News from the River (Cont.) The Trinity River Audubon Center Opens October 18-19, 2008! This amazing center owned by the City of Dallas and operated by the National Audubon Society is just eight minutes from downtown Dallas and it will soon welcome students from schools throughout Dallas, and host many other visitors. The flagship facility is noted for its science and education initiatives featuring wet labs and interactive learning spaces. It is projected that as many as 25,000 school children will visit the center annually. This remarkable teaching facility provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience that will positively impact students’ ability to better learn and understand concepts of science, nature and mathematics. Wetland Cell G – Enhanced Flood Protection and Wildlife Habitat The work on this cell started in 2006 by tearing down the Sleepy Hollow Golf Course’s 40,000 square foot club house. The size of this structure once closely approximated one acre of land or 43,560 square feet! Wetland Cell G is part of the lower chain of wetlands built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the City of Dallas. The entire lower chain consists of Wetland Cells E, F and G covering 170 acres. Each of these is being built as thousands of cars a day travel down I-45 headed north. These wetland areas are an important component of flood control in Dallas, keeping neighborhoods safe from heavy rains and upstream runoff. Currently, the lower chain of wetlands is located from I-45 along the west bank of the Trinity River with a portion of Wetland Cell G visible from South Loop 12 while traveling east. Creating wetland areas or reclaiming them is a complex project and it requires the assembling of many interrelated components in terms of water from natural sources or wastewater treatment plants; soil and sediment preparation; plant studies and management; fish, invertebrate, animal and insect studies; and the understanding of microorganisms. It is hard to believe these are all related to flood management, but it takes the coordination of all these components to achieve an effective wetland strategy. Projects of this nature and scope are being funded and created in many different areas around the country. In Dallas, these wetland cells reduce nitrogen and phosphorous levels acting as additional conduits and cleansing filters for treated effluent coming from the wastewater treatment plant. They also help manage water overflow from the Trinity River by providing a less resistant path for water flowing through the Great Trinity Forest; and the three cell system itself creates enhanced wildlife habitats. Right now, it is easy to see the large size and the distinctive “Y” shape of Wetland Cell G. Currently, the Corps is grading the berms and creating terracing or shelves in the soil that will form the outer edges of the habitat, while the center will be deeper to accommodate more water. This water depth diversity is vital for the success and variety of plant life and wildlife the wetland cell will maintain. You can see the earthmovers and bulldozers kickin’ up dust daily! Studies of how the aquatic plants in Wetland Cell D (currently constructed off IH-45 at Overton Rd.) have performed over the past two years will provide valuable information on how and what to plant in Wetland Cell G for the achievement of the best long-term results. At its deepest, a wetland cell holds about nine feet of water and once the sluice is opened, the “Y” will fill and the cell will hold water continually providing a picturesque setting to compliment the waterfowl and ultimately the Loop 12 Gateway Park that will be built nearby.
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