Greenbelt Manager Matt Moore may have a smaller unit to steward, but thanks to his additional role as the park’s resource specialist, he is not wanting for responsibilities.
As resource specialist, it falls to Moore and his team to spearhead several initiatives like invasive species and wildlife management and habitat restoration.
“Isle du Bois and Johnson Branch have a huge day-use component with the beaches on both sides,” Moore said. “They have the camping loops and the boat ramps. We don’t have any of that, so it allows us to take a step away from some of the day-to-day things and focus on the resource management side of things.”
Moore has worked in the parks system for going on five-and-a-half years, having started at another park in Houston before getting promoted to his current position.
“Out of college, I kind of wanted to do something with my hands,” Moore said. “I came from a farming background, and they needed someone with that background doing prairie restoration, running equipment like tractors and shredders, dealing with people, and leading volunteer groups, so that’s what drew me to that job.”
Now, the resource management team is taking a closer look at the park’s deer population.
“We get a number on our sex ratios and make sure nothing is too out of whack,” Moore said. “We also work with wildlife biologists to get that information sorted out. Right now, they’re hitting the park pretty heavy at Isle du Bois. You can really see a browse line, and at that point, you know they’re hitting the habitat too hard and it’s hurting natural resources more than helping. You want that balance.”
Though they’re still a ways off, Moore shared that hunts to thin the herd may be on the horizon.
“It would be outside hunters,” he said. “Basically, it’s a draw system. Anyone can put in for it, and if they get drawn, they get a tag. It’s strictly for habitat management. The surveys dictate how many tags you have and where you’re out of balance. It helps bring it back down to a sustainable level.”
Despite having less space to manage than its sister parks, the Greenbelt presents its own management challenges as it sits directly in the line of fire when the Corp of Engineers has to open the floodgates.
“When the lake was flooded, the Corps had to release water [last year],” Moore said. “When they opened the gates, it then flooded the Greenbelt. From the constant flooding down there, we had a lot of trees die off, so we had to work with contractors to clear that out. We still don’t have that trailhead opened.”
He explained when the levels get untenable, water has to get from Ray Roberts to Lake Lewisville.
“The water has got to go somewhere,” Moore said. “Our designated path is to get it to Lake Lewisville. The Corps of Engineers runs the lake levels based off water needs for cities, so we’re just kind of at the mercy of that.”
As the smallest and lesser-known unit of the bunch, the Greenbelt offers a dif- ferent sort of appeal, which Moore elaborated on.
“It’s awesome down here,” Moore said. “We’re got equestrian riders, bike riders, general hikers, and you get to see a lot of wildlife, and you can fish from the stream. It’s a little quieter here than the hustle and bustle of other units. It’s a different vibe. You get a little more peace here, and you can separate yourself from the crowds.”
Like many park employees, it was a love of nature that drew Moore to his career, so his time off the clock reflects his time on the job.
“I like just relaxing,” Moore said. “I like going to parks anyway. It’s a draw to the park ranger position, just getting to be out in nature, relax, hike and stay physically fit. That’s my main thing other than hanging out with my family. I have family that just moved to Dallas and some in East Texas, so I spend a lot of time just helping them out.”
As a young man with time for professional growth, Moore spoke about his future in his career.
“I like it here right now,” he said. “There has been a lot of information intake, and I feel like I’m still growing personally and professionally, so as far as the future is concerned, I would like to stay with the agency, but I’m not sure what route I take from here.”
He continued. “We have regional offices with more of the natural resource side, but I’m getting this unit management experience; then there is the superintendent side,” Moore said. “But my position is very unique. Most parks don’t have a resource specialist, so it opens up my doors to go any route. It’s a cool position to have. I really like working on the Greenbelt.”
