A few years ago I did� a study for NPS-Wash East, assessing the habitat value of their various holdings, including KAG and KP, so I'm familiar with the area (as are many others of us).
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Having now seen the map of the proposed bike path as re-routed, it is as I feared - it goes smack through the most habitat-valuable areas of those parks. The 12' width is especially destructive. The original pathway, passing alongside roads and residences, is much more benign.
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This so often happens - when new projects are proposed to be constructed in parks, they end up taking the best remaining habitat because that's all that's left. But it's�so unecessary here - the original route shows that someone - maybe in NPS - was sensitive enough to the area not to disturb its good parts�. Maybe City Wildlife should approach NPS - Wash East and get their take on it; the current director is (I believe) Steve Syphax.
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Fred Fallon
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From: Kurt Schwarz <krschwa1...>
To: Maryland & DC Birding <mdbirding...>
Cc: James Monsma <jim.monsma...>
Sent: Friday, July 6, 2012 4:57 PM
Subject: [MDBirding] An Issue Affecting Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and Park
I have received a request for help from City Wildlife in DC�
http://www.citywildlife.org/about.html
Federal money has been allocated for a bike path that originally was slated to skirt the edges of KAG and the park. �The new money has resulted in a plan to build the bike path along the river and through some grasslands that the District is trying to establish. �A trail already exists along the river, so a paved trail would not improve birding access, and people whizzing by would likely hurt it. It would also fragment the grassland, presumably. �City Wildlife intends to petition to retain the previously suggested bike route, but forgo the new route as it potentially infringes habitat. �You can see the routes at the below website, though you may have to cut and paste. �I've learned the tinyurl weblinks will cause the server to delay or reject my postings.
http://www.thewashcycle.com/2011/12/draft-environmental-assessment-for-anacostia-riverwalk-trails-kenilworth-section-released.html
Note that NO ONE is opposing the bike route, only seeking to make it more sensitive to wildlife. �I can provide City Wildlife's talking points to anyone interested. �If you'd like to get involved, especially if a a DC resident, please contact Jim Monsma �of City Wildlife at <jim.monsma...> . � I have also cc'd him on this.
Kurt Schwarz
Conservation Chair
Maryland Ornithological Society
goawaybird at verizon dot net--
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