October 2005
Contents
Upcoming Events
· RIP (Removing Invasive Plants Program) – Fall Work Events.
· Forest Glen Area Gets Special Treatment
· Northwest Branch Watershed Tree Planting--A Joint Watershed Group Project
News and Announcements
· Information Boxes for Sligo
· Sweep-the-Creek a Great Success
· East Wayne Stormwater System – Grasses Planted
· Dredging at the University Stormwater Management Ponds
· FrogWatch Report Now on the Home Page
· Local Flora Identified on the Web
· Solicitamos Ayuda
From the Board of Directors
Upcoming Events
RIP (Removing Invasive Plants Program) Fall Work Events
The fall season for RIP events has started and most section leaders have already held two events. The fall schedule is printed below. There will be events every Saturday and Sunday in October-November.
Every Friends member is invited—urged—to discover what RIP events are like. For more information see www.fosc.org/RIPEventSched.htm, or contact Lea Bonfiglio at . or 301-807-4697. Event leaders will have cotton gloves and clippers, but bring your own if you like. Wear long sleeves, pants and sturdy shoes.
Before you come, please visit the FoSC home page for unexpected last-minute changes.
FALL SCHEDULE OF RIP EVENTS
Between New Hampshire and Maple Avenue Sundays, 2 to 4 pm., at the Pavilion.
Oct. 16, 23; Nov. 6, 13, 20; Dec. 4, 11.
OnParkway from New Hampshire, pass Flower Ave. Stop atpark-in onright ofthe bend,
near Heather Avenue.Crossfootbridge. From Maple,stop atpark-inonleft side ofbend near Heather. Crossfootbridge.
Between Maple Avenue and Piney BranchSaturdays, 1 to 3 pm, at the Kennebec Park kiosk.Oct 15, 22; Nov. 5, 12, 19; Dec. 3, 10
On Parkway from Maple or New Hampshire, stop atfirst park-in on left, opposite Kennebec Ave. From Piney Branchpark-in is onright, opposite Kennebec Ave.
Between Piney Branch and WayneSaturdays,10 am to 12, at the playground near the parking lot for the Big Field.Oct 15, 22; Nov. 5, 12, 19; Dec. 3, 10
OnParkway from Maple or streets south, turn left (west)atPiney Branch.First right to Dale. Right opposite Hartford Ave. toparking lot. Fromparkway aboveWayne, turn right (west) on Wayne.Third leftto Dale.Left opposite Hartford Ave. toparking lot.
Between Wayne and Colesville Sundays,1 to3 pm., at the Park-in below the Tennis Courts. Oct 16, 23; Nov. 6, 13, 20; Dec. 4, 11
OnParkway from Piney Branch or Wayne, the park-in is onleft after Three Oaks Drive. Walk upstreamand crossfootbridge. From Colesville,park-in is onright after Worth Avenue. Walk upstreamand cross footbridge.
Between Colesville and Forest Glen Sundays, 10 am to 12, at the Soccer Field Bridge.
Oct. 16, 23; Nov. 6, 13,20; Dec. 4, 11.
OnParkway from Colesville,pass Dallas (second right) and stop at next park-in on left. Walk tofootbridge. From Forest Glen, stop atfirst park-in onright, atsoccer field. Walk to the footbridge.
Between Forest Glen and Dennis Avenue Saturdays,10 am to 12, at Playground off Dameron Drive. Oct 15, 22, 29; Nov. 5, 12, 19Dec. 3, 10.
From Sligo Parkway, walk or drive to the park-in between Forest Glen and Dennis. Cross the bridge and meet at the Trail. From Dameron Drive walk or drive to the hospital annex and playground area and meet at the Trail. From outside the area on Georgia Ave, take Forest Glen east to the Parkway. Left to the park-in on the left side of the road.
Between Dennis Ave. and University Blvd. Saturdays, 2 to 4 pm, at Windham Lane entrance tothe Park.Oct. 15, 22; Nov. 5, 12, 19; Dec. 3, 10
On Parkwaytake Dennis west toward Georgia Ave.Second rightto Inwood;fifth right on Windham. Park at end of street. FromFour Corners toward Wheaton,take University past Sligo Creek Parkway.Leftat light to Inwood; leftthree-four blocks later to Windham. Park at end of street.
South of New Hampshire Sundays 11 - 1 pm, at Hillwood Manor Playground.
Oct 16 and Nov 20.
From Sligo Creek Parkway, left on New Hampshire, first right on Erskine, first right on 14th Street. At end of street park park at playground.
Dennis Avenue Sunday, 11am to 1 pm, at the Dennis AvenueRecreation Center
Nov. 13
OnParkway from Dennis, take first parking lot on left.Walk to footbridge.
From University,park on far side of Recreation Center.Walk to footbridge.
Kemp Mill Sunday, Noon to 2pm.Meet at Trail behind Kemp Mill Shopping Center.
Nov. 6
OnUniversitydriving from Four Corners to Wheaton,pass Northwood HS.Right atlight for Arcola. Left in about 0.3matlight for shopping center, opposite Lamberton Dr.Drive straightback towoods.
From Arcola nearWheaton Library,seventh righttoShopping Center, opposite Lamberton Drive.Follow as above.
Forest Glen Area Gets Special Treatment
Tree Planting to be held as part of the RIP event on October 29th
You may have noticed that massive sections of porcelainberry have been leveled atForest Glen Road. You can now walk in those woods, starting at the “Goat Corner.”
In the mid-90s quality plantings were put in this areaasthe ponds were installed.Shortly after that, porcelainberrymoved in, spreadingevery year until it seemed too formidable to tackle. Now COG and M-NCPPC want toreverse the situation. The Parks Department has mowed and bushhogged the area. COG will work with the Parks Department, and us, to plant 200+ trees in thecleared woods. (The tree planting will be part of the October 29 RIP event.) The Parks Departmentwill work to keep the new trees free of porcelainberry.
It will not be easy,and residenthelp will be needed becausecontrolled spraying cannot bedone near trees.For a safe and careful job,we need volunteers to cut vines growing near trees. When new growth appears, the Parks Departmentwill spray the young leaves. The tree-planting area will be given much attention. The moreporcelainberry we cut, the more the park will keep under control.
Ninetwo-hour events were already scheduledfor this area during the fall.Rather than remove shrubs asplanned, wecan take advantage of Park help and the COG planting to remove a great deal ofporcelainberry.This section may serve as a model forother section leaderswondering how they will deal withthese formidable vines.
Northwest Branch Watershed Tree Planting--A Joint Watershed Group Project
Friends of Sligo Creek has been invited to join in this Saturday October 15, event. If you can make it, meet at 8:30 a.m. at the open site near the intersection of Gilsan St. and Hillsboro Dr. (Montgomery ADC Map #37-C1) The event is sponsored by the Izaak Walton League of America Wildlife Achievement Chapter. They will be planting about 320 trees and shrubs on public land to enhance the County's Northwood Tributary Stream Restoration Project. They expect to complete the entire planting by 1 p.m., provided there are many willing hands. Gloves, shovels, and wheelbarrows will be provided. Students can receive Community Service credits if they bring the necessary forms to the planting event.
This is a rain or shine event because of delivery coordination required. Refreshments will be provided for all volunteers. For more information, contact Conservation Committee
Chair Jeff Deschamps (301)604-3736 or via e-mail at .
Information and directions are also posted at:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeo63qr/index.html
News
Information Boxes for Sligo
Parks & Planning has given us permission to put information boxes in various sections of Sligo Creek Park. Lea and Brian Bonfiglio developed a “pioneer” box, after which Clair Garman built and installed a sign in each section of the Park. Many thanks, Clair. The boxes will allow us to tell Park users about our activities, and inform them about the many challenges to the Park. Look to see the new contents soon!
Sweep-the-Creek a Great Success
Although the skies were gray and cloudy, over 250 volunteers came out. By the end of the day more than 300 bags of trash had been pulled from the banks of the creek and the nearby sidewalks and roadsides.
In addition to the regular litter of food wrappers, bottles and cans, trash collected included several mattresses, two brightly striped lawn chairs, an iron oxygen tank and a slinky and slime-covered mermaid costume. At least two different sections volunteers found bike frames. One of the bikes was still ride-able and people entertained each other by pedaling around in circles in the nearby parking lot.
Several scout troops, boys and girls, came out to participate, as did many entire families. A group of students from George Washington University came en masse and picked up trash, as did many single young professionals living in apartment buildings near the Creek. One group of elementary students came determined to clean up the track ring near Wayne Avenue, saying they had been seeing trash near there for a while and they could not wait to get out with their moms and begin cleaning. In section nine, above University Avenue, volunteers who could not work on Saturday came out on Sunday to work.
Sally the Sligo Salamander made many trips up and down the Creek during the Sweep. As the organization's new mascot, Sally proudly slithered her way along on the shoulders of Co-President Ann Hoffnar and told people how much she appreciated their work and how much she loved seeing her home become clean again.
At midday people gathered for refreshments and fellowship. Betsy Taylor, a naturalist from the Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton, brought a resplendent orange corn snake and a not-too-shy box turtle for everyone to meet and learn about. Staff members from the Izaak Walton League also held a demonstration of their new orange plastic trash net, and volunteers paused for a somewhat jumbled (but very jovial) group picture or two.
This year’s Sweep the Creek marks the fourth time Friends of Sligo Creek has held a clean-up on the banks of the stream. Organizers would like to gratefully acknowledge the support of the National Public Lands Day for donating protein bars and gloves and local hardware retailers Strosniders of Silver Spring for donating heavy duty trash bags. Also to Whole Foods of Silver Spring for letting us advertise the event in their eatery. Thanks most of all to all of the volunteers who worked so tirelessly to plan the event and pull trash from the park.
East Wayne Stormwater System - Grasses Planted
On September 17, Friends of Sligo Creek volunteers helped M-NCPPC plant 850 native grasses at the East Wayne Stormwater LID Filtration System. These grasses, in addition to adding color and interest to the site, will help clean the stormwater runoff from University Blvd and the parking lot at East Wayne Park. See photos of this and other events at the FOSC website http://www.fosc.org/fosc.htm.
Dredging at the University Stormwater Management Ponds
If you have been in the upper reaches of Sligo Creek recently you probably noticed that the University Stormwater Management Ponds behind the Kemp Mill Shopping Center are being drained and fencing is being installed along the path. M-NCPPC posted a press release on their web site explaining the dredging project. See http://www.mc-mncppc.org/department/news_releases/news_release_pdf/nr092905.pdf
If you get a chance, stop by periodically to watch the dredging of the ponds. It
is an eye opening experience to see how much sediment from the surrounding communities is being washed into Sligo Creek. M-NCPPC expects to dredge out about 1,000 cubic yards of muck. Andy Frank, who recently completed the East Wayne stormwater system project mentioned above, is the Project Manager. M-NCPPC and DEP have agreed to work with the Anacostia Watershed Society and Friends of Sligo Creek to use this project to help create native habitat.
FrogWatch Report Now on the Home Page
Five frog species were heard calling in Sligo this spring and summer (2005) by a team of twenty-one volunteer monitors organized by Sligo Friends. The monitors participated in FrogWatch, a program of the U. S. Geological Survey and the National Wildlife Federation. The team made at least 76 nighttime visits to seventeen sites along the creek to listen for calling frogs.
The most abundant species, both heard in large choruses, were the American Toad and Gray Tree Frog, the latter of which had not previously been confirmed for Sligo. American Toads were the only frogs heard downstream from the Beltway (at the Dallas Avenue boardwalk). Several Bullfrogs were heard at two locations….
This is just a brief sketch of a great article, written by Michael Wilpers, head of our Natural History Committee. Go to
http://www.fosc.org/FrogWatch2005Report.htm for more about FrogWatch in Sligo and how to sign up for next year.
Local Flora Identified on the Web
Ever want to know about the trees and wildflowers specifically within your local area (or section) of Sligo? Now you can, with the new Selective Plant List capability on the FOSC web site. Thanks to our web guru Clair Garman, you can create lists of five types of plants (woody, ferns, ….), and search for the very common, or very rare, or everything in between. The search draws upon the comprehensive inventory of Sligo's native plants created by botanist extraordinaire, John Parrish.
Go to the Natural History page http://www.fosc.org/NaturalHistory.htm of the FOSC web site, choose "Plants of Sligo," then the typeof plant you want (woody, herbaceous….), and click on "Printable Selective List" at the top of the pageYou will get a menu from which to choose section of Sligo and the occurrence you're interested in (common, rare, etc.). It's a fantastic new tool to help us all become more familiar with the plants of Sligo. These Selective Lists can greatly help if you are interested in leading a nature walk of plants in your section. (If so, contact Michael Wilpers at .)
Solicitamos Ayuda
“Amigos de Sligo Creek” esta buscando voluntarios(es) que hablen español que nos ayuden a traducer panfletos y otras informaciones relacionadas con el parque. Si usted esta interesado y le gustaria prestar este servicio algunas veces traduciendo (o otras actividades), por favor escribe a Ann Hoffnar, 301 585 8891 o .
From the Board of Directors
The board usually meets on the first Tuesday of each month and we summarize major items of discussion here. If you have questions or comments about Friends of Sligo Creek policies or activities, please let one of us hear from you. Check our website for names and contact information at http://www.focs.org/Board.htm . This month:
· Brent Bolin, Chair of the Outreach and Education Committee, talked about the importance of presenting the public with a clear and consistent picture of who we are and what we do in all communications and at events. As soon as people hear our name or see our logo, they should know instantly who we are, the kind of work we do and that they are encouraged to join in. Brent hopes that the committee can be a resource to other committees and section leaders to increase public awareness about the creek and its problems. The board was enthusiastic about Brent’s ideas.