C&O Canal National Historic Park

My major task for the season at the C&O Canal is to update an extensive rare, threatened and endangered species list.  Some of these RTEs have been documented as recently as 5 years ago, some of them 10 years ago, and some have been documented as far back at the 1800s (I don’t look too hard for those ones…).  Using ArcMap, we’ve created a geo-database that allows us to see locations and concentrations of RTEs, which allows me to plan out and prioritize my RTE surveys.

The C&O Canal begins at mile 0.0 in Washington DC and ends 184.5 miles upstream of the Potomac River in Cumberland, MD.  Needless to say, it covers a lot of ground and includes a number of ecosystems.  The Potomac Gorge is the most biologically diverse area of the Canal and is about 10 miles from Washington DC.  Geologically speaking, this area is where the weather resistant rock of the Piedmont meets the softer and more erosive rock of the Coastal Plane.  This unique geology creates a rare biological habitat that houses many species that only occur in this specific area.  Many of my target species are found in the Potomac Gorge.  Another factor in choosing locations and species to target is the threat of invasive species.  The combination of invasive species biology, the superhighway of seed dispersal that the river provides and the proximity of the Potomac Gorge to urban landscape of Washington DC makes the native RTEs in this area highly susceptible to displacement by invasive species.  Due to the high occurrence of both RTEs and invasive species, it is a delicate dance managing both.  Specific areas in the Potomac Gorge are designated “high priority” areas and I spend my time surveying those areas for RTEs and communicating with the EPMT (exotic plant management team) in the park to make sure they are aware of RTEs that are in the area they are working in.

Phacelia purshii – Miami Mist

Clematis viorna – Leatherflower

Scutellaria nervosa – Veined Skullcap

When I am not on the hunt for RTEs I spend time working with the education and outreach department of the park.  I help park educators develop environmental education curriculum for park visitors, lead plant walks with DC area schools, and I am re-vamping the the parks Weed Warrior program to help educate and certify groups who want to join in helping the park manage its invasive species populations.