Aug 27, 2008
Group Formed to Protect Trinity Trails
by Steve Smith
The Trinity Trails, one of the nicest pieces of green space in the whole city, has taken a few shots in the past year. First the Trinity Trees, then the Gas Drilling Task Force declining to recommend protected status for the trails. Local government doesn’t seem willing to protect this resource, so concerned citizens have decided to step in and form Protect the Trinity Trails in an attempt to preserve this resource. First item on the agenda — the proposed high impact well at the Greenwood Memorial Park Lease. The gas drilling permit came before council on August 5 and a continuance was granted until September 2.
To get involved or find out more, visit the website.
Tags: Barnett Shale, trinity trails
13 Comments, Comments or Pings
Suzette Watkins
Speaking of truck traffic, here are some statistics that I learned at the water meeting sponsored by League of Women Voters with reps from Devon, Chesapeake and Fountain Quail:
- one 18 wheeler has same impact to road as 10,000 passenger cars
- full water truck = 80,000 lbs
- 1 well uses about 6,000 to 8,000 barrels of water, ie. 250,000 - 350,000 gallons of fresh water (1 barrel = 42 gallons)
The water issue seems to be what produces most of the truck traffic to my understanding. Not sure how many gallons the water trucks hold but if one can find that number then you can figure out how many trucks need to go in and out of the site. Since a site is right down the street from where I work, I can tell you that it is a constant stream of heavy trucks all day long for about 3 - 4 weeks! It is heavy industrial goings on…lots of dust, lots of noise — something I would not wish for any neighborhood anywhere! Gosh forbid a pet or child get in the way of one of those monsterous trucks, they don’t stop easy and the drivers go as fast as possible.
Aug 27th, 2008
Kevin Buchanan
Well, a pint’s a pound the world around, so if a full water truck is 80,000 pounds, you’d just have to subtract the weight of an empty water truck and then convert the leftover weight (the weight of the water) to pints, to gallons.
Unless they mean the truck holds 80,000 pounds of water, in which case that means it holds about 10,000 gallons.
I think.
Aug 27th, 2008
Ben
So do the companies not pay taxes in Tarrant County? It is not the company’s fault that the county is not spending the money they receive on roads/use it to support their bloated bureaucracy!
Aug 27th, 2008
peteg
@ Kevin 80k # is the legal max for most tractor trailers/trucks
Aug 27th, 2008
John Peter Smith
Okay, I run the Trinity Trail once a week, so I’m inclined to support such a cause.
But I just can’t.
Why is it that these enviro-groups are so casual (I might say deliberately so) with the truth?
Examples from the group’s website:
“old growth woodland”
— What does that mean? This term is deliberately trying to mislead the public into thinking this “woodland” has remained undisturbed for centuries. I rather doubt that.
They say that the area “has been designated as a bird sanctuary for decades”
— Really? Who designated it a bird sanctuary? What does that mean? Is this a public park? Did the public purchase this land for a bird sanctuary? The previous paragraph said that area was “part of Greenwood Memorial Park.” That would make it PRIVATE PROPERTY, not a park, and not a bird sanctuary. The fact that you wish it were a bird sanctuary does not make it one, and does not mean the legal owner must bow to your wishes.
“The park site is within 75 feet of a city park”
— What? The “park” is within 75 feet of the “park”? It appears they are trying to confuse the issue by referring to the DRILL SITE as a park site. It is not. The word “park” has a legal definition. Not every pretty little forest is a park, though some might wish it were. If you think such a “quiet, unspoiled, and sensitive area” should be protected from any and all use, petition your government to purchase the land for a public park.
“Protect the Trinity Trails is calling for alternative sites and transportation routes”
—No, they are not. I looked all over their website. There were no alternatives suggested.
The sad fact is that such misleading, false statements detract from their real arguments. Why can’t they just say, ‘We think the Trinity Trails should be protected from drilling just like a city park and we think the City Council should deny this permit because it’s less than 600 feet from a city park.”? Those are positions a lot of people could get behind and support.
Aug 27th, 2008
Greg
If you run or bike along the old Rockwood Park Road by Greenwood (closed for years) you might see the signs posted that say “Bird Sanctuary.” The signs are kind of old and rusty, though, like they’ve been there a long time. Like the trees.
But let’s look at the bigger picture. You won’t support protecting the site because of how proponents behave? Because their standard of rhetoric doesn’t meet yours?
How about this: if you are really “inclined to support such a cause,” get in touch with them and offer to help. Rather than labeling people you don’t know as “enviro-groups” and then sitting back and sniping at them, help them improve their facts and lay out better issues. I’ll bet it would be appreciated and it would demonstrate that inclination.
Aug 27th, 2008
Eastsider
JPS - I agree, we are not organized, focused and moving as one united force for our local City Government to “act accordingly.” So…..what you get is …”chatter,” IMO. I’m in, but it’s not my “passion” so I’ll follow if someone will lead.
Aug 27th, 2008
John Peter Smith
Greg:
I’m not as familiar with that specific area as you are. I think I will be running by there on Labor Day so I hope to get a chance before then to check that area out better. However, the fact that someone put up some “bird sanctuary” signs years ago does not make the property a public park, or a bird sanctuary. So my question remains. Is this drill site on private property owned by the Greenwood Cemetery, or is it in Rockwood Park, which is public property? The website deliberately misleads people into thinking they are drilling in a public park or at least on public land.
I didn’t say I would not oppose the site. In fact my point was that there seem to be good reasons to oppose this site. However, I am just not familar enough with this particular location to say for sure.
I don’t have a problem with the group’s, “standard of rhetoric” what I have a problem with is the group’s standard of truth, or better, the lack thereof. If their case has merit they should be able to make it without obscuring the facts and posting misleading information.
I don’t consider looking for some honest information as “sniping”, I consider it good practice. Look at it this way. If they can’t convince someone like me who is inclined to support them because of their half-truths and misinformation, what chance do have to convince a majority of the City Council that is inclined to go the other way?
Aug 27th, 2008
Paul
Hi John Peter and Greg,
I am the one who set up the Protect the Trinity Trees site. Thanks for the input,favorable or otherwise,it gets us thinking and talking which is essential to the civic process.
To me the trees are old-they are bottomland species and have been there for a considerable time.
The bird sanctuary signs were old when I started walking there 15 years ago,and although it is not a legal description of the property it does show an intent to preserve an unspoilt area.
The road,currently closed to vehicular traffic by the Fort Worth Parks Department,and part of the Trinity Trails, will be drastically changed if an industrial access road is built.
Trees will be removed and canopy damaged.
The 2.7 acre pad site will be on cemetery land but close,very close ,to parkland. The road will be on parkland.
There is a confusing statement on the web page where it says the park is within 75 feet of the city park. Thanks for pointing that out,John Peter. I have asked the webmanager to change it to:The pad site is within 75 feet of the city park. Legally it is a memorial park but I was referring to the pad site.
Yes we are calling for the city and Chesapeake to come up with alternative sites. There is a pad site already built on the north side of the river.However,Greenwood would not receive as large a bonus if that were used.
John Peter ,I like your statements in the final paragraph of your first post. I assumed that stating the site is only 75 feet of a city park on my site led to the understanding that it was less than 600 feet from a city park. Of course,I would like all the Trinity Trails to be protected from drilling but this would be a difficult task considering the amount of private property involved. My immediate goal was to show that there are areas of particular quality and rarity-like this area-that need to be protected as a city treasure.
Again thanks for the input. I am not an enviro-group just a resident concerned about the industrilization of every corner of our city with no regard for zoning. There have to be limits. As I reread my site I see no half-truths and I have clarified the one statement.
Thanks.
Aug 28th, 2008
Suzette Watkins
Where is Mike Moncrief — the good ol “Democrat” that suppose to be caring for the…PEOPLE??!! Come on Moncrief. Do better!! The Party Platform that I’m hearing about on tv sounds different from the one you are affiliated with, or have been in your recent past. The beautiful old, environmentally friendly trees that the drilling companies are killing are worth billions, if not trillions! What are you preaching? Who are you protecting?
Since the other 8 members on the Council are sort of “wussy” and follow along with your lead, most of the responsibility of protecting the citizens rest on your shoulders. Tell me again about the Democratic Party?
Aug 28th, 2008
Paul
Correction
The first line of my previous post should have read: Protect the Trinity Trails not Protect the Trinity Trees. Thanks
Aug 29th, 2008
Paul John Roach
I want to thank the folks at West &Clear for giving Protect the Trinity Trails a place on this site.
Also,I would like to remind everyone that the vote on the variance to allow high impact drilling on the Greenwood site will take place at the council meeting on September 2nd at 7pm.
I will be encouraging the councilmembers to say no this time.
Thanks.
Sep 1st, 2008
Paul John Roach
UPDATE
The city council continued the vote on the high impact well at Greenwood until Tuesday,September 9th at 7pm. Please attend and make your presence felt.It is
inappropriate that up to 12 gas wells and an industrial road be imposed on this
quiet,undeveloped area of our city.It will negatively impact the Trinity Trailsand a city park.
The pad site will result in the removal of over 2.7 acres of old-growth trees,including many oaks,some of the largest and oldest in the central city.
Some places,like this one,are so precious- true city treasures-that they MUST be preserved.There are alternative sites.We cannot turn every part of our city into an industrial zone.
Go to protectthetrinitytrails.com for more information and to sign a petition asking the
council to say no to this padsite.As I write this we have over 250 names on the petition.
Thank you.
Sep 5th, 2008
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