April 6 Thursday, 6 to 8:30 pm
Angelika Film Center & Café Dallas 5321 East Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX 75206
Explore the Trinity barge canal controversy on the 50th anniversary of its defeat and what the next 50 years may bring for North Texas’ only river.
Presented by Ned Fritz Legacy and KERA
Limited seating ~ Reserve through Eventbrite ~ Free
Ned Fritz Legacy is proud to partner with KERA to present Living With The Trinity. The documentary details late ’60s/early ’70s plans to straighten and channelize the Trinity River to create a barge canal. It was to run from Fort Worth to the Gulf of Mexico so that DFW could claim to be an inland port—hundreds of miles from the sea. It all hinged on a March 13, 1973 bond election 50 years ago.
Written and produced by Rob Tranchin and edited by Ginny Martin with executive producer Sylvia Komatsu, the 2009 film brings to life how Ned Fritz’s remarkable coalition of environmentalists, academics, fiscal conservatives, communities of color, and more overcame immense odds to defeat the $1.2 billion project which had generous federal funding and broad business and political support.
Meet historical figures from the original fight, including Alan Steelman, the maverick Republican opposing the canal whose election as a U.S. Congressman helped seal its fate; Lee Cullum and Bob Ray Sanders, whose coverage for KERA’s respected Newsroom brought essential information to light. More to be announced. Filmmakers and much of the crew will be on hand. Chat will all of them at the meet & greet.
5 to 6 pm
Networking Social: downstairs café
Grab a drink upstairs and head back to the cafe to socialize and brainstorm on the Trinity, its issues, and its potential for nature tourism. Light fare is available from the café.
6 to 6:30 pm
Meet & Greet: upstairs lobby
Meet the filmmakers, historical figures featured in the film, Ned Fritz family members, and professionals and individuals who work or volunteer with the Trinity. Peruse tables showcasing KERA’s Earth Month programming, the Ned Fritz Legacy project, and organizations that advocate for the Trinity.
6:15 to 6:30 pm
Seating Entertainment: auditorium
Photos of the Trinity River today from national photographer Scot Miller, and Daniel Koglin from Wild DFW: Explore the Amazing Nature Around Dallas-Fort Worth (Timber Press August 29, 2023).
6:30 to 7:45 pm
Screening: auditorium
A showing of Living with the Trinity with filmmakers and historical figures in attendance.
7:45 to 8:30 pm:
Panel discussion and Q&A: auditorium
The Future of the Trinity River
Moderator: Ed Timms, KERA government accountability editor
A panel of Trinity River professionals, engineers, advocates, and activists discuss the river’s potential now that a navigation canal and floodplain tollroad are no longer under consideration. Discover what engineering plans are in store, important ways stormwater management impacts flooding, the river’s potential for nature tourism, and how Fort Worth made the Trinity a central part of its identity.
Panel members include:
Jerry L. Cotter, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District — structural controls and development perspective.
David Gray, Texas Conservation Alliance board member and former board chair, Trinity River Corridor Citizens Committee member, Save the Trinity River Coalition chair — river activist perspective
Fouad Jaber, Texas A&M AgriLife — nonstructural floodwater management
Tony Moore, Trinity Park Conservancy President and CEO — Dallas urban river assets
Stacey Pierce, executive director Streams & Valleys — Fort Worth river advocacy perspective.
Our Gratitude
- Alan Steelman — event underwriting
- Adam Conway — Angelika Dallas liaison
- Marianne Ortiz — publicity assistance
- KERA’s Sylvia Komatsu and Amy Hinojosa
- Ned Fritz Legacy’s Kristi Kerr Leonard and Amy Martin
- Scooter Smith — graphics and web page
- Daniel Koglin — banner photo of the Trinity at Goat Island Preserve
- All our honored guests and panelists
and most of all…
- Ned Fritz — whose determination and passion for the Trinity saved it from a barge-canal fate. Learn more about the life of Texas’ esteemed environmentalist at Ned Fritz Legacy.
