Wildlife Achievement Chapter  
Conservation Committee  

To learn more about the programs, history, and mission, visit the Izaak Walton League of America web site at http://www.iwla.org/.

Up Coming Events

Brookeville Tree Planting
On Saturday October 17th, from 9 am – Noon the Wildlife Achievement Chapter will be planting trees near Brookeville, Maryland. We will be planting about 60 trees on Reddy Branch park land. Gloves, shovels, and water will be provided. Students will receive Community Service credits (IF you bring the necessary forms to the planting). This is a rain or shine event so please dress appropriately. Lunch will be served at noon following the planting! Meet at the planting site. Note that parking on the site is extremely limited and you MUST park at the Oakley Cabin Historic site on Brookeville Road just west of Georgia Avenue. For more information, contact Jeff Deschamaps by e-mail to jeff.deschamps@verizon.net or call 301-604-3736.

Conservation Links

Other Conservation Information

• Montgomery County's RainScapes Rewards Rebate Program is now underway to help residents who want to install a raingarden, pervious pavers, or trees . If you live in Montgomery County, you may qualify for up to a $1200 reimbursement for using watershed friendly lawn and landscaping practices. The RainScapes Program goal is to address the source of stormwater runoff – yard by yard and neighborhood by neighborhood, by encouraging widespread adoption of practices such as rain gardens, permeable paver retrofits, conservation landscaping, and tree planting. See the application for additional information and contact information. Rebates will be processed until this fiscal year's funding has been expended, so those who apply early will be most likely to get the rebate this year.
• Conservation/Environmental Science Scholarship Award to high school seniors pursuing careers in conservation or environmental science. $500 per semester for four years.
• American Elms - the Wildlife Achievement Chapter has been working to help restore American Elms to Montgomery County. In the first phase of this project disease resistant elms were planted at four sites in the county. Based on height or caliper the elms appear to be growing at the same rate as some Red Maples planted at the same time as a control.
• Rain Barrels (Presentation from the 2008 Workshop)
• Non-Native Invasive Plants (Presentation from the 2009 Workshop)
  For the March 29th work day, 15 new and old members came in early to learn the 'Sinister Seventeen' -- the most problematic non-native invasive plants in Montgomery County -- and how to control them. They then worked in some of the more visible areas of the Chapter property using these techniques. Most of these plants were deliberately introduced for ornamental, agricultural, or wildlife habitat uses and then 'escaped' into woodlands, parks, and unsuspecting neighbors' yards. The group focused on Oriental bittersweet, Japanese honeysuckle, bush honeysuckle, autumn olive, wineberry, and tree-of-heaven. For more information about local volunteer programs:
  • Montgomery County: www.weedwarriors.org. Paul Carlson at MCP-WeedWarriors@mncppc-mc.org or 301-942-4709
  • Howard County: Sue Muller at sue.muller@howardcountymd.gov or 410-313-4697
  • Frederick County: Kay Schultz, watershedalliance@fredco-md.net, or 301-694-1741
• Native plant list for rain gardens. (Compiled by Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection)
• Nestbox Workshop
• Charity Skeet Shoot (2005)
• NTT Tree Planting (check back for final report and photos.)