Local paleontologist says Lake Ralph Hall site 'significant'
By: Molly McCullough, Flower Mound Leader
03/31/2005

Highland Village resident Roger Farish, who is also a member of the Dallas Paleontological Society, said he is disappointed the Upper Trinity Regional Water District chose the North Sulphur River as the site for the proposed Lake Ralph Hall.
Farish said that particular site is perhaps the best site in North Texas for finding fossils of all kinds. In fact, the Dallas Paleontological Society gathered 120 documents and experts together to write an entire book about the North Sulphur River area around the city of Ladonia. Previously, the DPS had never fully dedicated any publication to one area.
"It is right enough and special enough to get this kind of scientific notoriety," Farish said.
However, Farish said he "realizes how critical water is to every living organism" as well as the need to plan for future water supplies. Therefore, if the lake is approved, Farish and thousands of other fossil lovers will spend countless hours trying to excavate as many artifacts as possible before the reservoir covers the area.
Farish said he recently met with Upper Trinity's Executive Director Tom Taylor to talk about the lake site's fossils. Farish said it was a positive meeting.
"He's been trying to make everybody happy," Farish said.
Farish said the North Sulphur River is a treasure chest for fossil collectors for several reasons. First of all, Farish said the original North Sulphur River was once a winding stream that traveled downhill around six inches per mile. However, in 1929, area farmers wanted the river to better serve their irrigation needs and therefore channeled the river into a straight, fast-paced waterway. After the change, the water traveled downward around five to six feet per mile. This increase in speed caused the sides of the channel to erode away over the years, leaving a ravine more than 50 feet deep and several football fields across.
These extreme measurements allow fossil hunters to climb down into the channel and find bones, teeth, and other ancient remnants sticking out of the dirt. Farish said the area is especially interesting because not only can people find dinosaur bones dating back 70 million years ago, but can also find ancient animals from 12,000 years ago.
Some of the older fossils are from dinosaurs like the mosasaur, an ancient aquatic lizard that spanned 40 feet in length, had razor sharp teeth, and ate pretty much anything it wanted when it was alive. Several complete skeletons of mosasaurs have been found in the North Sulphur River Basin, according to Farish. Farish said other dinosaur fossils that can be found in the area include giant oysters, ammonites, several species of fish, and sharks.
" The whole marine environment is here," he said.
Younger fossils were left in the area after the last ice age, 12,000 years ago. Farish said the North Sulphur River Basin has yielded an armadillo skeleton the size of a Volkswagon. Other animals that have been found there include a giant beaver, camels, giant ground sloths, and a giant bison with straight horns - two times the size of existing bison.
Farish said the DPS is not the only group aware of the channel's fossils. Farish said many local residents of Fannin County flock to the river bed, especially after a recent storm.
"The competition is fierce, people are out there daily," Farish said. "The clouds have barely cleared after a storm and there are footprints already ahead of you down there."
Farish said he has led fossil-finding field trips in the North Sulphur River Basin for more than 10 years. Farish plans to participate in the DPS-hosted trip today. He said he would be willing to guide a future trip to the proposed lake site for any interested group. No experience needed, Farish said.
In order to collect fossils, Farish said one should bring a bucket, pick up anything that does not look like a rock and ask a fellow-fossil finder what any item might be. Farish has his own collection of fossils from the area, ranging from shark teeth, to mosasaur vertebrae.
"You just walk around and pick it up," he said.
Farish said if Lake Ralph Hall is constructed over the next 25 years, it will completely cover or wash away any remaining fossils. Farish said he has hopes the DPS will be able to advise Upper Trinity engineers about future dam placement, allowing some fossils to be collected. Farish said he wished the proposed Marvin Nichols reservoir, currently proposed further down the Sulphur River would have been built. He said if that bigger reservoir had been built first, it would perhaps eliminate the need for Lake Ralph Hall.
But no matter what happens, Farish plans to keep traveling to the area to collect all that he can. Ideally, he said he would like to see the channel erode even further.
" I'd like to see the whole area wash out," Farish said.
The DPS hardback book on the North Sulphur River Basin is titled "Fossil Collector's Guidebook to the North Sulphur River" and is available for $15 from the DPS. Farish said residents are welcome to e-mail him at rffarish@comcast.net. For information on the Dallas Paleontological Society, go to www.dallaspaleo.org or call 817-355-4693.

Contact staff writer Molly McCullough at 972-538-2117 or mcculloughm@scntx.com.