News Flash

As Winter comes to an end and we head into Spring, there are several projects going on that we want the general public to be aware of around White Rock Lake and Harry S. Moss Parks.  This is the ideal time to work on some of the brush removal projects as we are still months away from the bird nesting season.

*At Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake, the Dallas Park and Recreation Department is removing privet from along the bois d’arc hedge row parallel to Emerald Isle Drive. Privet is a highly invasive exotic species which the Department is managing to prevent spreading into other areas.  Only select areas are removed at any given time to allow for wildlife considerations and cut down on erosion issues.  Removal in this particular location will allow for more prairie species and allow more nutrients to get to the bois d’arc trees.  Staff has noted some sensitive plants in the area and are working to avoid damaging them.

*The 2018 prairie mowing cycle has not been completely determined, but the mowing cycle should be confirmed as soon as the winter precipitation subsides. With that in mind, it has been an extremely dry winter.  We have hit “red flag” (wildfire) weather conditions several times this winter.  Due to this, park staff will be mowing a single or double wide (mower width) buffer on the remnants that immediately adjoin private property or homes.

*On December 1, 2017, we had a great reseeding event at the Lakewood Park prairie unit.  Volunteers from the neighborhood have adopted the prairie unit and park staff is actively working on getting a formal agreement in place.  In the meantime, an opportunity to conduct a grass rescue and transplant to Lakewood Park has presented itself.  Volunteers from the neighborhood, Native Plants and Prairies Association, and the North Texas Master Naturalists will be planting a seed source bed to foster more prairie grasses in this particular unit.  In order to plant these grasses, a small 20’ x 20’ area will be mowed short by city staff on February 15,2018.  This will help ensure proper spacing for the planting and reduce initial competition for the grasses.

*Volunteers from Texas Discovery Gardens have planted 1,500 prairie/pollinator friendly plants at both Harry S. Moss and Crawford Memorial Parks.  Many of these plants are native milkweeds which are critical to Monarch butterflies.

*The Dallas Park and Recreation Department has an agreement between Texas Discovery Gardens and an individual volunteer very knowledgeable in habitat restoration for work at Harry S. Moss Park.  Over the last several months, over 10acres of heavy brush has been removed from the prairie remnant.  The last of this heavy mechanical removal of brush will occur towards the end of February 2018.

If you have any questions regarding any of these projects, please contact Brett Johnson, Dallas Park and Recreation Urban Biologist at jonathan.johnson@dallascityhall.com.