Texas demonstration garden engages community in water conservation

In 2022, the Texas utility partnered with the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD), a regional raw water provider, to build the Lake Arlington Native Plant and Pollinator Garden along the City’s three-acre emergency spillway. Craig Cummings, the utility’s director at the time, saw a need for more hands-on projects where the community could learn about native drought-tolerant plants.

“The city was already doing some things like being a Bee City USA affiliate and adopting the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayor's Monarch Pledge,” said Traci Peterson, communications coordinator for the utility. “We wanted the water department to contribute to those efforts and also have some place where we could talk to people about native plants.”

Arlington Water and TRWD filled the area with native grasses and wildflowers. The garden features five 400-foot square beds that demonstrate a cottage garden, rain garden, traditional garden, wildlife garden and xeriscape garden. (Pictured above from left, student volunteers at a garden bed; Traci Peterson, Heather Bass and Betsy Marsh; student visitors collect seeds.) 

The site has a cistern and drip irrigation system, which is filled by water from the city’s nearby drinking water source, Lake Arlington. The pump that powers the irrigation system is solar powered to reduce its carbon footprint.

“We wanted to feature native Texas plants that are drought tolerant, but also ornamental and would appeal to Texas homeowners,” said Betsy Marsh, TRWD’s conservation supervisor. “We also wanted plants that are readily available so residents could actually find them in nurseries. Lastly, we wanted to provide a really good pollinator habitat, so we chose plants that would offer year-round sources of nectar and other features for wildlife as well.”

The plants have proven to be effective in attracting pollinators to the community west of Dallas.

“It's absolutely night and day,” said Heather Bass, TRWD’s conservation supervisor. “It's gone from almost zero to this explosion and now we're seeing all the common butterflies. Of course, we're seeing more birds. We're seeing hummingbirds, native bees that we weren't seeing before, so the diversity has exploded.”

In addition to pollinators, the garden has become a popular spot for children’s field trips to pull weeds or plant seeds – some for the first time in their lives. Different community groups have adopted beds in the garden to care for. A monthly yoga class is held in the garden when the weather allows. Photographers and birders also frequent the garden.

The garden is situated near a treatment plant, a new pump station and Lake Arlington, which contributes to a comprehensive educational experience.

“My ultimate goal is to have a tour that we can take groups to the garden, where they're seeing native plants, and the lake,” said Peterson. She would follow it up with a tour of the pump house and the treatment plant. 

“I think that would really put it all into perspective for them and show the role that these plants play in the process of conserving water,” she added.