The
West Fork of the Trinity flows east from Fort Worth towards Dallas,
parallel to I-30, until it meets the Elm Fork and forms the Trinity Main
Stem. The West Fork flows between steep banks of floodplain soils with
gravel bars and occasional shale and sandstone outcrops, and is bordered
for the most part by wooded bottomland and pastures. Bird watching is
excellent, and wildlife sightings include beaver, possum, chorus frogs and
coyotes. A number of tributary creeks flow into the West Fork, including
Mountain Creek, which can be paddled after sufficient rainfall. There are
trips from 5 to 13 miles in length on 44 miles of the West Fork, with a
dependable flow all year downstream of Belt Line Road. Between Beach
Street and Belt Line Road the river level is dependent on sufficient
rainfall for boating. There are a number of riffles and small rapids on
the West Fork, usually associated with gravel bars, rock outcrops, bridges
and/or creek mouths. There is an extensive series of dams starting below
Lake Benbrook on the Clear Fork, continuing past the confluence with the
West Fork, around downtown Fort Worth, and downstream to Beach Street. All
of these dams require a mandatory portage. There are 2 dams upstream of
Handley Ederville Road that require portaging. Just upstream of Precinct
Line Road is the ruin of the Randoll Mill Dam, which has usually been run
on river left. Between Highway 360 and the Roy Orr Bridge a railroad
trestle has fallen into the river, and should be portaged on river left. |