BRFAL Works at Bald Knob NAP Again

Most of the February 20 work crew!

On February 20, ten BRFAL members and a three person crew from the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) worked on removing barbed wire and fencing along the north side of Power Dam Road at the Bald Knob Natural Area Preserve (BKNAP) in Rocky Mount, VA.  The job was complicated by vines and bushes that had grown in and around the fence line.  Using mostly DCR’s tools, one team cut out much of the brush (mostly grape and poison ivy vines and invasive privet).  They were followed by the wire cutting team that removed the barbed wire, rolled it, and cut out the old fence sections. The metal was loaded on DCR’s trailer for recycling.  The posts remain and may be there for the indefinite future.  We picked up a bit of trash, but that will be a project for another day.   By hour four it became a tiring job for some of us seniors, but you got to see some tangible evidence of progress as about 200 yards of fencing was removed.  There was a small threat of measurable snow, but it never showed up.  The weather was great for hard work - 40 degrees and cloudy with only light wind.

Master Naturalists on the project included:  Becky Frauen, Steve Gardner, Charlotte Hubbard, Terry Lovell, Beth & Paul Pautler, David Phillips (from the SW Piedmont Chapter), Bob Rasmussen, Glenn Siemon, and Rick Watson.The DCR team was composed of Ryan Klopf, Wes Paul, and their newest addition, Zoe.

DCR recently obtained the field on the Southern side of Power Dam Road, so the Bald Knob Natural Area Preserve is now approximately 150 acres.  There will be plenty more work to do! To find out more about the BKNAP, visit https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-area-preserves/baldknob .

We are looking forward to another workday in the early spring before the ticks begin appearing.  Paul Pautler will keep folks informed about new opportunities to help out. Hope you will be able to join us! 

Wire Removal

All that brush! 

Goodbye wire!