Friday, April 17, 2015

What Once Was Lost

    Prairie Fest May 5, 2004                                                                                 Photo by Becky Rader

I came across this photo and decided to share some of the uphill and downhill moments of preservation projects. At the time I was a member of the local chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program and was  the second chapter President and also served on the Board for 5 years. This was the 5th year for Prairie Fest, which was held annually from 2000-2005, to bring attention to the Blackland Prairie remnants around White Rock Lake.

We had a good turn-out in spite of the cold that day with Buffalo Soldiers from the10th Cavalry Unit and representatives from one of the Air Force Battalions based out of Wichita Falls. Their longhorn was a mascot and fund raiser for the battalion. He was pretty darn awesome, but let's just say when he didn't want to work, he wouldn't. The Buffalo Soldiers mentor boys and brought a group with them who really liked that longhorn steer, despite the fact that he was laying down on the job ; ). There were many others there to share their knowledge and passion for the prairie.

What brought all of this about was a drive by the lake in 1998 and watching the wildflowers being mowed down. Just about had a wreck. You see that is the absolute worst time to mow, while they are blooming, because they have not had a chance to set seed yet.  I decided to make a few calls once I reached home. Turned out that became about 10 calls because I was passed along the chain, no one wanted to talk about wildflowers. Not important you know.  I was finally passed to a gentleman, Larry Smith with DPARD who knew exactly what I was trying to say. He agreed that it was the wrong time to mow, but there had been other phone calls about the "weeds" so he had been told to get the mowers out. My response was that some education needed to take place, he agreed and that is where it began. After a very long year, oh yes, one whole year of talking and presenting to lake organizations, neighborhoods around the lake, city staff and bringing in groups of botanists and scientists to confirm what I saw and knew was prairie, this project was accepted by DPARD and taken on as one of the first chapter projects by the NTMN. Dr. Kip Kiphart was a partner on this project.

The presence of wildflowers around the lake had long been recognized and even pointed out on a map that was created by the ADVOCATE magazine in a booklet about the lake. So how was it determined to be an actual area of long lost prairie? That is where the plan began. It was decided that there would be no mowing in certain areas for at least a year, some areas two years, to see what came up. How was this decision determined you ask? Again going to the neighbors and groups, letting them know what was going to occur and having the group of scientists and other experts on board. Who were they you ask? Dr. Ken Steigman formerly with the Heard Museum-now director at LLELA, Dr. Lou Verner-TPWD, John Davis-TPWD, Jim Eidson-TNC, Barney Limpscomb - Bob O'Kennon - George Diggs all with BRIT and co-authors of Shinners and Mahler's Flora Of North Central Texas, Jim Apkin -botanist, Jeff Quayle-botanist, Jim Varnum-botanist, for starters. There have been others that became interested along the way, but this was the original group.

OK, so what happened when there was no mowing? First of all you have to understand that since the beginning of this park there has been mowing, that was why erosion terraces had to be built on the slopes by the CCC. You mow it, it rains and on those slopes around the lake erosion happens, not much vegetation to slow down the water so the terraces were built. But still able to survive somehow was this incredible seed bank and root system in the soil of the original prairie that had existed there for hundreds of years. Aw cum on you say, really? Yes, really. What grew in the next couple of years was astounding...Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, Eastern Gamagrass, Sideoats Grama, Purpletop....all native prairie species of grasses. And so much more, over 330 plant species identified so far. It was like a totally changed landscape, not just in the vegetation category, but also wildlife.

Raptors were returning to the lake. There had been some through the years, but now there was an incredible upswing in the number of sightings and nesting that was occurring. Members of the local Audubon chapter took notice. Eastern Bluebirds returned, bluebird houses were donated and placed by WBU with DPARD approval. There are now Bluebirds nesting in tree cavities around the lake every year, along with other cavity nesters, woodpeckers and owls. The number of  bird species identified at the lake has increased from around 250 and now is in the 320 range, if not more.

Where there is tall grass there are critters eating the seed and plants. Critters like rodents, no not the ones that live in buildings, field mice and rats, rabbits, box turtles, insects, raccoons, possums, and skunks, following them are the predators; lizards, snakes, raptors, coyote and bobcat. You can place the raccoon, possum and skunk in both categories by the way. They are omnivores. All have adapted to living within the urban surroundings because of the tall grass and riparian areas we have in this park.

How is this all managed...that is one of the biggest challenges faced.

Stay tuned....more to come.





Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Has it really been an hour since I posted that you should go to this blog and read about my response to this article http://www.dmagazine.com/…/2…/april/six-best-hikes-in-dallas

Good grief how Facebook makes the time fly. It is all the election, street repair, neighborhood, White Rock Lake, Trinity Project news that gets me so very distracted, steamed up and more and the time gets away from me.

So back to the great article by Bill Holston, a friend and fellow lover of all things nature. He had some great walks outlined for all of you to experience and some are my favs too, especially Cedar Ridge Preserve which was the Dallas Nature Center. Great trails and views. I walked there many times when Dr. Geoffrey Stanford was alive and was introduced to so many aspects of the environment just by listening and learning from him.
audubondallas.org/cedarridge.html

Another is the Scyene Overlook where I walked first with Ned Fritz and followed with many others. Ned was amazing. The man walked and talked so fast that you literally almost had to jog to keep up with him and hear what he was saying. amazing man who defended the GTF for years and was invaluable in saving the Big Thicket Preserve in East Texas from clear cutting.
http://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2012/may/10-top-trails-for-hiking-and-biking-in-dallas?single=1

Other places I explore are Breckinridge Park and the Spring Creek Nature Area in Richardson. Wonderful diversity of native plants to see and also after rains good wildlife tracking opportunities. Both are easy to get to and are not hard to navigate.
http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=39

If you have not been, you need to get down to see the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center in Cedar Hill. This is the perfect time to go, the Dogwoods are in bloom. What is so fascinating is that this is a relic population of Dogwoods that are growing out of the chalk rock. Most Dogwoods are in need of acidic soils to be healthy and grow well, not these. Plus the birding and other native plants are awesome there, a place where east meets west as far as flora/fauna are concerned. There is a fee here, but well worth it.
http://dogwoodcanyon.audubon.org/visit-us

Another fav is the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center...great boardwalk in the one of the wetland cells and  trails to Bunker's Pond too. Talk about the diversity of wildlife...wow! Beautiful place that has a lot of meaning for me. Fee here also, but go! You will be amazed!
wetlandcenter.com

Other places I walk....and you have to realize, this is not for exercise, too much distraction for me because I am always looking at plants or tracks or scat or something else that keeps me from continuing a steady pace. Anyway that other place is White Rock Lake. Off the concrete trail are some great places to really see things like the Old Fish Hatchery area, Flag Pole Hill, and Norbuck. A few other places I know of but then you would know too much and there would be more people and I will just remain quiet and let you find those places for yourself.
http://www.dallasparks.org/235/White-Rock-Lake

Enjoy the exploration.