Reedy Creek Coalition

Crooked Branch Ravine Park, a small park on the south side of Richmond, is home to a diverse urban forest, some lovely native shrubs and perennials, and the critters that depend on such places.  Many of these plants are threatened by non-native, invasive species.  We can either do something to change the situation or we will eventually lose both the canopy and understory layers.

Please join us.

• Sunday,  January 5 from 1 – 3 p.m.
• If you can only stay an hour, that’s OK.  Every hour counts.
• Bring gloves and hand clippers.  An old screwdriver is sometimes helpful for removing ivy from trees; we will show you how.
• Dress in layers.
• Bring a friend!

Map to meeting site

Tree canopy protects watersheds and provides cooling shade, food, and habitat.  The area where we are working has lots of oak, hickory, beech, holly, and other native trees and shrubs.  We can do a little winter tree ID if you are interested.  

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Crooked Branch Ravine Park acts like a sponge, soaking up rain water and keeping it where it falls.  It is also home to many native plants that support wildlife, including warblers and other song birds on their long migrations.

The circle indicates the approximate location of Crooked Branch Ravine Park.

Protecting areas like this will help keep the rain where it falls and help improve water quality; this need is great in urban areas with lots of impervious surface.   Unfortunately, this little park has many non-native, invasive plants and over time they will threaten the tree canopy (natures’ best invention for capturing rain water).  And, as native species are lost so is the diversity that supports wildlife.

This is important work. We would appreciate your help.

• Sunday,  September 8 from 1 – 3 p.m.  or as long as you can stay.
• Bring gloves and hand clippers.  An old screwdriver is sometimes helpful for removing ivy from trees; we will show you how.
• Please bring your own water.
• Bring a friend!

Map to meeting site

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Over 150 small trees and shrubs have been planted in this open space on park property along Covington Road.  We have high hopes for success here!  Now we need to remove invasive plants from the edge of this area.  Seeds from privet, English ivy and Japanese honeysuckle are spread primarily by birds.  Removing these plants now will prevent the spread of thousands of seed in this area and beyond.

Please join us in this effort.

• Sunday May 19  from 1 – 3 p.m.
• If you can only stay an hour, that’s OK.  Every hour counts.
• Bring gloves and hand clippers.  An old screwdriver is sometimes helpful for removing ivy from trees; we will show you how.
• Please bring your own water.
• Bring a friend!

Map to the site 

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Imagine having thousands of visitors in your yard every year. The
wear and tear on your lawn and garden would be substantial. Grass
would be trampled, compacted beyond repair with paths worn into ruts
that pool with water when it rains. Soon your visitors, in avoiding these
areas, would widen the bare spots. That’s what is happening in our
James River Park System and in our backyard, Forest Hill Park. The
parks see thousands of visitors a year, millions in James River Park.
We hike, jog, bike and walk our dogs into the parks in all types of
weather. A frequent visitor to the parks may notice the muddy ruts in
the trails that seem to be getting bigger and taking longer to dry. This
happens when trails erode below the soil surface and the water has
nowhere to go. The muddy areas lead to another problem that’s
created when trail users dodge the mud and go off of the trail, trail
widening.

Why does erosion matter and trail widening matter?

• Safety!  Rutted, uneven surfaces, exposed rocks and plant roots
  are a tripping hazard for hikers and joggers.
• Environmental impact! Eroded soil can make its way into streams
  and eventually the river, increasing water turbidity and sediment
  buildup. This can have a negative impact on aquatic organisms and
  the overall health of the streams and rivers.Invasive species move into disturbed areas and compete with native species for resources to the detriment of micro and macroecosystems that depend on each other to flourish.  Invasive species seeds can be introduced to new areas from the mud in shoe or bike treads.
• Aesthetics!  Rutted trails and bare spots on hillsides are ugly, show
  lack of care and lessen the quality of recreational experience.

What can we as park users and lovers do?

• MOST IMPORTANTLY Stay off the trails when it has rained in the last
  24 hours. Use an alternative hard surface trail until the trails have
  dried.  *Trail conditions for James River Park as well as trail rules can be found here.  https://jamesriverpark.org/visit-the-park/trails-overview/
• Please use ONLY existing trails DoNOT create new ones. The parks
  are home to many species of plants that can be damaged or killed
  when trampled.
• When hiking, walk single file rather than side by side.

So, let’s work together and use our parks responsibly and preserve
their natural beauty for generations to come.

For more information:
pwrc.usgs.gov. Assessing and Understanding Trail Degradation:
Results from Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area
imba.com

https://www.americantrails.org/resources/studies-weigh-mountain-biking-hiking-impacts

Twitter info: Trail conditions @RVATrailReport

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If you’ve ever wondered why our watershed group spends time removing invasive plants here’s the answer…

Crooked Branch Ravine Park acts like a sponge, soaking up rain water and keeping it where it falls.  It is also home to many native plants that support wildlife, including warblers and other song birds on their long migrations.  (Some of the warblers have arrived!)

Protecting areas like this will help keep the rain where it falls and help improve water quality; this need is great in urban areas with lots of impervious surface.   Unfortunately, this little park has many non-native, invasive plants and over time they will threaten the tree canopy (natures’ best invention for capturing rain water).  And, as native species are lost so is the diversity that supports wildlife.

This is important work. We would appreciate your help.

• Sunday,  April 14 from 1 – 3 p.m.  or as long as you can stay.
• Bring gloves and hand clippers.  An old screwdriver is sometimes helpful for removing ivy from trees; we will show you how.
• Bring a friend!

Map to meeting site

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Map to the site

Please bring your own water bottle.  We will have water for refills.

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