Garland halts forest clearing after contractor accessed Spring Creek to inspect 55‑year sewer line; city hires consultant

City staff halted clearing work inside Spring Creek Forest Preserve after contractors widened creek access to reach sewer manholes, and the city has engaged engineering consultant Kimley Horn to develop a plan that balances forest restoration with needed sewer inspections.

City Manager Judd Stevens apologized to the public and the Spring Creek Forest Preserve Society for failing to coordinate in advance. Stevens said the contractor’s clearing was “intentional” to reach sewer infrastructure but that the city erred by not notifying the preservation society and Dallas County before crews began work. He said crews stopped work as soon as the oversight was discovered and the city engaged professionals to craft a less‑damaging path forward.

The work was prompted by a series of inflow and infiltration (I&I) problems identified after heavy storms and recurring high flows at Garland’s Rowlett Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mike Brinkman, managing director of Water Utilities, told the council crews began inspecting manholes where possible and found sections of sewer mains that had not been inspected in decades.…