Goats Help City of Dallas Remove Invasive Plant at White Rock Lake

The Dallas Parks and Recreation department this week announced that it is using goats to remove an invasive plant from the area around White Rock Lake adjacent to the Bath House and Cultural Center.

According to a city press release, the department deployed 300 goats to graze 11.5 acres of land in the area, which is currently home to an invasive plant native to Asia called privet. The project started on Thursday and will last 10 days.

Why Is the Dallas Parks Department Removing Privet?

Unfortunately, privet grows quickly and impacts the environment by promoting erosion, blocking visibility, and creating wildfire risk.

The removal will promote soil stabilization and ecosystem preservation, and is part of the city's ongoing effort to preserve the lake and other parks and recreation facilities.

White Rock Lake is one of the city's most heavily frequented parks, featuring nearly 10 miles of trails, numerous parks and recreation facilities, and an Audubon Society bird watching area.

The department's vegetation management plan notes that the invasive species on the site creates debris that promotes mosquito breeding. Otherwise known as the opposite of what you want around a crowded public space.

Why Use Goats for Vegetation Management?

The goats will act as an environmentally friendly source of vegetation management. Otherwise, the process can produce noise and air pollution.

Don't worry about the goats going unsupervised. They'll have an electric fence set up around them to ensure that they're grazing the correct area every day. Not only that, but there will be a shepherd on-site 24 hours a day to make sure the project goes smoothly.

Learn more about the ecological struggles facing White Rock Lake in this Dallas Magazine article from December.