August 2025 Announcements –

Update on damage to the forest –
both Halff Park Trail and Harris Park Area

Folks, of course there is good news and bad news.

The good news is that so many of you came to the City Council work session on July 21. Thank you so much. It was great for the city administration to see how much you love the Preserve and want it to thrive.

The good news is the people at the top of the city government are taking the issue seriously, giving it top priority, and are trying to find the least invasive way forward. In addition to the work session, the Society executive committee has now met twice with Garland Mayor Dylan Hedrick and City Manager Jud Rex, plus Assistant City Managers Crystal Owens and Andy Hesser. They have apologized for the lack of oversight of the contracting company that bludgeoned its way through the woods and for the lack of communication between departments. The meetings have been civilized and rational, with time given for all sides to fully express their outlook on the problem. For more details, read the latest city message posted July 24, 2025, on the Garland “City News” site https://www.garlandtx.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3603.

The fact is, we must have a clean creek, not only to meet clean water standards but so the creek can nurture and keep alive and healthy the hundreds of species of animals, trees, plants, fish, amphibians, insects and, yes, people that depend on it. Everything about the Preserve started because the creek found its way through this land hundreds of years ago. If it is not clean, the Preserve could eventually die.

Also, fact – we must have a well-maintained, safe sewer line to serve the 40,000 people who look forward to flushing their toilets several times a day. A backed-up sewer times 40,000 would not be good news. Unfortunately, that sewer line is currently in the creek.

And so, the bad news is, we must inspect and repair the sewer line that was placed down the middle of the creek in the 1970s. While we are horrified at the probable destruction of parts of our forest, we all would be just as horrified if our creek were contaminated by a sewer break that then killed the animals and plants relying on it for drinking water.

The bad news is, in the short term for at least the next year or so, depending on the amount of maintenance and repair work that is discovered, big equipment will inevitably be needed at various places along the cliff edge and also down in the creek bed. That is along the full extent of the creek through the Preserve and greenbelt – from Halff Park on the east to Garland Road, through the Preserve at 1770 Holford, through the Preserve at 1787 Holford, and all the way west to Harris Park on Shiloh Road. No one yet knows the extent of the project.

The good news is the work on the utility equipment access roads is at a halt.

Additional good news is an outside company has been hired to fully assess the project and the options for the best ways to complete that work in the least invasive manner. So, we don’t need to chain ourselves to the trees – just yet.

And really good news is that the Society executive committee’s offer to help find the correct plants for the restoration has been welcomed by the city. Did you know that the genetic makeup of a Shumard oak in your yard is NOT the same genetic makeup of the Shumard oaks in the forest? Members of the Preservation Society, along with partners in the Texas Master Naturalist program and Native Plant Society of Texas, will have a chance to collect and propagate seeds from native plants in the area. Therefore, we hope to have genetically correct species ready for habitat restoration when the time comes in a year or so.

That is 5 good news and 2 very major bad news.

Additional Thoughts:
The whole idea of putting a sewer line down the middle of a creek is such a strange juxtaposition – pipe carrying black-water waste is installed in the middle of the local creek which we rely on to provide clean water. Yes, in the 1970s, it made monetary and engineering sense – the creek found the easiest way to flow downhill, so why not use water physics to move waste from one place to the next. What could go wrong?

But today, for our Preserve, we hope that the city will begin working on the feasibility of a new project – the get the Pipeline Out Of the Preserve Project. The name conveniently forms an acronym – the P-O-O-P Project.

When we get the sewer out of there – no inspections, no maintenance. When we get the sewer out of there – no roads or ramps. When we get the sewer out of there – cleaner water and the forest can really begin regrowing. Ask the city to please initiate the new project now so that in 5-10 years our creek will be sewer free. Side note: Yes, it will be very expensive.

Check out our website, springcreekforest.org. We have a new page dedicated to sewer update information. On the menu, go to “All News,” “Sewer Project Update.”

Trail from Halff Park parking lot to the destroyed area. Photo by Vince Hale.

Destruction is far more than 12 feet wide in many places.
Photo by Vince Hale.

Example of sewer manhole in the creek. Photo by Vince Hale.

Report on the International Citizen-science project “Moth Night” that was held in the Preserve on July 19

From Sam Kieschnick, Texas Parks and Wildlife Urban Wildlife Biologist for DFW:

” [Although] there are likely still a few folks that are uploading observations from the blacklighting event [in Spring Creek Forest Preserve] on July 19^th, but holy moly, we spotted a LOT of biodiversity!
There were around 120 people there – so once again, it was a wonderful public event. So far, 36 citizen scientists made 2266 observations of around 460 unique taxa on just that one day at Spring Creek Forest Preserve!

Take a look at all of the species we all documented:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=32.97350841248442&nelng=-96.6404450302531&on=2025-07-19&subview=map&swlat=32.95651353202178&swlng=-96.66979912571209&verifiable=any&view=species

That’s pretty tremendous, and I hope that you can utilize this data to highlight just what a rich place this is. So many organisms seek out Spring Creek Forest Preserve as a genuine refuge in the urban ecosystem. Lots of naturalists like us seek it out too!

Keep up the great work! I’ll put this event on the calendar for next year’s national moth week too! It’s a fun tradition to start out national moth week at Spring Creek Forest Preserve!”

A Walkingstick kindly walked along several outstretched arms.

Wedgling Moth, Galgula partita – photo by kens18

          One of Sam K’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.”   

Just a reminder –
North Texas Giving Day 2025

The site opens Monday, September 1, with the big final day on Thursday, September 18. The Society will participate for the second year. We appreciate your support and donations very much! More specific information to come.

Speaker Series:
Ian Seamans – Renewable Energy

Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: currently meeting via Zoom call.

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

Meeting ID: 891 8700 2517
Passcode: 212786

What does clean energy have to do with protecting Texas’ lands, waters, and wildlife? In this talk, Environment Texas City Hall Advocate Ian Seamans will explore the connections between renewable energy and conservation — from how solar and wind power can reduce air and water pollution to how energy efficiency helps preserve natural resources. Ian will also provide an overview of the current state of renewable energy in Texas and share practical steps individuals can take to shrink their energy footprint, save money, and make the switch to 100% renewable electricity at home.

As the City Hall Advocate for Environment Texas, Ian works to secure clean air, clean water, well-funded parks, and a livable climate across North Texas. Ian has led campaigns to include environmental reforms in the City of Dallas’s comprehensive plan, protect transit funding, and streamline rooftop solar permitting in Dallas.
Outside of his professional role, Ian volunteers as a Texas Master Naturalist, and serves on the boards of the League of Women Voters of Collin County and League of Women Voters of Texas. Ian’s work is driven by the belief that local action is critical to driving broad change for our environment.

Environment Texas works for clean air, clean water, clean energy, wildlife and open spaces, and a livable climate. Our members across the state put grassroots support behind our research and advocacy. Environment Texas is part of Environment America, a national network of 30 state environmental groups. Learn more at www.EnvironmentTexas.org

For Master Naturalists, this often counts as 1 hour of Advanced Training but check the MN schedule to be sure.

Photo courtesy of EnvironmentTexas.org

2^nd Saturday Work Session –
Work on the Pocket Prairie

Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Location: 1770 Holford Drive
We will work on our newest pocket prairie. We break into teams, and each team has a knowledgeable volunteer, so you know exactly what to do.
For last-minute information, especially if the weather is questionable, check our website or Facebook page for updates, including dates and locations which may change because of conditions. We don’t want anyone working in the forest or on the prairie if there is a chance of lightning strikes.

• 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 project.

4th Sunday Nature Walk
Bill Holston leads us to find
New Trails into the Forest out of Halff Park

Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Halff Park at Ranger Drive

Since the destruction of part of the forest near Halff Park, it can be difficult to find your way through for a peaceful walk. But there are still huge trees and wild spaces. Bill will show you the best way to find them and navigate the area.
Note that due to the construction, for your safety, we might have to change the location of Bill’s walk. Please check our website or Facebook page for last minute information.

Bill is a lawyer, and also a great friend of our Forest. He has written several columns about this special place for D Magazine under the title “Law Man Walking.” See D Magazine’s 6 Best Hikes in Dallas.
On July 11, 2025, shortly after the road destruction was discovered, Bill wrote an article on Spring Creek Forest for his D Magazine “Law Man Walking” column. Although we now know that using the word “Accidentally” was incorrect, the article is still a wonderful description of the forest and how much more was lost than trees. See the article at: https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2025/07/city-of-garland-accidentally-plows-through-protected-forest/

Bill Holston leading a walk.

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