Preserve, Educate, Collaborate
(https://springcreekforest.org)

Contact the Society: springcreekforestpreservation@gmail.com

Thoughts from Dana Wilson and Barbara Baynham

As stated below in Section 2, bullets 2 and 3, in the coming weeks, the Garland Parks department staff will go into Halff Park to carefully mulch and spread out piles of downed trees and foliage. This will reduce the size of debris piles and promote speedier decomposition of dead plant material, help slow erosion, and begin to restore the beauty of the natural surface walking path. The Society greatly appreciates the Parks Department’s understanding of the care that must be taken so no additional damage is incurred as the piles of debris are dealt with.

Also, stated below in Section 1, bullet 3 is the reason the P-O-O-P Project (the get the Pipeline Out Of the Preserve Project) MUST eventually be approved, funded, designed, and completed. It states that “There are sewer segments where the equipment was not able to float as expected down the sewer and access through manholes has not been achieved yet. ACE and City Crews are working to find solutions to the access problems as the remaining access points are under water with lids that have seized up over time. Replacement of the lids in order to gain access is challenging as the work is needed at the bottom of the creek.”

In other words, if the sewer remains in the bottom of the creek, problems regarding access to inspect and maintain it will merely continue rather than be resolved.

Current Status of the Pipeline Project

Note: The information below is from an update report by Christina Hickey, PE, Engineering Services Administrator, City of Garland Water Department, April 27, 2026

1. Wastewater Interceptor Inspection

• Field work for inspections is on-going and will extend past the original expected date of end of April.
• Data that has already been collected is being processed so that analysis for those segments can continue on.
• There are sewer segments where the equipment was not able to float as expected down the sewer and access through manholes has not been achieved yet. ACE and City Crews are working to find solutions to the access problems as the remaining access points are under water with lids that have seized up over time. Replacement of the lids in order to gain access is challenging as the work is needed at the bottom of the creek.

1. Forested Area Impact Analysis – 

• Forest Impact Analysis Draft Report was submitted to the City this week. Kimley-Horn added recommendations that were discussed at the last stakeholder meeting and updated based on feedback received during that meeting. Download link is above and comments requested by May 8.
• Removal of Trail Blockages – Parks Dept met with Preserve 4/24. Parks is determining schedule for this work to be performed by City crews. This was identified as first action to be taken in recommendations.
• Mulching/Chipping Debris Piles – City authorized Kimley-Horn to develop bidding specifications. Draft specifications have been started and are expected to be sent to stakeholders for review and comment by May 15.

1. Wastewater Interceptor Alternative and Access Evaluation – 

• Kimley-Horn and City Staff (Water and Parks) met to review preliminary alternative alignments on 4/21 to remove sewer from forested area. The alignment would require parallel lines on the north and south side of the forest areas.
• Rehabilitation options for existing sewer are pending inspection data.
• Rehab needs and alternative alignment discussion will be part of next stakeholder meeting expected to occur this summer.

Folks from Texas Instruments

On April 18, 8 staff members from Texas Instruments tackled clearing woody trees and shrubs from the meadow near the parking lot at 1770 Holford. This winter, we’ll add 2 eastern bluebird boxes to the meadow to welcome nesting birds. We thank this excellent group (including the organizer, the new Spring Creek board member and TI staff person Tom Hendrick, 4^th from the left) for sharing their time and energy.

Thank you International Leadership of Texas High School ROTC Team

On April 25, 27 volunteers with the Junior ROTC at International Leadership of Texas, in conjunction with Volunteer Garland and the Preservation Society, did a massive trash clean-up at Halff Park. Team leaders (and Preservation Society members) Rob Kaaa and Steve Boeding survey the results of this great volunteer effort.

2nd Saturday Work Session –
Volunteers taking out invasive plants

Our “Second Saturday” work crew went down the bulldozed trail at Halff Park to remove invasive “Bastard cabbage.” The plants with the pretty yellow flowers are not native, and would eventually take over this whole section as they crowd out the smaller, slower-growing native plants. The team removed ten 45-gallon bags of this aggressive plant still had time to marvel at regrowth all along the trail.

Volunteering at the Preserve does not always mean digging and pulling

With a generous grant from the North Texas Master Naturalists, we have been able to purchase hardware, signage, and shelving to make our equipment closet more usable. Special thanks to the Garland Parks and Recreation Department for having the automatic lighting repaired and to Don Baynham for sharing the skills and muscle to make this project happen.

Before

After

The North Texas Master Naturalists Contribute – again.

Every year, members of the North Texas Master Naturalists give hundreds of hours of volunteer time to Spring Creek Forest Preserve and the Preservation Society, contributing to community outreach and education, volunteer workdays, special projects, and participation in the Preservation Society. For the past few years, the Master Naturalists have also provided an annual grant to support the Preservation Society. This year, grant funds are being used to purchase supplies related to habitat management: tools, mulch and fertilizer for the wildscape garden, equipment to organize the tool closet and more. These naturalists, and this connection, are powerful allies for Spring Creek Forest Preserve.

Master Naturalists Stephanie Huerta and Gustavo Rojas put new shovels to good use in replanting rescued native plants.

Still Wanted: Spring Creek Forest Preserve Trail Monitors

Although several wonderful folks stepped up to help with this volunteer job, we can still use more people.

As a Trail Monitor, you walk the concrete and natural surface trails in one of the 3 distinct sections of the Preserve to help with litter control, watch for downed limbs and other hazards, and be a friendly face to visitors in the Preserve. Members of the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest will offer training and support and help you find the part of the park that most appeals to you. Email springcreekforestpreservation@gmail.com for more information.

Example: Fallen tree – The Trail Monitor would photograph this trail hazard and report it to both the Society Trail Committee and to Garland Parks and Recreation Department liaison. GPARD has the heavy equipment to slice out and remove just the portion that covers the trail. Most of the tree would be left in place to decay and provide nourishment to the forest for many years.

Ecologist Jane Duke tests soil composition

Our Fourth Sunday public walk in April with ecologist Jane Duke was a fascinating look at soil health and how it impacts plant communities. Here, Jane uses 3 different instruments to test soil structure, compaction, and sugar (carbon) storage.

North Texas Community Cleanup Challenge
Volunteer Garland / Partners in Preservation
Date: March 1 – May 31, 2026
Time: You decide
Location: Wherever there is trash to pick up

Garland is competing against cities across North Texas to collect the most litter per resident, and we need your help to bring the trophy home to Garland! From March 1 through May 31, residents, families, and volunteers can clean up litter in their neighborhoods, parks, trails, or creeks and log the pounds collected.

Picked up trash recently? Log your impact HERE!

Need supplies & help getting started? Email: Volunteer@garlandtx.gov.

Native Plants and Prairies Day at White Rock Lake

Date: May 2, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: White Rock Lake, Bathhouse Cultural Center, 521 East Lawther Drive, Dallas

Native Plants and Prairies Day is a fun free event for families to celebrate our blackland prairies here in North Texas. Join us for our speakers, exhibits, tours, and kid’s activities. The day highlights the importance and value of our North Texas prairies as habitat for bugs, birds, and mammals and as a vital natural resource.

The Society will have a table to tell folks about our own amazing prairie here in Garland. Drop by and see us.

For more information: https://ntxnppd.org/

Speaker Series –
Monica Morrison – Ocelots and Mountain Lions in Texas: A Turning Point
Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89187002517?pwd=Ujc1UTEyVjNNbDhUUFJYMjFCV2lNdz09

Meeting ID: 891 8700 2517
Passcode: 212786

Monica Morrison, founder of Texas Native Cats, says that recently, history has been made for both mountain lions and ocelots in Texas. Mountain lions, a threatened / imperiled species, and ocelots, classified as endangered, now face a potential future of remarkable and positive change. Learn what has transpired for both of these amazing, beautiful cats and what lies ahead.

Monica got her start with wildlife more than 25 years ago at the Dallas Zoo as a volunteer and tiger docent. She has volunteered in various capacities at two Dallas-area big cat rescue centers. She participated in an ocelot study in Mexico, another in Kenya on African lions, and worked with organizations in South America on jaguar and other big cat projects. In 2017, she founded Texas Native Cats, a nonprofit that provides education, outreach, and advocacy for Texas’ five species of wild cats, past and present. See more at texasnativecats.org.

There are five species of wild cats that currently or historically call Texas home: jaguars, mountain lions, bobcats, ocelots, and jaguarundis.

Ocelot – from Texas Native Cats website

Ocelot or Leopardus pardalis

Work Session – Prairie Maintenance and BYOP

Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026
Time: 9:00 – Noon
Location: 1787 Holford

BRING YOUR OWN PICNIC LUNCH!

          Push back the prairie, work on the garden, BYOP (Bring Your Own Picnic lunch). We work on the prairie and the wildflower garden, and we will make one last pass at the woody plants encroaching on the prairie. Bring loppers, water, and gloves.
Then at 11, we gather at the picnic tables for the annual Bring-Your-Own Picnic lunch. Bring your PBJ sandwich, your apple slices, and your sunglasses, and relax. Even if you cannot be at the work session, bring your lunch at 11 to chat.

• Safety Information: Each work session begins with a safety briefing.
• BRING WATER and bug repellent.
• Close-toed shoes are mandatory. Heavy work gloves, long pants, and protective eyewear are recommended for your protection from poison ivy and thorns.
• If you have them, bring loppers and/or small tree saws. (No power tools.)
• All participants and the parents of minors must sign our Liability Waiver.
• Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult; no drop off/pick up of those under 18.
• For Master Naturalists, this may count as Volunteer Hours on the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest – natural resource management project.

Our prairie covered with 4-Nerve Daisies, by V. Hale

It’s just too hot, so we plan very few activities in the summer.

Summer Work Sessions: In the summer, because of the heat, Work Sessions will be led by Dana Wilson at various times, dates, and locations. If you would like to be on Dana’s work team, please email her at danawilson59@yahoo.com.

Special July Event

6th Annual An Evening with Moths

Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
Time: 9:00 p.m. until late
Location: 1770 Holford Rd.
Sam Kieschnick, Urban Wildlife Biologist, DFW, Texas Parks and Wildlife will be on hand to host our 6^th annual celebration of not only our moth population but all our other insects that land on the lighted sheets and the interesting animals that are drawn to the light.

More details to come soon.

One of Sam Kieschnick’s favorite quotes by Bradley Miller:
“Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar.”

Sam Kieschnick keeps children in awe as he talks about the insects they see.

A Walking Stick was drawn to the light. 2025

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee usually meets once a month. The meetings are open to the public. For information, please contact us at springcreekforestpreservation@gmail.com.