After many months of examinations of how and why extensive damage was done in the Halff Park section of Spring Creek Forest Preserve and an internal audit of city communications, work has begun on Phase I (of 4 phases of work) to address the damage done to the property and to find solutions for maintaining or replacing the aging sewer line that is buried under Spring Creek. Phase I involves three specific tasks:
Wastewater Interceptor Inspection: Contractor Ace Pipe Cleaning has surveyed and located all lateral pipelines feeding into the main pipeline and has begun CCTV inspections. Inspection for the trunk main is tentatively scheduled to begin week of 1/26. City of Garland and Dallas County Parks & Open Spaces staff have been working through legal reviews to finalize and execute access agreement for Dallas County properties along the Spring Creek corridor in Garland.
Forested Area Impact Analysis: An environmental and drainage assessment and raw data collection has been completed; Kimley-Horn will complete a site visit to verify this analysis. Field work is on-going for the topographic and aerial survey. Pending potential weather delays, results of the aerial survey should be shared with city staff by 1/30/26 and by 2/20/26 for the topographic survey. A stakeholder meeting to review a draft technical memo is tentatively planned for mid-February.
Wastewater Interceptor Alternative and Access Evaluation: Kimley-Horn has begun researching technologies that could rehabilitate the existing pipeline, as well as options to permanently access existing infrastructure for ongoing maintenance without further damage to surrounding habitat. They are also pulling together information and options to begin developing alternate alignments if a new pipeline were to be installed outside of Spring Creek. 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
Summary by Dana Wilson
