Park Authority

Fairfax County, Virginia

CONTACT INFORMATION: Open during regular business hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday

703-324-8700
TTY 711

parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov

12055 Government Center Pkwy.
Fairfax, Virginia 22035

Jai Cole,
Executive Director

Department Resources

Related Resources

Invasive Management Area Program

Help restore parkland.

Invasive plants prevent us from enjoying our forests. They degrade our natural ecosystems. Ever get stopped in the woods by climbing vines or shrubs with thorns? They may have been invasive species. Some of them, like multiflora rose, can completely swarm over a section of woods and block out everything else.

However, invasives can be thwarted. The Fairfax County Park Authority has a volunteer program that battles invasive species, removing them and replacing them with native species.

Get involved in protecting your local parks. Volunteer for the Invasive Management Area program. Even a few hours on a single day will help.

Students and scouts, do you need to earn some community service hours? IMA is the program for you! Click on the blue IMA Calendar button to get involved.

For more about the IMA Program listen to the EnviroPod Podcast – Featuring Patricia Greenberg

fairfaxcounty · The Park Authority’s Invasive Management Area – EnviroPod Podcast (Episode 31)

Volunteer

The IMA calendar is your opportunity to volunteer. Use it to find IMA dates convenient for you. Youth, adults, scouts and groups all help. If you do not see a date that works for you, please contact the IMA coordinator who will happily help place your group.

IMA Workday Calendar

To join a workday, click on the IMA Calendar or contact Patricia Greenberg (Patricia.Greenberg@fairfaxcounty.gov) or call at 703-324-8673 or Gloria Medina (Gloria.Medina@fairfaxcounty.gov) or call at 703-324-6525.

Registration for IMA workdays must be submitted by 3p.m. on the Friday prior to a weekend workday and by 12p.m. on the day prior to a weekday workday.
The minimum age to volunteer is 11, however there are occasional opportunities where younger children can participate. Please contact the IMA Coordinator for details.
Volunteers 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult, unless approved by the IMA Volunteer Site Leader for the specific workday.
After you register you will receive an email confirmation from the IMA Volunteer Site Leader with more details about the site location and workday activities, if directions in first bullet above are followed correctly.
Students who need community service hours, please bring the form to be signed to your workday.
IMA hosts a special volunteer promotion called Take Back the Forest each spring.
Information: Call 703-324-8673

Wear sturdy shoes, gloves, long pants and long sleeves. Bring water. Tools are provided.
Enjoy the company of others who care about the environment while learning about your local forests.

What is IMA?
What are Invasive Plants?
IMA Goals
IMA Funding

An IMA volunteer group shows the bagged results of a day's work The Invasive Management Area (IMA) Volunteer Program is a community-based project designed to reduce invasive plants on our parklands. This program gives volunteers an opportunity to connect with like-minded people while taking care of natural resources. Through IMA, you’ll protect the plants and wildlife of Fairfax County's forests while spending time outdoors, meeting new people and restoring natural habitats.

IMA is more than just pulling weeds. It’s also habitat restoration and a long-term commitment to parks. Invasive plant species are difficult to remove and control, but with the help of IMA volunteers, undesirable non-native, invasive plants are removed and native plants are returned to the habitat. Native plantings take place in the spring and fall.

The IMA project began in 2006 with 20 sites. Since then, more than 150 acres have come under IMA management, and there are 65 active IMA sites with over 90 Volunteer Site Leader. More acres have been treated and restored by contractors and staff.

Learn about the Early Detection and Early Response Program

Learn About IMA

An IMA volunteer group shows the bagged results of a day's work The Invasive Management Area (IMA) Volunteer Program is a community-based project designed to reduce invasive plants on our parklands. This program gives volunteers an opportunity to connect with like-minded people while taking care of natural resources. Through IMA, you’ll protect the plants and wildlife of Fairfax County's forests while spending time outdoors, meeting new people and restoring natural habitats.

IMA is more than just pulling weeds. It’s also habitat restoration and a long-term commitment to parks. Invasive plant species are difficult to remove and control, but with the help of IMA volunteers, undesirable non-native, invasive plants are removed and native plants are returned to the habitat. Native plantings take place in the spring and fall.

The IMA project began in 2006 with 20 sites. Since then, more than 150 acres have come under IMA management, and there are 65 active IMA sites with over 90 Volunteer Site Leader. More acres have been treated and restored by contractors and staff.

Learn about the Early Detection and Early Response Program

Learn About IMA

What are Invasive Plants?

Invasive species are, generally, non-native species that cause ecological or economic harm. They share certain characteristics, such as being able to mature quickly and generate many offspring, and they can tolerate a range of habitats. For example, Japanese stiltgrass can produce seed in as little as 1% sunlight.

Because they can successfully grow in new territory, invasive species make terrible neighbors. They out-compete native species for the same resources, eventually reducing the populations of native species and, in some cases, even eliminating species from a community altogether. Some invasive species have more complicated effects that send ramifications up the food chain. That leads to fewer native birds and less wildlife. The third main impact of invasive species is their ability to alter the natural functions of a plant community or an ecosystem by changing soil conditions. Soil conditions are one factor in determining which plants can grow in a specific place.

Difficult Run Before Difficult Run After

Invasive species are, generally, non-native species that cause ecological or economic harm. They share certain characteristics, such as being able to mature quickly and generate many offspring, and they can tolerate a range of habitats. For example, Japanese stiltgrass can produce seed in as little as 1% sunlight.

Because they can successfully grow in new territory, invasive species make terrible neighbors. They out-compete native species for the same resources, eventually reducing the populations of native species and, in some cases, even eliminating species from a community altogether. Some invasive species have more complicated effects that send ramifications up the food chain. That leads to fewer native birds and less wildlife. The third main impact of invasive species is their ability to alter the natural functions of a plant community or an ecosystem by changing soil conditions. Soil conditions are one factor in determining which plants can grow in a specific place.

Difficult Run Before Difficult Run After

Focus community support and momentum to do something about non-native, invasive plants
Garner more community involvement and support
Educate the public about the effects of non-native, invasive plants
Participate in outreach opportunities regarding non-native, invasive plants
Develop healthy habitats, such as meadows and forests, that are free of invasive plant species

Fairfax County Non-Native Invasive Plant Assessment

Focus community support and momentum to do something about non-native, invasive plants
Garner more community involvement and support
Educate the public about the effects of non-native, invasive plants
Participate in outreach opportunities regarding non-native, invasive plants
Develop healthy habitats, such as meadows and forests, that are free of invasive plant species

Fairfax County Non-Native Invasive Plant Assessment

Invasive Management Area funding is provided by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in support of the board’s Environmental Agenda. Grants were provided by REI, Inc., in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. The IMA program also is supported in part by the Fairfax County Park Foundation.

To learn how private and corporate donations help restore parkland habitat, please visit the Park Foundation website.

Submit an IMA Action Report

Invasive Management Area funding is provided by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in support of the board’s Environmental Agenda. Grants were provided by REI, Inc., in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. The IMA program also is supported in part by the Fairfax County Park Foundation.

To learn how private and corporate donations help restore parkland habitat, please visit the Park Foundation website.

Submit an IMA Action Report

IMA Testimonials

Scout Projects at IMA Sites

Josiah T. Williams, Troop 1257 - Oakton, VA. Date of Project: 7/02/2021

Powhatan District, NCAC

Description

Josiah Williams led an Eagle Scout project with the help of Boy Scouts Troop 1257 to remove invasive plants from parkland. The project was completed at the IMA Site at Little Difficult Run Stream Valley Park, in Herndon, VA. Please contact the Park Authority IMA Program before removing any plants.

Invasive plants removed in the project include:

pachysandra — Pachysandra

Wineberry

Oriental Bittersweet

Photo credits: Josiah Williams