Invasive Species 'Crisis' Greatly Exaggerated Says Hunters Green Board President: Letter

RESTON, VA — Nandini Rao, president of the Hunters Green Cluster Association, submitted this letter in response to a recent story about a Reston National Studio Group proposal to remove invasive plant species from a portion of the golf course and neighboring townhouse cluster.

Dear Editor,

Referring to your recent article “Invasive Species Program Proposed for Hunters Green Cluster,” our cluster has not agreed to the proposal from Reston National Study Group. We discussed this at our most recent board meeting and the board members unanimously felt this was not a good idea for our cluster.

The Reston National Study Group has greatly exaggerated the problem with invasive species, creating the impression there is a crisis. We are concerned with our name being linked to the project in a way that implies we support the objectives of the Study Group, when we have made no commitment.

As with any mature neighborhood in Fairfax County, invasive plants are present and need to be controlled. We have embarked on projects to remove invasive flora in the past, and we plan to continue to do so. Much of our land abuts Reston National Golf Course, and we welcome coordinating with the management of the golf course in addressing areas where we share a boundary.

Reston is a special place to live, work and play, and we appreciate how open spaces like the golf courses contribute to our quality of life. Our cluster is committed to providing the resources in our own footprint to protect our environment.

Thank you,

Nandini Rao
President
Hunters Green Cluster Association