I had no idea that there was a group of folks so dedicated to grass. I’m talking about the Blackland Prairie Chapter of the Native Prairies Association of Texas. Most press releases that come through my email don’t get much attention. This one caught my eye. For reasons that will become obvious:
It was with great excitement that the Blackland Prairie Chapter of the Native Prairies Association of Texas learned of the upcoming March 8 symposium sponsored by D Magazine, “Envisioning the Trinity: Theme Park or Natural Wonder.” We support all efforts to create a Trinity River park system that works with this magnificent Blackland Prairie river and its native grasses, and not against it. The ideas outlined in D’s March “Wild Dallas” section on the Trinity have great merit and need vigorous exploration and support. We welcome the Blackland Prairie’s return and offer our resources in service to the prairie.
Before settlers reached North Texas, the Trinity River floodplain was thick with big bluestem, switchgrass, Indian grass, eastern gamagrass, and other natives. Rabbits and deer roamed amid the long strappy leaves soaring six feet tall or more. At the approach of a bobcat or coyote, large flocks of quail, doves and other birds fluttered into the sky.
When the wind kicked up, the grass undulated like waves in a sea of green. Pocketed like jewels in the prairie were shallow lakes redolent with wildlife. In the fall, golden and rust colored seed heads made the floodplain glow and attracted huge flocks of waterfowl.Because of native grasses’ phenomenally extensive root systems, converting the Trinity floodplain back to prairie would reduce erosion and enhance flood control. Native grasses produce oxygen at the same level as many forests, improving air quality in a highly urban area. The wide-scale beauty of the prairie, complemented by the flocks of waterfowl attracted to its wetlands, would look spectacular from Dallas’ signature bridges. You’d see hikers, bikers and nature enthusiasts flocking to its trails.
The Blackland Prairie Chapter of the Native Prairies Association of Texas believes the increased beauty and wildlife of an urban Blackland Prairie along the Trinity would enhance nature tourism and make the Trinity floodplain as rich in nature’s bounty as the Great Trinity Forest. We agree that the most affordable and sustainable approach is to complement the prairie river’s natural qualities, rather than forcing it to be something it is not.
