Fort Dupont Park and Pope Branch Park

District of Columbia, Coastal Plain. Submitted by Elizabeth Matthews, U.S. National Park Service Biologist; Damien Ossi, D.C. Fisheries and Wildlife Division Biologist

Fort Dupont Park (152 hectares) and Pope Branch Park (17 hectares) both feature upland mixed oak/heath forests, with an understory that includes a diversity of heath-family (Ericaceae) shrub species. Mountain laurel can be found in full bloom in the uplands in late spring. Fort Dupont is one of a network of NPS units known as the Civil War defenses of Washington, many of which are home to earthen fortifications and forests that regenerated after the Civil War period. Many of these units are on geographic high points on the landscape; they feature similar bedrock and plant communities and are well worth exploring! Pope Branch Park is a DC-owned stream valley park that is contiguous with Fort Dupont and owned and managed by the District Department of Parks and Recreation. It has similar plant communities including a large stand of Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) under Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea) and Chestnut Oak (Quercus montana). [More here]

National Park Service and District of Columbia; 169 hectares (417 acres) combined

Photo Credit: National Park Service

Kingman and Heritage Islands

District of Columbia, Coastal Plain. Submitted by Elizabeth Matthews, U.S. National Park Service Biologist; Damien Ossi, D.C. Fisheries and Wildlife Division Biologist

Kingman (15 hectares) and Heritage Islands (3 ha) are dredge-material islands in the Anacostia River, built by the Army Corps of Engineers in the 1920s and ‘30s. Kingman Island was used for “victory gardens” during WWII and an amusement park was planned for both islands, but they are now in permanent conservation. The plant communities on the islands are severely impacted by invasive plants, but they do have areas with interesting plant communities. Heritage Island is a tidally flooded forest featuring Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum), Common Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) and Common White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima). Kingman Island is 3-5m in elevation and has a large vegetated vernal pool next to a stand of Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), large cottonwoods (Populus) and Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra), and emergent wetlands on the landward side of its seawall.

D.C. Department of Energy and Environment; 18 hectares (44 acres) combined

Langdon Park

District of Columbia, Coastal Plain. Submitted by Elizabeth Matthews, U.S. National Park Service Biologist; Damien Ossi, D.C. Fisheries and Wildlife Division Biologist

Langdon Park is a community park in Northeast DC. Most of the area is developed for recreation, but there are several small 0.5ha forest patches in the park. These are mature oak-hickory forests, but due to their small size they are impacted by invasive vines. The forest patches are undergoing restoration by community members and a new trail leads visitors into the heart of the largest patch. The park occupies a former stream valley of the now piped-in Hickey Run, and several seeps flow on the edges of the park. One forest patch has several large planted Bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum) and a large seepage area. Red-backed salamanders have been found in another seepage area.

D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation; 8 hectares (20 acres)

Theodore Roosevelt Island

District of Columbia, Coastal Plain. Submitted by Elizabeth Matthews, U.S. National Park Service Biologist; Damien Ossi, D.C. Fisheries and Wildlife Division Biologist

Theodore Roosevelt Island is located in the Potomac River, accessible via a footbridge from George Washington Memorial Parkway, on the Virginia side of the river. The island is home to a variety of mature, natural and semi-natural forest communities. Deciduous, upland forests are prominent on the western half of the island, whereas vegetation on the eastern half of the island includes tidal forests that are accessible by boardwalks. Bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum) is found in the wettest areas, whereas large Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) dominate the riparian floodplains. A detailed NPS Cultural Landscape Report provides a thorough history of the site, as well as a description of current vegetation: [NPS download]

National Park Service; 37 hectares (92 acres)

Photo credit: National Park Service / Claire Hassler

Rock Creek Park

District of Columbia, Piedmont. Submitted by Elizabeth Matthews, U.S. National Park Service Biologist; Damien Ossi, D.C. Fisheries and Wildlife Division Biologist

Rock Creek Park features mature forests dominated by tulip poplar, American beech, and a mix of oak species. A variety of upland forest community types are well represented throughout the park, especially north of Military Road, whereas the best examples of riparian communities are found in the northern floodplain of Rock Creek. The northern floodplain is also home to a diverse spring ephemeral flora. American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) resprouts can be found throughout the park, particularly in the upland plant communities, mixed in with heath-family (Ericaceae) shrubs, such as Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia). The park has a well-developed trail system, facilitating exploration of these natural communities. [More here]

National Park Service; >800 hectares (>2000 acres)

Photo credit: National Park Service / Rod Simmons