ArlingtonArlington Conservation oak CouncilCouncilPOSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOST workingworking toto conserveconservePOSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOST arlington’sarlington’s naturalnatural resourcesresources volumevolume 7,7, numbernumber 1111 december 2006 UpUp thethe Creek:Creek: TheTheTheThe JohnsonJohnsonJohnsonJohnson CreekCreekCreekCreek IssueIssueIssueIssue Post Oak december 2006 2 A long, meandering story. Hope? Despair? What next? This issue of the Post Oak is devoted Certainly it’s long past time to dream This issue focuses mostly on the last to theJohnsonJohnsonJohnson trials and tribulations of the of a natural corridor through town.CreekCreekCreek10 years or so. A lot has happened JohnsonJohnson CreekCreeksince 1995, and drastic changes have waterway that has been most closely This Johnson Creek story contains associated with Arlington’s history. bits and pieces from the past and occurred in just the last few months. Surely Johnson Creek’s The Johnson Creek sage is mostly a location has been its curse in tale of loss that culminates in the terms of habitat destruction, Just how many things can we do to one creek? dramatic structures of the Dallas Here a sewer line crosses near the confluence water quality, erosion, and Cowboys stadium and Glorypark town of Johnson and Trading House Creeks. siltation. center. Those developments will Of course, the same things change much more than the creek. have happened to streams, We despair at the most recent rivers, lakes, and bays world- habitat losses in that area of massive development, but we must look for wide. All it takes is settlement hope where we can. Will we find it in and development close to the latest Johnson Creek plan? Some water, and that’s just where of our most experienced members people have always wanted to think not, and their opinions must be settle. The Johnson Creek respected and carefully considered. story is an emotional one for However, I want to find reasons to many of us, but it’s far from hope, so for now I place my remaining unique. questions about the future. There are bit of trust in the expertise of the Johnson Creek’s troubles probably many omissions, and I apologize to all consultants and in the attitudes and began over 150 years ago. Today, we those not named who struggled at one talents of our Parks Department staff. can only hope that bits and pieces will time or another to help the creek and May they serve the creek well. survive in some diminished state. its plants and animals. John Darling Editor The Post oak Published 10 times a year by the Arlington Conservation Council P.O. Box 216, Arlington TX 76004-0216. METRO 817/265-2902 LOCAL 817/274-2905 John Darling, Editor 1316 S. Pecan St. THE LAW O FFICE Arlington TX 76010 OF S HANE G OETZ 817-274-1077 [email protected] 715 WEST ABRAM ST. ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76013 Contributors John Blair, Julia Burgen, John Dycus Proofreader Grace Darling Goading Grace Darling, Marian Hiler Mailing Specialists Peg and Tom Kennedy Post Oak december 2006 3 Julia and the Creek Julia Burgen Note: It’s hard to imagine anyone who concrete channel for the creek from public parkland and purchased with has given more time and effort to Park Row Drive to Mitchell Street. And tax money. JohnsonJohnsonJohnsonJohnson Creek issues over the years I was a key player in the public CreekCreekCreekI retired from City Council after than Julia Burgen, former ACC Presi- process for making a plan to deal with three terms in May 2003. Then came dent and outstanding environmental the problems caused by a creek in the the voters’ approval of the Cowboys activist. Her article doesn’t just reflect middle of much unwise development. Stadium project in November 2004, the frustrations many of us share; it As a member of the Arlington City although those who voted yes were details the tangled recent history that Council beginning in May 1997, I was probably not aware of voting on will shape the creek’s future. a key supporter of both sales tax anything related to Johnson Creek. elections to fund the Johnson Creek In January 2005, I asked city The extensive Star- Corridor Plan. The first ballot, in May officials and staff what effects the Telegram article 1998, probably would have passed, stadium project might have on the with photos and but for the Smithsonian and art approved Johnson Creek Ecosystem graphics on interests that were added two months Restoration plan. I was told there “Reinventing before the vote. would be none, that the Corps of Johnson Creek” With the failure of a second sales Engineers had been authorized to published on July tax vote in January 2000, the Corps continue their ecosystem work on 16, 2006, was an those 90 acres. A portion of that land admirable effort by required no reme- Neil Strassman to shed some light on dial work. In fact, changes to the creek that have been the U.S. Fish and simmering, hidden for over a year. Wildlife Service had While I should be pleased that the previously rated the listing and photos of “Key Players” land north of started off with me, I am no longer a Sanford as Re- key player in the reinvented Johnson source Category Creek, despite my efforts from about 2—high quality 1989 through 2003. wildlife habitat. I came to that involvement follow- Yet very soon ing many years of advocacy on sound changes occurred in floodplain management issues. the city’s planning. By 1985, increasing development in Even in a drought a rainstorm can mean loss of soil, Despite my experi- the Trinity’s floodplain finally moved trees, and even asphalt. Johnson Creek at Park Row ence in river and the Army Corps of Engineers to hold a and Pecan on March 19, 2006. creek issues and hearing on the problem that threat- especially Johnson ened to overtop the Dallas levees with Creek, my expertise and the city used funds from a feder- the next big flood. I was the person at was not sought. What transpired over the February 12 1985 meeting who ally approved project to buy out 144 the next year was done out of the said, “The Metroplex does not have a homes built in the creek’s 25-year public eye. beach, or a mountain, or a canyon. floodplain. This $26,000,000 project [Editor’s note: Around this time the The only natural feature we have to tie was mostly aimed at flood damage Cowboys were planning massive this area together is the river.” That reduction with ecosystem restoration changes along the west side of the comment was used many times in the and some passive recreation. It was creek; the city was laying out new ensuing 15 years, during which the the largest project of its type in the roads for the stadium; and Steiner + North Central Texas Council of United States. Associates proposed to build a large Governments, the river towns and the Homes were purchased and town center whose western edge would Corps hashed out a plan. undeveloped land was bought to add be close to the creek. Steiner and the From 1989 on I became concerned to flood water storage and to restore Rangers contracted with Applied about problems along Johnson Creek the creek’s damaged ecosystem. Ecological Associates to draft a new caused by longstanding failures to keep Included were 90 acres north of the plan for Johnson Creek.] development out of the floodplain. railroad track and south of Randol Mill The original Johnson Creek Corri- I was a key player in the 1995 effort Road. These acres were considered dor Plan was a model of public that led to the city’s decision against a continued on page 4 Post Oak december 2006 4 Julia and the Creek continued from page 3 involvement, but the new Johnson us were very concerned about the The U.S. legislation deauthorizing Creek Conservation Plan has had no possible fate of the high quality wildlife the 90 acres indicates that the land will formal public input. It was finally habitat in that area. To at least a few be replaced elsewhere in the city. One revealed at a City Council work session people who asked, Mr. Wright seemed of the possible sites includes the old in March 2006. to indicate that none of the 90 acres Snider Auto Salvage land on West In June 2005 Arlington Conservation would be used for parking lots. Division. To replace excellent wildlife Council members were invited to a On February 14, 2006, this item habitat with that damaged land would meeting at which consultant Mark appeared on the evening agenda at City be a travesty. And money will have to O’Leary from Applied Ecological Council: “Dallas Cowboys Develop- be spent to purchase some of the Services discussed his work for the ment Project-Amendment to Lease replacement 90 acres. The taxpayers Rangers and Steiner to deal with Agreement – Second Amendment – have already paid once for the original siltation at the Rangers lakes and Authorizing the execution of a Second 90 acres. Now we must pay again? erosion of the creek near their parking Amendment to the Cowboys Complex Even if some of the 1997 Park Bond lot. It was evident that the meeting was money is used for the purchase, the not open to the taxpayers will still be paying twice for general public and that acreage. Phase I of the reinvented Johnson that the press was A tranquil view of Johnson Creek in the general not wanted. vicinity of the Cowboys stadium. How will it look Creek Conservation Plan addresses Texas has a law in the future? funding only for work from the railroad that allows cities to track north through the baseball sell public parkland, property.