Volume 12 No.

2
[Link]@[Link]
215.951.0330 ex. 2101
Spring 2009

The Volunteer
President’s Corner | Field Director’s Report | Volunteer Profile | Introducing Jane Anderson
Sustainable Trails | WRV Steering Committee

President’s Corner:
Rich Kurowski, President

We extend a heartfelt thank you and best

wishes to Suzanne Low, who left WRV this
summer. Among Suzanne’s many accom-
plishments over the past two years as Direc-
tor was her effort to make our Wissahickon
Trail Classic a resounding success and a
much-anticipated event for local runners.

Amanda Hymansmith remains as our Field

Director, but will take on some additional
administrative responsibilities in Suzanne’s
absence. Suzannah Beckett continues to
help organize our field program, and also Plant Stewardship Indexing in the works at Pachella Field.
helps lead membership efforts and relationships
with volunteer groups. Both Amanda and Suzannah offer enthusiasm for our cause and a willingness to
grow our organization.

Earlier this year I attended Fairmount Park’s meeting with the Park’s Partners, who represent all the
volunteer organizations that work in Fairmount Park. Executive Director Mark Focht reported on the
Park’s budget constraints. The Park needs volunteer groups more than ever because of a lack of
adequate funding. There is hope that the Park will be spared future cuts as the Mayor supports a city-
wide effort to become “the greenest city in America.”

New Parks and Recreation Commissioner Michael DiBerardinis introduced himself and revealed his
vision for the Park. He is very interested in meeting with the volunteer groups to gather their ideas on
how to make this new Parks and Recreation operate effectively. We at WRV are waiting for our op-
portunity to express our views which will be sometime in the fall.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey fielded questions and concerns from the various groups. Al-
though the Commissioner has many higher-profile problems to deal with in this city, he took time to
respectfully address what may seem to be minor issues like parking, graffiti and road closures. He
emphasized his concern with park safety and called for the return of the horse patrol. I found it admi-
rable that the Commissioner took the Park volunteers’ issues as seriously as any other crime prob-
lems in the city. Thank you, Chief Ramsey.

For the foreseeable future, the city, including Fairmount Park, will count on its volunteer groups, includ-
ing WRV, to keep Philadelphia liveable. We count on you to keep our field program going. Please take
look at our calendar at [Link], join us in the field, and bring a friend!
[Return to top]
See you in the woods.◊
Field Director’s Report
by Amanda Hymansmith

It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Wissahickon Restoration

Volunteers. We’re wrapping up our first segment of the Neighbor-
hood Stewardship Project, with plans to continue the NSP into the
future, and we have new interns supporting our programs, (see their
articles in this issue of The Volunteer), but perhaps the most exciting
bit of news on the field program front is the direction our restoration
planning is taking.

After consulting with local experts in the field of natural restoration,

including staff from Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve and Fair-
mount Park’s Environment, Stewardship, and Education Division,
WRV Steering Committee members and staff have made a shift
in our approach to restoration activities. In an effort to produce the
greatest positive change through our program, WRV has decided to Volunteers from Terramar Adventures celebrate
shift its focus away from ecological disaster areas to sites that are in Earth Day by removing invasive-exotic plants in
better ecological shape. the Wissahickon.

In the past, an important component of our approach has been to work in forest “gap” areas that are heavily
invaded by exotic plants. In these areas we have attempted to remove all the invasive-exotic plant species,
replant the area with native trees and shrubs, and then return year after year to conduct maintenance.

However, over time, we have found that “maintenance” often means returning to a site to find it looking just
as it did the first time we visited, clearing out enough of the exotic species to uncover plantings that may or
may not have survived, and continuing to remove invasive plants with the hope that eventually the trees we
planted will be tall enough to shade out the sun-loving exotic species.

After applying this approach at several of our sites over the past twelve years, we have learned that in the
most degraded conditions, the invasive plants always have the upper hand: it takes trees many years to
grow tall enough to shade out the invaders. Without intensive efforts to tip the balance in favor of the natives,
the invasives win the battle for resources.

The focus of our new restoration plan is, in our phrase, to “play defense.” That is, we are now shifting our ap-
proach to targeting areas that are not as severely degraded by invasive-exotic species, instead of going into
a severely overgrown area. If we begin to defend sites that are under threat of becoming heavily invaded,
we’ve not only prevented the spread of invasive-exotic plants into “better” areas, but we’ve expanded the
area we are able to restore.

Another important advantage of “playing defense” is that it allows the possibility for natural regeneration:
when exotics are removed from a site containing a fairly rich fund of native plants, those plants have a much
better chance of returning to health on their own. Natural regeneration means that a whole range of species,
including those that are not planted in restoration programs, can return to a site. It also means that the crucial
genetic diversity of the local plants can be preserved.

Even with this new focus, we will still be doing the same type of work on the ground: invasive-exotic plant re-
moval and native planting. The difference is that more planning is involved for the projects and sites chosen.
(See the article about the Plant Stewardship Index for more information about the site assessment tool we’ve
recently received training for.)

If you agree that it sounds like an exciting time to be involved with WRV, contact us to find out how you can do so! ◊
[Return to top]
Volunteer Profile: Camp Teekna at Pachella Field
by Rick Way, Field Intern

The van parked about 200 yards up the

driveway and volunteers filed out of the side
door, walking toward the trailhead individu-
ally and in twos and threes, equipped for the
day’s work with water, gloves, lunch and, most
importantly, a curiosity about what lay ahead
for them. The group had had a busy summer
volunteering all over the Delaware Valley and
was still recovering from the previous day’s
house painting in South Philadelphia.

After the students were fully assembled

it was clear this group was here to work.
The ten or so 12 to 14-year-old volunteers
belonged to Delaware County Christian
School’s “Camp Teekna” day camp, and had
Campers from Camp Teekna showing off the results of their teamwork.
traveled to WRV’s Pachella Field restoration
site for an invasive plant removal session.

The group was very attentive as the WRV crew leader, Amanda Hymansmith, presented information on
safety measures, tools to be used, and plants that were to be removed over the three-hour volunteer ses-
sion. The mention and sight of tools made the group even more attentive and a demonstration of opening
and closing of large loppers seemed to widen their eyes even more.

“I get the loppers,” said one of the students, not realizing there were enough for everyone. “I want a pair of
the shears,” called another.

Japanese knotweed, which has a very strong and disruptive presence at Pachella, was the target invasive
plant to be removed for the day. When asked where the plant may have originated the students smiled
and answered, “Japan?”

The group was also warned about natural dangers on the site, including stinging nettle, a plant that lives
up to its name and lines much of the trail leading to the removal site.

Armed with tools and information, the group made the short journey into the woods. Along the way various
plants were identified by Amanda—both native and exotic. The students saw first hand the mercilessness
with which Japanese knotweed can take over an area-- they were surrounded.

Once the group outlined an area to be cleared, the work began furiously. Loppers lopped, shears
sheared, shovels shoveled and hands, well ... pulled. The plant that takes over was rapidly being taken
over.

Part of the group uncovered a small ridge that was nearly unnoticeable before. Curious students working
on the opposite side of the site came running over to climb to the top and admired the hard work of their
fellow campers. Recent WRV tree plantings,
swallowed by the knotweed, were uncovered and given room to breathe and stretch their young limbs.   

“Take my picture with this one,” said a volunteer, pointing at the enormous Japanese knotweed stalk he
was holding like a prized catch on a fishing pier. “This one has to be a record.”

After a short lunch to refuel, the energy was still strong for round two with the knotweed. The group mem-
bers often would lend each other a hand when the knotweed roots held to the ground for dear life.
“Hey, this one is pretty big. Can someone give me a hand over here?” said one student, who was quickly
surrounded by two or three helpers and who helped pull the desperate plant from the ground.

In addition to its challenges from invasive plants, the site had previously been a common dumping area,
and it was not uncommon that every now then a volunteer would discover a metal object or a broken
bottle. These “treasures” were piled together and later collected in a trash bag.

Time was winding down on the session and so too was the day campers’ energy. The floor was covered
with a carpet of uprooted knotweed stalks left to die in the sun. Had a tractor come through here? Though
all were tired and starting to get hungry, the group pitched in to return the tools and gloves to the desig-
nated crates back at the trailhead.

The campers from Camp Teekna must have slept well that night because of their hard work on that day.
They still had enough energy for a return trip to Pachella the following day.

Rick Way is WRV’s Field Intern ◊

[Return to top]

Steering Committee members, Jerry Fagliano and Ron Ayres contribute their species
identification to the PSI walk at Pachella.
Introducing Jane Anderson:
WRV’s summer project intern through the Fels grant.

Jane is working on a project to describe many of WRV’s restoration sites using the PSI (Plant Stewardship
Index) and research about forest lands to create a narrative about each site. This will aid WRV to better
understand individual restoration sites as well as how the sites fit into the ecology of the Wissahickon as a
whole.

This interview was conducted by WRV’s Volunteer Coordinator, Susannnah Beckett, under a poplar tree, on the
low stone wall along Wise’s Mill Road, one of WRV’s longtime restoration sites.

What interested you in working with WRV as the Fels Intern?

Jane: As a landscape architecture student I wanted to enhance my skills with plant identification and,
because I live in Mt. Airy, I have enjoyed the Wissahickon for hiking, and biking. I have taken classes in
restoration ecology that got me interested in working in the field on an actual restoration project and that
led me to WRV.

As a local resident, what has surprised you about working in the Wissahickon?

Jane: The extent to which the urban/ suburban surroundings have impacted the whole of the forest. And
yet there are still pieces that are relatively pristine.

Besides hands on, in the forest plant identification what other technologies will you employ to aid
the PSI final report?

Jane: I am using GPS (Global Positioning System) to record the boundaries of the sites. And with that
information I’ll be able to map the sites with GIS (Geographic Information System) to aid WRV in monitoring
restoration sited in the future.

I am hoping that WRV, and others, will be able to use existing data in conjunction with the data I collect to
track trends of disturbance.

What will you take away from this project?

Jane: How difficult it is to put project ideas and training you learn in school into practice in the field. And
- what a struggle it is to keep an urban forest healthy. Seeing how many folks are dedicated to the goal of
forest health, makes me believe that we will have the Wissahickon for many years to come.

What are your plans for after this internship?

Jane: I have one more year of study at the Univer-

sity of Pennsylvania before I finish my Master of
Landscape Architecture degree. After that I hope
to work for a firm or organization that emphasizes
native plantings and sustainable design practices. 

Jane Anderson can be contacted at

ajane@[Link]

If you, or some one you know would like to intern

for WRV, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator,
at susannahb@[Link] or 215-951-0330 ext.2175.
Thank you! ◊
Jane with WRV staff, Steering Committee members, and Bowman’s
Hill botanists.
[Return to top]
The Sustainable Trails Initiative: An Alternative to Chaos
by Steve Jones

WRV is continuing its involvement in the park-

wide Sustainable Trails Initiative (STI) in the fall
of 2009, and plans to continue with the effort
into next year. The STI is a comprehensive
trail restoration program for the Wissahickon,
led by the Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW).
It is supported financially by the state Depart-
ment of Conservation and Natural Resources
(DCNR) and others. The ultimate goal of STI is
to create a trail system in the Wissahickon that
is both ecologically and socially sustainable,
meaning that the trails contribute as little as
possible to ecological problems such as erosion
and siltation, and are used with as little conflict
as possible among walkers, bikers, runners, A volunteer from the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia removes
and equestrians. vinca from the Devil’s Pool STI site.

WRV supports the STI effort because it at-

tempts to include all of the Wissahickon “stake-
holders” in a single planning effort, and it gives
WRV a chance to represent our views about
natural restoration and the interests of walkers
in the re-design of the trail system. In fact, we
believe that all trail repair efforts should be car-
ried out as a part of STI.

So far the initiative has completed projects

on three trail sections of the park. Part of the
purpose of these projects has been to develop
and demonstrate restoration techniques that
suit the specific setting of the Wissahickon.
The early stages of the program also serve to
generate interest in the project, which can be
A volunteer plants a native tree at the Kitchen’s Lane site.
a help in finding the funding to complete a trail
program for the entire park. The 2009 project
is the restoration of the trails that lead along the Wissahickon to Devil’s Pool, which is at the mouth of
Cresheim Creek. This is an area that is under severe stress from heavy use by visitors.

WRV’s role in STI is to give support, including providing volunteer work crews, to the natural restoration
aspect of the STI program. This component is led by Larry Weaner Design, a landscape design firm that
specializes in natural restoration. As part of STI’s advisory group, WRV has also been invited to consult on
the plans for the restoration program and selection of sites for future STI projects.

Within STI circles, WRV emphasizes components of the program that relate to protection of the natural
environment, and presents the interest of walkers on the Wissahickon upper trails. STI advisers consist of
a range of park users, but until now the strongest “user group” presence has been that of mountain bikers
and their advocates, ranging from members of Philadelphia Mountain Biking Association (PMBA) to the
main design consultant on the project, Trail Solutions, which is a consulting arm of the International Moun-
tain Biking Association.

The advantage of WRV’s participation in the project is that it provides us

a very important forum for the airing of differences in perspective about the future of the trails in the Wis-
sahickon, and attempting to work those differences out. The
Trail Solutions consultants who take the lead on basic design
and implementation are extremely knowledgeable about ecol-
ogy and trail design, and take the sustainability aspect of the
project very seriously. Also, STI has given us our first chance to
get to know and engage with local strong advocates of mountain
biking, many of whom are interested in the idea of protecting
the natural environment, and are eager to explore cooperation
with WRV. We also get to hear the perspective of runners and
equestrians, who are also STI advisers.
A native highbush blueberry specimen.
An important reason for WRV to keep active in STI is that it is po-
tentially an alternative to the chaotic program of changes to the
trail system that seems to be going on right now. WRV members and supporters increasingly complain
about new trail features that we have never heard about until we see them. WRV volunteers and staffers
are continually surprised to find new re-routes and mountain bike features installed on trails all over the
park.

For example, twice this year trail re-routes have appeared literally in the middle of WRV restoration sites.
Earlier this year someone blazed a new trail through our Wise’s Mill site, where we have been painstak-
ingly attempting to restore a major gap for several years, and the existing, now parallel, trail a few yards
away has been widened. None of these changes have been vetted by the careful and consensual STI
process.

The best alternative to this unacceptable system is an even stronger STI program, in which all trail repair
and re-design is planned by all the stakeholders. This is what STI offers.

WRV members and supporters are strongly encouraged to keep an eye out for STI-related volunteer op-
portunities that appear on our calendar, and to join in. This fall we will be organizing groups to work on
the Devil’s Pool project, which is, by the way, on a walkers-only section of trail. Our website is at wissa-
[Link]

The STI advisers are now in the

process of nominating a number
of sections of trail for re-design
in 2010. We should make sure
there is a WRV volunteer presence
on as many of the upcoming STI
projects as possible, but I think we
have a particular responsibility to
work on the trails that are closed to
mountain bikes. We should follow
the example of the energetic mem-
bers of PMBA who have done so
much of the grunt work on the STI
so far: let’s put our shovels where
our mouths are.
FOW’s website on STI is at
[Link]/[Link] ◊
The Volunteer’s very own Steve Jones examines his findings
during the PSI day at Pachella Field.

[Return to top]
 WRV Steering Committee Meetings and Annual Membership Meeting

WRV members are welcome to sit in on Steering Committee meetings, where the organization’s policy
decisions are made. Upcoming meetings are:

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Monday, November 23, 2009

Members are also invited to participate in next year’s Annual Meeting, which will include a presentation
on natural restoration in addition to business:

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

All meetings run from 7:30 p.m. to about 9:00 p.m. and take place at our office at 3721 Midvale Avenue
Philadelphia, PA, 19129.

We can be reached at 215 951-0330, extension 2101, and at [Link]@[Link].

Bowman’s Hill botanist, Janet Ebert, examines Malus baccata, Siberian crapabble.