Clean-up: The clean up
will take place along the shore of Lake Fairfax and along the
Stream from the Dam to Hunter Mill Road.
Plant Removal: This will take
place at the designated location that the park chooses. This part
of the event will most likely involve getting a little dirty so
bring a change of clothes and like the Clean-up portion of this
event wear clothes you no longer care for.
*Waypoints for this event will be updated
Soon.*
**Updates to this event will be updated in post to this
page.**
Suggested clothing and/ or
equipment:
1. Gloves
2. Work clothes (long shirts and long pants)
Food & Drinks:
Will be provided by yours truly, but bring some water to keep
hydrated.
FCPA supervision will be led by
Dan who is the current IMA program manager, he will give us the
guidance for the removal of plants. There will alos be other
volunteers helping the program out and will give you a helping hand
if you need it.
GOAL: To contribute to the
preservation of the county's natural resources through education of
volunteer geocachers giving up their free time to help clean up
Lake Fairfax Park and remove The Oriental Bittersweet which is
currently destroying the ecology in this park.
***Any efforts in the removal of Invasive plants in Fairfax
county without the FCPA's supervision is not allowed.***
Below is the information on the Oriental Bittersweet....
Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus
orbiculatus Thunb.)
Description
Oriental bittersweet is a deciduous twining vine with
alternate, round, glossy leaves. Small greenish flowers occur in
clusters next to the leaf stems. The leathery capsule surrounding
the seed ripens to a bright orange. The native species, American
bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) differs from the invasive
by its leaves, which are oval or elliptic in shape, and the
terminal panicle of flowers. Consult a natural resource specialist
for an accurate identification.
Habitat
This species grows in alluvial woods, roadsides, thickets, and
old homesites. From there it may spread to undisturbed mesic or
dry-mesic forests.
Distribution
Oriental bittersweet, a native of Asia, was brought to the
United States for cultivation during the middle of the nineteenth
century. It is now naturalized in 21 of the 33 states where it was
introduced, a region extending from Maine south to Georgia and west
to Iowa. Oriental bittersweet in found in over half the counties of
Virginia.
Threats
This plant can overrun natural vegetation in much the same way
as kudzu (Pueraria lobata), overtopping all other species
and forming thick nearly pure stands. It can strangle shrubs and
tree limbs, and weaken a tree by girdling the trunk and weighting
the crown making the tree more susceptible to wind and ice damage.
There is some evidence that it can hybridize with American
bittersweet, thus threatening genetic integrity of the native
species.
Control
Light infestations of a few small plants can be controlled by
cutting the vines and hand pulling the roots. Dense infestations
can be treated by cutting the vines followed immediately by
application of a glyphosate herbicide to the stumps. Merely cutting
vines without removing or killing the roots will only stimulate
vigorous re-growth. To insure root kill, a late-season foliar
application of herbicide may be necessary. Glyphosate herbicides
are recommended because they are biodegradable. To be safe and
effective, herbicide use requires knowledge of the chemicals and
their appropriate concentrations as well as understanding of the
method and timing of their application. Consult an agricultural
extension agent or a natural resource expert for more information
on these control methods.
Alternative Plants for Cultivation
Many native species of vines are available through local
nurseries or mail order. American bittersweet is our native species
and does not exhibit the invasive tendencies of Oriental
bittersweet. Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata), trumpet
honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), and trumpet creeper
(Campsis radicans) are all climbing vines which produce
bright red-orange flowers attractive to hummingbirds and
butterflies. Virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana) is a
climbing vine which blooms in clusters of fragrant white flowers.
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquifolia) grows well
in shade and produces a cluster of berries which are an important
source of winter food for birds.