USACE FLOOD WATER STORAGE IN GATEWAY PARK

The future United States Army Corps of Engineers bypass channel will protect more than 2,400 acres of established neighborhoods in Fort Worth from the highest level of flooding. However, the USACE bypass channel cannot accomplish this alone. In times of flooding water will be moving through the future bypass channel but there has to be a way to slow that water down so we aren’t flooding our neighbors to the east. A series of flood water storage sites is crucial to the Central City Project.

The amount of material moved as well as the locations themselves were carefully chosen. These flood water storage sites provide the needed flood protection but also provide multiple use opportunities. In many cases (Riverside Park and Gateway Park for example), USACE will excavate the valley storage site and then that area can be turned over to the City of Fort Worth to provide wonderful park amenities for our city.

Click here to see the City of Forth Worth’s plans for recreation in Gateway Park.

ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION

The Riverside Wastewater Treatment Plant in Gateway Park was shut down in the mid-1970s by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality due to environmental conditions leaving behind its ruins as seen in the photo.

In an effort to not allow any kind of contaminants from the decommissioned plant to reach the Trinity River the City of Fort Worth, in partnership with the Department of Defense, developed a program to clean up the wastewater plant site removing all potential hazardous material to a certified landfill. Upon completion this area will then be able to be fully utilized for creating wetlands, aquatic habitat, improved forested areas and recreational trails.

LAND RECLAMATION

The eastern portion of Gateway Park was once home to a large city landfill used for household refuge. As seen in the photo, the land remained vacant and under-utilized until the City of Fort Worth successfully worked out a smart plan with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to reclaim the property for recreational use.

The City then worked with USACE to secure the landfill site as a location to deposit 1.5 million cubic yards of dirt on top of the old landfill providing a very large cap. The large cap made the area prime for enhanced surface uses. The area is now being planned soccer fields, baseball diamonds and park amenities to serve the entire community.

RIVER RESTORATION

In the 1960’s the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers channelized the Trinity River in the area now known as Gateway Park. The channelization cut off a large section of the natural river leaving behind a large dry river oxbow. This oxbow became home to 200-year-old trees in distress and an area littered with ragweed and illegal dumping. As seen in the photo, the Gateway Park Plan has already returned the flow of the river to this old section of the Lower West Fork. Phase two will secure and maintain the area in and along the banks of this section to recreate the healthy natural river habitat environment that once existed in this neglected section.

AQUATIC HABITAT RESTORATION

In response to the deadly 1949 flood, the United States Army Corps of Engineers channelized the Trinity River in Fort Worth which included the area now known as Gateway Park. This effort cut off a large section of the Trinity River in the park leaving behind a dry oxbow harming both the terrestrial and aquatic habitat.

The Gateway Park Plan restores the natural course of the river. As part of this aquatic habitat restoration effort, flow, oxygenated riffles and natural fish bunkers will be created in an effort to restore the natural aquatic habitat that once existed in this area.

REFORESTATION

In response to the 1949 flood, the USACE channelized a section of the Trinity River in the area now part of Gateway Park. As depicted in the photo, the channelization effort stripped the bottomland forest immediately north of the channel to depositing the dirt in this area. In an effort to restore the bottomland hardwood habitat that once existed along this section of the Trinity, the project will re-grade the surface elevation in the river bottom to return it back to an optimal elevation for bottomland hardwood conditions for a massive reforestation effort.

The invasive species will be removed and replaced with over 60,000 indigenous oaks and pecans which at one timed thrived in this area. This effort will recreate a natural bottomland forest to restore the natural habitat and support wildlife that would traditionally live there. In addition, interpretative trails with signage will be developed to increase public use and knowledge.