Friends of Bachman Lake - March
- Friends of Bachman Lake
- 18 minutes ago
- 6 min read
"What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action." — Meister Eckhart
The Year of the Horse
So, we have entered the year of the Fire Horse which is anticipated to bring a wave of energy and opportunity, encouraging individuals (and organizations) to harness this dynamic period for growth and achievement. You could say that Friends of Bachman Lake has pretty much done that in just the first month of the year with the transformation at the Greenbelt created by the removal of the privet! We need more waves of energy this month to help with picking up all the trash we’ve uncovered, so please join us on March 14th, to continue to make change happen!
What Happened? Privet Removal Happened!
Hello dear friends! We are excited to let you know that all the privet in the greenbelt has been removed. Yes, you read that right, ALL the privet is gone! Talk about starting the year off with a bang, which is probably not the greatest analogy as it does look like a bomb went off. But don’t worry though; it was just a forest mulcher bringing the privet to heel. We had to resort to mechanical removal because those privet bushes were basically trees and the poor goats we had out last year were just not able to make enough of a difference.
We were working under a very tight deadline of completing the work before the start of the bird nesting season on March 15th. The project completed March 3rd thanks to the amazing work done by ArborMasters. Their team has been responsive and, thankfully, the weather cooperated. It started raining on the 4th.
Being able to see vistas at the greenbelt is rather astounding and even disorienting if you've not seen the change. There is a lot of brown on the ground from the debris left from the chopped up privet, but now you can see the trees, the hill, the bridges. The debris will break down over time and for now it serves as a method of erosion control. What will happen next is that we need to let the privet grow a little in order to do a first spray. Next year we will mow the whole area again and maybe ask the goats to come back out. We are told that this process will repeat itself again and again, for about three years.
It is now easier to imagine those fields of wildflowers!
Here are some before and after photos. Slide to the next image to see the difference!
With the news about the progress made at the greenbelt, we felt it appropriate to share a link to this great podcast explaining exactly what it is about the outdoors that has such a powerful effect on our mood and our minds; how spending time in nature can actually undo some of the harmful effects of our modern lives.
Adopt-A-Shoreline Program Gaining Interest
We're glad to see renewed interest in the Adopt-A-Shoreline program at Bachman Lake Park. Any business, non-profit, school, church, or local organization can help Bachman Lake Park by adopting a small portion of the shoreline to keep it litter free.
How it works: Every quarter a group from your organization would volunteer at Bachman Lake Park by cleaning up your adopted section. We will be happy to discuss specific needs and schedules once we get in touch with you. But first, let us know if you're interested! Email info@friendsofbachmanlake.org).
Read more information about the Adopt-A-Shoreline at Bachman Lake Park here.
Going Swimmingly? Not Quite Yet.
The Bachman Recreation Center indoor pool re-opening is getting oh, so close, but there are still some final tests and preparations before swimming can take place again.
The new HVAC unit has been installed and partially tested. The tech was on site two weeks ago (from this post) and got the new unit to run through the cooling mode. However, the pool needed to be heated to be able to test the dehumidification mode. The Pool Heater was fixed and turned back on Monday, March 9. As of this posting, the earliest the HVAC tech can come back out is on March 25.
Bachman Dam Ribbon Cutting Later This Month
The long-awaited ribbon cutting for the completion of the Bachman Lake Dam Project will soon be upon us. The original date was moved due to inclement weather.
Save the date: March 31 from 10am-11am.
Details will soon be posted by DWU so feel free to monitor the Bachman Lake Dam website for information and any changes!
The trail improvements near the Bachman Lake Dam are almost done. Construction crews are finishing the new asphalt trail surface and have installed new lighting fixtures, benches and trash containers.
During the design phase, the project team adjusted the trail alignment near the Bachman Recreation Center to avoid impacting nearby mature trees. While new small saplings were planted near the wetland area, trees cannot be placed too close to the dam structure due to safety regulations
We're excited to see the new trail and thrilled with all the new trees!
Donate $20 (or more) and Pick a T-Shirt (or more)
Our popular Bachman Lake T-Shirts featuring a lake silhoutte and playful lettering have a new companion. A refreshed design for 2026 themed "Bachman Lake Life" is now available for donations of $20 or more via a special link on the website.
The new shirts, in a pale blue hue, depict a circular design showing life around Bachman Lake with a prominent skater, joggers and a cyclist enjoying familiar activities at the lake. The upper back of the shirt features the Friends of Bachman Lake logo.
The original design will be available until the stock runs out. You can order up to 4 shirts at a time, one shirt for each $20 donation. Be sure to include an email or other contact so we can arrange for a time and place for you to pick up your shirt.
A great way to get your shirt is during our Monthly Meet and Greet (typically every 4th Wednesday). See our events below for more.
Events
Meet and Greet Every 4th Wednesday
March 25 5:00PM
Let's meet at On Rotation Brewery and Kitchen to meet over your favorite beverage and get to know each other! This is a purely social event that gives you just a bit more insight about Friends of Bachman Lake and community efforts to make all our lives better. Let's talk! Our Meet and Greet is scheduled for the 4th Wednesday of each month, weather and schedule permitting.
*Note that times/dates are subject to change. We will issue notices if the event changes or is postponed.
Bachman Lake Dam Project Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
March 31 - 10:00am
Dallas Water Utilities and the Bachman Lake Dam project team are planning a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the end of March to celebrate the completion of the Bachman Lake Dam and Spillway Improvements Project. Final details are not yet available so please check the Bachman Lake Dam website and DWU social media channels at Facebook, Instagram and X.
Spring Clean-Up and OnRotation Meetup!
March 14 - 9:00am - 12:00pm
Thanks to a very generous donation at the end of last year, the majority of privet has been removed! Come check out the beautiful topography at the Bachman Greenbelt and while you are here, join us for some spring cleaning! We are partnering with Greenspace Dallas to pick up trash in the newly opened areas and afterwards will head to OnRotation for a beer or your favorite beverage. Details and more information can be found here.
Tree Planting Event at Brownwood Park!
March 28 - 9:00am
Brownwood Park, 3400 Walnut Hill Lane
Join Laura Cadena, Dallas City Council District 6, and Adam Medrano, Dallas Park
and Recreation Board Member District 6, Gay Donnell Willis, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem
Dallas City Council District 13, and Sally Hodge, Dallas Park and Recreation Board
Member District 13 for this community event as volunteers come together to keep
Dallas parks green.
