BULL RUN MOUNTAINS NATURAL AREA PRESERVE

Transcription

1 OWNED LANDS ACTIVITIES REPORT MARCH 2016 BULL RUN MOUNTAINS NATURAL AREA PRESERVE 2,350 acres in Prince William and Fauquier Counties Closure and Restoration of High Point In November, Gary Fleming, of the Natural Heritage Program, provided VOF with a summary of the restoration of High Point. The work plan for 2015 was: Assess, evaluate, and map the restoration area in detail. Install monitoring plots with photo points. Identify and plot-sample at least one minimally damaged reference site. Initiate monitoring protocols and establish benchmarks for assessing recovery. Physically obscure social trails and restore denuded and damaged areas Conduct additional biological surveys. A team comprised of representatives of Natural Heritage, VOF, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, and the Bull Run Mountains Conservancy visited the site five times between April and August. They accomplished the tasks described above and reported that they identified nearby pockets of characteristic, native shrubs and herbs that are doing well and can provide the seeds for recolonization of the impacted areas. It was also reported that most of the monitoring plots showed a small to moderate increase in species richness over the season. This is encouraging because the poor soils and exposed location provide a challenging setting. To have even small improvements in year one is promising. Gary and his team also developed a list of recommendations for both the near and medium-term for the area. These recommendations are: Continue the policy of no access except for restoration and monitoring activities in Develop new strategies and methods to continue enforcing the closure. Continue research and discussions on developing alternative future access strategies at BRMNAP that permit limited, sustainable uses. Continue periodic monitoring and assessment of damage and the need for remediation. Consider and implement as necessary additional management activities that may be appropriate to benefit or enhance recovery. Reduce the frequency of monitoring plot re-sampling to once a year, in late summer. Establish quantitative benchmarks for habitat and vegetation recovery. Undertake zoological, lichen, and botanical surveys to assist in understanding the influence of site disturbances on rare and unusual species. VOF staff continues to monitor the closure area weekly. We have also been in conversations with the landowner to consider how future access to the area might be designed. 1

2 One of the monitoring plots at High Point showing an abundance of pine leaf litter cover This caterpillar spotted and identified by Janis Stone while surveying the vegetation at High Point is a Curvelined Owlet moth (Phyprosopus callitrichoides) that feeds on Smilax sp. 2

3 Location of VOF Office at the Preserve VOF has received a very generous grant of $30,000 from the Chichester-duPont Foundation to develop the entrance of the Preserve with a ranger station and the utilities to serve it. VOF has contracted with a local engineering firm to manage the Prince William County site plan approval process. To date, the property has been surveyed for a drain field site. The soils and topography have been found to be less than ideal, so the options of locating a drain field elsewhere on the preserve or even within adjacent VDOT right-of-way are being explored. Conceptual Plan for BRMNAP Entrance Archive Grant VOF received a $15,000 grant from the Sacharuna Foundation in 2015 to fund the collection and digital archiving of approximately 100 years of planning documents, histories, and scientific research conducted on, or related to, the Bull Run Mountains and the Preserve. This project is now complete. A description of the project and a list of the collected studies can be found on the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve portion of the VOF website. In order for our library to stay current, VOF now requires researchers to provide us with any published materials that result from research on the Preserve. Research Underway Three studies are taking place on the Preserve this season. Two are long-term population studies and one is new and only designed for For nearly 50 years Marty Martin has been studying the Eastern Timber Rattlesnake on the Preserve as part of his population studies that covers territory from Pennsylvania to Florida. This year Marty s research assistant will visit to witness the spring emergence of the rattlesnakes from their 3

4 hibernation locations and he will return throughout the season to look for pregnant females and later their young. Two entomologists from the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History have begun their sixth season collecting insects from the Preserve. This effort is part of the Virginia Beetle Project and a different stand-alone survey of insects and other arthropods in Virginia s Natural Area Preserves. The collected species will be maintained by the Smithsonian. A one year survey of bats at the Preserve will begin in May led by Chris Hobson, field zoologist at DCR. As many are aware, bat populations have declined dramatically over the last decade due to White Nose Syndrome, a previously unknown fungus. The population reductions have been significant enough to raise the question of whether formally common bat species should now be listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The bat survey will help to establish baseline data, relative abundance, and health of the remaining bat population inhabiting the Preserve. HOUSE MOUNTAIN RESERVE 876 acres in Rockbridge County Rockbridge Area Conservation Council (RACC) filed a lawsuit against VOF in the Circuit Court of Rockbridge County on July 15, Discussion of legal matters related to this suit and any updates will take place in closed session. Routine maintenance of the Reserve has been underway thanks to volunteer Brian McCanon. Brian has been working on mowing approximately two acres in the saddle area. It has been several years since mowing the meadow has been undertaken, so the work is slow going. Brian expects to be finished by the end of March in order to not disturb the bird nesting season that runs from April to October. Brian McCanon provided these two panoramas showing the extent of his work. 4

5 ACQUISITIONS and SALE PARCELS White House Creek Estate (Coll/Ingram Gift) This corner lot in White House Creek Estates is located in Lancaster County approximately 6 miles south of Mollusk in the White House Creek Estates subdivision on a prong of Corotoman River. The lot is just under an acre of mostly wooded land with frontage on upper reach of Millenbeck Prong. There are marsh views but not deep enough water for boat access. The subdivision has a community boat put in and the lots are served by community water and private septic. Some houses have alternative systems. No HOA The lot was donated to VOF in 2008 as an unrestricted gift. The deed authorizes sale, exchange, or disposition in support of VOF statutory purpose and the donor anticipated sale of the lot to benefit VOF. The Board adopted a resolution in April 2011 authorizing the sale of this parcel (as well as others already sold) and dedicated the proceeds from sale to benefit the Kohls Island property in Northumberland County. VOF obtained an appraisal in 2011 that valued the lot at $33,000 which is currently assessed by the county at $22,500. Our local realtor (Melrose Plantation Real Estate) listed it for $65,000 starting in September. We had 13 virtual showings and an unknown number of physical showings but no offers or expressed interest. We reduced the list price to $40,000 at the beginning of 2016 as the suggested price correction which realtor hopes will result in a sale within 6 months to a year. Community boat put-in at White House Creek Estates 5