Building on past successes to stop erosion

Seven Admiral Heights residents arrived at Dewey Dock bright and early on April 26 to do their part in beautifying the community during GreenScape 2014.

A certified watershed steward, Nina Fisher did the pre-planning and preparing for the event. She selected $300 worth of plants, mulch and top soil from the selection offered by the City of Annapolis.

She then placed the plants in locations where they could be used most effectively to stabilize the park’s bank and cleared leaves from around the plants.

As volunteers arrived, she put them to work. One moved leaves to a place where they could compost. Others pulled the invasive English Ivy which would be replaced with native plants better suited to stabilizing erosion. Everyone pitched in to bag, bundle and sort the debris, which included vines, sticks and miscellaneous stuff like glass and bottles.

Planting, mulching and watering completed the day’s tasks. Some volunteers felt restoration is still needed between the path and dock, but for now the bioswale and the graveled path seem to be effective in stopping erosion from the top.

“Nina does a great job in choosing the right plants,” says volunteer Cindy Guth. “Her efforts are well appreciated.”