March 2026 Announcements

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

Contact the Society: springcreekforestpreservation@gmail.com

Work is Progressing on Pipeline Project

1. Wastewater Interceptor Inspection:
   • Contractor Ace Pipe Cleaning is continuing with CCTV inspections. This is expected to continue for another 4-6 weeks.
   • Main Sewer Inspection (MSI) has been delayed and is scheduled to start next week. A part was required for their equipment that had to be shipped from Germany, calibrated in Australia and then make its way here to North Texas. ACE has indicated they are now ready and will start next week. MSI is expected to take 2 months.

1. Forested Area Impact Analysis:
   • Environmental and drainage assessment – Kimley-Horn is finalizing the aquatic resource assessment and hydraulic evaluations of cleared areas.
   • A stakeholder meeting to present findings to date is planned for March 3.

1. Wastewater Interceptor Alternative and Access Evaluation:
   • Kimley-Horn has continued evaluating options for permanent access to existing infrastructure, looking at preliminary alternate pipe alignment, and coordinating with trenchless pipe rehabilitation manufacturers on feasibility of various technologies.
   • While research and pre-work is continuing on this effort, it will require the results of the sewer inspection to be complete in order to fully proceed with this task.

As a stakeholder, the Preservation Society is included in these planning sessions, and we will continue to report as this important project moves into the next phase.

Note:
Original information from Christina Hickey, PE, Engineering Services Administrator, City of Garland Water Department

Uncovered manhole discovered. Photo by D. Parrish

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 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. Urge 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.

Wanted: Spring Creek Forest Preserve Trail Monitors

As a Trail Monitor, you walk the concrete and natural surface trails in one of the 3 distinct sections in 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.

Fallen tree – Trail Monitor would photograph this 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.

Thank you, Marvin, for a job well done!

After many, many years of service to the Preservation Society – as a board member, our treasurer, and the keeper of our many eastern bluebird boxes (including supporting many Scout projects to install bird boxes), Marvin is stepping down from these responsibilities to enjoy more time with his family. Marvin’s quiet guidance, his patience, and friendly smile will be greatly missed.

Now we’re looking for volunteers to step into these big shoes.
Marvin will work with incoming volunteers to share his knowledge and resources. If you have an interest and aptitude for basic accounting or an interest in encouraging bird boxes through nest box programs, please email springcreekforestpreservation@gmail.com.

Friends, we had a great day Sunday, February 22^nd. We welcomed 88 visitors (not including the excellent Society volunteers), and it was so satisfying to see folks being greeted, educated, and encouraged to visit often and join in Preservation Society activities.
As ever, we’re so lucky to work with “Mr. 33 Trout Lily Years-and-Counting”, Tom Frey, both for sharing his time for the public walk (he was literally the last person to come in off the trail). So many people share in making this activity a huge success time and again.
The Trout lilies will still be in their prime for a couple of weeks. Then they disappear until next spring. We hope you can come and see them.

Tom Frey at work…

Speaker Series – Canaan Sutton –
Limestone Prairies need Specialized Plants

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 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

Annual Executive Committee Vote: Before the presentation, we have some Society business to conduct – all attending Society members will vote on the 2026-2027 proposed slate of Executive Committee (Board) members.

For his presentation, Canaan will discuss adaptions of the plants that live on our own wonderful example of a limestone prairie, which you can see at 1787 Holford on the Limestone Loop Trail.

Note that on Sunday, March 23, he will also lead our 4^th Sunday Nature Walk to see this prairie.

On this special corner of our prairie, limestone lays only inches under the rich soil and creates its own ecosystem that is entirely different from other parts of our prairie. You may note white chalk limestone outcrops throughout the area. The grasses, trees, and shrubs growing there have adapted to flourish in these soil conditions. Note that Spring Creek itself flows over a bed of solid limestone.

Canaan is a botanist for the southern plains region of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). In his time with NEON he has conducted forest structure research for the NASA jet propulsion laboratory, plant diversity and phenology surveys at the LBJ grasslands and rolling red plains in western Oklahoma, and curates the herbarium for the domain.

He graduated from East Texas A&M University where he conducted graduate research on prairie restoration methods. As a private consultant he is currently working with the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission on describing Composite species in the Ouachita mountains and monitors urban populations and re-introductions of the imperiled Hall’s prairie clover (Dalea hallii).

He also served as the past president of the Blackland Chapter of the Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT), from 2022-2024.

Prairie covered in Four-nerve Daisies – V. Hale

Partners in Preservation with Volunteer Garland –
Native Planting Day at our Preserve

Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
Time: Arrive at 8:30 for sign-in. Work from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Location: 2393 Mapleridge Drive
Preregistration is required – see below

Last summer and fall, volunteers went into a part of Spring Creek Forest Preserve that was badly damaged by a bulldozer and rescued over 100 native plants. These plants have been in the city’s greenhouse all winter and now it’s time to replant them.

Although we originally hoped to use them to begin restoration at the Halff Park site where some of the damage occurred, that project is not far enough along. If we put the plants there, they might be run over again. The new area chosen for the plants is perfect ecologically for them.

Registration is required through the Volunteer Garland: https://www.volunteergarland.org/need/detail/?need_id=1211966

More details are included on the registration page. Please address questions to Dana Wilson – danawilson59@yahoo.com.

• Close-toe shoes required
• Long pants and long sleeves strongly recommended
• Bring water, work gloves, and snacks
• Shovels with a long, slim blade such as a sharp shooter or root slayer are welcome

Work Session – 8th Annual Death to Privet!

Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Location: Note Location change to 1787 Holford

The 8^th Annual Death to Privet is at 1787 Holford this year. Happily, the Preserve at 1787 Holford is nearly clear of privet. So why do we have our Death to Privet there this year? Because when there was a lot of privet there, the bushes dropped thousands of pretty, red berries.

The seeds in those berries don’t all start growing at the same time. Some will stay dormant for several years before they put out roots and a stalk. Also, birds eat the berries from other areas and drop the seeds where we don’t want them. So, we search the area for newly arrived young plants and remove them before they get big enough to push out our native plants and drop more seeds.

We break into teams, and each team has a knowledgeable leader.

• 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.

Privet before the berries are ripe – by V. Hale

4th Sunday Nature Walk –
Walk with Canaan Sutton to see the unusual plants that exist on the Limestone Prairie Ecosystem.

Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Location: 1787 Holford Rd.

Canaan will lead us through this amazing corner of our Preserve explaining the adaptions plants needed to make to live in this shallow prairie soil. See additional information above in the Speaker Series story.

Speaker Series –
Cayden O-Brien, Our Native Grasses –

Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom

Cayden will tell us about the critical role our native grasses play in keeping the prairies in our Preserve healthy. The vast prairies rife with native plants and grasses that filled the middle of our country up until the 1900s have disappeared because of our need for housing and food.

However, we still have hundreds of small prairie pockets of that heritage that can still be seen. And one of those pocket prairies is right here in our Preserve. These tall and deeply rooted native grasses on those prairies are instrumental in holding the soil in place.

Work Session –
Remove Ragweed from the Trail

Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Location: Halff Park at Ranger Drive

Ragweed can grow 6 feet tall and wide. It grows and spreads quickly and can smother the native plant diversity that we want in our Preserve. Come and help us keep it under control.
We break into teams, and each team has a knowledgeable leader.

Ragweed – photo by V. Hale

City of Garland Earth Day Event

Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Holford Recreation Center, 2314 Homestead Place, Garland

Go Green Garland has planned a fun Earth Day event. The doors and booths open at 9:00 a.m. No fee or registration required. There will be giveaways, classes on how to make your yard landscape healthier with less work and how to have year-round blooms with native perennials.

The Society will have a table to talk about our awesome Preserve. Come by to see us!

More information at https://www.garlandtx.gov/2098/Earth-Day

Holford Rec Center

4th Sunday Nature Walk –
Walk with Jane Duke – How does Soil Change the Forest

Date: Sunday, April 26, 2026
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Location: 1770 Holford Rd.

Dr. Jane Duke leads us. Is the soil deep or shallow? Acidic? What soils are found in our Preserve and which plants thrive there because of the soil. She will show us the various types of soil in the forest that support the diversity of plant species.

Dr. Duke is a restoration ecologist, educator, and passionate advocate for biology-driven land renewal. She holds an MA in Environmental Philosophy from the University of North Texas and a PhD in Consumer Economics and Environmental Design from Texas Tech University. At the Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center in Denton, Texas, Jane leads hands-on restoration efforts.

You can see several types of soil in this photo.

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