Newsletter

Join the Friends of Dyke Marsh Wednesday, February 24, 7:30 p.m., at the Huntley Meadows Park Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Boulevard, Alexandria, VA 22306, for our quarterly membership meeting. The Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and Prince George's (Maryland) Audubon have each agreed to be cosponsors of the lecture. The meeting is free and all are welcome.

TOPIC:	The Amazing Journey of the Red Knot
SPEAKER:	Darin Schroeder - Vice President of Conservation Advocacy, American Bird Conservancy

   Mr. Schroeder will discuss the amazing Red Knot, a shorebird that makes one of the longest migrations in the world. Every spring, the rufa Red Knot migrates from Tiera Del Fuego in South America to its arctic breeding grounds. It stops in the Delaware Bay and feasts on horseshoe crab eggs to rebuild its energy reserves. Horseshoe crab eggs are declining and this bird may be threatened with extinction.
   Schroeder has written, “If enough horseshoe crab eggs aren’t there at the exact right time . . . and without an alternative, nutrient-rich food source to consume in their place, the knots’ journey comes to a catastrophic end. This is exactly what began to happen in the 1990s, and by the end of the millennium, alarm bells were sounding for the potential extinction of the Red Knot.” He and others are working to reverse the decline in the Red Knot population and craft public policies to protect these birds.
   Darin Schroeder served as Wisconsin Offices Manager for U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) from 1993 until 2000, and then joined the staff of U.S. Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) as Press Secretary. He played an instrumental role in expanding voluntary conservation programs in the 2002 Farm Bill and worked closely with ABC staff to introduce legislation reauthorizing the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. Darin received a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1993.

The Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve has been especially beautiful this winter, much of it still, cold and frozen. Devoted FODMers have braved the cold to enjoy the marsh. There are many challenges:

Restoration: NPS is continuing work on the management and restoration plan for the preserve (See article on page 5). When the draft becomes public, it will include several alternatives. FODM needs people with scientific and other expertise to help evaluate the options. Please contact me if you are interested in helping at gbooth123@aol.com or 703-765-5233.

Waterfowl Hunting: Winter brings waterfowl hunting on the Potomac River. On January 1, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries issued five citations for alleged violations of state hunting laws both within and outside the boundaries of the DMWP. According to a DGIF official, the citations were, generally, for “hunting in the wrong location” and for “moving hunting buoys that designate where floating blinds can be located.” According to press reports, the violations are a class 3 misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum fine of $500.
When reporters asked me for a comment, I commended the DGIF’s game wardens for taking action. Hunting within DMWP is prohibited. Hunting on the boundaries is regulated by the state. A cooperative agreement between DGIF and NPS imposes certain conditions on hunting along the boundaries. You should report any suspected hunting violations or poaching to DGIF at 1-800-237-5712 and to the U. S. Park Police at 202-619-7300. We’d like to know too.

“Toxic River”?   The Potomac River supplies 90 percent of the drinking water in the Metro D.C. region, says the Potomac Conservancy, yet a “toxic stew is brewing . . .” The Conservancy’s “State of the Nation’s River” report (http://www.potomac.org/site/) outlines the presence of compounds that mimic or disrupt the normal functions of the endocrine system and adversely affect many aquatic species. For example, some male smallmouth bass in the Potomac watershed have developed eggs.
    While the scientific research is ongoing, the Conservancy lists the following as problematic if they reach the river: personal care products, pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter medicines, agricultural pollution, animal feedlots, industrial byproducts and biosolids. PC says that “there are no EPA-approved tests for personal care products or pharmaceuticals in our drinking water or our wastewater.” The group calls for government pharmaceuticals take-back programs as one solution. Fairfax County’s Web site says, “Don’t flush unused medicines.” You can find their tips on how to dispose of them at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/dontflush/.
    Congressman Jim Moran (D-8-VA) has introduced the Endocrine Disruption Prevention Act of 2009 (H.R. 4190) to facilitate research to determine whether “hormone-disrupting” chemicals are affecting human health.

Climate Change Will Affect Wetlands:   Many scientists maintain that climate change is one cause of sea level rise. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency reported that sea level in the Chesapeake Bay has risen approximately 30 centimeters (one foot) over the past century, twice the global average. Without action, the Potomac River could rise by two feet by 2050 or with a surge, by four feet, say National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration experts.
    “The shorelines of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, such as the Potomac River, are among the region’s most threatened resources . . .,” the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) reported last year. A Virginia-based organization called Wetlands Watch estimates that at this rate of sea level rise, Virginia could lose 50 – 80 percent of the state’s tidal wetlands.
    U. S. Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar in September announced a climate change response strategy to address climate change impacts on the country’s natural resources.    DOI’s Web site says, “Climate change may dramatically affect water supply of certain watersheds, impact coastal wetlands and barrier islands, cause relocation of and stress on wildlife populations, increase wildland fire threats, create new invasions of exotic species, among many other potential impacts. DOI is taking the lead in protecting our nation's resources from these impacts and in using our public lands to mitigate climate change.” We look forward to hearing what NPS is doing in our area. See the related article on NPS Director Jarvis’s visit to DMWP on page 5.

Hydrilla: Mount Vernon Supervisor Gerry Hyland asked the county staff to consult with the U. S. Corps of Engineers about addressing hydrilla in the Potomac River. We asked him to amend his directive to urge county staff to require the staff to also consult with the NPS and to avoid approaches that would kill or harm native vegetation. He agreed and we thank him.

FODM member Don Robinson identifies and removes invasive plants in the marsh. Photo by Ned Stone.

Take a walk out the Haul Road in Dyke Marsh, and when you round the bend you will be treated to an open view of the Potomac River on your right, thanks to Don Robinson (pictured), Ned Stone and Mary Jo Detweiler. The three meet Friday mornings to remove Bush (Amur) Honeysuckle and other invasive plants from Dyke Marsh. After they cut invasives to the ground and flag the cut stems, National Park Service personnel selectively apply herbicides to the flagged plants. Stone and Robinson have been trained by NPS to identify and remove invasives. To join this volunteer effort, please contact either Ned Stone, 703-765-5441 or nedstone@verizon.net, or contact Elizabeth Ketz-Robinson or Don Robinson at 703-768-1344.

The On-Line Marsh Wren

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