Enhancing the Native Plant Project

On October 11, 2019, FODM volunteers and National Park Service staff put in 400 more native plants in the native plant restoration area in Dyke Marsh, a .65-acre plot on the west side of the Haul Road trail.  The group planted riverbank wild rye (Elymus riparius), New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), wild rice (Zizania aquatica) and deer tongue (Dichanthelium clandestinum (syn. Panicum clandestinum)).

In 2018, the project partners planted around 4,000 native plants and in 2019 had regular volunteer sessions to control non-native plants like mile-a-minute (Persicaria perfoliata) and Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum).  Before the start of this project, the area was overrun with non-native plants. 

Thank you, Earth Sangha, for the generous plant donations.

FODM’s partners are the National Park Service, Earth Sangha and the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia.  Our efforts are also supported by grants from the National Environmental Education Foundation and the I-495/95 Express Lanes.  FODM thanks all of our volunteers, donors and supporters.

Photos contributed by Robert Veltkamp