My Trinity River News - January 2009

News from the River (Cont.)

Get Ready to Run! (con't)

The 5th Annual Trinity River Levee Run will begin at 8:30am on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at Trammel Crow Park located at 3700 Sylvan Avenue. The event is open to the public and participants can register at www.dallasrunningclub.com or on race day before 8:30 a.m. The entry fee is $20 for the general public and all proceeds will benefit the Trinity Commons Foundation.

2008 Urban Design Award

In December, the Trinity River Audubon Center was awarded the 2008 Urban Design Award from the Greater Dallas Planning Council. The Greater Dallas Planning Council is an organization that is focused on issues that shape growth within the region and work to address these issues from a broad range of community and professional perspectives. The Urban Design Award highlights projects that add to the quality of life and “sense-of-place” within the Dallas area. The City of Dallas is proud to receive this award on behalf of this project and is excited that its efforts to restore the land and build a beautiful green building in Dallas was recognized by the council.

NTTA awards Trinity Parkway Contracts

The Trinity Parkway has just passed an important milestone. On Wednesday, December 17, 2008, the North Texas Tollway Authority awarded $35 million in contracts to advance progress of the toll road project.

The money will fund eight contracts that will allow the design phase of the Parkway to begin. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval is required for the design due to the fact that the new Parkway will be located within the floodway. Once consultants complete the initial design phase of the Parkway design, which is scheduled to be complete in May 2009, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin their evaluation and permitting processes. The North Texas Tollway Authority will be awarding the remaining design contracts to complete the Parkway to 100% in future months.

In addition to the design work, the contracts will fund a traffic and revenue engineering study. At completion, this study will provide a clearer picture of the level of traffic relieved by the Parkway and the revenue that will be generated once the Parkway is in use.

Once complete, the 10 mile toll road will provide traffic relief along the IH-30 and IH-35 traffic corridors. With the contracts awarded and the design phase underway, Dallas citizens should be prepared to see this phase of the Trinity River Corridor Project come to life in 2010.

a new future

The preferred habitat for the Bald Eagle is undisturbed coastal regions or lake shores with large, tall (40-120 feet) trees for nesting (taller than general forest canopy, providing unobstructed flight path to nest) and roosting. Niches on large cliffs near water are also used as nesting sites. Usually, it is important for nesting and roosting areas to be within half of a mile of wetland areas. These areas are important for feeding. Bald Eagles like to winter along major rivers and reservoirs because this is where fish and other food sources are available.

In Texas, Bald Eagles nest from October to July. Nests are constructed primarily by the female, with the male assisting. The typical nest is constructed of large sticks, with softer materials such as leaves, grass and Spanish moss used as nest lining. Nests are typically used for a number of years, with the birds adding nest materials every year. These nests are often very large, measuring up to six feet in width and weighing hundreds of pounds. These birds are territorial and they often have more than one “residence” or nest within their territories. Peak egg-laying is December, with hatching taking place primarily in January. Eggs hatch within 36 days of the time they are laid and the young generally fledge in 11 to 12 weeks flying away from the nest.