Widow Makers Are The Most Dangerous for Parks and Recreation

In normal times (pre-storm times) when seeing a widow maker, it was just second nature to flag down a parks and recreation guy to report the danger. Over the years, I've reported many widow makers. When the massive storm took out over 700 trees in early summer, just clearing the big majestic trees out of the way to open up roads, get power back on for traffic signals and then do the same day after day after day, only to have more break off and fall right where the guys had cleared a day or two beforehand. The crews were well organized and took every thing by stages as to tree sizes, whether entire trees were uprooted or in some cases where old growth were split right down the trunks or snapped off 40-50 feet up in the canopies. It wasn't these guys first rodeo by any means. This storm was by far one of the worse in years.

The Chipper was snacking on some pretty big branches

Cutting out the Dangers

Widow Makers Hanging in Trees

Driving through the park in that expanse of time, one could spot problems blocks away.When park goers saw supervisors riding around the trails in their golf carts, people were being unfair to even talk about the park crews needed to step up their game instead of riding around in their golf carts. It was hard to keep my tongue pinned down on my teeth while they talked their ignorance. White Rock has one of the best crews of maintenance workers the park system has. Most people don't even know that some are assigned to the west side of the lake while others are assigned to the east side and would not even recognize  the west crews when they are going to the barn behind Sunset Bay.

Today, after getting some of the most amazing shots of the large wing yellow Swallowtail butterflies, I parks and watched one crew clearing out a tangle of widow makers near the bike gates. One was as large a couple of feet across and it was wedged in other branches that were dead wood. With winds finally picking up today to near 20 MPH (they have been in the 5 MPH range) the danger of widow makers  danger increases significantly.

Meanwhile, the annual cutting of the meadows that have been marked as 'No Mow' zones has begun and is progressing faster than I had expected. These guys have been dealt every kind of maintenance hand by Mother Nature this year and they have not missed step one. In my book, these guys are super and I am thankful that they work at White Rock to maintain the park in top notch condition.

Many Thanks, Guys. Job Well Done.

The Sun Returned

With the rain out of here, the sun was out for the first time since Thanksgiving Day. Even though the light north wind was a bit cutting at times, it still was a delightful day to get the cardio walk in and

The tidal pool looks placid again.

Birds were every where in the trees.

The beaver several days ago. See the tail----it's for sure, a beaver.

take a few pictures.

The storm with over eight-inches of rain was hard on the beaver population. Four beavers were killed. The city parks service picked up the last one this afternoon. I really did appreciate the help that I got from  Parks and Recreation to take care of the one that was in a very populated spot for visitors. Thanks to the guys at the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department for their help. Two were killed crossing 78 at San Rafael;one on the Dixon Creek crossing of Buckner and the fourth washed up into the parking area at Sunset Bay. I had just taken a picture of one going up the channel into the old fish hatchery just before the storms hit. I've been looking for him but haven't seen him again. I fear the worse outcome with the recent outcome from confirmed deaths.

The water flow has really slowed down. The grass caught on top of the new USGS automated water gauge is still funny. I'll call the field office and find out how they report that much water flow.