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(Conservation Currents,
Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, Winter
2007)
The Fairfax County
Park Authority is getting serious about weeds! Last spring,
in response to citizens’ complaints about the decreased
beauty and deteriorating ecological value of their parks caused
by invading weeds, and spurred by development of the park’s
first ever Natural Resource Management
Plan in January 2004, FCPA began recruiting and training
volunteers to take on six of the most aggressive, unwanted plants
in Fairfax County’s parklands.
The six plants, kudzu vine (Pueraria montana var. lobata),
Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii), winged burning
bush (Euonymus alata), English ivy (Hedera helix),
mile-a-minute (Polygonum perfoliatum), and Japanese
stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), are all weeds that
reproduce readily and spread rapidly, often smothering other
vegetation. Mile-a-minute, for example, can grow up to a half
a foot per day!
All six plants also are included on the
Virginia
Department of Conservation and Recreation’s list of invasive
alien plants, a list of weeds that have spread or been introduced
to Virginia, and which are threatening to overwhelm the state’s
natural areas. Additionally, all six are relatively easy to
identify and can be removed without herbicides, by hand pulling
or by using simple tools.
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| Scouts remove English ivy at Rutherford
Park in Fairfax. |
Rutherford Park woodland after ivy
removal. |
Invasive weeds cover Mason District Park in Annandale. |
Volunteers smother Mason Park weeds with tarps and mulch. |
The goals of the park authority’s new weed
management initiative, nicknamed the IMA
(or invasive management area) program, are to control these
targeted weeds at specific sites and, ultimately, re-plant parkland
with a variety of native plants. The park authority wants to
re-create habitats that support local wildlife and maintain
ecosystems that perform valuable processes that help keep our
air and water clean. At the same time, the program provides
volunteers with the opportunity to get outdoors, meet others,
and make a difference in the park down the road or in their
neighborhood.
Volunteers can participate in the IMA program
as a site leader or as a one-time volunteer. Site leaders adopt
an IMA location in their local park, and recruit friends, family,
neighbors and groups to work with them to control the weeds
prevalent at that site. Initially, group leaders guide their
teams in pulling or smothering unwanted plants. Eventually,
when weed populations have been controlled, re-planting of the
site can take place. For volunteers who would like to help when
they can, removal and planting events are posted on the IMA
on-line calendar.
In 2006, more than 700 volunteers participated in the IMA program
at 21 park sites throughout the county. Re-planting events were
held at six of the IMA locations. Several sites still have additional
weeding to be done. The remainder will be monitored for weed
regeneration this spring, and planted if weeds have been adequately
controlled.
Kathy Frederick, the IMA volunteer coordinator, attributes the
success of the IMA program to the dedication of its volunteers. Most of the 21
site leaders who participated in the program in 2006 plan to continue their
volunteer efforts during the 2007 season. And, although IMA’s official work
period ended in October, several are continuing to work at their local park
throughout the winter.
In 2006, funding for IMA came from monies set aside by the
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to support its environmental agenda.
An additional $50,000 in funding through the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants program will enable the
park authority to keep IMA going this year.
For spring 2007, Frederick is hoping to recruit 10-20 additional
site leaders for the IMA program and is considering expanding the list of target
weeds to 10 total species. “We want neighbors to care about their parks and to
take a vested interest in them,” Frederick says. “We also want to improve our
ability to manage our parklands and protect the natural resources the public
values. The IMA program is helping us do that.”
To become an IMA program volunteer, contact
Kathy Frederick by email
or call her at 703-324-8681, TTY 711.
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