The City of Garland would like to extend a sincere apology following the clearing activity at Spring Creek Forest Preserve. During a briefing at the City Council Work Session on Monday, July 21, City staff addressed concerns and committed to improving communication and coordination. While the clearing was intentional to access, inspect and maintain a 55-year-old key sewer trunk line, the City’s approach did not live up to its values of stewardship, transparency and collaboration.
“We did not notify the Preservation Society. We did not coordinate with Dallas County, who’s one of the property owners. And for that, I want to apologize on behalf of myself and our staff,” said City Manager Jud Rex.
Background: A Historic Natural Treasure with Infrastructure Beneath
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, established through partnerships in the 1980s, is a treasured natural space with ecological, educational and recreational value. Beneath the Preserve, however, lies a vital piece of Garland’s infrastructure: a sanitary sewer line installed nearly 20 years before the Preserve and Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest were formed. This line, along with a second line installed in 2009, serves approximately 40,000 residents and businesses or about 20% of Garland’s wastewater customers.
From Storm to Response: What Led to the Clearing
The sequence of events that led to the clearing began in May 2024, when a major storm swept through Garland, flooding creeks, downing trees and placing stress on key infrastructure, including sewer lines. In the days that followed, persistent rainfall caused significant volumes of stormwater to enter the city’s sanitary sewer system—raising concerns at the Rowlett Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and pushing it to the brink of overflow.
City staff began investigating how stormwater was getting into the sewer system, a condition known as infiltration and inflow, because sewer systems should be sealed off to anything other than wastewater. They launched a system-wide assessment to identify vulnerabilities, starting from Rowlett Creek and moving upstream into Spring Creek.
Later, In March 2025, a Garland resident reported a problem in Spring Creek near Campbell Road. A manhole riser and cover had been knocked loose by debris, allowing creek water to flow directly into the sewer system. This prompted further review of the area’s infrastructure in addition to emergency repair. Staff determined they needed visual access to approximately 55 manholes along Spring Creek, some of which had not been accessed in decades, to inspect the condition of the surrounding sewer line.
The area, however, presented physical challenges: steep terrain, dense vegetation, submerged structures and limited access routes. This meant that heavy-duty equipment as large as 12 feet wide and 40 feet long was required to inspect and maintain the infrastructure.
The week of June 16, a contractor hired to assist with access began clearing pathways near Halff and Fred E. Harris Parks. The work cleared portions of forest floor, understory vegetation and natural-surface walking trails, impacting the ecosystem in several segments of the Preserve. City staff and the contractor involved were unaware of the Preserve’s sanctuary status and sensitive ecology. The City had also not initiated the necessary coordination with Preserve stakeholders in advance.
Once this oversight came to light, the City halted clearing operations.
Moving Forward: Restoration, Review and Partnership
Since the pause in activity, the City has been gathering information and meeting with Preserve stakeholders to begin discussions about how to proceed in a way that prioritizes preservation and transparency. The City has also begun working with engineering and landscape architecture firm, Kimley-Horn, to develop a recovery plan. Additionally, City Manager Rex has initiated an independent audit of the City’s agreements with contractors regarding gaining access to sewer system infrastructure.
Moving forward, the City is committed to continued meetings with the Preservation Society to refine the recovery plan and restoration approach, as well as identify long-term strategies for sewer line access that minimize impact on the Preserve.
Crystal Owens, Assistant City Manager over Public Works, emphasized that restoration will account for more than just aesthetics. “We also recognize the impacts to wildlife, native plant life and the overall ecology,” she said. “We’ve asked our consultant to address all of these elements in the recovery plan. I understand the importance of the Preserve.”
A New Commitment: Six Pillars to Guide the Work
To safeguard against similar issues in the future and to guide restoration and maintenance efforts, the City is focusing on six core priorities:
- Preserve Protection – Establishing clear processes and safeguards to prevent unauthorized activity impacting protected and other natural areas.
- Forest Recovery – Developing and implementing a science-based plan to support ecological recovery.
- Partnership Building – Strengthening collaboration with the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest, Dallas County, residents and other stakeholders.
- Departmental Coordination – Improving internal communication to ensure all relevant teams are aligned before initiating work.
- Community Communication – Sharing timely information with the public to maintain transparency and trust.
- Infrastructure Maintenance – Identifying, inspecting, and addressing aging sewer lines throughout Garland.
Mayor Dylan Hedrick acknowledged that City Council will also help strengthen policies to prevent future missteps. “Your Council heard you clearly: this was not acceptable, and it must not happen again. We understand that trust in your city government is earned over many years, but can be lost in a moment. We are committed to rebuilding that trust — starting now.”
The City will continue to provide updates on recovery efforts at future Work Sessions. To watch the July 21 meeting on-demand, visit GarlandTX.tv.
Note: This message is posted on the City of Garland “City News” site, and can be seen at – https://www.garlandtx.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3603.
