Earth Conservation Corps members on a Pope Branch stream walk. the corps members braved poison ivy, 15 foot high eroded banks, and a few unwelcome spiders.
Friday, December 8, 2006
RAINGARDENS/BIORETENTION CELLS IN POPE
As part of a separate project, DDOE/WPD has issued a grant to DC Greenworks to install raingardens (or Low Impact Development retrofits - LID) in the Pope Branch watershed. These raingardens detain water for a period of time and remove sediment, nutrients, and other pollutants from stormwater. They are designed to hold water for no lo
nger than 24 hours and thus are not a breeding ground for mosquitos. They are planted with attractive native plants and are considered an aesthetic benefit. ECOSITE will install 4 raingardens in the watershed (2 will go in along the parkside of M Place SE). Construction is expected in spring of 2007. The picture posted (the Capitol Hill raingarden on 1st st. & C St. NE) is an example of what the M Place raingardens might look like - however without the stone.
nger than 24 hours and thus are not a breeding ground for mosquitos. They are planted with attractive native plants and are considered an aesthetic benefit. ECOSITE will install 4 raingardens in the watershed (2 will go in along the parkside of M Place SE). Construction is expected in spring of 2007. The picture posted (the Capitol Hill raingarden on 1st st. & C St. NE) is an example of what the M Place raingardens might look like - however without the stone.
December meeting
The Pope Branch Alliance - is this our official working title?- met on Dec. 7th at the Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church where we all checked in. Some new faces were Pope Branch watershed resident Sinuel Hill and DDOT rep. Reggie Arno. Alliance chair Joseph Glover asked for updates from all participants. From the WASA/DDOE/DPR end, we reported that we are very close to issuing the design contract for the stream restoration and sewer line replacement/repair. With the MOU wrangling behind us we can now get to the fun stuff. The general mood of the alliance was satisfaction and happiness with seeing progress in the contracting side of things - thanks in large part to Mike Thorstenson.
Josh Burch and Tim Critchfield of ECC reported that they have begun taking some water samples - Lucretia Brown of DDOE, Water Quality Division has agreed to act as a technical advisor to their sampling efforts and will likely attend the next meeting. ECC also is setting up a clean up event/service day on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - January 15th (time yet to be decided). ECC will put all volunteers to work on invasive removal and trash clean up. Irv Sheffey from the Sierra Club stressed the importance of getting local residents and kids out to participate given that all trash in the stream is generated locally. Keep posted for event details and let residents know of the upcoming service day.
Trinh Doan reported that a few members went on a stream walk on Nov. 18th. The streamwalkers found patches of Kudzu, lots of English Ivy, and Japanese Knotweed. They also found some downed trees and were impressed by the condition of the trees that had been planted by Casey trees roughly 2 years ago. Pictures from this streamwalk will be posted.
Next meeting was scheduled for January 11th 6-7:30 at the same location (penn ave baptist church. PA ave. @ SE and 30th St. SE). Our usual meeting time will be the 1st thurs of the month, however due to holidays we pushed January's meeting back one week.
Josh Burch and Tim Critchfield of ECC reported that they have begun taking some water samples - Lucretia Brown of DDOE, Water Quality Division has agreed to act as a technical advisor to their sampling efforts and will likely attend the next meeting. ECC also is setting up a clean up event/service day on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - January 15th (time yet to be decided). ECC will put all volunteers to work on invasive removal and trash clean up. Irv Sheffey from the Sierra Club stressed the importance of getting local residents and kids out to participate given that all trash in the stream is generated locally. Keep posted for event details and let residents know of the upcoming service day.
Trinh Doan reported that a few members went on a stream walk on Nov. 18th. The streamwalkers found patches of Kudzu, lots of English Ivy, and Japanese Knotweed. They also found some downed trees and were impressed by the condition of the trees that had been planted by Casey trees roughly 2 years ago. Pictures from this streamwalk will be posted.
Next meeting was scheduled for January 11th 6-7:30 at the same location (penn ave baptist church. PA ave. @ SE and 30th St. SE). Our usual meeting time will be the 1st thurs of the month, however due to holidays we pushed January's meeting back one week.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Streamwalk minutes fun
In attendance: Joseph Glover, Trinh Doan, Pat Bailey, Tom Arrasmith
Tour start time was 8:30 AM at the intersection of Fairlawn Ave and M St.
(1) Brief Introduction/Background of Pope Branch Subwatershed: Pope Branch is a federal park and a tributary to the Anacostia River. It starts downstream from Fort Davis Drive and flows NW for 1.5 miles. The stream flows underneath Branch and Minnesota Avenues and the CSX rail line area by piped sections. Boundaries include Penn Branch to the south, Fort Dupont Park to the north and Section E of Anacostia Park to the west. Nearby schools include Anne Beers ES, Randall Highlands ES, Sousa MS, Kramer MS and Anacostia HS.
(2) Problems found during the walk: bank erosion, lots of meanderings of stream due to sediment build up – needs some realignment, one large fallen tree over the streambank – too many small fallen trees, invasive plants (Kudzu, Japanese knotweed and English ivy), trash, one collapsed culvert under M Street, aging sewer lines and bank slumping.
(3) Positive observations found during the walk: healthy young trees put in by Casey Trees, many healthy mature trees, sections at the headwaters of Pope Branch are forested, great vegetation coverage in most banks and nice weather for the walk, especially at this time because the poison ivy are dormant.
(4) Project Ideas discussed during the walk:
- Outreach effort to support Pope Branch: finding nearby schools/teachers to involve in plant stewardship and eventual planting of trees along the streambank as part of the restoration work. These efforts include invasive removal, tree planting and school activities.
- Revitalize the Pope Branch Park and Creek Annual Clean up event that will happen sometimes in May 2007.
- Rebuild the collapsed culvert.
Next Tour will be in the Spring 2007
Tour start time was 8:30 AM at the intersection of Fairlawn Ave and M St.
(1) Brief Introduction/Background of Pope Branch Subwatershed: Pope Branch is a federal park and a tributary to the Anacostia River. It starts downstream from Fort Davis Drive and flows NW for 1.5 miles. The stream flows underneath Branch and Minnesota Avenues and the CSX rail line area by piped sections. Boundaries include Penn Branch to the south, Fort Dupont Park to the north and Section E of Anacostia Park to the west. Nearby schools include Anne Beers ES, Randall Highlands ES, Sousa MS, Kramer MS and Anacostia HS.
(2) Problems found during the walk: bank erosion, lots of meanderings of stream due to sediment build up – needs some realignment, one large fallen tree over the streambank – too many small fallen trees, invasive plants (Kudzu, Japanese knotweed and English ivy), trash, one collapsed culvert under M Street, aging sewer lines and bank slumping.
(3) Positive observations found during the walk: healthy young trees put in by Casey Trees, many healthy mature trees, sections at the headwaters of Pope Branch are forested, great vegetation coverage in most banks and nice weather for the walk, especially at this time because the poison ivy are dormant.
(4) Project Ideas discussed during the walk:
- Outreach effort to support Pope Branch: finding nearby schools/teachers to involve in plant stewardship and eventual planting of trees along the streambank as part of the restoration work. These efforts include invasive removal, tree planting and school activities.
- Revitalize the Pope Branch Park and Creek Annual Clean up event that will happen sometimes in May 2007.
- Rebuild the collapsed culvert.
Next Tour will be in the Spring 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
