City of Arlington, Texas > Creek Care Guide

Home > Creek Care Guide > Stabilizing Creek Banks

	How Healthy is Your Creek?
	Keeping Your Creek Healthy for Residents
	Keeping Your Creek Healthy for Businesses
	Use of Creek-Friendly Gardening and Landscaping Practices
	Protecting Creek Flow
	Preventing Erosion Problems
	Stabilizing Creek Banks
	Getting Help
	Map of Arlington Creek System

Published by

City of Arlington
Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, National Park Service
North Central Texas Council of Governments

Acknowledgments

Creek Care Guide for Residents and Businesses was adapted from a guide published by Susan Harris and Erika Campos of the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program of the National Park Service

GETTING HELP

In many cases, common sense - as well as local guidelines and ordinances - will help you care for your creek. Sound professional advice is always recommended. The agencies and organizations listed below may be able to assist you.

LOCAL CREEK PROGRAMS, REGULATIONS, ORDINANCES, AND PERMITS

City of Arlington Department of Public Works
817-459-6550

City of Arlington Floodplain Administrator
817-459-6550

City of Arlington Building Inspections
817-459-6502

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL

Environmental Collection Center
6400 Bridge St.
Fort Worth
817-871-5257

City of Arlington
Lorrie Anderle
817-459-6778
http://www.ci.arlington.tx.us/environment/index.html

POOL WATER DISPOSAL

City of Arlington Water Resources Division
817-459-5902

City of Arlington Environmental Services
817-459-6587

REPORTING SPILLS AND ILLEGAL DISCHARGES

City of Arlington Environmental Services
817-459-6599

Tarrant County Illegal Dumping Hotline
1-888-335-DUMP

STORMWATER

City of Arlington
Roni Crotty
817-459-6587

North Central Texas Council of Governments Department of Environmental Resources
Jack Tidwell
817-695-9220
http://www.nctcog.dst.tx.us/envir/trin/index.html

COMPOSTING/MULCHING

City of Arlington
Lorrie Anderle
817-459-6778

Natural Resource Conservation Service

Backyard Conservation: Information about Nutrient management, pest management, composting, mulching, and more! Call 1-888-LANDCARE.

US Department of Agriculture

Organic Vegetable Gardening http://www.usda.gov/news/garden.htm

NATIVE PLANTS AND LANDSCAPING

Texas Agricultural Extension Service – Tarrant County
Earth-Kind Environmental Landscape Management Program
102 Commerce
Fort Worth,Texas 76102-7205
817-884-1945
817-884-1941 fax

Email tarrant-tx@tamu.edu

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/earthkind/ekgarden.html

Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.

Urban Fish & Wildlife Office

972-293-3841

Native Plant and Seed Sources for Texas http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us
Texas Wildscapes http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us

National Wildflower Research Center

Clearinghouse
4801 La Crosse Ave.
Austin, TX 78739
512-292-4200
http://www.wildflower.org

Available from the National Wildflower Research Center Clearinghouse:

"Recommended Species for North Central Texas"
"Native Plant Bibliography for Texas"
"Texas Sources for Native Plants and Seeds"
"Gardening and Landscaping with Native Plants"
"Wildflower Meadow Gardening"
"How to Establish Buffalograss"

Natural Resource Conservation Service

Native plant species establishment & soils information
Virgil Helm
817-467-3867

Arlington Organic Garden Club

To find out more about organic soil conditioning (alternatives to artificial fertilizers), xeriscaping (drought-proofing your yard), organic pest management (alternatives to pesticides)attend the monthly meetings held the last Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Arlington Community Center, Garden Room, Vandergriff Park between Matlock and Center Streets south of Arkansas Lane. For more information, contact the Organic Garden Club at:

P.O. Box 173954
Arlington, TX 76003-3953

Native Plant Society

The Native Plant Society is an organization dedicated to promoting the preservation, appreciation, knowledge and use of native plants in the landscape. FW/Tarrant/Western CrossTimbers chapter:

Contact Jeanne Erickson at 817-284-8735.

MINIPUTS (Minimum Inputs Gardening)

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/miniput.html

Wildflowers in Bloom

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/wildseed/

Environmental Protection Agency

Green Landscaping with Native Plants http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/

PLANT answers http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/web.html

Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region

By Sally and Andy Wasowski (Gulf Publishing, $27.95 in paperback, $37.95 in hardcover)

Requiem for a Lawnmower

By Sally and Andy Wasowski (Taylor Publishing, $15.95 in hardcover)

NATURAL INSECT CONTROL

Texas Pest Management Association

http://www.tpma.org/

Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Backyard Conservation: Information about Nutrient management, pest management, composting, mulching, and more! Call 1-888-LANDCARE.

Texas Agricultural Extension Service

Insect Control for Organic Gardening (B1252)
Earth-Kind Environmental Landscape Management
102 Commerce
Fort Worth,Texas 76102-7205
817-884-1945
817-884-1941 fax

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/earthkind/ekgarden.html

MINIPUTS (Minimum Inputs Gardening)

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/miniput.html

BANK STABILIZATION/CREEK RESTORATION

City of Arlington Department of Engineering Services
Keith Melton
817-459-6550

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Fort Worth District
Presley Hatcher
817-978-3990

Natural Resource Conservation Service
Virgil Helm
817-467-3867

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Urban Fish & Wildlife Office
972-293-3841

Environmental Protection Agency
Norm Sears
214-665-8336

North Central Texas Council of Governments Department of Environmental Resources
Jack Tidwell
817/695-9220

Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices
http://www.usda.gov/stream_restoration

GENERAL CREEK CARE

National Park Service - Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program
505-988-6091

North Central Texas Council of Governments Department of Environmental Resources
Jack Tidwell
817-695-9220
http://www.nctcog.dst.tx.us/envir/trin/index.html