake levels, defining a visible shoreline
on the property and the island to the south.
One can see that the boat ramp has been
installed, along with a road leading to 35th
street. The lower terrace seems to be
covered generally in woody species, with the
areas to the southwest of the Temple of Love
remaininginmarsh.
1975: Major development has occurred in
the area, with the subdivision being built
across the lagoon and a parking lot added to
Mayfield Park and Preserve. We also see
Siglo Group 14
Laguna Gloria
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
LakeAustin
Scenic Dr
Scenic Dr
W 35th St
W 35th St
LakeAustin
20092009
00 250’

00 250’
American Elm
Cedar Elm
Elm
Box Elder
Hackberry
Cedar Sources: Bury, Field Observation
Mulberry
Live Oak
Oak
White Oak
Palm
Cypress
Green Ash
Pecan
Cottonwood
Willow
TreesTrees
Laguna Gloria
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Driscoll
Villa
Driscoll
Villa
Art
School
Art
School
LakeAustin
Scenic Dr
Scenic Dr
W 35th St
W 35th St
LakeAustin
15

Siglo Group
dbh. Bringing together all of the resulting
data, Siglo was able to define the size and
species of a majority of the trees on the
property.
It is important to note that some of the trees
in the 2000 and 2006 surveys have died, and
that was not taken into account in this study.
However, the Bury surveys and the addi-
tional data collected by Siglo will provide
that the lower terrace of Laguna Gloria has
been substantially altered. In the center of
the peninsula from north to south, the
marshy areas have been filled in and woody
speciesremoved.
1980: Infrastructure improvements can be
seen on the property including the paved
road in the lower terrace (built in 1979) and
thecomponentsoftheschoolcomplex.
2009: This aerial is used throughout this
study to represent existing conditions. In it
we can see the completed school complex on
the upper terrace and the further reduction
of woody species in the northern portions of
the lower terrace. In addition, the marshy
area at the southern end of the peninsula
appears to be expanding further into the
lagoonandLakeAustin.
These snapshots of the past allow us to see
some of the major issues that have helped to
shape the site's existing vegetation. They
show a dynamic system that can change
substantiallygivenenoughtime.
TREES
The diverse trees of Laguna Gloria are a
significant part of the visitor's experience,
from the majestic cypresses by the water's
edge to the heritage live oaks around the
historic buildings. In 2000 and 2006, tree
surveys were completed by Bury+Partners
on the upper grounds, the Temple of Love
ridge, and on a small portion of the lower
grounds. In 2013, Siglo Group used general
evaluation methods to look at “significant”
trees on the lower grounds that were not
captured in the Bury surveys. The goal of
this evaluation was to record the type and
size of native trees in that area. Siglo's
evaluation included 144 trees ranging from
a cedar elm that was 8” in diameter at breast
height (dbh) to a bald cypress that was 55”
Laguna Gloria
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Driscoll
Villa
Driscoll
Villa Art
School
Art
School
LakeAustin
Scenic Dr
Scenic Dr
W 35th St
W 35th St
LakeAustin
Heritage TreesHeritage Trees
00 250’
16

some guidance for property management
andimprovementprojectsintothefuture.
Looking at trees throughout the entire site as
shown in the map on, one can see the
importance of live oaks and cedar elms
within the historic and art school areas. At
the bottom of slopes, pecan trees become
more significant, and moving out into the
floodplain forest, there is a bald cypress
canopy with ash, elm, box elder, willow, and
cottonwood.
There are a total of 526 native trees recorded
on the site over 8” dbh. Of those, 147 are
considered to be heritage trees. These trees
are over 19” dbh and have special
protections fromtheCityofAustin. Inorder
to cut one down, a City permit is required,
along with the approval of a licensed arbor-
ist.
Of note are some of the gaps of native tree
cover in the floodplain forest. These areas
are predominately invasive species with
Chinese tallow dominating much of the area.
In the southern portions of the floodplain
forest, there are also numerous ligustrum
and chinaberry trees. Using the natural area
guidelines here and in other professional
resources, Laguna Gloria can cautiously
move forward on a multi-year plan to reduce
non-natives and increase the recruitment of
young native species. It should also be noted
that the oaks within the historic area are
aging. While the Natural Areas Manage-
ment Guidelines within this report do not
deal specifically with the formal areas, the
propagation of young trees should be
considered with the understanding that this
site will outlast many of the beautiful trees
foundtherenow.
WILDIFE
A formal wildlife survey was not performed
during the site visits. Wildlife characteristic
of the Edwards Plateau ecoregion is expected
to be on the property, although larger
predators such as bobcats and coyote are
unlikely to be present. Even evidence of
common large omnivores and herbivores
such as feral hog and white-tailed deer were
not observed on the site. Neighborhoods
near Mt. Bonnell have high deer densities
and this species is likely to visit Laguna
Gloria, even if they are not found there in
daylight hours. Other species that are
common to Central Texas and may be on the
property are listed on the following page.
BirdspeciesarelistedintheBirdandBirding
Section.
17

Siglo Group
Potential Wildlife of
Laguna Gloria
Potential Wildlife of
Laguna Gloria
white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus
Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana
eastern cottontail, Sylviagus floridanus
eastern fox squirrel, Sciurus niger
hispid pocket mouse, Chaetodipus hispidus
fulvous harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys
fulvescens
plains harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys
montanus
Texas mouse, Peromyscus attwateri
deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus
white-ankled mouse, Peromyscus pectoralis
hispid cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus
common gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus
common raccoon, Procyon lotor
striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis
couch's spadefoot, Scaphiopus couchii
Blanchard's cricket frog, Acris crepitans
Cope's gray treefrog, Hyla chrysocelis
green treefrog, Hyla cinerea
gray treefrog, Hyla versicolor
spotted chorus frog, Pseudacris clarkia
Stecker's chorus frog, Pseudacris feriarum
feriarum
eastern green toad, Bufo debilis debilis
red-spotted toad, Bufo punctatus
Texas toad, Bufo speciosus
Gulf coast toad, Bufo valliceps valliceps
Rio Grande frog, Rana berlandieri
great plains narrowmouth toad, Gastrophryne
olivacea
common snapping turtle, Chleydra serpentina
serpentina
yellow mud turtle, Kinosternon flavescens
flavescens
ornate box turtle, Terrapene ornata ornata
green anole, Anolis carolinensiseastern collared
lizard, Crotaphytus collaris collaris
Texas earless lizard, Cophosaurus texanus
texanus
Texas spiny lizard, Sceloporus olivaceus
southern prairie lizard, Sceloporus undulates
consobrinus
eastern tree lizard, Urosaurus ornatus ornatus
short-lined skink, Eumeces tetragrammus
ground skink, Scincella lateralis
Texas spotted whiptail, Cnemidophorus gularis
gulariss
six-lined racerunner, Cnemidophorus gularis
gularis
plains blind snake, Leptotyphlops dulcis dulcise
eastern yellowbelly racer, Coluber constrictor
flaviventris
great plains rat snake, Elaphe guttata emoryi
Texas rat snake, Elaphe obsoleta lindheimerii
eastern hognose snake, Heterodon platirhinos
Texas night snake, Hypsiglena torquata jani
western coachwhip, Masticophis flagellum
testaceus
broad-banded water snake, Nerodia fasciata
confluens
diamondback water snake, Nerodia rhombifera
rhombifera
rough green snake, Opheodrys aestivus
bullsnake, Pituophis catenifer sayi
Taylor's ground snake, Sonora semiannulata
taylori
Texas brown snake, Storeria dekayi
texanaflathead snake, Tantilla gracillis
eastern blackneck garter snake, Thamnophis
cyrtopsis ocellatus
checkered garter snake, Thamnophis marcianus
marcianus
redstripe ribbon snake, Thamnophis proximus
rubrilineatus
Texas garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis
annectens
lined snake, Tropidoclonion lineatum
rough earth snake, Virginia striatula
Texas coral snake, Micrurus fulvius tener
broad-banded copperhead, Agkistrodon
contortrix laticinctus
western cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus
leucostoma
western diamondback rattlesnake, Crotalus
atrox
18

Plants of Laguna GloriaPlants of Laguna Gloria
Aquatic
chaff-flower, Alternanthera caracasana
water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes,*,++
Forb
boneset, Ageratina havanensis
Canada wild onion, Allium canadense var.
canadense
wild garlic, Allium drummondii
elephant ears, Alocasia macrorrhizos,*,++
giant ragweed, Ambrosia trifida
horseherb, Calyptocarpus vialis
shepherd's purse, Capsella bursa-pastoris,*
chile pequin, Capsicum annuum
chervil, Chaerophyllum tainturieri
water hemlock, Cicuta maculata
dayflower, Commelina erecta
rainlilly, Cooperia drummondii
bearded swallowwort, Cynanchum
barbigerum
bedstraw, Galium aparine
wild geranium, Geranium carolinianum
water-pennywort, Hydrocotyle
yellow flag iris, Iris pseudacorus,*,++
water willow, Justicia americana
wild lettuce , Lactuca ludoviciana
lantana, Lantana horrida
smooth pepperweed, Lepidium virginicum
Texas bluebonnet, Lupinus texensis
turk's cap, Malvaviscus arboreus var.
drummondii
least burclover, Medicago minima,*
Roemer's sensitive briar, Mimosa roemeriana
banana, Musa sp.,*
yellow wood sorrel, Oxalis dillenii
Drummond's wood sorrel, Oxalis
drummondii
rock pellitory, Parietaria pensylvanica
marsh fleabane, Pluchea sp.
smartweed, Polygonum sp.
Mexican hat, Ratibida columnifera
pigeonberry, Rivina humilis
wild petunia, Ruellia sp.
silverleaf nightshade, Solanum elaeagnifolium
sow thistle, Sonchus sp.
,chickweed, Stellaria media,*
dandelion, Taraxacum officinale,*
ballmoss, Tillandsia recurvata
sockbane, Torilis arvensis,*
spiderwort, Tradescantia sp.
southern cattail, Typha domingensis
broad-leaf cattail, Typha latifolia
frostweed, Verbesina virginica
plateau goldeneye, Viguiera dentata
common primrose, Vinca minor,*,++
Grass
purple threeawn, Aristida purpurea
giant reed, Arundo donax,*,++
King ranch bluestem, Bothriochloa
ischaemum var. songarica,*
silver bluestem, Bothriochloa laguroides ssp.
torreyana
Japanese brome, Bromus arvensis,*
rescuegrass, Bromus catharticus,*
cedar sedge, Carex planostachys
wood oats, Chasmanthium latifolium
Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon,*
Scribner panicgrass, Dichanthelium
oligosanthes var. scribnerianum
crabgrass, Digitaria sp.,*
Canada wildrye, Elymus canadensis
Virginia Wildrye, Elymus virginicus
inland rush, Juncus interior
Texas wintergrass, Nassella leucotricha
switchgrass, Panicum virgatum
hairyseed paspalum, Paspalum pubiflorum
bamboo, Phyllostachys aurea,*,++
ornamental bamboo, Phyllostachys
nigra,*,++
little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium
three square bulrush, Schoenoplectus
americanus
southwestern bristlegrass, Setaria scheelei
johnsongrass, Sorghum halepense,*,++
St. Augustine grass, Stenotaphrum
secundatum,*
Shrub/ Small Tree
prairie acacia, Acacia angustissima
huisache, Acacia farnesiana
roughleaf dogwood, Cornus drummondii
Texas persimmon, Diospyros texana
oleaster, Eleagnus sp.
loquat, Eriobotrya japonica,*
kidneywood, Eysenhardtia texana
elbow bush, Forestiera pubescens
Carolina buckthorn, Frangula caroliniana
Lindheimer's silktassel, Garrya ovata ssp.
19

Siglo Group
lindheimeri
Gelsemium sempervirens
possum haw , Ilex decidua
yaupon holly, Ilex vomitoria
waxleaf ligustum, Ligustrum
japonicum,*,++
glossy privet, Ligustrum lucidum,*,++
Chinese ligusturm, Ligustrum sinense,*,++
agarita, Mahonia trifoliolata
wax myrtle, Morella cerifera
heavenly bamboo, Nandina domestica,*,++
prickly pear, Opuntia engelmannii
Chinese photinia, Photinia serratifolia,*
pittasporum, Pittosporum sp.,*
cherry laurel, Prunus caroliniana
pomegranite, Punica granatum,*
firethorn, Pyracantha sp.,*,++
evergreen sumac, Rhus virens
rose, Rosa sp. ,*
dwark palmetto, Sabal minor
Texas mountain laurel, Sophora secundiflora
bridal wreath spirea, Spiraea prunifolia,*
eve's necklace, Styphnolobium affine
coralberry, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus
Mexican buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa
chaste tree, Vitex agnus-castus
Tree
boxelder, Acer negundo
pecan, Carya illinoinensis
sugar hackberry, Celtis laevigata var.
laevigata
netleaf hackberry, Celtis laevigata var.
reticulata
redbud, Cercis canadensis
sandpaper tree, Ehretia anacua
green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Texas ash, Fraxinus texensis
Arizona walnut, Juglans major
black walnut, Juglans nigra
Ashe juniper, Juniperus ashei
crapemyrtle, Lagerstroemia indica,*
Chinaberry, Melia azedarach,*,++
mulberry, Morus alba ,*
retama, Parkinsonia aculeata
cottonwood, Populus deltoides
Mexican Plum, Prunus mexicana
escarpment black cherry, Prunus serotina
var. eximia
Spanish oak, Quercus buckleyi
plateau live oak, Quercus fusiformis
shin oak, Quercus sinuata var. breviloba
live oak, Quercus virginiana
Mexican palm, Sabal mexicana,*
black willow, Salix nigra
western soapberry, Sapindus saponaria L.
var. drummondii
gum bumelia, Sideroxylon lanuginosum
bald cypress, Taxodium distichum
Chinese tallow, Triadica sebifera,*,++
American elm, Ulmus americana
cedar elm, Ulmus crassifolia
Vines
peppervine, Ampelopsis arborea
trumpet creeper, Campsis radicans
unidentified leatherflower, Clematis sp.
Carolina snailseed, Cocculus carolinus
English Ivy, Hedera helix,*,++
Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japon-
ica,*,++
catclaw vine, Macfadyena unguis-cati,*,++
green milkweed vine, Matelea reticulata
snapdragon vine, Maurandella
antirrhiniflora
Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia
yellow passionflower, Passiflora affinis
yellow passionflower, Passiflora lutea
dewberry, Rubus trivialis
greenbrier, Smilax bona-nox
eastern Poison Ivy, Toxicodendron radicans
ssp. eximium
eastern Poison Ivy, Toxicodendron radicans
ssp. radicans
Spanish grape, Vitis cinerea var. helleri
mustang grape, Vitis mustangensis
* non-native
++ invasive
20

ZONE B
FLOODPLAIN
FOREST
ZONE B
FLOODPLAIN
FOREST
ZONE A
SLOPING WOODLAND
ZONE A
SLOPING WOODLAND
ZONE C
PATH TO THE
POINT
ZONE C
PATH TO THE
POINT
ZONE D
MEADOW
ZONE D
MEADOW
ZONE B
FLOODPLAIN
FOREST
ZONE B
FLOODPLAIN
FOREST
ZONE A
SLOPING WOODLAND
ZONE A
SLOPING WOODLAND
ZONE C
PATH TO THE
POINT
ZONE C
PATH TO THE
POINT
ZONE D
MEADOW
ZONE D
MEADOW
Management
Areas
Management
Areas
Laguna Gloria
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Mayfield Park &
Preserve
Driscoll
Villa
Driscoll
Villa Art
School
Art
School
LakeAustin
Scenic Dr
Scenic Dr
W 35th St
W 35th St
LakeAustin
Management
Areas
Management
Areas
Sources: Field Observation
00 250’
Zone A: Sloping Woodland
Zone B: Floodplain Forest
Zone C: Path to the Point
Zone D: Floodplain Forest
21

Siglo Group
Natural Areas
Management Guidelines
When Clara Driscoll donated her property
to become a museum for the people of
Austin, in addition to the historic buildings
and gardens, she also donated the beautiful
natural areas that surround them. AMOA-
Arthouse is the steward of this rich natural
heritage. The guidelines given below,
grounded in ecological restoration princi-
ples, recommend management techniques
that will further support ecological processes
on the site, increase the native vegetation,
reduce invasive species, improve bird and
wildlife habitat, and enhance the visitor's
experience. In addition to these many
stewardship issues, this section also discusses
the need for ongoing staff, capital, profes-
sional, and community resources to main-
tainthenaturalareas.
As described in the Ecology section, Laguna
Gloria has incredible ecological value, with
numerous habitat types that result in a
diversity of flora and fauna. This diversity is
threatened by substantial invasive species as
well as informal off-trail hiking. This
section breaks the property into zones and
recommends management practices for each
area, providing a five year restoration and
maintenance schedule and looking at
potentialcosts.
It is important to remember that natural
areas are not static communities. They are
ever changing and will respond differently at
different times to the same treatment. For
that reason, all information here should be
looked at through an adaptive management
lens—if a technique is not working, first
adjust it to see if it can be made more
effective, and then try something different if
it is still not working. The recommenda-
tions here are based on established best
practices, but each site is unique. Adaptive
management is an iterative process, which
allows the land manager to learn about the
particular site over time, and to be aware of
changes as they happen, adjusting his or her
methodsaccordingly.
BALANCING NATURAL RESOURCE
OBJECTIVESWITHVISITORNEEDS
It is important to balance the desire for a
healthy ecosystem with the needs of the site's
principal users and AMOA-Arthouse's
missiontostimulateappreciationforart.
It may be desirable to not remove all the
invasive plants at once as the control work
will be highly disruptive. The trampling
and cutting required may not be aestheti-
cally pleasing to hikers who are seeking a
natural experience. In areas with a high
density of invasive plants, removing them all
may simplify the vegetation structure,
potentially resulting in a temporary loss of
bird diversity until native shrubs grow in to
provide habitat (Wiens and Rotenberry
1981). In addition, the existing vegetation
serves to segment the site into different
areas, each with its own character. For
example, a visitor can walk down the Path to
the Point, through the Meadow, and into the
Floodplain Forest and have unique experi-
ences in each, partly because the vegetative
barriers between them have remained intact.
Removing all the invasive species from some
of these areas would reduce AMOA-
Arthouse's ability to create a robust experi-
ence throughout the site. To insure that
there is not too great an impact to the visitor
experience, and to allow for focused atten-
tion on specific areas, the schedule recom-
mended here staggers work over multiple
years.
OFF-TRAILRECREATION
Off-trail hiking is occurring throughout the
property, but is most prevalent in the
Floodplain Forest. While other areas have
formal trails of crushed granite, concrete,
asphalt, or mown footpaths, the Floodplain
Forest trails are narrow, soft-surfaced
footpaths. Many appear to have been
created through repeated foot traffic rather
than from an intentional trail design.
Where obstacles are currently present or
22

have occurred in the past, side trails have
been created—this can be seen around the
two-trunked bald cypress in the Floodplain
Forest. Even informal trails can impact their
surroundings through disturbance of
vegetation and soil compaction. These
primary disturbances may lead to other
issues including erosion, a decrease in native
species and an increase in exotics. A note of
caution, the potential for new informal trails
mayrisewiththecommencementofinvasive
control, restoration activities, and increased
visitorship. The disturbance associated with
management may make the current trails
difficult to find and lead to the establish-
ment of new one. For the purposes of land
management as well as the enhancement of
the visitor experience, as discussed later in
this report, it is important to formalize trails
throughout the site, particularly in the
FloodplainForest.
INVASIVEPLANTS
Invasive plants are the primary threat to the
natural areas of Laguna Gloria. In order to
restore the landscape and prevent further
damage, invasive plants will need to be
removed and replaced with native plant
communities. The official definition of an
invasive plant is one that did not evolve
within the native ecosystem, and whose
presence is likely to cause economic and/or
ecological harm. Their aggressive growth
and spread may cause them to crowd out and
replace native plants, or may lead to a
disruption of natural processes. The impact
of invasive species can be very dramatic, and
alien species rank second only to direct
habitat destruction as the principal threat to
rare species, with 49% of imperiled species
being negatively impacted (Wilcove 1998).
Some of the ways that invasive plants
threatennativecommunitiesinclude:
Alteringsoilorwaterchemistry;§
Altering natural processes such as fire§
andflooding;
Direct displacement through competi-§
tion(“crowdingout”ofnativeplants);
Changing the amount of light in or§
belowthecanopyorsub-canopy.
Invasive plants also impact native animals
and insects. Invasive plants tend to crowd
out natives, which many birds and other
wildlife rely on for protection and food. A
2006 study in Austin found that sites with
intact native plant communities had higher
species richness and abundance than sites
that were dominated by non-natives
(Kalmbach2006).
There are sixteen invasive plant species
found at Laguna Gloria that are negatively
impacting the property. The table above
Species Common name COA rank AMOA rank Impacts
Arundo donax Giant reed High Moderate 1,5
Colocasia esculenta Elephant ears Moderate Low 1
Cynodon dactylon Bermuda grass Moderate Low 1, 4
Eichhornia crassipes Common water hyacinth High Low 1, 6
Hedera helix English ivy not listed Moderate 1, 7
Iris pseudacorus Yellow flag iris not listed Low 1
Ligustrum lucidum Glossy privet High High 1
Lonicera japonica Japanese honeysuckle Moderate High 1, 3, 7, 8
Macfadyena unguis-cati Catclaw vine Moderate High 1
Melia azedarach Chinaberry tree High Moderate 1, 2
Nandina domestica Heavenly bamboo Moderate Moderate 1
Phyllostachys aurea Golden bamboo High Moderate 1
Pyracantha cocciniea Scarlet firethorn Moderate Low 1
Sorghum halapense Johnson grass High Low 1
Triadica sebifera Chinese tallow Moderate High 1,2
Vinca minor Common periwinkle not listed Low 1
Impacts: 1) Crowds out native plants, forms monocultures; 2) Alters soil chemistry, changing system; 3) Can girdle
overstory trees by wrapping tightly around the trunks; 4) Alleopatic - releases toxins that inhibit growth of nearby
plants; 5) May use large volume of water relative to native plants, reducing downstream flow in riparian areas; 6)
Reduces dissolved oxygen and light levels in aquatic environments; 7) Grows on other plants and weight may cause
stemdamage;8)Aggressiverootgrowthcompeteswithnativeplants,slowsgrowthofoverstorytrees.
Invasive Species of Laguna Gloria
23

Siglo Group
lists each species and shows whether it is
considered a Low, Moderate or High level
threat by the City of Austin, as described in
their Invasive Species Management Plan. In
the next column, “AMOA rank," each
species was rated according to how great a
threat it is at Laguna Gloria specifically,
basedonfieldobservationsatthesite.
The invasive plant species that have the
greatest potential to negatively impact
Laguna Gloria are ligustrum, Japanese
honeysuckle, catclaw vine, and Chinese
tallow.
INVASIVEPLANT
CONTROLMETHODS
Invasive plant control will consist of a mix of
mechanical and chemical methods. In some
cases, such as in the Floodplain Forest and
much of the Sloping Woodland, removal
may be all that is required. This relatively
passive approach to restoration is less likely
to work in areas where invasive plants
dominate. Removal may need to be coupled
with seeding and in some cases native
plantings. Finally, a monitoring protocol is
recommended to ensure that improvements
in the natural area do not deteriorate over
time.
MechanicalControl
Mechanical control is any method that
directly removes the invasive plant without
the use of chemicals. Examples includehand
pulling, pulling with weed wrenches or
other devices that provide leverage, and
repeated mowing that does not allow a plant
togotoseedorreproduce.
While mechanical control is often preferred
in order to reduce the amount of herbicide
placed on a property, it also has significant
drawbacks. Mechanical control methods
usuallyresultingreater soildisturbance than
chemical controls, thereby increasing the
chance of erosion and/or re-invasion. When
mechanical control methods are recom-
mended, care should be taken to minimize
soil disturbance. In some areas, erosion
control measures will be necessary to slow
down storm runoff, and/or to reduce the
amountofexposedsoil.
ChemicalControls
Chemical controls (herbicide) are recom-
mended for most of the invasive species
discussed below. Please note that all herbi-
cide application must be conducted under
the supervision of a licensed herbicide
applicator and must follow the EPA's
Worker Protection Standards. Applicators
should also follow the herbicide label
directions and maintain pesticide use
records.
ApplicationMethods:
Foliar spray: the spraying of an herbicide
solution on the leaves of plants. Because of
the potential for non-target kill through
overspray, this method will be recommended
primarily in dense monocultures where
other methods are uneffective, with arundo
orcatclawvine.
Wick applications: wiping a highly concen-
trated herbicide solution onto the leaves.
Generally not as effective as a foliar spray,
but reduces the danger of overspray and
non-target kill. Recommended only in areas
where highly desirable plants would be
negativelyaffectedbyafoliarspray.
Cut stump: the cutting of a woody plant and
applying an herbicide solution to its stump.
This targeted approach is highly effective,
but often requires considerable labor if the
cut portion of the plant must be removed
fromthesiteorchipped.
Basal bark: the spraying of an herbicide/oil
solution on the lower portions of a tree's or
shrub's bark. This method may not be
Evaluation of the Floodplain Forest for bird
habitatandinvasivespecies.
24

preserves with similar vegetation types,
such as Wild Basin Preserve and the
BalconesCanyonlandsPreserve.
Special consideration was given to species
that are commercially available, but even the
ones that are not can still be considered for
planting. AMOA-Arthouse can reach out to
local chapters of the Native Plant Society of
Texas, many of whose members are willing to
grow small amounts of unusual plants. Also,
commercial growers can often be contracted
togrowplantsforspecificcustomers.
Species not recommended in this section do
not need to be ruled out if offered by volun-
teers, but it is best if the plant is native to this
areaofTexas.
When live planting is necessary, it should
take place in the fall to early winter, prefera-
bly between late October and late January so
that saplings have an opportunity to become
established before the heat of summer. For
lakeside plantings where water is not a
constraint, timing is less important, and
planting dates will need to be opportunistic
to take advantage of Lake Austin draw-
downs. A mix of fast and slow growing trees
is preferred, even if some species are consid-
ered less desirable, in order to promote
diversity and to quickly provide shade for
visitors and reduce the potential of invasive
re-establishment.
Sowing of native grass and wildflower seeds
should take place between late October and
early March. In general, cool season grasses
effective for large trees with thick bark, and
should not be used on the water's edge where
the oil (which serves to penetrate the bark)
may be harmful to amphibians or fish eggs.
This method results in a standing dead tree
or shrub, which may be beneficial to many
forms of wildlife, and does not require the
labor of plant disposal, but is unsafe if near a
trail or area with human use. Basal bark
applications are more effective in late
summer and fall. In the spring, large
amounts of water moves up the stem to
support leaf flush, flowering, and fruit
production, making it more difficult for the
chemicaltoreachtheroots.
Basal frill or “hack and squirt”: cutting into
the bark of a tree, usually along the entire
circumference, and applying an herbicide
solution. This has similar pros and cons to
basal bark method, but is safer in wet areas
sinceanoilsurfactantisnotusuallyrequired.
Integrating Mechanical and Chemical
Controls
Recommended control strategies for each
species are shown in the table on pages 26
through 30. For many of the species, a
combination of mechanical and chemical
control measures will be necessary, and
control methods will vary based on site
conditions and the time of year in which the
opportunityforcontrolarises.
NATIVEPLANTINGS
In some areas, removal of invasive plant
species will likely result in regeneration of
native species, but in other areas a mixture of
live plantings (container grown plants) and
seed sowing is recommended. Many
ecological restoration projects require that
plant materials come from local sources,
often within an adjacent county. Laguna
Gloria's natural areas have been manipu-
lated for decades, and so this plan does not
require local genotypes. It is likely that
seeds procured within the state of Texas,
however, will perform better than seeds from
out of state, as the parent material will be
better adapted to the local climate. The
plants recommended in this section were
chosen for one or more of the following
reasons:
They are listed in the Texas Parks and§
Wildlife Department's descriptions of
the vegetation types found on the
property;
They are found at Mayfield Preserve,§
which serves as a reference site for this
project;
They are found on other nearby§
Dense bamboo just beyond the bridge railing blocks
viewsofthewaterandhillsidebelow.
25

Siglo Group
Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon, High Priority in Zone D, Low Priority in other areas
Foliarspray Foliar spray with glyphosate solution during growing season months. It will
not be effective if applied during drought conditions. Repeated application
willbenecessary.
Zone D (Meadow)
April-June/ Sep-Oct
Low
No
High
Where Appropriate:
Optimal Time of Year:
Effectiveness:
Applicator Required:
Labor Intensity:
Combination of cutting
andfoliarspray
Step 1: In areas where English ivy is climbing into a tree, cut at ground level.
Allow the top to die; do not attempt to pull it from the tree or shrub. English
ivy latches onto plants and bark so damage may result from pulling it off.
Step 2: Where English ivy is growing as a groundcover, use foliar spray with
triclopyr and a surfactant that is specifically designed to break down the waxy
coating of the leaf surface. Avoid contact with both the bark and foliage of
desirable vegetation. Dead surface stems will act to hold soil, and should not
beremovedexceptforaestheticreasonsinselectareas.
AllAreas
Winter– It’s Evergreen
Moderate to High
Yes
Moderate
Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
English Ivy, Hedera helix, High Prioirity in Zone A; Moderate Zone B and C, Low in Zone D
Yellow flag iris, Iris pseudacorus, Low Prioirity
Mechanicalremoval Control of these waterside species should wait until one of the periodic
drawdowns of Lake Austin. Attempting to remove them when the lake is full
may create significant soil compaction and disturbance. The rhizomes of these
plants need to be carefully dug from the ground and disposed of. Leaving even
a small fragment may result in them re-rooting. Plant replacement species
immediately. Because it is difficult to remove all of the underground rhizomes,
it is important to introduce native competition while the plant is weakened.
Some people are sensitive to the plant's juices, so long sleeves and pants are
preferred.
Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
Shoreline
Low Lake Levels
Low
No
High (Planting)
Glossy privet, Ligustrum lucidum, High Prioirity
Mechanical removal with
weedwrench
Remove plants that are 2 inches or less in basal diameter using weed wrenches
or other mechanical devices. This is a highly effective method for this plant.
Hand pulling of new seedlings is required in multiple years until the seed bed is
diminished and other plants can fill the niches. Provide for erosion control if
workinginZonesAorC.
Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
All Areas
Any
Yes
No
High
For plants greater than 2 inches in diameter, cut down the tree and use a cut-
stump herbicide application containing triclopyr. Provide for erosion control if
inZonesAorC.
CuttingandPainting Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
All Areas
Fall
Yes
Yes
High
Invasive Species Control Guide
26

Foliarspray,Imazamox
Giant reed, Arundo donax, Moderate Priority
Step 1: Foliar spray with Imazamox solution no earlier than mid-June. Step 2:
If arundo is not mixed with desirable vegetation, then spray it with an
Imazamox and glyphosate solution. Step 3: Wait until the stems have
completely died before cutting and removing the vegetation, which may be
severalweeks. Step4: Repeat asnecessary. Note:donotcutarundo foratleast
ayearpriortousingthismethod,oreffectivenesswillbegreatlyreduced.
All Areas
Summer
Moderate
Yes
Low to Moderate
Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
Frequentmowing Frequent mowing may eventually cause roots to lose enough reserves that
nearby Bermuda grass and other turf plants are able to take over the area. The
first mowing should take place when the giant reed is in flower so that as much
of its energy reserve is aboveground as possible. The area must be mown at
least several times a month, because arundo grows very aggressively. The area
ontheshorelinewilllikelybetoomuddyandsofttousethismethod.
Areas to Turf
Growing Season
Low
No
Moderate
Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
Digging and root
removal
Step 1: Cut and remove tops of plants. Step 2: Dig and remove as much of the
roots as possible. Even the smallest stolon left in the ground may take root and
grow. Step 3: Wait for new sprouts to show and dig a second time. Digging
will cause massive soil disturbance and open the area to erosion. Step 4: Install
restorationplantingsassoonaspossible.
Immediate Need
Any
Low
No
High
Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
Wick or drip chemical
application
Step 1: Using a wick applicator, wipe a glyphosate-based herbicide mixed with
surfactant that aids herbicide penetration of leaves. This will allow for
application on the giant cane without any herbicide touching the restoration
plantings. OR, cut individual stems and squirt a glyphosate solution into the
stem cavity. If near a shoreline, the product should be labeled for use in
wetlandoraquaticenvironments.
After Digging/Mowing
Summer
Uncertain
Yes
High
Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
Elephant ears, Low PriorityColocasia esculenta,
Mechanicalremoval Control of these waterside species should wait until one of the periodic
drawdowns of Lake Austin. Attempting to remove them when the lake is full
may create significant soil compaction and disturbance. The tubers of these
plants need to be carefully dug from the ground and disposed of. Leaving even
a small fragment may result in them re-rooting. Plant replacement species
immediately. Because it is difficult to remove all of the underground tubers, it
isimportanttointroducenativecompetitionwhiletheplantisweakened.
Shoreline
Low Lake Levels
Low
No
High
Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
Foliarspray During growing season months, spray foliage with an aquatic approved
glyphosate solution. Repeat several times throughout growing season as the
herbicide label dictates. Plant replacement species in late fall. Planting is
essentialtopreventshorelineerosionduetowaveaction.
Shoreline
April to October
Low
Yes
High (Planting)
Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
Invasive Species Control Methods (continued)
27

Siglo Group
Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica, High Priority in Zone B; Moderate to Low elsewhere
Step 1: Cut Japanese honeysuckle that is growing into trees at head height.
Step 2: Spray with glyphosate solution. Take care to avoid herbicide contact or
driftontodesirablevegetation.
Foliarspray Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
When Monoculute
Late Fall to Winter
High
Yes
Low to Moderate
Cut Japanese honeysuckle at ground level, and remove aboveground biomass
from the site. Where the vine is tangled in overstory trees and cannot be pulled
down without damaging native tree branches, cut it at head height and allow
the vine in the upper branches to desiccate and fall. Step 2: Allow Japanese
honeysuckle to re-sprout from roots. Step 3: When it is 2 feet in
height/spread, use foliar spray with herbicide solution that contains
glyphosate.
Cutting followed by foliar
spray
Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
Non-monoculture
Cut Spring/Spray Winter
Moderate
Yes
Moderate
Step 1: Where catclaw is tangled in overstory trees and cannot be pulled down
without damaging native tree branches, cut it at head height and allow the vine
in the upper branches to desiccate and fall on its own. Step 2: Use a foliar spray
withanherbicidesolutionthatcontainsglyphosateandtriclopyr.
Combination of cutting
andfoliarspray
Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
When Monoculture
Non-Drought
Unclear
Yes
Moderate
Catclaw vine, Macfadyena unguis-cati, High Priority
Step1:Cutcatclawatgroundlevel,andremovetheabovegroundbiomassfrom
the site. Step 2: Where catclaw is tangled in overstory trees and cannot be
pulled down without damaging native tree branches, cut it at head height and
allow the vine in the upper branches to desiccate and fall on its own. Step 3:
Allow catclaw to re-sprout from underground tubers. When it reaches 2 feet in
height/spread, use foliar spray with an herbicide solution that contains
glyphosateandtriclopyr.
Cutting followed by foliar
spray
Non-Monoculture
Non-Drought
Unclear
Yes
Moderate to High
Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
Cut tree down, providing for safety first. Paint the top of the stump with a
triclopyr-basedsolutionimmediately,takingcaretocoveredges.
Cutstump Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
All Areas
Fall Preferrable
Moderate
Yes
Moderate
Chinaberry tree, Melia azedarach, Moderate Priority
Spraythebaseofthetreewithatriclopyrandoilsolution.Basalspray Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
No Trail Danger
Small Fall Preference
Moderate
Yes
Low
28

Cut tree down, providing for safety first. Paint the top of the stump with a
triclopyr-basedsolutionimmediately,takingcaretocoveredges.
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
All Areas
Fall Preferrable
Moderate
Yes
Moderate
Chinaberry tree, Melia azedarach, Moderate Priority
Spraythebaseofthetreewithatriclopyrandoilsolution.Basalspray Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
No Trail Danger
Moderate
Yes
Low
Nandina domestica, Heavenly bamboo, Moderate Priority
Step 1: Foliar spray with a solution containing both glyphosate and triclopyr.
Step 2: Once completely brown, cut and remove the vegetation. This is an
aestheticconsiderationratherandanecologicalone.
Effectiveness:
Lack of Labor
Growing Season
Moderate
Yes
Step 1: Cut all the stems of the shrub clump. Step 2: Drip or paint a triclopyr
solution OR a glyphosate solution on the cut stump. Step 3: Remove cut
stems.
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
With Abundant Labor
Moderate
Yes
Moderate
Golden bamboo, Phyllostachys aurea, Moderate in Zones A and C. Low in Zones B and D
Step 1: Cut bamboo near ground level and remove the biomass. Step 2: Allow
bamboo to sprout from its base and reach a height of approximately 2-3 feet.
Step 3: Apply a foliar spray of glyphosate. Step 4: Allow bamboo to become
completelybrownbeforeremovingthedeadfoliage.
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
All Areas
Cut Winter/Spray Late
Spring or Early Fall
Moderate
Yes
Moderate
Pyracantha coccinea, Scarlet firethorn, Low Priority
Pullbyhandorwithweedwrench. Onlyafewsites.Mechanicalremoval Where Appropriate:
Optimal Time of year:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
All Areas
Anytime
High
No
Low
Invasive Species Control Methods (continued)
29

Siglo Group
In areas with desirable groundcover underneath Johnsongrass, apply
glyphosate based herbicide with a wick applicator. This method tends to
actuallyusemoreherbicideproduct,butavoidsnon-targetkill.
Wickapplication Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
Anytime
Spring or Fall
Moderate
Yes
Moderate
Use a basal bark herbicide application using a triclopyr based herbicide or
Imazamox (Clearcast) mixed with mineral oil (not diesel). The standing dead
snag will be excellent habitat for many insects and birds. Preferred when tree
heightisshorterthanthe distancetothenearesttrail.
Basalbark Where Appropriate:
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
Away from Trails
Slight Fall Preference
High
Yes
Low
Step 1: Cut stem. Step 2: Paint entire cut of the stump with a triclopyr based
solutionorClearcast.
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
Near Trails
Slight Fall Preference
High
Yes
Moderate
Chinese tallow, Triadica sebifera, High Priority in Zone B, Moderate in Zone D, Low in other Zones
Foliar spray of Imazamox solution. This herbicide is very specific to Chinese
tallow and should not harm bald cypress, green ash, hackberry or American
elm if some of the chemical should drift onto their leaves. Be patient. It may
takeseveralmonthsforChinesetallowtoshowdamage.
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
Trees under 10’
Growing Season
High
Yes
Low
Foliar spray on small patches growing in Zone A and Zone B. Spray at the same
time that English ivy is being treated (it requires the same surfactant that
Englishivyrequires). Notenoughof athreatonitsown.
Optimal time of year:
Effectiveness:
Applicator required:
Labor Intensity:
Any
Any
Low
Yes
Low
Common periwinkle, Vinca minor, Low Priority
Foliar spray with glyphosate based herbicide prior to adding plants into the
wildflowermeadow.
Effectiveness:
Labor Intensity:
Anytime
Spring or Fall
High
Yes
Low
Johnson grass, Sorghum halapense, Moderate Priority in Zone D, Low all other Zones
30

and spring wildflowers will do better if sown
in the fall, while warm season grasses and fall
wildflowers may be planted in late winter.
Planting rates are usually measured in
pounds per acre, and this may be appropriate
for the wildflower meadow, but in general a
more creative approach is necessary at
Laguna Gloria. Pockets of bare ground will
be apparent upon the removal of invasive
vines and groundcover, and areas between a
few square feet and thousands of square feet
willneedtobehand-seeded.
Achieving good seed-to-soil contact is the
most important aspect of seed planting. In
general, it is recommended that an area be
lightly raked, hand-seeded, and then lightly
raked a second time. However, if volunteer
groups offer to provide seed balls or other
more labor intensive planting methods, they
shouldnotbedissuaded.
POISONIVY
Poison ivy is common throughout the
property and is abundant in the Floodplain
Forest. While it is not acceptable in areas
with high amounts of human use such as
trail edges and should be cut back or
removed in these locations, Laguna Gloria
should avoid large scale eradication. Poison
ivy is common in riparian areas and
floodplains throughout eastern and central
Texas, and removing it will open areas to
non-nativeplants.
Poison ivy benefits the site in many ways. It
is a beautiful native plant with bright red
foliage in fall. The berries are a good food
source for birds, and it provides erosion
control when it grows as a groundcover. It is
also the primary competition on the site for
Japanese honeysuckle and catclaw vine. Its
removalwouldbenefittheseinvasivevines.
If possible, simply cut the vine aggressively
away from the trail and avoid using herbi-
cides, which may kill the whole plant. If
necessary, a glyphosate foliar spray will
usuallybeeffectivefortemporarycontrol.
All workers need to know how to identify
the plant, wear long sleeves and pants, wash
with Technu or another poison ivy removing
soap directly upon finishing work, and wash
clothing separately if acutely sensitive.
These precautions are especially important
whenworkingintheFloodplainForest.
ZONALAPPROACH
The natural areas at Laguna Gloria have
been divided into four zones to help priori-
tize and guide land management. This
approach recognizes the differences between
the zones in regards to natural communities,
restoration plantings, site use, user needs,
and invasive plant density. Initially, control
and restoration efforts could focus on highly
visible areas in order to engage the public,
build support for the project and recruit
volunteers. Next, areas with high ecological
integrity or unusual ecological systems
should be worked on to prevent their further
degradation.
Both the prioritizations and the schedules
listed at the end of the chapter should be
viewed as flexible. The important thing to
remember is that each of these zones has its
own attributes that will determine the
approach taken. This plan calls for a portion
of at least one zone to be addressed each year,
but if financial capacity is higher, multiple
zones can be tackled in one year. A zonal
approach, however, should prevent staff
from overextending themselves by provid-
ing a way to strategically focus efforts and
resources. Restoration is not an event, but
Aquatic invasive plants in the lagoon area in
Zone A. Above: elephant ear. Below: yellow flag
iris.
31

Siglo Group
ExamplesignfromMayfieldParkinformingvisitorsoftherestorationworkbeingdone.
anongoingprocess.
ZONEA:SLOPINGWOODLAND
Zone A is the area that is primarily dry-mesic
slope woodland between the developed area
and the shoreline in the eastern section of
LagunaGloria.
Zone A is a highly visible area, moving from
the formal historic area to the naturalistic
Path to the Point and lower terrace.
Depending on the final design, this area may
have more formal native plantings that
transition into the more natural portions of
the property. As invasive species control
begins, it will be important to consider
erosion prevention on the steep slopes,
including temporary erosion mats or long
term stabilization. Because this area is
highly visible, could have erosion issues, and
has a substantial amount of invasive species,
it will likely be appropriate if not necessary
to use native plantings in Zone A rather than
relying on native regeneration or seeding.
This may also result in the need for tempo-
raryirrigationinsomeareas.
InvasivePlantManagement
The main invasive threats in this zone are
ligustrum and catclaw vine, with the
heaviest infestation being near the amphi-
theater. Additional invasive species on the
slopes include English ivy, bamboo, and
chinaberry. Along the shore, elephant ears,
yellow iris and water hyacinth are all
present.
Removal work in this zone should be
accompanied with signs, whether perma-
nent or temporary, explaining the work that
is being done and listing contact information
so that the public knows how they may
become further involved. An example of
such a sign from the City of Austin is shown
above.
Invasive control work should begin to the
west of the amphitheater. Catclaw vine
control will be the number one priority
followed by English ivy and ligustrum.
Bamboo, nandina, and other invasive species
are having less of an impact currently, but
should be controlled as well. Control work
along the shores of the lagoon should be
attempted last as both elephant ears and
yellow flag iris are difficult to control and
successwillbelesslikely.
CutMaterialandPreventionofErosion
Zone A is relatively close to the museum
parking lot. Material should be hauled and
stacked in this area. Woody material such as
ligustrum should be chipped on site,
preferably into a rented dumpster or into a
pickup truck so it can be hauled to Zone D.
Vines and bamboo may be thrown directly
32

Laguna Gloria: Site Assessment and Natural Areas Management Guidelines33
intothedumpster.
ErosioncontrolisessentialinZoneA:
Option 1: On steep slopes where extensive
ligustrum and other woody species removal
is necessary, dead branches should be stacked
along contour lines to slow storm runoff and
reduce erosion. Branches should be 2 feet in
length or longer and all berries and seeds
should be removed. The mounds of
branches do not need to be more than a foot
in height, but it is essential that they be
compactedontotheground.
Option 2: Use a natural fiber erosion control
blanket that is rolled along the contours of
the land and stapled to the ground with
metal staples. These must be accompanied
with restoration plantings. The fibers
decompose over time, so it is essential that a
robust herbaceous cover is established before
thisoccurs.
RestorationPlantingsandSeeding
Zone A may require more intense restora-
tion plantings than any other zone due to
aesthetic concerns and its adjacency to the
historic site, as well as the need to reduce the
probability of erosion on the steep slopes.
Plantings are made more feasible in this area
bythecloseproximitytoirrigationwater.
Restoration plantings should be a mix of live
plantings and seed dispersal. Planting will
be more necessary where large areas have
been cleared of invasive species. Where
plantings occur, a drip irrigation system is
recommended. Grass and wildflower seed
planting is necessary between the planted
trees and shrubs in the Sloping Woodland
and in areas where catclaw and English ivy
removalhastakenplace.
Live planting is also recommended along the
edge of Lake Austin where elephant ears and
yellow flag iris have been removed, although
this planting should consist of large herba-
ceousspeciesandshrubsratherthantrees.
The windrows of plant materials in the
Sloping Woodland should slow rain runoff
enough to prevent seeds from being washed
away. However, if this assumption proves to
be false, Laguna Gloria can consider using
erosion control blankets. The seeds get
placed upon the bare dirt and are then
covered with an erosion blanket that is
stapled to the earth with metal brackets.
Holes may be cut into the blanket to allow
for the planting of live trees and saplings.
Some erosion blankets are sold with seeds
already enmeshed in them, but these should
not be used, as the seeds are generally non-
nativeandsomeareinvasive.
AchievingBalance
Laguna Gloria should consider not removing
some of the larger ligustrum trees to the east
of the amphitheater for several years. They
dominate the over-story and their removal
would denude the area of shade trees. While
conventional wisdom says that the removal
of large seed-producing invasive plants is a
top priority, their removal may drastically
reduce the area's enjoyment by the public.
Instead, the ligustrum should be thinned so
that more light reaches the ground, and
native trees should be planted in the newly
Sloping Woodlands south of the Driscoll Villa, overlooking the lagoon, with substantial catclaw invasion
thathasbeenpartiallycutbackfromthetrees. Thisisalsothesiteofvegetationplot3.

Siglo Group 34
created openings. Once the natives reach a
height of 10 to 15 feet, then the larger
ligustrumcanberemoved.
RecommendedSpecies-LivePlantingsinUplands:
Trees: The following trees will eventually
grow to provide some shade and can be
planted in either sun or shade. Live oak and
Spanish oak are the most natural choices as
they are already abundant on the site, but
they are susceptible to oak wilt. It is impor-
tant to increase the number of trees that are
notsusceptibletooakwilt,suchas:
shinoak,Quercussinuatavar.breviloba
Texasash,Fraxinustexensis
cedarelm,Ulmuscrassifolia
escarpment black cherry, Prunus serotina var.
eximia
hackberry,Celtislaevigata
Shrubstosmalltrees:
elbowbush,Forestierapubescens
Lindheimer's silktassel, Garrya ovata ssp.
Lindheimeri,
Carolinabuckthorn,Frangulacaroliniana
evergreensumac,Rhusvirens
aromaticsumac,Rhusaromatic
Mexicanplum,Prunusmexicana
Texasredbud,Cerciscanadensis
Eve'snecklace,Styphnolobiumaffine
Mexicanbuckeye,Ungnadiaspeciosa
Texaspersimmon,Diospyrostexana
rusty blackhaw viburnum, Viburnum
rufidulum
waferash,Pteleatrifoliata
Most of the grasses should be planted by
seed, especially if an erosion control mat is
used. However, interspersing a few live
plantswillhastentheirestablishment.
Grassesinsun:
littlebluestem,Schizachyriumscoparium
greensprangletop,Leptochloadubia
sideoatsgrama,Boutelouacurtipendula
tallgrama,Boutelouahirsuta var.pectinata
Lindheimer's muhly, Muhlenbergia
lindheimeri
Grassesintheshade:
Canadawildrye,Elymuscanadensis
Virginiawildrye,Elymusvirginicus
woodoats,Chasmanthiumlatifolium
ZONEB:FLOODPLAINFOREST
Zone B contains the Floodplain Forest in the
western part of the peninsula. It is bounded
by Lake Austin to the west and the road and
Meadowareatotheeast.
Zone B is a complex forest environment with
bald cypress, ash, willow and cottonwood,
which has been heavily invaded by Chinese
tallow and Japanese honeysuckle. This area
should be managed in a manner that has the
lightest touch possible, while still allowing
for a robust visitor experience. Invasive
control in this Zone is daunting, but possi-
ble, and native trees will be planted to speed
the replacement of the Chinese tallow.
Finally, the informal trail should be formal-
ized and informal spur trails decommis-
sioned.
The Floodplain Forest in this area has
tremendous woody plant diversity in spite of
the high number of invasive plant species.
Large river floodplain forest examples are
rare in the Austin area where the shores of
Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin are highly
developed. Maintaining and improving this
community is a high priority, even though
invasiveplantcontrolwilllikelybedifficult.
InvasiveSpeciesManagement
Invasive plant species that are highly
problematic in this zone include: Chinese
tallow, Japanese honeysuckle, catclaw vine,
Two bald cypresses in the Floodplain Forest with
youngChinesetallowandpalmettos.

and ligustrum. English ivy and giant reed
are also present in this area or around its
border. The removal of Chinese tallow
should be the highest priority, since research
suggests that its presence has the ability to
alter soil chemistry. The invasive vines are
thenexthighestpriority.
Not all the invasive plants should be
removed at once due to both ecological and
aesthetic concerns. From an aesthetic
perspective, opening up too much of the
Floodplain Forest to the Meadow (Zone D)
would affect the intimate experience
currently found in the Floodplain Forest.
This would also happen if too much vegeta-
tion was removed internally from the
forested area. Chinese tallow’s abundance in
Zone B means that total removal would
result in substantially more sun reaching the
forest floor. That could cause an explosion of
growth in the shrub and herbaceous layer,
which is predominantly made up of
invasives. It is essential that removal of
individual Chinese tallow trees be accompa-
nied with control of Japanese honeysuckle,
arundo, and any other invasive plants
underneath the cleared tallow. Because of
the intensity of the invasive species control
needed, it is recommended that initial
controls be limited to 1 acre of the 2.5 acre
zone, and that the results be assessed before
control work continues. The initial area
shouldincludevegetationplot2.
Control work may initially make the area
appear to be in worse condition, and special
accommodations for visitors may be helpful.
The site will be trampled during the invasive
plant removal, but it should grow back
quickly. Unless a formal trail has been
established, AMOA-Arthouse may want to
close down portions of the forest trail during
portions of the control work to reduce
furtherinformaltrailcreation.
DisposalofCutMaterial
Cut vegetation in Zone B may be left on the
ground to rot, used to block unwanted trails,
or chipped on site. Downed woody debris is
common in a healthy, functioning forest. It
provides excellent habitat for insects,
reptiles, and soil fungus. Large stems,
roughly greater than 6 inches in diameter,
can be left where they have fallen when they
are not blocking the main trail. Some stems
may be stacked to block access along
informal trails that staff would like to
decommission. Smaller stems and vines can
be hauled away for disposal and, in the case
of stems, chipping. Chipped material can be
used to create a more formalized trail with
the understanding that it will wash away
withfuturerains.
RestorationPlanting
Zone B's woody plant assemblage is rich, so
restoration plantings will focus not on
increasing diversity, but on increasing
abundance and replacing the Chinese
tallows as quickly as possible. Increasing the
herbaceous cover and the number of native
trees per acre will help prevent the return of
invasive plants by shading the soil and
providing competition. While it is possible
that numerous native tree species will
establish themselves without live planting,
because of the intensity of the invasive
problem in this area, Chinese tallow’s known
ability to rapidly colonize an area, and the
effort required to remove invasives, it is
recommended that live plantings be used as
soon as possible after invasives have been
removed.
It is recommended that restoration plantings
be done without the aid of irrigation. The
installation of an irrigation system would
create a large disturbance and possibly cause
more harm than benefit. Instead, tree and
shrub plantings will be denser due to the
expectationofhighertreemortality.
The USDA's Natural Resources Conserva-
tion Service recommends a tree density of
Informal path through the Floodplain Forest in
ZoneB.
35

Siglo Group
200 stems per acre when restoring riparian
woodlands, and this tree density is also
required by the Army Corps of Engineers for
the restoration of bottomland hardwood
forests in wetland mitigation banks. Based
on vegetation plot data from Laguna Gloria,
the Floodplain Forest currently has a density
of 70 large (>5” dbh) native trees per acre.
Allowing for a 20 foot buffer with Zone D
where control work will not be undertaken
in order to leave a screen of plants to block
the road's view, this leaves approximately 2.5
acres to be planted at some point, requiring a
totalof325trees.
Trees can be contract-grown in tree tubes,
and planted only after initial invasive control
has taken place. Since only one acre of
invasive control work is recommended at
present, only 130 trees should be ordered.
Once the success of the restoration is
determined, both control work and tree
plantingcanbeexpanded.
Seeding of herbaceous cover is also impor-
tant. Zone D lacks many of the floodplain
grasses that one would normally find there,
suchaswoodoatsandCanadawildrye.
Both live plantings and seeding will be
opportunistic. Areas with dense native vines
and trees will be avoided, while areas
formerly covered with Japanese honeysuckle
orChinesetallowwillbeheavilyplanted.
RecommendedSpecies
Herbaceous layer seeding: seed in great
quantity will be difficult to find. The
following are available from Native Ameri-
C should focus on retaining its historic,
natural feel while removing invasive plants
andestablishingmorenativeflora.
The principal invasive plant threats in this
area include catclaw vine, nandina, and
ligustrum.
While the slopes in Zone C are shorter than
in Zone A, they are just as steep, and invasive
control work will need to take this into
account. In a few areas, it may be necessary
to create small berms or windrows with cut
invasiveplantbranchestopreventerosion.
As in Zone B, invasive species serve an
important role by helping to create a
vegetative buffer between the Path to the
Point and the Meadow area, as discussed in
the Visitor Experience section. Mindfulness
will be necessary when controlling invasive
plants to the west of the granite path so that
the maximum number of invasive plants can
canSeed.
easterngamagrass,Tripsacumdactyloides
switchgrass,Panicumvirgatum
pigeonberry,Rivinahumilis
goldeneyedaisy,Viguieradentata
Americanbeautyberry,Callicarpaamericana
bluecurls,Phaceliacongesta
goldengroundsel,Packeraobovata
whiteavens,Geumcanadense
frostweed,Verbesinavirginica
Tree Saplings: live plantings contract-grown
intreetubes.
pecan,Caryaillinoinensis
baldcypress,Taxodiumdistichum
Americanelm,Ulmusamericana
buroak,Quercusmicrocarpa
sycamore,Platanusoccidentalus
greenash,Fraxinuspennsylvanica
cottonwood,Populusdeltoides
willow,Salixnigra
ZONEC:PATHTOTHEPOINT
Zone C, referred to here as the Path to the
Point, contains the limestone savanna and
woodland that is on the eastern portion of
the peninsula on the small ridge between the
road and the water. There are a number of
large live oaks and a fair amount of native
shrub diversity. Zone C has is well used and
has the most formal visitor experience in the
natural areas. The historic Path to the Point
Trail winds through Zone C, ending at the
Temple of Love. Land management in Zone
Invasive catclaw and nandina dominate the
understoryatPhotopoint11inZoneC.
36

be removed without compromising the
visitorexperience.
DisposalofCutMaterial
Material cut in Zone C can be dragged or
hauled to the asphalt road that runs down
the center of the peninsula, where it can be
chipped and either used as trail base or
removed from the site. It may be desirable
to leave some large stems on the ground to
make foot travel more difficult in order to
dissuade off-trail use. Much like in Zone A,
branches can be stacked in small rows along
the contours in steep areas to slow down
waterrunoffandpreventerosion.
RestorationPlanting
The restoration planting for Zone C can
likely focus entirely on planting seeds to
increase diversity and coverage in the
herbaceous layer. With the herbaceous layer
the northwest shoreline. Large turf grass
areas are found at the northern and southern
ends of the Zone and an asphalt road runs
most of its length. The road forms a loop in
the central portion of the Zone and there is a
vegetated island with native and exotic trees
atthecenteroftheloop.
Because of the highly manipulated charac-
teristics of Zone D and the challenge of
restoring a native meadow, land manage-
ment practices in this area should focus on
programmatic needs and future design ideas
while including the preservation of specimen
trees throughout the Zone. Invasive species
control in this area can result in niche or large
scale gallery spaces for displaying art and
increasing views. As discussed previously
and in more detail in the Visitor Experience
section, caution should be used when
clearing invasive species between the
Meadow area and the Floodplain Forest as
well as at the Path to the Point. If too much
clearing is done, the individual integrity of
these three zones may be lost, thereby
decreasing the complexity of the visitor
experience.
Ligustrum is common in the edge of the
meadow, along with chinaberry and Chinese
tallow. Giant reed is found in four areas
including two stands in the northern
portion, one partially cleared in April 2013,
one in the road island, and one near Birder’s
Point. Bermuda grass is the main turf grass.
Johnsongrassissporadicinsunnyareas.
Temple of Love at the southern end of the Path to the Point in Zone C.
currently dominated by catclaw in many
areas, it will be important to introduce native
plants that will fill that niche once the
catclaw is managed. In a few areas where
catclaw is dense, live planting could be an
option. Inthecaseofliveplanting,irrigation
maybeaconcern.
RecommendedSpecies(seedsonly)
cedarsage,Salviaroemeriana
Americanbeautyberry,Callicarpaamericana
pigeonberry,Rivinahumilis
bluecurls,Phaceliacongesta
goldengroundsel,Packeraobovata
ZONED:MEADOW
Zone D is the highly modified area in the
central portion of the peninsula and along
37

Laguna Gloria's Site Assessment and Natural Areas Management Plan

Laguna Gloria's Site Assessment and Natural Areas Management Plan

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (20)

Similar to Laguna Gloria's Site Assessment and Natural Areas Management Plan

Similar to Laguna Gloria's Site Assessment and Natural Areas Management Plan (20)

Laguna Gloria's Site Assessment and Natural Areas Management Plan