Invasive Species Work Day at Dismal Creek

Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club Meetup Group
Non-native invasive species (NNIS) threaten natural biological communities up and down the entire Appalachian Trail. Introduced to North America from other continents to serve as ornamental garden plants, erosion control on dikes and ditches, a supplement for wildlife food, or completely by accident, many invasive plants take off and quickly outcompete their native counterparts. This results in a reduction in biodiversity, lack of habitat and food for native species, and a loss of incredible scenic beauty.

If you would like to participate in our fight against encroaching invasive plants, you’re not going to want to miss this work day. Under the supervision of certified herbicide applicators, volunteers will use herbicides to treat invasive autumn olive (*Eleagnus umbellata*) in wildlife openings near Dismal Creek and along the AT.

Meet up with us at 9 am at the bottom of the driveway of Weary Feet Hostel, 13152 East Blue Grass Trail, Bland, VA 24315. We will park at the pulloff along the highway and carpool to the work area. GPS coordinates for the meeting point are 37.165153, -80.900894. We will aim to be back at our vehicles at 5 pm at the latest.

Please bring:
– Long sleeve shirt and pants, boots, and socks (required for herbicide use)
– Change of clothes (for the rare event of a chemical spill)
– Lunch and plenty of water
– Sun protection
– Other personal necessities for a day in the field

We will provide:
– Chemical
– Other tools and supplies needed for work
– PPE (gloves, eye protection)
– Expert instruction and guidance on safe and effective herbicide use.

In the event of inclement weather (rain, extreme heat) this work day will be cancelled. Keep an eye on this post to check for updates if the weather looks squirrely. For any questions, contact Virginia Mooney at vmooney@appalachiantrail.org or 240 899 9626.

Hope I’ll see you there!