“Operation Goat” Underway at Bachman Greenbelt

The goats! The goats have arrived at the Bachman Greenbelt and they will play a big role in reclaiming more than 40 acres of green space, much of which has been overrun with invasive privet.

“Operation Goat,” as I have dubbed this endeavor, commenced on Friday, April 18, when 200-250 goats were dropped off at the Bachman Greenbelt. There is so much to like about this story. But mostly, it’s about the goats.

“I’ve never been so excited to see goats in my life,” said Calvert Collins-Bratton, District 13 Park and Recreation Board member. “This is the most economically, environmentally friendly solution to this problem.”

“They’ll clear about an acre to an acre-and-a-half a day,” said Brett Johnson, conservation manager for the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department. “It’s all very cool.” The goats get to enjoy a buffet of privet, all while improving a city park.

Operation Goat Will Allow for More Biodiversity

Privet is a highly invasive and woody shrub, and it is on the menu for the goats that are going to call the Bachman Greenbelt home for the next 11 days.

“Privet shades out native species, and the biodiversity is greatly decreased,” Johnson said. There are currently only a handful of birds that inhabit Bachman Greenbelt. By eliminating the privet, more native plants will be planted which will increase the diversity of wildlife.

Using goats to eat the privet is also the most economically feasible way of clearing about 16 acres in total.

“It’s very cheap,” said Collins-Bratton. “It’s costing us only $21,000 to have a natural and environmentally safe” way to clear the privet. Because of the topographical changes in the Greenbelt, she said it would take months and cost many more thousands of dollars to use machinery and manpower.

Goats Will Not Have Full Access to Bachman Park

The Friends of Bachman Lake (FoBL) have been diligently working to reincorporate the Greenbelt into the rest of Bachman Lake Park for the past couple of years. There are wildflower zones along with new benches and markers.

“The biggest visual difference will be the visibility that will open up throughout the Greenbelt,” said Ryan Moore, FoBL president. “This will allow us to work toward finalizing the nature trail system, maintain public resting areas, and considering the best location for potential bridge connections over the creek to link the north and south sides of the Greenbelt together.”

“Operation Goat” will begin on the west side of the Greenbelt at Cochran Chapel. The goal is to have them eat their way west toward the Embassy Suites, which is located on Northwest Highway.

“We will have a herder that will be with them 24/7,” Johnson said. “It’s very labor intensive to remove an invasive species.” The goats will help “reduce the fire loads and help our native species get reestablished.”

The long-term contribution that the goats will be making to the park is huge.

“The privet is so thick it’s hard to maintain the trails,” Collins-Bratton said. “It’s so nice to see some thinking outside the box. Now we have other areas clamoring for the goats. I just love the creativity.”