Lubber Run Park Invasive Plant Management Project
Lubber Run Park | 300 N. Park Drive | Arlington, Virginia 22203

OVERVIEW | BACKGROUND | GOALS | UPDATES | SCHEDULE | ACTIVITIES | LINKS | CONTACT

Project Overview

The forests of Arlington County, including Lubber Run Park, are threatened by invasive exotic plant species. The Lubber Run Invasive Plant Management Project was initiated by the Arlington Forest Citizens Association, funded through the County’s Neighborhood Conservation Program, works in conjunction with Arlington's Invasive Plant Program, and is managed by the Arlington County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources. The project aims to restore the ecological health and biodiversity of Lubber Run Park by effectively controlling invasive plant species in the park, reaching out to the community by involving residents in the planning process, educating the public about invasive plants, and creating a long-term plan to preserve the health of the park for the benefit of future generations.

A forested area in Lubber Run Park near the Route 50 entrance. Invasive plants, especially English ivy and multiflora rose were covering trees and competing strongly with native plants in Sept 2002.	The same area in May 2004 after 1.5 years of treatment by PRCR staff working with Arlington's Invasive Plant Program. The forest understory is now open to a diverse mix of native plants and the trees and shrubs are no longer stressed by a heavy coverage of invasive plants. The deep and expansive roots of healthy trees and shrubs do a good job of stabilizing the slope and preventing erosion.

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Background

As residents of a fast-growing urban community on the edge of Washington, DC, we are privileged to have forested areas in the County that have been preserved for our enjoyment and for the benefit of the natural environment. Arlington’s forests, though, are increasingly threatened by invasive plant species. These plants that are not native to this region overrun the native plants in our forests, creating a monoculture, wrecking our forests’ biodiversity, and suppressing the growth of native plants. Of particular concern are our trees. Invasive exotic vines such as English Ivy can stress existing mature trees to death, and can also smother young trees and prevent them from growing. If nothing is done to control invasive plants, the invaders will, over time, overrun Arlington’s precious remaining forested areas.

Lubber Run Park is an example of a place where invasive exotic plants are threatening the ecology of the forest. However, it is also an example of a place where neighborhood initiative can help to stem the tide. Even before this project was initiated, residents of Arlington Forest have been working closely with Arlington's Invasive Plant Program staff and volunteers, and have made significant strides to reduce the invasive plant problem. View photos of areas of the park where staff and volunteers have been working. Many areas of the park look much better than in 2002 when Arlington's Invasive Plant Program began and volunteers and staff invasive plant control work in the park was first formally coordinated. However, progress was somewhat limited because Lubber Run is just one of over 30 work sites where Arlington's Invasive Plant Program staff and Remove Invasive Plants (RIP) volunteers work.

RIP volunteers at a volunteer event in Lubber Run Park in February 2005.

In 2005, Arlington Forest residents decided to seek additional resources to help speed up invasive plant control efforts in Lubber Run Park. The hope is that this additional funding will allow Lubber Run to become the first large stream valley park in Arlington where invasive plants are controlled to a maintenance level and serve as an example and inspiration to other neighborhoods struggling to control invasive plants in their parks. In March 2005, the Arlington Forest Citizens Association worked with County staff to submit a proposal to the Neighborhood Conservation Program for an invasive plant control project in Lubber Run Park. At the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee’s semiannual funding session in June 2005, the project was recommended to the County Board for funding. In September 2005, the County Board allocated funding for the project. In January 2006, the County awarded Invasive Plant Control, Inc. a contract to do work County-wide to control invasive species, including at Lubber Run Park. It was after that when planning for the Lubber Run Invasive Plant Management Project began in earnest.

Examples of common invasive plants in Arlington County

English Ivy Hedera helix	Multiflora Rose Rosa Multiflora	Honeysuckle Lonicera spp.	Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria	Japanese Stilt Grass Microstegium vimineum

Goals

The over-arching goal of this project is to contribute to the ecological health of Lubber Run Park by eliminating, to the extent possible, invasive plants that harm the local ecology, and to lay the groundwork for maintaining the park in an invasive-free state to preserve it for future generations.

The project’s main goal is supported by working toward the following objectives:

• Prepare the Project Plan: Every good project starts with a plan. The invasive plant control plan for Lubber Run Park will identify and prioritize the areas and species to be treated, and will detail the methodology and timing of the treatments. This planning will ensure that the project is both efficient and effective. The plan being prepared is a collaborative effort between County staff, neighborhood residents, and Invasive Plant Control, Inc.
  View the draft management plan (400KB PDF format).
• Reach Out to the Community: Involving residents in the planning and implementation of County projects is a hallmark of how Arlington County does business. It also contributes to the success of its projects. In order to help this particular project to succeed, we are reaching out in the following ways:
  • Residents will have input into project planning, to ensure that the project plan takes neighborhood considerations into account.
  • We will reach out to educate the public on the harmful effects of invasive plants, the ecological benefits of controlling them, and native plant alternatives. This will both provide a rationale for the project, and educate residents on how to contribute to its long-term success by controlling invasive plants on their own properties.
  • We will keep residents informed of the progress of the project through regular e-mail and web updates, as well as signs in the park.
  • We will showcase this project as a model project for Arlington County and the region, setting an example for how local government and residents can work together to address the invasive species problem.
• Control Invasive Plants: Invasive Plant Control will implement the project plan by using various methods (hand, mechanical, and/or chemical) to eliminate at least 90% of targeted invasive species, while being sensitive and selective so as not to harm the beneficial native species that exist in the park. The goal is to get rid of the existing invasive plants to the extent possible, so that we can focus our limited staff and volunteer resources on doing early detection and rapid response to stop invasive plants when they begin to encroach back into the park. Once the invasive plants have been controlled, beneficial native species that have been suppressed by the invaders will begin to reappear, and a healthy forest will emerge.
• Prepare a Long-Term Management Plan: Unfortunately, Lubber Run Park does not exist in a bubble, and invaders will continue to threaten the forest from outside once the project is complete. These invaders could come from adjacent properties, vehicles, or animals. We will have to be vigilant and do early detection and rapid response in order to prevent the park from becoming re-infested. The long-term management plan will aid County staff and volunteers by providing a set of guidelines for maintaining the park in an invasive-free state for the benefit of future generations.

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Map of invasive plant infestations in Lubber Run Park (951K PDF format)

The majority of invasive plant control work done through Arlington's Invasive Plant Program since 2002 has been done on the east side of the stream and this accounts for some of the marked differences in infestation levels on that side of the park.

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Updates

Note: The most recent updates will be at the top of the list.

• January 2007:

  If you strolled in Lubber Run Park before the holidays, you may have run into Invasive Plant Control Inc. (IPC) staff. IPC is the contractor company that is working diligently to control invasive plants in Lubber Run using funding from Arlington’s Neighborhood Conservation Fund. IPC staff, Bobby Service and Marshall Johnson worked 19 days in Lubber Run from Nov 10th – Dec 21st. Bobby and Marshall treated invasive vines, shrubs and tree species with herbicide treatments or combinations of herbicide and mechanical (cutting) treatments. Target species included English ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, bush honeysuckle, porcelainberry, white mulberry, privet and tree of heaven. In addition to this fall’s work, IPC also treated lesser celandine and English ivy in the park in spring and summer of 2006. There are some visible differences already in the number of invasive plants in the park since IPC began work in spring of 2006, however differences should be even more apparent over the next few months as some species (e.g. English ivy) may take several weeks to show the effects of this fall’s herbicide treatment. We anxiously look towards spring in anticipation of a potentially greater number of wildflowers and native herbaceous plants flourishing in the absence of heavy invasive plant cover in Lubber Run Park. Please note due to rainy weather during IPC last couple of scheduled days in the park, one small section of English ivy (near George Mason Drive ramp from Carlin Springs Rd) was not fully treated and will receive treatment on IPC’s next visit. IPC plans to return this spring to spot treat any missed plants from previous treatments and treat a few invasive species that timing did not allow for in 2006 treatments (e.g. Japanese stilt grass). Thank you for all your community support for this project. Lubber Run Park is looking better and healthier because of you! Request for a Volunteer Leader: Arlington’s Invasive Plant Program is looking for one or two volunteers to help schedule a volunteer day in early spring to work with IPC to remove a large patch of bamboo in Lubber Run Park. Volunteer days were written into the draft management plan for invasive plant control in Lubber Run and are a great way to efficiently use project funding while encouraging community awareness, education and support. Volunteers will help cut, stack and load bamboo alongside IPC and Arlington PRCR staff. If you are interested in helping coordinate this volunteer effort, please contact Jenn Truongat 703-228-7636.

  Marshall Johnson from Invasive Plant Control Inc. in Lubber Run Park in November 2006

• July 25, 2006:
  • Treatments to date have focused mostly on English Ivy.
  • English Ivy has been cut from the bases of all trees on the entire east side of Lubber Run Park and on half of the west side from the amphitheater to George Mason Drive.
  • English Ivy has been sprayed on the entire east side of Lubber Run Park, and has been sprayed on the west side of the park from Arlington Blvd. to the footbridge.
  • The ivy spraying should be completed in the next week or so, and then IPC will be leaving Lubber Run Park to work on other projects.

• July 19, 2006:
  • Signs have been posted at all entrances to the paved trail in Lubber Run Park, advising park users of the project, along with a foldable sign that indicates when treatment is in progress instructing users to stay on the trails.
  • Flyers have been distributed, courtesy of the Arlington Forest Citizens Association, informing neighbors about the project and providing contact information to obtain further information.
  • Treatments to date have focused mostly on English Ivy.
  • English Ivy has been cut from the bases of all trees on the entire east side of Lubber Run Park and on half of the west side from the amphitheater to George Mason Drive.
  • English Ivy has been sprayed on the entire east side of Lubber Run Park.
  • The ivy is already starting to turn yellow, but it will probably take 1-2 weeks to see widespread ivy dieback. Within a month from now the ivy should be mostly dead. Continued treatments will be required for re-sprouts.
• July 5, 2006: Summer invasive plant treatments are now in progress in Lubber Run Park. View details (34KB PDF format).
• June 20, 2006: Invasive Plant Control, Inc. will be working in Lubber Run Park beginning July 5. More details will be posted prior to that date, once the information is available.
• April 5, 2006: The draft management plan (400KB PDF format) is available for viewing online.
• March 13-16, 2006: Invasive Plant Control, Inc. will be doing a rapid-response treatment of Lesser Celandine in the park. The Lesser Celandine will be sprayed with Rodeo herbicide. The herbicide will be tinted blue so that the treated area can be easily identified. The chemical manufacturer recommends that the area treated not be entered within four hours of the spraying taking place. Park users are advised to stay on the trail during this time.
• February 1, 2006: The first planning meeting of the project’s neighborhood advisory committee took place. The contractor, Invasive Plant Control, Inc. was introduced and gave a presentation. Presentations were also given by Greg Zell, County naturalist, and Beverly Johnston, who will head up a subcommittee that will coordinate monitoring and evaluation of the project from the neighborhood side.
• January 5, 2006: Invasive Plant Control, Inc. was formally awarded the contract to provide invasive plant control services to the County.
• September 17, 2005: Funding for the project was approved by the County Board.
• July 22, 2005: An introductory meeting was held between County staff and a neighborhood advisory committee to discuss the broad outlines and goals of the project.
• June 9, 2005: The Lubber Run Invasive Plant Management Project was recommended for funding by the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee.
• March 31, 2005: A commitment letter was received by the Neighborhood Conservation Program, indicating the Arlington Forest Citizen’s Association’s commitment to pursue the Lubber Run Invasive Plant Management Project as its number-one priority project in the upcoming funding session of the Neighborhood Conservation Program.

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Schedule

View the draft project schedule (46KB PDF format).

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Activities & Meetings

Note: The most recent updates will be at the top of the list.

• May 2, 2006, 7:00 pm: The Lubber Run Park Invasive Plant Management Project - Resident Advisory Committee will meet in the multi-purpose room of Barrett Elementary School, 4401 N. Henderson Road. Invasive Plant Control will present its draft management plan (400KB PDF format) and residents will provide feedback.
• April 15, 2006, 9am – 10:30am: Neighborhood resident and volunteer Botanist Sylvia Orli will be narrating a native plant walk through Lubber Run Park to highlight the park’s native plant treasures. Meet at Edison Park tot lot, located near the corner of 2nd Street North and North Edison Street.

Examples of Beneficial Native Plants Found in Our Area (Photo Credits)

Wild Ginger Asarum canadense	Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida	Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia	American Holly Ilex Opaca

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Links

• Arlington County’s Invasive Plant Control Program
  Learn what is being done on a County-wide basis to combat the invasive species problem and what you can do to help.
• Invaders in Our Backyards (1.7M PDF format)
  A brochure that describes some of the most common invasive plants found in Arlington.
• Controlling English Ivy (920K PDF format)
  Learn how to combat Arlington’s number one “least wanted” invasive plant threat on your own property.
• Japanese Stilt Grass Alert
  Learn more about a fast-moving invasive that is appearing in the County and what you can do to help before it gets out of control.
• Invasive Plant Control Inc.
  Learn more about our contractor by visiting this website.
• Neighborhood Conservation Program
  Learn more about this unique program that gives neighborhood residents a say in how County projects are prioritized and funded.
• Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping – Chesapeake Bay Region
  View this wonderful in-depth publication listing hundreds of native species that contribute to the ecological diversity of the coastal plain and piedmont areas of Virginia, and consider planting some of them in your own back yard.
• Virginia Native Plant Society
  VNPS works to preserve native plants in VA. Their website provides a list of local nurseries that sell native plants and has a publication entitled Native Plants for Conservation, Restoration and Landscaping.
• Invasivespecies.gov
  On this site you can learn about the impacts of invasive species and the Federal government’s response, as well as read select species profiles and find links to agencies and organizations dealing with invasive species issues.
• Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia
  Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation maintains an advisory list of invasive species found in Virginia and has fact sheets on several species.
• Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council
  MA-EPPC addresses the problem of invasive exotic plans at a regional level. This site includes an invasive plant list and slideshow.
• The Nature Conservancy
  The Global Invasive Species Initiative is another great starting point for general invasive information. This site also includes information on specific control techniques for various invasive plants.
• National Park Service
  Weeds Gone Wild an informative site with fact sheet for some top invaders. Also see the NPS and USFWS booklet Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas.

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Contact

• Sarah Archer
  Project Manager & Arlington County Invasive Plant Control
  (703) 228-1862
• Greg Zell
  Naturalist
  (703) 228-6535

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