BETHESDA, MD—The Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail (CCCT) donated $20,170 to the Montgomery County Department of Parks this month to remove non-native invasive plants along the Capital Crescent Trail.
“The coalition’s number one priority is protecting the trail,” said CCCT Board Chair Peter Gray, “and one of the biggest threats to the trail is the non-native invasives that are taking over.”
With its members support, the coalition raised the funds and the board identified combating non-native invasives as a project worth backing financially. The group approached the parks department to make arrangements for the donation. The funding will be used for removing non-native invasives along the Capital Crescent Trail in order to protect several large decades old trees along the trail that are being threatened by non-native vines.
The bulk of the initial machete work will be completed by Highway Safety Services under the department’s supervision with some additional native planting completed by parks staff and volunteers. The project is expected to get underway this Friday.
“Invasive species present one of the greatest threats to the health of our parklands,” said Department of Parks Forest Ecologist Carole Bergmann. “So we are very appreciative of this support from the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail to continue to battle these alien invaders.”
Recently, the department launched a new Wild Montgomery initiative, which celebrates Montgomery County’s protected wild areas and inspires a sense of protection of them from threats such as non-native invasives. The Wild Montgomery initiative also points out ways to get involved in protecting these treasured resources, such as participating in some of the many volunteer opportunities in the parks throughout the year.
“When it comes to combating non-native invasives, you can never have too many helping hands working to tackle the problem,” said Bergmann.
Since the spring of 2007, the Department of Parks has been organizing and hosting Save the Forest volunteer opportunities throughout county parks to help fight against non-native invasive plants. These volunteer non-native invasive plant pull projects are open to the public and require no experience to participate. Students can also earn Student Service Learning hours by participating. The next Save the Forest volunteer event is planned for Sunday, January 13, from 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm along the Capital Crescent Trail.
CCCT Board Chair Peter Gray, a certified Department of Parks Weed Warrior volunteer, with the guidance of parks staff is leading the volunteer group on Sunday.
“The Capital Crescent Trail Coalition doesn’t just point out the problems, they roll up their sleeves and get out there and help,” added Bergmann. “They are great park partners.”
For 8 years, the Department of Parks has maintained the Weed Warrior volunteer program. More than 500 volunteers have been trained as certified Weed Warriors on the identification of non-native invasive plants found in park natural areas, removal and control techniques suitable for parklands and how to stay safe in the woods. Weed Warrior volunteers assist park staff on a regular basis in monitoring and removing non-native invasive plants from Montgomery County parkland.
For more on non-native invasives and parks, upcoming Save the Forest volunteer opportunities or becoming a Weed Warrior see www.ParkPlanningandStewardship.org and for more on the new Wild Montgomery initiative, visit www.WildMontgomery.org.
Other groups interested in making a donation to the Department of Parks can visit www.MontgomeryParks.org and click on “Volunteers & Partnerships.”
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Contact:
Kelli Holsendolph
Media Relations Manager
Montgomery County Department of Parks
301-650-2866