Vegetation in Natural Areas

In parks where there is room for flood waters to spread out, the vegetation helps slow the water, thereby limiting the flowing waters’ energy and erosion potential. Vegetation acts in a similar manner as concrete and rock infrastructures. But better and for free! Parks and open space also serve as vital City green stormwater infrastructure by slowing flood waters and providing space for the water to settle; increasing infiltration to recharge underground aquifers, thereby helping to prevent downstream flooding of neighborhoods.

By mowing all vegetation, erosion increases along stream banks. The vegetation acts as a natural armor for banks and takes most of the force of water during a storm event. If no vegetation is left to protect the soil, it erodes and washes away. Erosion decreases water quality and clarity, stresses aquatic species and silts up lakes downstream. The erosion eventually moves inland away from the stream bank and threatens infrastructure and property. Excessive stream bank erosion results in costly repairs.

Mowing

Parks and open space serve multiple purposes ranging from active recreation to flood mitigation. Active use areas such as soccer and baseball fields, dog parks, skate parks, playgrounds, and golf courses are maintained by frequent mowing. Natural Areas are where Nature reigns. These areas allow for passive recreational activities such as trails, nature-viewing, and exploration. Natural Areas also provide ecosystem services such as slowing and detaining floodwater, wildlife habitat and connectivity, and filtering our drinking water and the air we breathe. 

Litter Control

In an urban environment, litter on our streets and waterways present an ongoing challenge. Park staff and contractors pick up litter in parks weekly. Keep Fort Worth Beautiful, whose mission is to educate and engage Fort Worth residents and businesses to take responsibility for improving their community environment, organizes volunteer groups to pick up litter in parks and streams. Adjacent neighborhoods and park visitors can help by safely picking litter up when they can. You can volunteer too! Challenge yourself to pick up 10 pieces of litter on your daily walk. Nearby neighborhoods can help by securing their household trash and placing their trash at the curb the morning of their scheduled solid waste pick-up.

 I see a ton of Ragweed!

Giant ragweed is a native plant that grows in wet soils. It is one of the first species to establish along stream banks, pond and lake shorelines when the water recedes. It provides seed and shelter to wildlife and over time will decrease in abundance as other higher quality plant species replace it and shade it out. In some limited cases, park staff may thin the ragweed. Our goal is to allow vegetation buffers along streams to protect the soil, stream bank, and water quality. If we are patient, trees will grow and the buffer will transition into a shaded forest.

Is that algae?

There are many species of native ‘green’ plants that grow in ponds and streams. The first step is to determine what the species are and if they are out of control. Some ponds have fountains that aerate the water, which reduces algae blooms. If algae becomes a serious problem, the Park Department may employ several techniques to control it.Learn more about native and non-native aquatic plants.

Invasive Vegetation

The Park Department prioritizes parks with extreme invasive species problems. As time and resources allow, staff employs numerous methods to remove and control invasive species. If you would like to volunteer to assist with invasive species control; or if your neighborhood association would like to adopt a park, contact us at: https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/parks

The Park Department maintains the majority of all parks via biweekly mowing. A firebreak is mowed around the Natural Areas and stream buffers. The Fort Worth Fire Department is trained to respond to wildfires, and the mowed firebreaks will help control the spread of a fire. In some parks, natural resource experts in the Park Department use prescribed fire to manage vegetation. The City of Fort Worth Fire Department assist with burns in our parks and open space.

While these activities can take place anywhere, vegetation creates areas where this type of activity may occur. Park staff visits parks frequently and Fort Worth Police Department patrols parks. When homeless camps are discovered, the City of Fort Worth has humane protocol to address the situation. Vegetation management procedures will adapt in response to illicit and illegal activities.