Women of Influence in Fairfax City

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In April 2026, FMN Katy Johnson was awarded the 2026  Woman of Influence Award by the City of Fairfax. She credits her involvement with FMN and her advocacy for the remaining wild spaces in Fairfax City for this recognition. Even though she intentionally kept the two separate her active involvement with Virginia Master Naturalist opportunities and FMN education were key factors.

FMN Katy Johnson, Women of Influence announcement, Fairfax City

An FMN since 2021, Katy has recorded a major portion of her volunteer hours under the Habitat Creation and Restoration Category with the City of Fairfax Stewardship code; and the Native Plants and Invasive Removal category with the PRISM code; her remaining hours are spread over other conservation efforts in parks and her communities of interest. She is also the Fairfax County Park Authority liaison for the FMN chapter.

Ashby Pond Rescue – A Success Story
As an example of her active conservation in the field, recall in 2024 Katy was influential in an effort to save native plants and turtles from the reconstruction (draining) of Ashby Pond in Fairfax City. (Ashby Pond  link).
As a follow-on to the success of this project, she reported that on April 11th, 2026 approximately 30 of the rescued turtles were returned to the pond. They came home to a potential buffet of fish that were stocked for a fishing Derby. Even though those fish were likely too big for the turtles, they can always dream. In addition to the returning turtles, the pond and banks were restored with native vegetation.
Katy reiterated that many volunteers from FMN and Fairfax City were involved in the rescue, restoration, and return – please know that each of their efforts were truly appreciated and the turtles were saved because of the willingness of people to speak and act on their behalf!
She also expressed thanks to Satishi Ito, Fairfax City’s Public Works Manager, for being willing to listen to citizen concerns and for making this success story even possible. And many thanks to Dr. Todd Rimkus, Biology and Biochemical Research Area professor at Marymount University, for providing the turtle expertise to do so.

Conservation in action! Congratulations to Katy and all our volunteers that contribute on a daily basis to the conservation of natural resources in Virginia, Fairfax County, and our surrounding communities.

Jerry Nissley

Terra Centre Watershed Festival And Art Show

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Terra Centra compost Art – photo FMN Jerry Nissley

#WOW – FMN and teacher Kristin Bauersfeld co-organized a watershed festival & art show at her school that took place on Thursday, April 23 to coincide with Earth Week. The organizing theme was how we can individually and collectively make a difference and help improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The students from each grade level at Terra Centre Elementary in Burke created art projects connected to watershed issues.

Glow room, featuring photoluminescent creatures – photo FMN Jerry Nissley

The school’s Get2Green leader, Laure Grove and Kristin invited community groups (county soil and water, Mason Neck state park, VMN, Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, Girl Scouts, etc) to host a table or an interactive station such as an Enviroscape, water quality, water shed management, invertebrates, composting, recycling, native plants, animals, herps, fish, birds, and of course a glow room!

Even the origin of the school is steeped in Fairfax County environmental conservation history. Terra Centre Elementary School opened on September 2, 1980. Designed during the energy crisis of the 1970s when school facility planners eagerly sought new and creative ways of making schools more energy efficient.

Environmental student art – photo FMN Jerry Nissley

Terra Centre was the product of a unique design concept – a school built largely underground. The roof of Terra Centre was covered with earth, 3 feet deep, to mitigate heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. The architect designed windows and skylights to let in plenty of natural light so the school would not have a dark and gloomy feel as parents initially feared. A bank of solar collectors was installed on the earth covered roof in 1982. The solar collectors were one of two energy systems implemented to simultaneously draw upon “free” sources of energy. When the sky was clear, the solar collectors harnessed heat from the sun. When school was in session, a heat reclamation system drew upon and stored the warmth generated by people and lights. The facility was refurbished in 2017, adding above ground  glass atria and additional amenities all with the environment in mind.

FMN John Goodin behind the FMN macro-invertebrate/turtle table – photo Jerry Nissley

At the FMN table, John Goodin presented a station on Macro-invertebrates to demonstrate how they are evaluated as indicator species to determine water quality using basic stream monitoring techniques. That display was complemented by Turtle Talk, a presentation on woodland box turtles (Terrapene carolina) and how they can be used to determine soil quality and monitor local habitat conservation.

Turtle Talk box turtle – photo FMN Jerry Nissley

Many people were surprised to hear that Box Turtles are part of the Emydidae (pond turtle) family of turtles and have been observed swimming or simply walking across the bottom of a creek, mainly to cool down in hot weather or, well, just to get to the other side. Box turtles are superficially similar in appearance to tortoises but tortoises are actually in a distinct family –  the Testudinidea (land dwelling) family of turtles. John also talked to several guests interested in learning more about VMN.

FMN chapter partner, Northern Virginia Bird Alliance also contributed valuable information to the community event. Sarah Mayhew and Liz Train were behind the NVBA table – they are both FMN and NVBA members.

The Watershed and Art event was a total hit and kudos go out to all the creative teachers and staff who work tirelessly on a daily basis to make this unique school a success and enrich the lives of their students.

Fairfax County Park Authority Will Host Wetlands Awareness Day at Huntley Meadows Park on May 3rd

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Photo: by FMN John Eppler, Canada Goose

 

Sunday, May 3, 2026
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Free but registration is requested.

Huntley Meadows Park

Huntley Meadows Park is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd. in Alexandria. For more information, visit the Huntley Meadows Park website or call 703-768-2525.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will host Wetlands Awareness Day on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at Huntley Meadows Park from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This free community event celebrates the ecological importance of the county’s premier wetland sanctuary with live animal encounters and educational activities.

Event Highlights
  • Live Wildlife: Up-close encounters with live raptors, reptiles, and amphibians.
  • Guided Exploration: Stroll forested paths and immersive 1/2-mile boardwalk trails to spot local flora and fauna.
  • Interactive Learning: Hands-on exhibits and displays focused on wetland conservation and biodiversity.
  • Registration: Admission is free, though online registration is recommended to secure a spot.
Logistics & Transportation

Due to high attendance, the main parking lot at Lockheed Boulevard often reaches capacity.

  • Free Shuttle Service: Shuttles run every 15 minutes from 
    Groveton Elementary School starting at 11:30 AM.
  • Last Shuttle: The final departure to the park is at 3:30 PM, with the last return shuttle leaving at 4:15 PM.
  • ADA Parking: Pull up to the main park entrance for direction from staff to designated ADA spots.

Unintended Consequences

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Many of our Fairfax County parks, NoVA Parks, and even our local state park (Mason Neck) have active Trail Steward Programs. They vary in responsibilities from physical trail maintenance to passive monitoring and reporting on trail conditions and nature interpretation for park visitors.

Photo – FMN Jerry Nissley

Trail Stewardship is one way to provide a greatly valued service to your favorite park. Our parks appreciate the efforts of their volunteers and most parks REALLY appreciate VMN/FMN volunteers because they have gone through training in conservation of natural resources and they tend to have a genuine passion for nature.

FMNs interested in Trail Steward or Trail Monitoring programs in the Fairfax County Park system can simply call your local park or search the Volunteer Fairfax opportunities site. For NoVA Parks, there are a few existing programs and you may contact Rachel Doody, Park Manager Potomac Overlook Regional Park & Winkler Botanical Preserve – rdoody@nvrpa.org for more details. For Mason Neck, please call the park and ask for the Volunteer Coordinator. A few stalwart FMN even volunteer as trail crews on segments of the Appalachian Trail via the Appalachian Trail Club. And yes, FMN has service codes for each opportunity.

So you may be wondering why this article is titled, Unintented

Huntley Meadows Mushrooms – photo FMN Jerry Nissley

Consequences? Primarily, because I find that for every intentional action taken  volunteering with nature projects there are potential unintentional consequences that manifest by developing a deeper appreciation of  a specific “place”. Volunteering at one or two parks on a consistent basis, experiencing seasonal change, immersed in multiple ecosystems, the volunteer learns the phenological cycles of the park – the heart beat. For example, Fall reveals the glorious pallet of natural colors, and up sprout fungi – nature’s decomposer. The pulse slows.

Winter bares the bones of the forest and marks a period of rest for much of the flora and fauna. Reserving energy, blood flow slows to sustain itself through the cold. Spring ushers in an explosion of  new life to wetlands, meadows, and forests showing us ephemeral plants, the migratory patterns of birds, micro-fauna, and the treasures found in vernal pools. The pulse quickens.

Thunderstorm over Barnyard Run, Huntley Meadows – photo FMN Jerry Nissley

Summer displays lush growth and the ability of nature to flourish through heat and harsh environmental events. The beat is strong.

I am fortunate, and at times blessed, to participate in various Stewardship and Educational programs at Mason Neck and, admittedly my favorite park, Huntley Meadows. Each park offers beauty, serenity, solitude, and an inner satisfaction that reaches new heights of appreciation as more time is spent understanding the heart beat of each.

Mason Neck offers Trail Steward programs that include clearing trails and reporting large trail obstructions to park staff in addition to the more casual Trail Monitoring.

Bumble bee and clear wing hummingbird moth – photo FMN Jerry Nissley

Huntley Meadows offers Trail Monitoring, designed more as an interpretative trail service for visitors. We count visitors, report trail conditions, answer ad hoc visitor questions, and provide interpretation of nature within the park. Huntley is a unique FCPA park, in that it has three ecosystems – hardwood deciduous forest, meadows, and a non-tidal, hemi-marsh wetland. The boardwalk snakes its way around and through the wetland with additional trails that lead through the forest and around the meadows.

Green Heron ready to strike at Huntley Meadows – photo FMN Jerry Nissley

Being there on average six or seven times a month all year long provides such insight into the various macro- and micro-cycles of a living park land.

For example, my most recent trail monitoring report to the park included visitor engagement and general observations:

Miscellaneous Discussions: 

  • General discussion on the resurrection of a fallen owl’s nest (replaced by WRL with a cool basket) and the rescue of two owlets.
  • Frog discussion with a group inquiring about different species at HMP
  • Eagle vs Osprey discussion – aerial conflict, nesting, feeding at HMP
  • New beaver dam in barnyard creek watershed – new family in town??
  • Consistency of otter scat on the boardwalk (they eat freshwater mussels and clams, so shell fragments our found mixed in).

River Otter lounging at Huntley Meadows – photo FMN Jerry Nissley

Daily Observations:
Air still; sunny; warm; 81°

– Birds: Downey wood peckers; mallards; wood ducks; ravens; Canada geese; great horned owlet on nest; black vultures; pileated WP; red shouldered hawk; Cooper’s hawk; Osprey; Bald Eagle
– Mammals: muskrats
– Arthropods: blue azure butterflies on trail; damselflies; giant centipede
– Herps: snappers; painted turtles; several species of frogs; spotted turtle; black rat snake; northern water snake
– Fish – spawning carp
– Plants: aquatic grasses, cattails emerging; spring beauties have sprung; Sweet Cicely; May apple in flower; cinnamon ferns unrolling; dogwood.

Kane’s Creek, Mason Neck State Park – photo FMN Jerry Nissley

What is the adage we all learned in our VMN cohorts?
“Awareness leads to knowledge, knowledge leads to understanding, understanding leads to appreciation, and appreciation leads to conservation.” 

Give Stewardship a try. Reap the rewards of unintended consequences.

Two Birding Day Trips – Warblers of the Blue Ridge (5/5/26) and Birds on the Bay (6/9/26)

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Photo: Cerulean Warbler by Matt Felperin
Reston’s Walker Nature Center has two upcoming birding day trips that are open to all adults:
 Warblers of the Blue Ridge – Tuesday, May 5th:
Travel with us to the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area in Fauquier County to search for migrating songbirds.  GR Thompson is well known for its Trillium Trail, so we will also keep an eye out for trilliums, lady slippers and other spring wildflowers.  After a morning at GR Thompson, we will head to Sky Meadows State Park for a picnic lunch and more birding. This trip includes walking on uneven terrain and gentle slopes.
Register by May 2nd.  Trip cost, which includes bus transportation and any park fees, is $50 for Reston Association members and $65 for non-members.  We will depart the Walker Nature Center (11450 Glade Drive) at 7:00 am and are scheduled to return by 5:00 pm.
 
Birds on the Bay – Tuesday, June 9th:
On this trip, we will head to Flag Ponds Nature Park on the Chesapeake Bay, where we will look for shorebirds along the bay and songbirds in the forests.  This trip will include walking over uneven terrain and some hills.
Register by June 6th. Trip cost, which includes bus transportation and any park fees, is $50 for Reston Association members and $65 for non-members We will depart the Walker Nature Center (11450 Glade Drive) at 7:00 am and are scheduled to return by 4:00 pm.
Both trips will be led by one of WNC’s naturalists.  The time spent birding and observing wildflowers is eligible for FMN CEUs.
If you are familiar with the reston.org WebTrac system, you can register there (search on the keyword “birding”).  Otherwise, you can contact the Walker Nature Center directly at naturecenter@reston.org or 703-476-9689.

Service Opportunity – Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

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Photos: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens-transplanting

 

The Natives Team at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, which includes several Fairfax Master Naturalists, has gotten off to a great start this spring, in spite of the crazy up-and-down weather.  Projects we have worked on include:
1.  Transplanting into pots native seedlings that were grown from seeds collected last year in the gardens.  We will be transplanting the seedlings into the ground later this year.

Photos Meadowlark Botanical Gardens-transplanting

2.  Creating a new trail that will connect existing native areas and allow for managing invasives in the surrounding woods.

Photos Meadowlark Botanical Gardens-trails

3.  Planting American chestnut trees, sourced through the Virginia Department of Forestry’s chestnut research and reintroduction program, which is cross-breeding chestnut trees for blight resistance in the hopes of bringing back a species that once dominated the forests of eastern North America.

Photos Meadowlark Botanical Gardens-planting

Several other projects are in the works, and we could use some help!  Most of the team usually volunteers on Tuesday mornings, but volunteers would also be welcome on other weekday mornings.  If you would like to join us, please reach out to Meadowlark’s volunteer coordinator, Emma Werthmann at
ewerthmann@nvrpa.org and tell her you are interested in the Natives Team.

Mark your calendar for the 2026 Fairfax Earth Day Festival April 25th!

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Image: Courtesy of Fairfax County Park Authority – 2026

Saturday, April 25, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Lake Fairfax Park
1400 Lake Fairfax Dr, Reston, VA 20190

Admission is FREE; Parking is $10 per car at the gate.
Cash and credit accepted.

Learn how you can make a positive impact on the planet through exciting, interactive activities and games

Enjoy:

  • Outdoor Discovery Activities
  • Interactive Nature Exhibits
  • Earth Friendly Vendors
  • Food Trucks
  • Craft Beer Garden
  • Local Bands and Live Entertainment
  • Free Giveaways
  • Furry Farm Friends

And so much more!

Springtime Bird Outing with the Bureau of Land Management and the NPS Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, April 25th

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Photo: Indigo Bunting, Randy Streufert – NVBA Photo Contest

Saturday, April 25, 2026
9:00 AM 11:00 AM

Meadwood Special Recreation Area
10702 Harley RoadLorton, VA, 22079United States (map)

FREE, but registration is requested

Join participants for a springtime bird walk with Northern Virginia Bird Alliance (NVBA) partners, National Park Service Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and the Bureau of Land Management, on National Go Birding Day! Together you will explore the diverse bird species that inhabit Meadowood Special Recreation Area. This event is also during the 2026 iNaturalist City Nature Challenge for those looking to participate in the observation period.

Plan to arrive by 9:00 A.M. to meet your guides at the Mustang Trailhead, located at 10702 Harley Road, Lorton, VA 22079. Together, everyone will hike and explore Mustang Meadow and the Thompson Creek Loop Trail. Please note that this outing will cover approximately one to three miles.

Getting There & Additional Site Information

Go south on I-95 to Exit 163 toward Lorton. Turn left onto Lorton Road at the end of the exit ramp. Pass under the second overpass and turn right onto Lorton Market Street (you will see Panera and Planet Fitness). Continue about 1.5 miles to the traffic light at Route 1. Go straight through the light (the road name changes to Gunston Road). In about 1.5 miles, you will pass the main entrance to Meadowood on the right. About half a mile later, you will see a large green pavilion—turn right onto Harley Road, then take the next right into the Mustang Trail Parking Lot.

The Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) offers 13.4 miles of hiking trails, 7 miles of horseback riding trails, and 6.6 miles of mountain biking trails. The site includes two fishing ponds (one of which is universally accessible), 800 acres of forest and meadow habitat, environmental education programs, equestrian facilities, geocaching opportunities, and birdwatching. Learn more on BLM’s Meadowood webpage.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) partners with Northern Virginia Bird Alliance (NVBA) volunteers to provide educational stewardship programs and guided events at Meadowood SRMA in Lorton, Virginia. For over 20 years, NVBA has supported the site through volunteer surveys, guided programs, stewardship projects, and educational activities focused on local species populations.

What should you bring?

Binoculars are helpful but not required for birding. There will be a limited number of loaner pairs available for participants to use. Guides will also be using the eBird app to record and report sightings during the outing; you are  encouraged to download the free app and set up an account ahead of time. Please note that trails can be muddy after heavy rain or snow. Organizers recommend wearing comfortable, closed-toe shoes with good traction, especially for the boardwalk sections. Strollers are not permitted on the boardwalk.

Cancellation Policies for NVBA Bird Outings

Everyone’s safety and enjoyment are top priorities. Occasionally, there may be a need to postpone or cancel an outing to protect the well-being of participants or guides. Whenever possible, you will be notified at least 48 hours in advance; however, last-minute changes may be necessary. Outings may be canceled or postponed for reasons such as:

  • Unsafe air quality

  • Guide illness

  • Extreme weather, including: Lightning within 10 miles of the event location, temperatures above 90°, heavy thunderstorms, snow, or hail.

If an outing must be canceled on the day of the event, organizers will do their best to email all registered participants as soon as possible and/or post the cancellation on their website. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility!

Questions? Contact NVBA’s Community Engagement Coordinator, McKenzie, at mckenzie@nvbirdalliance.org.

Beyond the Spray: Protecting Wildlife and Biodiversity with Safer Mosquito Control Solutions,

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Image: Courtesy of the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance – Beyond the Spray

Saturday, April 25, 2026
2:00 PM 3:00 PM

Mount Vernon Unitarian Church
1909 Windmill Ln Alexandria, VA 22307United States (map)

FREE, but registration is required 

Liz Train, NVBA’s Fairfax County Wildlife Sanctuary Program Coordinator, will give a presentation on mosquito control solutions that avoid pesticides. She will review the research on harms to wildlife caused by broadcast spraying for mosquitoes and talk about alternative (and more effective) methods to reduce mosquito populations. NVBA urges homeowners to consider the long-term health of their yards, ecosystems, and communities, and “Say No to the Spray.” The Wildlife Sanctuary Program promotes healthy, pesticide-free habitats that nurture biodiversity from the soil up.

Your Yard Can Help Save Our Streams

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Dense plantings of native plants capture stormwater

Article and photo by Plant NOVA Natives

Northern Virginia’s stream and river water quality is not great. Although agriculture is the largest contributor by far of nutrient and sediment loads in Virginia’s streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay,  urban and suburban stormwater runoff is the second largest and the fastest growing contributor to these pollutants.

Consider, for example, the 52 square mile Accotink Creek watershed in Fairfax. For several years, the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Fairfax County have partnered to monitor pollutants in 20 watersheds across the County, including Accotink Creek. The good news is that nitrogen levels have generally dropped. But phosphorus concentrations have remained exceptionally high. Why? Because 87% of the Accotink Creek watershed is developed with 27% of the land covered in impervious surfaces. Such intensely developed regions produce large loads of sediment from stormwater runoff, and phosphorus is bound to sediment. Reduce the sediment levels in our local streams, and you will lessen the phosphorus pollution.
Both the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have announced focused efforts during 2026 to reduce nutrient-based pollutants and sediment loads in our water. By December of 2025 we had met 100% of our sediment reduction targets, which is excellent news. But we met only 80% of the nitrogen and 62% of the phosphorus reduction goals.

This is a compelling call to action for all property owners in the Plant NOVA Natives community. Here are several strategies to reduce nutrient pollution and sediment loads in our waterways:

·   Plant more native plants, especially where stormwater tends to flow. Their deep roots stabilize the soil and absorb far more harmful nutrients than turfgrass lawns. Notice where stormwater tends to flow on your property along swales or slopes and plant there first.

·    Plant a street-side garden. Remember the underused strips of your property next to the street or sidewalk. These are ideal spots to add native plants, as their roots will catch stormwater overflow before it hits the pavement. Take care, however, to avoid underground lines, pipes, and overhead wires. And please consider whether your plantings impact people’s access to their cars, mailboxes, or safe crossing to the sidewalk. See Plant NOVA Natives’ comprehensive list of considerations for street-side gardens before you begin to dig.

·    Use organic compost. Ditching commercial fertilizers and using organic compost is always the best option to enrich the soil. But if you must use fertilizers, choose only phosphorus free or low-phosphorus brands and use them sparingly. 

·     Pick up pet waste: Nitrogen, phosphorus, bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella, parasites, and ammonia can all be found in pet waste! While pet owners often remember to pick up pet waste in public areas, remember to do so on your own property as well for the sake of our streams and rivers.

·    Compost and mulch yard waste: Composting and mulching are two strategies that effectively return nutrients to the soil and keep them out of stormwater. Grass clippings should be composted or mulched back into the lawn. Leaves are best left in non-lawn areas, but those that fall on the lawn can also be mulched or raked up and added to your compost pile. Keep lawn debris out of the street and away from storm drains.

·    Create a rain garden: Rain gardens are landscaped areas constructed to capture and hold stormwater so that it seeps into the soil instead of running off our property. A link to a step by step guide on how to build a rain garden can be found here on the Plant NOVA Natives website.

·    Use rain barrels: If you can capture water from downspouts and use it later to water your plants, this greatly reduces stormwater runoff caused by our roofs. 

·     Redirect downspouts to vegetated areas rather than paved impervious surfaces: When rain barrels are not an option, try to redirect downspout water flow away from sidewalks and driveways and towards the more vegetated areas of your property. 

·    Reduce impervious surfaces: Replacing asphalt with gravel or permeable pavers will capture and keep more stormwater on your property. But reducing the lawn by converting parts of it to native plant gardens is also highly effective. Turf grass, while green, behaves more like concrete when it comes to water absorption.

·    Maintain septic systems: Regularly inspect and pump septic systems to prevent nutrient leaching into groundwater.

·    Wash cars responsibly: Either use a commercial car wash or wash your car on grass to filter soapy water before it enters the ground.

Additional strategies to capture stormwater are discussed here on the Plant NOVA Natives website, along with a discussion of planting and maintaining riparian borders. Finally, here is a link to a Fairfax County Soil and Water Conservation District manual with instructions on how to build and maintain rainwater gardens, green roofs, and more.