WHAT IS WATER HEMLOCK? Water Hemlock was discovered at White Rock Lake Park in July. City officials have begun work to eliminate the hemlock but stated there are a number of plants at the park. Visitors are asked to be cautious. Water Hemlock is a toxic plant that grows near water. It has small clusters of white flowers in an umbrella shape. It is usually one-half meter-1 meter high.
It looks similar to cow parsnip. Do not ingest or touch the plant.
The Department of Agriculture called it the most “deadly plant in North America.”
If exposed to Water Hemlock, immediately contact a poison control center at 800-222-1222.
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SOURCE: CITY OF DALLAS/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
the Love of the Lake, the nonprofits volunteers and members provided 13,000 hours of volunteer labor in 2021. Dallas officials estimated this amount of labor would have cost $326,430 to the city. “It really helps to have commu- nity partners to shoulder some of the workload out there, and that exists because people love the lake so much,” Heistein said. To help preserve that environment, in 2021 For the Love of the Lake vol- unteers collected an estimated 400 cubic yards of trash. Through July of this year, the organization estimates it has collected 299 cubic yards of trash at a value of $225,000 of free labor. The nonprofit also organizes special group cleanup events where schools, companies or other organizations can schedule a time to pick up trash at a designated area off the lake. For the Love of the Lake will provide trash bags, trash grabber tools, canoes and more for volunteers to assist with trash pickup. The nonprofit also part- ners with various organizations to sponsor 50 different sites around the lake for regular trash cleanup. “It is everybody’s lake, and we want people to enjoy it,” said Zsohar. “It is the jewel of the city. We will do any- thing we can to keep it clean and pris- tine for future generations.” Protecting the lake In addition to community support, funds to help further improve the lake could be on the horizon. The city of Dallas is proposing a $1 billion bond program for the May ballot in 2024. If that bond passes, funds could be allo- cated to complete a dredging of White Rock Lake, according to Dallas Parks and Recreation Department officials. Dredging is the process of removing
accumulated rocks, dirt and sediment from a lake to restore depth and main- tain water quality, according to the White Rock Lake Dredging Feasibility Study. The study was done in 2020, and it estimates the cost of dredg- ing could be anywhere from $32 mil- lion-$88 million. District 9 Council Member Paula Blackmon has emphasized that pro- tecting and improving White Rock Lake is one of her goals. She said in a city memo that White Rock Lake must be dredged to maintain the lake’s integrity and ecosystem. “It has been over 20 years since White Rock Lake has been dredged, and currently the silt accumulation can be up to 7 feet thick in some loca- tions,” Blackmon stated in the memo. “We are seeing more wetlands cre- ated because of this accumulation; the water quality and surrounding ecosystem are hitting critical levels. White Rock Lake is in desperate need of maintenance and care.” No exact timeline has been announced on the dredging, but parks department officials estimate it could take up to four years to begin work if the funds were made available via the 2024 bond. A 15-member citizens bond task force is expected to be appointed by next summer to help develop project and infrastructure proposals for the potential 2024 bond funds, accord- ing to a July city release. City officials stated residents are encouraged to contact the task force or local coun- cil members to provide feedback on the proposed bond and how its funds should be allocated.
Your personal WHY matters. NTX Giving Day is your opportunity to connect with the causes that matter most to you and make an impact right where you live. Join this movement of generosity and community connection.
NORTHTEXASGIVINGDAY.ORG Learn more and give online beginning September 1:
Find your PASSION. Give with PURPOSE.
We know the neighborhood.
JacksonSells Team 214.827.2400 scott.jackson@compass.com jacksonsells.com
The JacksonSells Team is a team of real estate agents affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by federal, state, and local Equal Housing Opportunity laws.
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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LAKE HIGHLANDS - LAKEWOOD EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
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