Newsletter

The Friends met May 14, 7:30 p.m., at the Huntley Meadows Park Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Boulevard, Alexandria, VA 22306, for our quarterly membership meeting. The meeting was free and all were welcome.

TOPIC:	The Restoration of Dyke Marsh in a Changing Environment
SPEAKER:	Dr. Katia Engelhardt, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Appalachian Lab

This map shows how sea level rise, a major factor in marsh restoration, might affect Dyke Marsh by the end of the century.

Ecosystem management often tries to command and control an ecosystem at all costs to look a certain way or perform certain functions that humans find particularly valuable. Over-control of a system, however, often leads to disappointing results if the underlying attributes are incompatible with objectives. As discussions over the future of Dyke Marsh include the possibility of restoring portions of the marsh to halt erosion or to increase area that were previously lost to dredging, underlying attributes and objectives need to be carefully examined if a restoration of Dyke Marsh is to be successful and sustainable. Over the past 4 years, I have examined marsh structure (elevation, tidal channels, and vegetation communities) and function (denitrification) at Dyke Marsh to examine the feasibility of restoring the marsh. Our results show that while the marsh landscape is relatively flat from a human perspective, marsh vegetation responds to small (<10cm) changes in marsh surface elevation and to the proximity of tidal channels. Hence, from the plant perspective, Dyke Marsh is a complex landscape that manifests itself in a diverse mix of plant species. This complexity will need to be restored in a restoration effort if the existing marsh is to be a model system. However, restoration of elevation, tidal channels, and vegetation will not be sustainable unless geomorphological processes, that deposit sediments at high enough rates to counter sea level rise, maintain the marsh landscape. Simple sea level rise scenarios show how marsh structure might change without sediment accretion keeping pace with sea level rise, and highlight the importance of placing Dyke Marsh into a regional context that accounts for sediment accretion and erosion processes.

Dr. Engelhardt (“Katia”) received her undergraduate degree in Animal Science from Oregon State University in 1993 and she earned a Masters degree through the Fisheries and Wildlife department at Utah State University. Her MS project focused on translocating Trumpeter swans to the Bear River Migratory Bird refuge, a freshwater wetland complex located north of the Great Salt Lake. Fascinated by the submersed aquatic plants that swans feed on, she began studying the effects of wetland plant biodiversity on ecosystem functioning, which culminated in a doctorate degree in ecology at Utah State University in 2000. Since 2000, Katia has been an assistant professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Appalachian Lab, where she continues her research on understanding the causes and consequences of plant biodiversity in wetland systems.

The following article on this page highlights many of the challenges facing Dyke Marsh, old and new. The Board of Directors is very pleased that the National Park Service’s first meeting on restoration will be held soon.

The law establishing Dyke Marsh 50 years ago contemplated restoration. Finally, it is beginning! FODM hopes to work in close partnership with federal officials to restore the health of this important wetland.

Research Chairman Walter Bulmer, Sandy Spencer and NPS scientists will analyze Marsh Wren and Least Bittern trends.

FODM is inviting research proposals on the marsh. Contact Research Chair, Walter Bulmer, for information.

The National Park Service denied the request of the West Potomac Crew Boosters to hold practices out of Belle Haven Marina/Dyke Marsh. FODM urged NPS to reject this proposal. We asked Mount Vernon Supervisor Gerry Hyland and Fairfax County School Board Chairman Dan Storck to help the team find a permanent home.

We continue to urge NPS to mark the eastern boundaries of Dyke Marsh and to improve the signs requiring that dogs be leashed and that dog poop be collected.

NPS officials say that four new wayside signs will be installed along the Haul Road and boardwalk this summer.

Fairfax County and Alexandria are moving ahead to develop methods for people to responsibly dispose of unused medications, thanks to our urging. Certain medications have been linked to abnormalities in fish in the Potomac River.

We have a PowerPoint presentation on Dyke Marsh so if you know of any groups that might like to learn more, let us know.

The Washington Post and the Alexandria Gazette published articles on Dyke Marsh.

Several FODMers are being trained in how to control invasive plants so we hope to do more work in Dyke Marsh.

Michelle Williams, an American University graduate student, is making a video documentary on Dyke Marsh as part of her master’s thesis.

A reported “nutria” (a non-native animal) in the marsh was actually a woodchuck! Thank goodness.

Every week there seems to be a new development affecting Dyke Marsh. We are working on several fronts. Here are some. If you want to help, contact me at gbooth123@aol.com or 703-765-5233.
Belle View Flood Control: At Fairfax County’s request, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared a preliminary report outlining several options for addressing serious flooding events, like the one that occurred in the Belle View area during Hurricane Isabel in 2003. The current COE options include building flood walls and levees around the area and “flood proofing” homes. The report says that any development would have “negative environmental and recreational impacts.” You can read the report at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/stormwater/bellehaven.htm. Please share your recommendations with me.
Increased River Traffic: Alexandria is promoting “National Harbor readiness,” encouraging boat customers from Maryland’s National Harbor to Old Town. The second span of the enlarged Woodrow Wilson Bridge is scheduled for completion in 2008, allowing for taller vessels to pass under the bridge. Will this increased boat traffic affect Dyke Marsh by, for example, creating more wakes, erosion, pollution, trash, prohibited incursions and non-native species?
National Harbor: The first phase of the National Harbor development opened in April, 1.5 miles across the Potomac River from Dyke Marsh. Their website has said it will be a “whole new city,” a 300-acre waterfront development of buildings and parking lots along one and a quarter mile of waterfront. There have been news reports that National Harbor will have hourly “Seadog Sightseeing and Speedboat Tours” on a 70-foot boat that can go 35 miles per hour.
National Harbor will also have a 700-foot long commercial pier; water service to and from Mount Vernon, Georgetown, National Airport and the Washington, D. C., baseball stadium; high-speed cruises on the river and “thrill boat rides”; private slips for pleasure craft; opportunities for bass fishing, canoeing, kayaking, jet skiing and water skiing; and a waterfront light show, among other features, according to promotional materials.
How will this impact Dyke Marsh?
Waterfowl Hunting: Two duck blinds were constructed and used on the borders of Dyke Marsh during the 2007-2008 waterfowl hunting season. Homeowners just south of the marsh urged FODM to join them in addressing it. Should waterfowl hunting be allowed on the boundary of the marsh?
Hunting Terrace: The IDI Group has proposed to “redevelop” Hunting Terrace, the apartments on Hunting Creek just west of the parkway, to build 361 luxury condominiums in two five-story buildings and two buildings up to eight to 14 stories tall. The National Park Service opposes the proposal, saying in their letter, “The radical change in the landscape setting of the area, in the vicinity of Hunting Cove, should not be allowed.” On February 5, I spoke to the Alexandria Plannng Commission and expressed some concerns about impacts on the natural resources of the area, citing studies finding that up to 100 million birds die per year when they collide with structures, especially buildings with a lot of glass and especially at night. For now, the commission has postponed action.

I am pleased to announce the opening of the public comment period for the development of the environmental impact statement (EIS) to help guide future restoration and management alternatives for Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve. Comments will be accepted during a 45-day public comment period through, May 21, 2008. Comments will be accepted in several ways, including electronically at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/gwmp or in writing to me at Superintendent David Vela, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Turkey Run Park, McLean, Virginia 22101. In addition, comments will be accepted at a public scoping meeting on April 22, 2008, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Belle View Elementary School at 6701 Fort Hunt Road in Alexandria, Virginia 22307.

Dyke Marsh, one of the last remaining tracts of tidal freshwater marsh along the Potomac River in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, has existed for approximately 5,000 years. Historically, the marsh was mined for sand and gravel. This resulted in the loss of approximately 270 acres of marshland. However, in 1974, Congress passed legislation calling for the restoration of Dyke Marsh “…so that fish and wildlife development and preservation as wetland wildlife habitat shall be paramount…” Today, Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is administered by the George Washington Memorial Parkway, a unit of the National Park Service.

We seek your continued support and vigilance in the protection of Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve. This is the time of year when turtle poachers are active. Poaching is big business, with turtles being sold for food or bait. Trapping turtles is illegal in Dyke Marsh. If you see any potential turtle poaching in the marsh, please contact the U.S. Park Police Dispatch Office at 202-619-7300.

As always, feel free to contact park staff if you have any questions at 703-289-2500 or visit our park website at www.nps.gov/gwmp. We hope that you have a safe and enjoyable spring along the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

First Quarter 2008 Dyke Marsh Bird Sightings

The Dyke Marsh birds of late winter and early spring season were typical for the preserve. Canada Geese left en masse near the beginning of March and were quickly followed by the first arriving Laughing Gull. The species diversity along Haul Road was fairly average, too. The highlight of the season was undoubtedly a Red-necked Grebe which showed along the shoreline of the picnic area in late March for about a week. Redheads showed up off and on for nearly the month of March. And there were two Brown Creepers that were found in the picnic area nearly every week for the period.


	Bald Eagles, like this pair perched near the marsh, were readily seen.

Bald Eagles of all ages were readily seen throughout the period. Even though the eagle nest near the Wilson Bridge on the Maryland side is now abandoned, it is clear breeding birds are still nearby as an adult has showed up on the Hunting Creek mudflats through March. Sometimes, first winter and second winter plumaged Bald Eagles are observed on the mudflats, too, suggesting that progeny from the old nest site are still in the area. A Cooper’s Hawk delighted birders throughout the period, often found near the marina or picnic area. Red-shouldered Hawks were also relatively easy to find and were often found posing in nearby trees for the lucky photographer.
As we enter the springtime period, arriving migrants and breeders will gather our interest with their bright colors and wonderful songs. All are welcome to join us during our Sunday morning field trips, starting from the first parking lot of the picnic area near 8 a.m. (although I am sure some will arrive earlier so as to not miss any migrants!). Kurt Gaskill.

The On-Line Marsh Wren

First Quarter 2008 Dyke Marsh Bird Sightings

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