Arlington, Texas

Project Overview:

The Trinity River Ecological Restoration project rehabilitated a severely eroded tributary of the Trinity River in northwest Arlington, transforming a degraded storm channel into a functioning riparian ecosystem. As Project Manager and Environmental Designer, landscape architect Jason Hodges led a multidisciplinary team to stabilize the stream, improve water quality, and create new habitat within the River Legacy Parks system. The project received professional recognition from the Texas Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects for its innovative ecological approach.

Design Intent:

The design redefined the relationship between urban drainage and ecological function—transforming a hard-engineered waterway into a living system that supports water, wildlife, and people. Conventional drainage practices were replaced with a biotechnical design that slows, spreads, and filters stormwater through a network of vegetated swales, wetlands, and earthen terraces. Grading and planting were guided by extensive ecological surveys, establishing plant communities matched to streambed, streambank, and riparian buffer zones. The result is a resilient landscape that restores natural processes, provides opportunities for education and recreation, and demonstrates how design can serve both engineering and ecology.

Key Sustainability Features:

Stream Stabilization, Habitat Creation, Water Quality Improvement, Native Planting, Community Engagement