Yesterday I mentioned a dead tree on Fosdic Lake Dam in Oakland Lake Park marked with a Big Red X. I said I assumed the X indicated the tree was to be removed, due to trees not being a good thing to have growing on a dam or levee.A Fort Worth Parks Department person, Mark Woolsey, confirmed the purpose of the X in an email regarding yesterday's blogging, saying,
"The red “X” identifies the tree to the forestry crew for removal. Blogger is correct, a tree growing in the dam generally is not a healthy thing."
I would guess I've been seeing that red X on that tree for at least 2 years. Now, how many trees can you spot growing out of the dam? There are trees growing out of the dam on both sides of the trail that crosses the dam. There are at least 6 trees growing out of the south side of the dam, with maybe a dozen or more growing out of the north side.
Only the dead tree is marked with a Big Red X. Some of the trees are quite large with trunks way thicker than mine.In Dallas, their version of the Trinity River Vision has had a hold up due to concerns about Trinity River levees having been compromised due to trees that had been allowed to grow into the levees.
In the first picture we are at the east end of the dam looking west. In the second picture you are at the west end of the dam looking east. In the third picture you are about halfway across the dam, looking at a thick tree trunk.
You can clearly see there are a lot of trees growing on Fosdic Lake Dam.
Now, the problem with having trees growing into a dam seems rather obvious. Trees have roots. Those roots go deep. The tangle of roots can weaken a dam. Dam fails. Big flood.
Though in the case of Fosdic Lake Dam failing, I doubt it'd be all that big a flood. The water would likely make a beeline for the Trinity River, slowed up by the secondary dam called Interstate 30.So, if, as Mr. Woolsey says, "a tree growing in the dam generally is not a healthy thing," how healthy is it to have 20 or 30 trees growing in a dam, one can't help but wonder.
Very perplexing. I suppose I'm once more raising an unnecessary concern without benefit of verification.
No, I verified there are trees growing in to Fosdic Lake Dam and photo-documented that fact. And I further verified that this is a problem, quoting a Fort Worth Parks Department person's assessment that trees growing in a dam is not a healthy thing.
16 comments:
My initial thought was that you were being ridiculous here, that the roots would merely help stability. So I checked and found your concern may have solid, er, roots. At FEMA, you may see http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1451
and there are others. The roots loosen the compacted earth & provide water pathways that get worse after the trees die & decay. Obviously removing the trunk of a dead tree doesn't fix the root problem.
Good observation!
Steve A----Thanks for deciding I made a good observation after initially thinking I was being ridiculous!
Dango, Sacramento just released a huge study involving this same thing on the Sacramento River. People made a huge deal of the possibility of removing hundreds of trees on the levees, so they decided to do a study. The Army Corps actually determined that the levees on the river are stronger as a result of the trees because the roots bind all the soil together, keeping water out. Brush and other lower shrubs have always been considered bad, but were proven to also help by binding top soil and preventing erosion. The brush and trees and such flatten out during floods providing little to no water resistance. Trees and brush are only bad if they are uprooted ... chunks of levee being pulled off = bad. Maybe that's why they'd rather not chance have foliage? I don't know if dams are much different from levees, but both are designed to hold water at bay. I'm under the impression that they should leave them. Plus, they look pretty.
Also, with the red "X," I can't help but think of Fern Gully. I hope cutting the tree down doesn't release a giant, toxic, destroyer that sings horrible songs like in the movie ... then a broken dam would be the least of your concerns, lol.
Jovo---The Army Corp of Engineers came to a different conclusion regarding the Trinity levees in Dallas. Maybe Texas trees and dirt are different than California trees and dirt.
Have you considered that, fracking of hundreds of eastside gas wells might impact dam integrity? Also, the seismic testing being done by drilling companies to locate "sweet spots" causes hundreds of little earthquakes, by design. No foolin'.
TXsharon posted a blog today on a similar subject:
http://txsharon.blogspot.com/2009/12/why-are-drilling-induced-earthquakes.html
DY---I'm almost gonna be nervous walking across the Fosdic Lake Dam anymore.
Maybe it's be a blessing in disguise type thing if the dam failed. If that happened maybe the Fosdic Lake bed could be cleaned of whatever so pollutes it that you can't swim in it, boat in it or eat the fish you catch in it.
Some sorta filter system intercepting the incoming water could be installed, the dam re-built, the lake re-filled, with a nice swimming beach and docks to tie your boat to.
I call this the Fosdic Lake Vision. Much cheaper than the Trinity River Vision, what with the Fosdic Lake Vision already having its little lake, just in need of a little tweaking.
This is a good dam discussion on the topic that we all should give a dam about. I like your dam vision much better than that other Vision..cuz it sucks--tax dollars,private property, etc.
Anonymous---You're dam(n) right.
I like your Frosdic Lake vision, too, Dango. You should send that in to the Parks Dept, eh? You should pass it on to Dallas in reference to White Rock Lake, too, k?
Ummm, you know they gave the go ahead on the Dallas levees, right? Margaret is gonna be finished on time! :D
Jovo---Yeah, I recollect reading recently the go ahead was finally given on the Dallas levees. I've gotta get over there and see that project. Apparently some of it is underway and viewable. But I've never seen any of it.
It was only about 2-3 weeks ago that they were cleared. You really should see it. You can see the giant concrete piers that will anchor the arch. From the looks of those it's gonna be stinking huge. The upper levee roads around the approaches to continental ave are the best views. Also a great jog around there if you're into that. My runs through there are the best views. ^_^
Jovo---Interesting info. I like to watch big things get built, like the Dallas Cowboy Stadium, or the new Tacoma Narrows Suspension Bridge. Much check out the new bridge underway in Dallas. But I won't do that while jogging. It's not easy to jog when you're obese.
Well. Too bad you missed practically all of Uptown Dallas being built over the last 2 years. I hadn't been to Dallas in about as long and it was crazy weird when I flew in this week. Eerie to see the change. It'll be even better with the bridge. And you're not obese!!!!!! *scowls* You can bike ride on part of it, then be brave and cross the Continental Ave bridge into Victory Park and then bike the Katy Trail! KT is very lovely and has some pretty neat views of Down/Uptown. Sometimes the rocks play classical music!!!
Jovo---I've seen a lot of the new stuff in Dallas. Was there when cranes stuck up in the air all over the north end of the downtown zone. Drove all over Dallas when the parental units were here earlier in the year. Maybe I'll go to Dallas today.
Are you gonna drive shirtless? Will Jovo ride shotgun and be your Spanish interpreter? Be sure and video your and Jovo's (?)great adventure. Durango Does Dallas--coming to a theater near you.
Anonymous #2---It is too cold to drive around shirtless. I don't believe Jovo is in Dallas, so he won't be riding shotgun. Durango already did Dallas, but no movie was made.
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