As we head into the Spring season, there are several projects that you should know about!
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.