| IN THIS ISSUE |
|
|
Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.
—Aldo Leopold
|
|
In the News
Potomac News; April 21 2009
FRedericksburg Freelance Star; May 7 2009
Washington Post; May 7 2009
Washington Post; May 13 2009
Chesapeake Bay Program; May 13 2009
Environment News Service; May 12 2009
|
|
|
When: Saturday, May 16, from 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Where: Meet at the cell tower parking lot on Dove's Lane; email [email protected] for questions and to register.
Join the Prince William Conservation Alliance on May 16 for an easy hike through this beautiful property!
Dove's Landing is a 235-acre undeveloped property with one mile of frontage along the Occoquan River, upstream from Lake Jackson. The gently sloping landscape, open forest and scenic appearance create inviting and accessible conditions for residents of all ages. Dove's Landing is a high quality site for walking in the woods on natural trails, wildlife watching and other passive recreation opportunities.
Preferred attire includes sturdy hiking shoes, long socks, long pants, hat and light colors. Bring a bag lunch, water to drink, bug spray, binoculars and cameras.
|
|
Trees & Manassas National Battlefield Park |
 When:Wednesday, May 13, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Stuart Hill Center (intersection of Pageland Lane at Route 29, at 12521 Lee Highway)
The Park plans to remove more trees along the Unfinished Railroad, scene of a major attack on Stonewall Jackson's troops on August 30, 1862, are the focus of this meeting. This tree removal is in addition to the 140 acres that were converted to fields in the last two years.
According to the National Park Service, the tree removal is intended to establish a pattern of fields/forests that is more consistent with 1861-62, when two major Civil War battles were fought there. The 150th anniversary of those battles will be in 2011-12, so look for new fences and new interpretive programs as well as a recreated historical landscape.
The park has a new leadership team. The new managers are looking more closely at natural resource management as well as history, and making decisions in a more-transparent process where public involvement is encouraged.
This open house on May 13 is a great opportunity to communicate your desire for the National Park Service to increase its efforts to conserve natural as well as historical resources on the 5,000-acre battlefield.
Park managers are enhancing quail habitat now, planting warm-season grasses in the open fields. It helps for the managers to hear public support for natural resource management initiatives. Among other topics, you could support mowing and managing vegetation along forest edges to maximize wildlife benefits, increasing efforts to stabilize eroding streams, and accelerating the replanting of historically-forested areas to mitigate the planned removal of trees.
In particular, now is a good time to express support for park plans to actively manage their whitetail deer herd. The number of deer in the park far exceed the carrying capacity of the habitat. You don't need to be a biologist to see a dramatic "browse line," where hungry deer have eaten everything within about 6 feet of the ground.
As a result, ground nesting birds have lost their shelter from predators and fail to reproduce successfully. Bambi is cute, but the battlefield is overrun by deer and they are damaging the natural setting significantly.
|
|
Regional Transit Plans in the News |
 T here might be a shortage of funds but there's no shortage of transportation proposals. New commuter lots, VRE to Haymarket and ferries across the Potomac to name a few. Each offers food for thought but not all will survive. Will any be constructed in the forseeable future? How do regional transportation plans jive with local land use planning? Click here to read more and share your views about what's proposed. |
|
|
|
First Thursday Nature Tales |
|
Climate Change Close to Home
When: Thursday June 4, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Bull Run Unitarian Universalist Church, 9350 Main Street, Manassas
Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to the future of human communities, fish and wildlife habitat, and the natural communities we depend on for our food, our drinking water, our recreational opportunities (such as fishing, hunting, and bird watching), the strength of our local economies, and our quality of life.
The pressure that global warming will put on the state’s habitats may also make it harder to reach the state’s existing and future conservation goals. >From sea-level rise to warming air and water temperatures, many of Virginia’s cherished wildlife species will be significantly affected by global warming.
Please join us on June 4 when Austin Kane, National Wildlife Federation, will share information about the impacts global climate change will have on wildlife and habitats in Virginia and Prince William County. Presentation followed by Q&A. Read more...
|
|
|
|
Stayed Tuned for Silver Lake |
|
|
After two years of indecision, last October the Bull Run Mountain Conservancy withdrew their proposal to add 270 acres to Silver Lake and manage both properties for public parkland and passive recreation uses.
There's only one proposal left - the Prince William County Park Authority. Their Board has formally asked Supervisors to transfer Silver Lake to the Park Authority.
Supervisors have tentatively scheduled a public hearing and vote on the transfer of Silver Lake to the Park Authority for the June 7 Board meeting beginning at 7:30 p.m., McCoart Government Center.
However, nothing is certain until the public notice for the meeting is published next week. Stay tuned for news about the public hearing and Park Authority proposal.
In the meantime, click here to read more about Silver Lake. |
|
|
|
