Work Session Summaries 2022

Page history last edited by Mary.Ellsworth 2 years ago


Section5	Section4	Section3	Section2	Section1

FINAL 2022 Bioswale Work Session

Sunday, November 6, 2022

A great team of eleven volunteers came out to help in the bioswale this morning. Again this month the focus was on removing vines and dead heading False Indiobush.

After the work there was coffee cake.

The following tasks were accomplished:

Removed many porcelain berry and clematis vines from sections 1 & 2

Removed heavy clematis growth from section 4

Cut back vegetation from the fence along the road.

Made significant progress removing Wineberry, section 4

Removed the trees, west end of sec 4. Kept the Persimmon

Deadheaded the False Indigobush in Sec 1 and 2

The persimmon tree next to the Paddler's docks is loaded with fruit

this year. Jim used his chain saw to cut back other young trees.

A major effort was made here … Wineberry brambles cleared

on the left. The rest of the patch on the right

remains for battle in the spring.

They generated MANY wheelbarrows full.

Happy to see big roots going into the dumpster. Excellent work by volunteers.

Michael got in there voluntarily! He tramped down the vegetation to make room for more.

I dug out phragmites, section 1,

but sadly, it is gaining on us.

Notes: Tasks for March 2023 work session

Dig out Wineberry, all sections

Remove woody growth in all sections. Try salt on cut stems.

Continue to remove all vines in all sections

Use the tree puller to remove Bush Honeysuckle

Ask for mowing under the big Pine.

Use white vinegar to remove 'grass' on the sidewalk, section 5

Plan for better tool storage.

River birch and Switchgrass

Bioswale Work Session

Sunday, October 16, 2022

Under a fabulous autumn sky eleven volunteers pulled vines, dug roots, cleared bushes and picked up litter for today's session.

The bioswale in Fall

The following tasks were accomplished:

Removed many porcelainberry and clematis vines from section 4

Removed heavy clematis growth and limbed up one of the Bald Cypress

Removed vines and a Bush Honeysuckle tree that are killing one of the pines along the road fence

Cleared around two Sweet Bay Magnolias, section 4

Jim deals w a Bush Honeysuckle

Josh has been victorious over this Bush Honeysuckle tree

Larisa did a terrific job on all those vines, vines and vines.

Cleaned up Bald Cypress and Switch grasses

Sarah contemplates a plan of attack to clear this sad Sweet Bay Magnolia

She did it - big improvement

Andrea & the cypress - BEFORE

Andrea & the cypress - AFTER

Notes: Tasks for November work session

Remove the trees, west end of sec 4. Keep the Persimmon

Remove woody growth in all sections. Try salt on cut stems.

Deadhead the False Indigobush in Sec 1

Continue to remove all vines in all sections

Use the tree puller to remove Bush Honeysuckle

Ask for mowing under the big Pine.

Use white vinegar to remove 'grass' on the sidewalk, section 5

How to manage Section 1? It's out of hand.

Remove wineberry in early spring by digging.

Plan for better tool storage.

Shawnn drags reluctant vines right outta there.

Grant seems to be chatting with a bush.

Oh - it's just Andrea walking w a load of vines!

Gabriella was on wheelbarrow and

jump-on-dumpster duty this morning

Again this month - freshly baked cranberry muffins for the volunteers.

Larisa's muffin disappeared! Jim's is nearly the same.

Part of the team - a few team members missed the photo opp. BUT THANK YOU ALL!

Bioswale Work Session

Sunday, September 25, 2022

A dozen fabulous volunteers worked diligently in the bioswale this morning. The weather was perfect and the river looked gorgeous - all very motivating! This was the weekend for the Tickclover or Tall Tick-Trefoil (likely Desmodium glabellum) to be out in force - we all were covered with it's sticky triangular green seeds. They are a challenge to remove from clothing. The focus today was on removing vines - Porcelainberry, Clematis, Fuzzy bean and more.

The following tasks were accomplished:

Used pick and shovel to dig out False Indigobush.

Removed porcelainberry and clematis vines.

Removed heavy clematis growth from the Bald Cypress

The dumpster was full to start with, so we piled vegetation behind the dumpster. We'll move it to the dumpster in Oct.

The bioswale is glorious in it's fall beauty

Attack of the Tickclover! A September phenomena

Beautiful Red Twig Dogwood with fall berries

The west end of Sec 4 has not had enough attention. Start here in Oct.

💞 THANK YOU to our incredible volunteers! 💞

Notes: Tasks for Oct work session

Move the brush pile to the dumpster

Remove woody growth in all sections. Try salt on cut stems. Deadhead the False Indigobush in Sec 1

Continue to remove all vines in all sections, in particular sec #4 under bald cypresses. Also sections 2&3.

Limb up the Bald Cypress, west end of sec 4

Use the tree puller to remove Bush Honeysuckle

Ask for mowing under the big Pine.

Use white vinegar to remove 'grass' growing over the sidewalk, section 5

How to manage Section 1? It's out of hand.

Remove wineberry in early spring by digging.

Replace bolts & tighten wheelbarrow

Plan for better tool storage.

Bioswale Work Session

Sunday, August 28, 2022

The bioswale benefited from the work of 12 hard working Volunteers this hot and humid Sunday. Our goal for the morning was to try out the idea of 'mowing' the bioswale with home weed whackers. Four people provided ww and worked in groups of two to whack, rip out vines and pile resulting debris.

Background: We have been looking for ways to maintain the riparian meadow character of the bioswale, discouraging woody plant growth. Online resources suggest mowing (to 6" height) annually, but the edge of the river is not exactly accessible for a tractor to mow, and the growth is so high and dense it's doubtful a lawn mower could get through. So it was thought that maybe weed whackers could be used. Today's experience leads us to conclude that home yard tools are not heavy enough to do the job. They are relatively fragile, require a lot of fuel for a job this size, and there is the problem of getting electricity to them. Also a 6" mowing height is pretty hard to maintain. I think we feared these would be issues, but thought we'd give it a try. Also, while recommendations are for late summer mowing to maintain switchgrass, the bioswale has many other species that are just now in bloom and ready to produce seed. August mowing would interrupt that process. So equipment and timing questions remain for mowing to maintain the bioswale as a riparian meadow.

Chris cut an amazing swath from the parking lot to the river's edge with Mary's EGO Weed Whacker, clippers and brawn.

Morgan and Sophia teamed up to clear next to the downriver-most ramp. Morgan's fuel ran out soon, and they continued with big clippers, all the way to the river's edge.

Amy and JoAnn worked together with Amy's weed whacker, but it could barely get through the bioswale vegetation. Mostly they pulled vines and did a great job clearing around some Red Twig dogwood and a magnolia.

Paul and Jim haul away huge piles to the dumpster. Paul tried out using a scythe to mow. (it was hard work)

The following tasks were accomplished:

Used pick and shovel to dig out False Indigobush that is growing back.

Removed porcelainberry and clematis vines from red twig dogwood, magnolia & Shadbush.

This week Jim carried the cut Elm tree branches to the dumpster on his own time

Used weed whackers to try to mow swaths thru to the river, in section 4. K Ray's proved to be too weak for the bioswale but she went around the boathouse and trimmed

Liz and Susan picked up trash and removed vines in section 5, particularly from the River Birches and Dogwoods.

All debris was carried to the dumpster

Andy tackled False Indigobush, and then ended up doing several runs with the wheelbarrow.

JoAnn peers back thru the path she and Amy created in the thick vegetation

A PATH was cleared!

Notes: Tasks for Sept work session

Dig woody growth in all sections. Try salt on cut stems? Deadhead in late summer/fall

Remove all vines in all sections, in particular #2&3. Clear vines off native shrubs.

Use the tree puller to remove Bush Honeysuckle

Ask for mowing under the big Pine.

Use white vinegar to remove 'grass' growing over the sidewalk, section 5

How to manage Section 1? It's out of hand.

Remove wineberry in early spring by digging.

Bioswale beauties, Aug, 2022

Bioswale Work Session

Sunday, July 31, 2022

Eight volunteers tackled several key bioswale areas this week. The focus was digging up resurging False Indigobush, uncovering the native bushes along the edge of the parking lot, and limbing up River Birches. Happily, the Anacostia Watershed Society gave us several clumps of Wild Rice to plant in the wet area of Section 1.

Andy aggressively tackles False Indigobush.

The following tasks were accomplished:

Used pick and shovel to dig out False Indigobush that is growing back.

Removed porcelainberry and clematis vines from red twig dogwood & Shadbush.

Limbed up the River Birches in sections 4 & 5

Limbed up the big Elm tree, Sec 5

Planted Wild Rice in Section 1

Chris was unrelenting against False Indigobush

JoAnn carefully unwinds many feet of vines covering Red twig dogwoods and Shadbush

Paul cleared vegetation from the rocks in Section 1

Notes: Tasks for Aug work session

Dig woody growth in all sections. Try salt on cut stems? Deadhead in late summer/fall

Move Elm branches to dumpster

Remove all vines in all sections, in particular #2&3. Clear native shrubs.

Use the tree puller to remove Bush Honeysuckle

Ask for mowing under the big Pine.

Use white vinegar to remove 'grass' growing over the sidewalk, section 5

How to manage Section 1? It's out of hand.

Plan for meadow revitalization - mowing? Test using weed whackers.

Allison limbed up all the River Birches. Enjoy the improved view!

Adam, from Wilson HS, volunteered today for Community Service hours. He hauled many wheel barrel loads to the dumpster.

The Fabulous Paddlers, who shared their WATERMELON!

Sublimely perfect for this hot humid morning.

Ummmmm - watermelon!

AWS gave us several clumps of Wild Rice from their wet beds at Bostwick House.

Paul somehow got the job of struggling thru the underbrush to a little wet pool, where he planted the Wild Rice among rushes and pickerel weed.

Watch this page for Wild Rice progress...

A great big to our terrific volunteers!

Bioswale Work Session

Sunday, June 26, 2022

We had fourteen volunteers this Sunday morning. The group focused mainly on clearing the rocks below the plaza wall of vines and saplings. Vines had started to go over the top of the fence along the edge of the plaza. Also we cleared around the bioswale sign. An excellent work session!

Six of the hard working volunteers

Andy digging out a HUGE porcelain berry root.

BEFORE - Hard to see the Bioswale information sign

AFTER - Clear for all to read!

Notes: Tasks for July work session and 2022

Monthly - knock down bush growth in Section 4

False Indigobush is a native but it's unruly and grows tall. Dig roots from sections 2 and 3, religiously deadhead in late summer/fall

Remove all Clematis vines in all sections, in particular #2&3

Use the tree puller to remove Bush Honeysuckle

Limb up the River Birches, section 5

Ask for mowing under the big Pine.

Use white vinegar to remove 'grass' growing over the sidewalk, section 5

BEFORE: Clearing the rocks

AFTER! All Clear

Bioswale Work Session with Capital Juniors participating

Sunday, May 22, 2022

Ten fabulous volunteers worked on ridding our shore of the invasive yellow iris on Sunday morning. Massive KUDOS to Capital Juniors who came and worked so hard on every task they tackled. Wow!

	The following tasks were accomplished: Dug up yellow iris, sections 1 and extensively in 4 Cleared vines and other invasives from section 3. Cleared vines, etc from fence along road so emergency gate will open. Cleared old Indigobush stumps from seawall, section 1

Notes: Tasks for June work session and 2022

Monthly - knock down bush growth in Section 4

False Indigobush is a native but it's unruly and big. Dig roots from sections 2 and 3,

religiously deadhead in late summer/fall, remove plants when young.

Remove (dig) all Clematis vines in all sections, in particular #2&3

Try using the tree puller to remove Bush Honeysuckle

Limb up the River Birches, section 5

Stay ahead with the work under the big Pine. Ask for mowing.

Be on guard to remove Bush Honeysuckle and False Indigobush from all sections

Use white vinegar to remove 'grass' growing over the sidewalk, section 5.

Bioswale Work Session & Academy of Holy Cross Day of Service

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Twenty five high school students from Academy of the Holy Cross volunteered in a Day of Service for a 4.5 hr work session with their 4 chaperones. These students worked so hard and accomplished so much!

Academy of Holy Cross student volunteers & chaperones	The following tasks were accomplished: Dug up wineberry vine from section 4. Cleared vines and other invasives from section 3. Hauled brush pile left from March 19 to the dumpster Cleared vines/weeds from the bicycle parking area. Planted 100 switchgrass plugs in sections 3 and 4.
The students cleared vegetation from the bike parking area and laid down more mulch.

Digging out a wineberry sprout. There are hundreds of them.	The dumpster needs to be packed down now and then!
100 baby switchgrass plants! (called plugs) The tray on the left has Panicum virgatum On the right is Panicum Shenandoah, which has a red tinge in it's fall leaves	One little switchgrass baby!
The students measured out 12-14" spacing in two rows to place the grass plugs

The student standing directs the digger where to make the next hole - keeping two straight rows.	Baby switchgrass.... go go go!

Bioswale Work Session & AWS EARTH DAY Cleanup

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Forty five AWS volunteers, 6 site leaders, and 10 volunteers for a bioswale work session contributed 2-2.5 hrs of their time at the Anacostia Community Boathouse, for a total of 60 volunteers on Earth Day 2022. Groups came from Concord Academy Alumni Association, DC Energy & Environment Association, unaffiliated individuals from DMV, and our own volunteers from ACBA programs. Manning Earth Day registration table were Jennifer Dumas (CRC), Emma Ashooh (CRC), and Amy Hubbard (CRC AM). Leading groups of volunteers were Jamey Dumas (CRC), Teresa Becchi (DC green volunteer) and Paul Flack (NCAWPA).

The following tasks were accomplished:

Collected 15 bags of trash

Collected 11 bags of recyclable materials

Picked up litter from all sections of the bioswale

Counted bags, etc and recorded the data for AWS

Removed invasive wineberry vines & other vines

Three groups of volunteers scoured the Southeast Blvd, Barney Circle, and M St SE for trash and recyclables. Other groups focused on the bioswale.

Bioswale Work Session - 2022 Kick off with Gonzaga High School Day of Service

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Nine volunteers in addition to Gonzaga rowing teams.

The following tasks were accomplished:

Removed wineberry and clematis vines (and others).

Massive clearing of vines from section 3 and some from 2.

Hauled all cuttings, litter, etc to the dumpster

Picked up 7 bags of trash from all sections

Planted 6 1-gal mature switchgrass plants in section 4

Dug Phragmites from section 1 as completely as possible

Removed Lesser Celandine from section 4

Planting 1-gal switchgrass plants, section 4

Click to view video - Removing a massive bunch of

invasive Wineberry vines

Bioswale Work Session - Landscaper hired to grind stumps

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

ACBA hired a landscaping company to bring equipment to grind out the many stumps from black locust and False Indigobush. Over 3 dozen stumps were removed.