Arlington Comprehensive Plan Update Adopted 3-17-2015 | Page 107

Lake Arlington Master Plan to protect
the lake water quality, optimize the
recreational uses of the lake, manage
related ecosystems, and identify
impacts of future development.
Additional goals focus on providing
a safe drinking water supply and
protecting the lake by promoting
sustainable uses and watershed
management practices.

This urban runoff usually carries debris
and pollutants that pose significant
dangers to the well-being of natural
water sources in Arlington.

Streams or creeks provide wildlife
habitat opportunities for the local
wildlife in Arlington. There are eight
major watersheds in Arlington. The
largest watershed is the Rush Creek
watershed, and includes portions of
Floodplains, Creeks, and Watersheds Kennedale, Mansfield, Fort Worth, and
all of Pantego and Dalworthington
Floodplains, creeks, and watersheds
Gardens. Preserving natural vegetation
are generally the least developable
in wetlands also prevents erosion,
areas, but are vital to maintaining the
which provides a stable habitat for
natural ecosystem, preventing erosion, wildlife. If vegetation and debris are
and facilitating drainage, while also
removed from the environment, it
providing open space opportunities.
can destabilize the stream banks
The trees and vegetation throughout
and destroy the local environment.
the watershed and along creeks serve Without natural vegetation, erosion
as natural filters, preventing many
results in large volumes of sediment
chemicals and contaminants from
entering water sources, which could
entering water sources. They also
destroy pools, eliminate shelter and
prevent the heating effect that occurs fish habitats, and diminish food
when water travels over pavement and supplies for fish and other aquatic
other impervious surfaces. As natural
insects. Through proper care of stream
surfaces are paved and developed, less banks and vegetation, properties
rainfall percolates into the ground and can be enhanced, erosion problems
instead flows directly into the creek
prevented, flood losses avoided, water
system from streets and storm drains.
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