Poison Ivy along Mount Vernon Trail?

[DrP]

Two weeks ago I apparently came in contact with poison ivy and got a bad reaction. I do not know for sure where I got it from (I have no pets, which is common source for some folks). About the only thing I did outside that weekend was bike to Mount Vernon. I do not recall hitting vegetation anywhere, but a lot hangs over the trail and it just happens and it was mostly on my lower legs. Yesterday I rode part of that trail, Roosevelt Island to Wilson Bridge. I could not but help scan the vegetation as I went by, although I never stopped to look closely. There were several patches of “leaves of three” with some next to or overhanging the trail. They were large leaved and not serrated, but comparing to some images on line, look like they were likely poison ivy (there are more than one leaf type, unfortunately). The locations in particular I recall:

1. By the airport south of the exit from the northbound parkway and north of the overpass from Crystal City on the little uphill curves by the buildings, east side of the trail.

2. On the branch north of old town by the river, just south of the apartment building on the west side (over hanging the trail pretty bad).

3. On the branch north of old town by the river, south of the power plant buildings – both sides, but the east side is far from the trail surrounding a light pole.

Anyone who more regularly rides this trail also notice these? Are they actually poison ivy? I would like to know so that I know if future to avoid and clean up well after other rides on this route and also to let the Park Service know since the areas overhanging the trail, where users are likely to brush up against it, should be cut back.

Topic

[notlost]

#1 is certainly poison ivy…and the tree that recently fell there was wrapped in vines of it…so the sawdust chips and other debris could have transferred it (depending on your sensitivity).

[DrP]

Thank you very much! Numbers 2 and 3 were the same plant as number 1. I will let NPS know that they might want to clean up those areas and possibly check more of the trail – there is far more growth south of 495, but I didn’t get that far yesterday.

[creadinger]

While we’re at it, can we get NPS to trim back ALL of the foliage that is creeping across the trail?

Particularly: Just south of the yellow line metro bridge across the Potomac, and near the little bridge over the Roach’s Run inlet.

Thanks to Tim’s prodding I sent an e-mail about trimming back foliage that’s encroaching on the trail. Will update if I get a response or see some action.

[Tim Kelley]

@creadinger 120884 wrote:

While we’re at it, can we get NPS to trim back ALL of the foliage that is creeping across the trail?

Please report it! http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?581-National-Park-Service-Contact-Information

[GovernorSilver]

Does NPS also maintain the MUP on the Huntingon/Telegraph to Eisenhower overpass?

I’ve spotted some broken glass there and intend to report it if I still see the glass on the way home.

[DrP]

Should I expect a reply from them? I e-mailed the superintendent address yesterday about the Poison Ivy I spotted, but have not heard back. Not even an “thank you for contacting us” type reply.

[mstone]

I wouldn’t expect much response. Every NPS facility on the east coast has a poison ivy problem, and it’s essentially uncontrollable. The general “please trim back foliage to improve viability and access” request is probably a higher priority.

[Tim Kelley]

@mstone 120892 wrote:

I wouldn’t expect much response.

I’ve heard that Carl, the operations manager is quite responsive by phone…

[CaseyKane50]

@GovernorSilver 120888 wrote:

Does NPS also maintain the MUP on the Huntingon/Telegraph to Eisenhower overpass?

I’ve spotted some broken glass there and intend to report it if I still see the glass on the way home.

That might be VDOT, I think they are also responsible for the ramp that runs along the south side of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge towards Jones Point Park.

[GovernorSilver]

@CaseyKane50 120902 wrote:

That might be VDOT, I think they are also responsible for the ramp that runs along the south side of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge towards Jones Point Park.

Thanks. I tried sending an email to localmotion@alexandriava.gov but got an out-of-office auto-reply, so I’ll try contacting VDOT if the broken glass is still there.

[CaseyKane50]

@GovernorSilver 120912 wrote:

Thanks. I tried sending an email to localmotion@alexandriava.gov but got an out-of-office auto-reply, so I’ll try contacting VDOT if the broken glass is still there.

To report a problem in Alexandria use Call.Click.Connect For urgent problems you can call them at (703)746-4357

[GovernorSilver]

@CaseyKane50 120918 wrote:

To report a problem in Alexandria use Call.Click.Connect For urgent problems you can call them at (703)746-4357

Thanks! Looks like somebody already cleaned up the glass and other garbage/debris – I’m assuming it wasn’t the storm because it wasn’t all that powerful.

[DrP]

I received a reply this morning from NPS about my e-mail on 27 July. They thanked me for letting them know about the poison ivy locations that are overhanging the trails and will go remove them.

At least the person who replied had acted relatively quickly in that the person was forwarded the message on Tuesday. Perhaps the superintendent was on vacation and was just catching up on e-mails. Hopefully the removal will be faster than the e-mail response. I am appreciative of the response, in any case.

[dasgeh]

@DrP 122060 wrote:

I received a reply this morning from NPS about my e-mail on 27 July. They thanked me for letting them know about the poison ivy locations that are overhanging the trails and will go remove them.

At least the person who replied had acted relatively quickly in that the person was forwarded the message on Tuesday. Perhaps the superintendent was on vacation and was just catching up on e-mails. Hopefully the removal will be faster than the e-mail response. I am appreciative of the response, in any case.

Maybe if I say all that vegetation growing from TR Island onto the way-too-narrow path along the TR Bridge is possibly poison ivy, I can get someone to do something about it…

[AFHokie]

@dasgeh 122205 wrote:

Maybe if I say all that vegetation growing from TR Island onto the way-too-narrow path along the TR Bridge is possibly poison ivy, I can get someone to do something about it…

On Saturday a guy was trimming back at least one of the bushes along the MVT around the airport. Since he was wearing running shorts & a t-shirt with neither an NPS or contract landscape company vehicle in site I’m assuming it was likely a guerilla pruning.

[Author]

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