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Hello MPEA Friends & Volunteers! This is the time of year to visit the environmental area if you want to have the whole place to yourself. Very few visitors brave the cold, allowing those who bundle up warmly to enjoy the solitude. Not to mention that you have a better chance of observing wildlife when the surroundings are peaceful. Now, are you curious enough to come out and visit? The Newsletter of the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area January 2017 Volume 13, Issue 1 Inside this issue: Greetings and Introduction 1 Fieldwork 1 Take Note 1 Trail Update 1 Volunteer News 1 Volunteer News (cont’d) 2 Interesting Links 2 Fundraiser Info 3 Contact Info 4 Think before you print! This newsletter is optimized for online viewing. The appearance will change if printed. Aside from the all of the rain it has been a pleasant January allowing for numerous days of fieldwork. Most of what was accomplished are tasks that we already informed you would be occurring. Several days were spent conducting basal bark applications of herbicide on Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) shrubs. Furthermore, we have been making preparations to continue addressing the late winter reoccurrence of non-native, invasive Lesser celandine. After that project we will be performing some maintenance activities within a declining stand of Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) with the goal of re-planting more pines to replace the dead and dying ones. Getting the invasive plants within this site under control will be burdensome; however, we look forward to hopefully replanting some time in 2017. Volunteer assistance will be needed and we will surely let you know when the pine tree planting will take place. Fieldwork There are two managed hunt dates remaining, February 9th and 16th. The MPEA will be closed until noon on both hunt dates. Even if the weather is really nice and you just want to take a short walk the parkland will still be closed and you will still be turned away until after 12 PM. Also keep in mind that the ongoing construction on Trotter Road remains. Lane closures are in effect south of our main entrance. For your convenience please remember that it is easier to approach our parking lot by travelling down Trotter Road from Route 108. Trail Update When you do arrive at our trails be prepared for a somewhat slippery walk. The trails are not muddy per say, just very wet. Naturally there are a few muddy spots but overall one can still have a nice walk. On a side note, heavy rains and high winds are a recipe for limbs falling down or trees falling over. So far we know of just one treefall blocking a trail within the network of paved paths over on the east side of the river. Even that obstacle should be cleaned up by the time you receive this newsletter. Take Note Volunteer News It won’t be long before spring returns and our group, outdoor volunteer events resume. All persons are welcome to attend with no prior experience necessary. Everyone new to the program is required to fill out a short volunteer application and those people under the age of
