Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust: About

About Hellen Creek Forest and Wildlife Preserve

     Located on the upper reaches of Hellen Creek in Lusby, the Hellen Creek Preserve covers some fifty acres of marshes, forests, streams, and slopes. Together with the adjacent TNC Hemlock Preserve over 120 acres of the watershed are under permanent easement. As executive director of the owner of the Hellen Creek Preserve (Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust) I live on the property and monitor it.

     Part of this is the fun job of wandering through the woods checking for wildflowers and signs of animals. Other parts (cutting down blow downs blocking trails and driveways) aren’t as enjoyable. But I get to spend a lot of time outside and enjoy the benefits.

     Currently the Trust has two grants in effect for this summer. The Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) will be helping us with supplies for our invasive plant removal and restoration efforts. So far we have worked on three areas to remove wine berry, multi-flora rose, and tree of heaven and replanted two areas from last year. I have been anxiously watching the viburnum and spicebush for deer glazing. Plenty of work still remains with work days scheduled for July 22, August 5, and September 23, all starting at 9 a.m. If those days don’t work for you please call and we can arrange for a weekday session.

     The second grant came from the American Hiking Society. This project is the repair of the stairs leading to the creek. We plan on getting started on this one the week of July17th. Anyone with experience with a posthole digger and shovel are more than welcome to join us. Other less arduous jobs are also available.

     A variety of survey work is ongoing as well. Beginning in 2004 the Trust has been actively pursuing a biological survey of the Hellen Creek Preserve property. Work has begun on wildflowers, trees, shrub, ferns, amphibians, birds, butterflies, fish, mammals, and reptile lists. Several field trips for the Maryland Native Plant Society have been helpful with identifying our flora. A frog log (recording device) borrowed from Chespax has been useful in amphibian night surveys. Work on the breeding bird atlas has been ongoing since 2002.

     To educate the public about the Trust and introduce people to the Preserve, we have held several events on the Hellen Creek Preserve. In addition the MNPS trips we have sponsored outings with Sierra Club, Maryland Ornithological Society, Maryland Conservation Council, and the College of Southern Maryland. Currently plans are for two fall outings to enjoy the colors and seasonal change in September and October. Please check this newsletter and your local paper for this and other outings.

     If you are interested in finding out more about the Trust please visit our website at www.covepoint-trust.org. To arrange for a visit to the Preserve please call me at 410-394-1300.

Our Board of Trustees consists of the following:

Ewing Miller, Chairman of the Board
Washington, DC

Mildred F. Kriemelmeyer, President
Waldorf, MD

Michael D. Frederick, Treasurer
Lusby, MD

Michael E. Gardner
Lusby, MD

Robert J. Boxwell, Executive Director
Solomons, MD

Fred Tutman
Upper Marlboro, MD

Armin Behr, Secretary
Bethesda, MD

Michael Rudy
Solomons Island, MD