Wetlands Preservation Area Damaged

My fiance and I were walking along the walkway at the Preservation Area by the Harris Teeter Plaza last night an noticed a considerable amount of damage done to the walkway that goes over the wetlands. Someone or a group had kicked out all the spindles on 2 full sections and misc. ones throughout the side opposite the paved walkway. I am not going to get into the whole who done it thing but we noticed three less ducks last night then the normal 7 that we have seen over the past two weeks and if the person is responsible for something that may have happened to them, pray you do not come along my path! We need to have a lighted section possibly added to this so that you can see it at night time or at least have a few nightly checks done by the sheriff. I am not sure who to contact having it repaired but there are also planks that are coming up on the walkway that is closest to the new fountain where there is also a tree that has been uprooted. There are also hand rails around the walkway that are starting to come up. Please residents, this is a nice area and we need to watch over it! Thanks...

 

In the future you should notify the HOA office about damage like this. It would either be them or VM depending on where the damage is (this one is VM's).

I have already notified both this morning based on your post.

 

Thank you Brian! I was truly upset to think that someone gets kick out of ruining such a great place to relax and enjoy nature, sorry if I sounded a little beyond peaved!

 

I emailed Cliff about this on Saturday and he's already been in contact with VM. I'm glad I'm not the only one upset by this.

 

i still think it's funny that they build a bridge around the run-off collection area...and call it a "wetlands preserve". they're not fooling those who saw it before they built the walk-way around it. i still remember thinking...why are they building a bridge around this dried up swamp...

 

I have recently visited this site and met with Laura Giese, Ph.D from Wetland Studies and Solutions (www.wetlandstudies.com - one of the best in the industry)and Loudoun County inspectors along with Piedmont Environmental Council Representative. They ALL agreed that this was a very well done project. Healthy working eco-system. An asset for the community and schools in the area to use it for environmental lessons. I am working on developing lesson plans for the schools to use. Hopefully there will be informational plaques so we can read information about the site and the wildlife. It is a shame that it has already been damaged... This is a good example why we really needed that rec center in Broadlands.

 

Yep it is ok, but not when it's totally covered by lily pads...what can you see then? I still miss the craggy looking tree that used to stand in the middle of it all. Too bad it fell down

 

Disgraceful! I'm sure this is the work of some kids who thought it would be funny to destroy something. I'm sure they can read so maybe some signs indicating the penalties if caught would discourage this from happening again...

 

I doubt it.

 

That they can read or that would deter them from being destructive

 

Both

 

T8ertot and I walked the "boards" last night and boy is it STINKY up near the bridge. Lots of algae or something in the water, too. Smells like poop. On the positive side, we had a super time checking out all the turtles. There must be a gazillion of them in there. Very cool.

 

Yeah I like the place... I ride my bike through there most mornings on the way to work and like to stop and see what sort of critters are hanging out. Too bad they didn't use composite decking though, that would have made it look nicer and last longer, with less maintenance in the long run.

 

I agree. A bunch of the decking is warped already. But it is a cool place -- very different and close by.

 

I'm gonna guess the smell is POOP. lol nature stinks!

 

Our boys love going to the 'big bridge' to see all the turtles. Even got to see a snake slithering through the water the other day. They love it!