Three Forks Wood Reclamation’s Post

Texas Coast - Value to the Nation. From the natural beaches of Sabine Pass near Port Arthur to the rich diversity of bird and marine wildlife along the Laguna Madre near Port Isabel, the sweep of the Texas coast contains varied and fragile ecosystems juxtaposed with highly industrialized areas that host a national economic powerhouse. The USACE Galveston District is involved in virtually every mile of the 367-mile coastline and plays an integral role in both the preservation of nature’s treasures that are a living part of the Texas coastal region as well as serving and preserving the industries that fuel commerce and power our nation. https://lnkd.in/dH9ZeCyb

For centuries, Indigenous land has been taken for farming, public works, and military use. And all throughout these years, continuing to this day, thefts have been occurring under the guise of ecological preservation—green colonialism. Robert Jago explores:

Did you know, Theodore Roosevelt helped preserve 230 million acres of land in the United States? How? He started small and built incremental momentum. He started with a small three-acre bird-breeding reservation in Florida. Following this, the Congress passes several laws to protect and preserve natural habitats. By the end of his two terms as President he had preserved land more than the combined land mass of France and Germany. He didn’t set out doing this by announcing his preservation ambitions. Had he done that, for sure, he would have faced protests from miners and industries. But he chose the path of creating incremental momentum. You don’t have to always move fast and break things to transform. Choose to change incrementally. What small step can you take today to build momentum toward your impactful goals? #incremental #momentum #transformation Brad Borkan

This is my reflection on the historical significance of the Anderson Mill Grist Mill, its connection to the Civil War, and how its location, now submerged under Lake Travis, holds a special meaning for me. It was used for two years during the Civil War to grind the chemicals to make gunpowder. The low water levels of the lake might be related to various factors such as drought, changes in weather patterns, or human activities impacting the local water supply. I deeply connect to the documentary "The Unforeseen" which highlights the complex issue of urban sprawl and its consequences on natural resources like water bodies. Urban development, especially in rapidly growing cities like Austin, often leads to increased demand for water resources, which can put stress on lakes, rivers, and springs. Robert Redford's reflection on the decline in water quality at Barton Springs pool serves as a poignant reminder of the environmental challenges our world faces due to human activities. It underscores the importance of sustainable development and conservation efforts to preserve the natural beauty and historical sites that hold significance for communities. Visiting the original site of the Anderson Mill Grist Mill and Gunpowder Factory, even though submerged, allows me to connect with the past and appreciate the layers of history that have shaped the landscape. It's a powerful way to understand the impact of human actions on the environment and reflect on the importance of preserving our natural and historical heritage for future generations. For our children’s, children’s, children. 

Acadia National Park is in existence today because of the #foresight of several men back in 1916, who realized this pristine area should remain as such. As a result, Acadia National Park was the first national park created from private lands gifted to the #public through the efforts of #conservation-minded citizens. If you could concieve of a way to contribute to the future so the area in which you live is better when you leave it, what would you do?!? A few details about the park: It encompasses approximately 49,052 acres in three main areas: 🦞Mount Desert Island 🦞The Schoodic Peninsula 🦞And to the Southwest (accessible only by boat) the Isle Au Haut 🔥There was a major fire in 1947 referred to as “The Year Maine Burned,” that burned more than 10,000 acres within the park - 17,188 acres total acres on Mount Desert Island, which explains why so much of what we explored during our hikes seemed like young forest land! 🔨Much of the physical labor required to build the park's carriage roads and trails was provided by the Civilian Conservation Corps beginning in 1933 - much like all other national parks. ⛰️Cadillac Mountain is the highest “mountain” on the eastern seaboard at 1530’ and “once upon a time” was 2 miles higher before the glaciers came through Of course - when in Maine, you eat lobster!! Apparently, Maine lobsters have sweeter meat than other lobsters because they grow in cold water, which prevents them from absorbing salt and makes their meat sweeter. #working #family #vacation #thinkstrategically #sustainibility #conservation #growthmindset

PART 2: The Georgia Historic Preservation Division will also be updating “Tilling the Earth: Georgia’s Historical Agricultural Heritage,” a statewide agricultural historic context report originally published in 2001. It has served as the foundational document for nominating agricultural properties to the National Register of Historic Places. To incorporate information that has entered the historic period since initial publication, the report needs to be updated to expand its guidance for extant historic resource types associated with agricultural heritage. This expansion would also include the resources’ significant historic associations, events, patterns, and themes. This report is expected to conclude in January 2026. Both context reports will focus on the counties impacted by Hurricane Michael, examining resources and historical narratives through 1985. These 70 counties in Southwest and Central Georgia have a wide range of resources to study and provide insights applicable across the state. The contracts for creation of both context documents have been awarded to New South Associates. Both projects are funded through the Historic Preservation Fund and the Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service. #historicpreservation #historicpreservationmonth #historicpreservationmatters

For centuries, Indigenous land has been taken for farming, public works, and military use. And all throughout these years, continuing to this day, thefts have been occurring under the guise of ecological preservation—green colonialism. Robert Jago explores:

Thanks to Newsweek for publishing an op-ed that highlights the need for all of us to commit to better protect sites associated with our ancestors: https://lnkd.in/gZ7g2rAt I hope that state and local governments, and private partners, consider adopting and incorporating the 13 principles in the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation policy on Burial Sites, Human Remains, & Funerary Objects: https://lnkd.in/e9DFBpFm

On our last day highlighting the Arizona section of our The Mountain Pact report on national monuments, we're focusing on the potential NEW national monument in Arizona - The Great Bend of the Gila! The public lands of the Great Bend of the Gila must be protected in a way that recognizes their importance to Tribes, their cultural and historical values, and the role of these lands in species survival, combating climate change, and redressing water scarcity. The stretch of river valley and surrounding desert between the cities of Phoenix and Yuma, Arizona, constitutes a fragile landscape that also serves as a backcountry recreation area for tourists and nearby residents. Protecting the Great Bend of the Gila also means protecting recreation and economic opportunities for the region. The Great Bend of the Gila will play a pivotal role in the region's future in several interrelated ways. Preserving open space will sustain natural vistas and the scenic quality of the West Valley while also protecting the habitat and habitat connectivity that desert-dwelling animals such as bighorn sheep, Sonoran desert tortoise, mule deer, and javelina require for survival. It’s time to permanently protect this inimitable, enduring, yet surprisingly sensitive landscape. Although there are laws protecting cultural heritage on federal lands, permanent protection will better enforce these laws. Given their historical and ongoing ties to the land, Tribes should have a strong voice in how this land and their legacies on it are managed in perpetuity. #MonumentsForAll #antiquitiesact #nationalmonuments #GreatBendOfTheGila More in our report: https://lnkd.in/guyPutkz and on the coalition's website here: https://lnkd.in/enMfjrqC

🌳 There’s a growing threat that we’ll lose our ancient woodlands but there’s hope on the horizon if we all play our part. 🙏 That’s why we’re delighted to support Borders Forest Trust with funding from our Research and Innovation Grants to help protect a special woodland in Southern Scotland. This funding will help understand and restore ancient wood pastures, especially slope alder wood pastures. And while work focuses on one site, the findings can hopefully be used for other wood pasture sites, too. We’re looking forward to seeing the results of their important work. Nicola Hunt, Head of Land Management at Borders Forest Trust said: “We are delighted to receive funding towards our work which will enable us to undertake historical and ecological work to better understand our Ancient Wood Pasture site at Ericstane. This special area of woodland has likely survived for hundreds of years and a better understanding about it will enable us to plan how best to conserve it into the future.” 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Discover more about our Research and Innovation Grants. 👉 https://ow.ly/K1zm50RmhzT Image by C. Newell AncientWoodlands #BordersForestTrust #ResearchGrants #SouthernScotland #WoodPastures #InnovationGrants