Removing invasive plants across Loudoun is about to get easier as a county program to help property owners fund their removal – and replacement with native species – is set to begin next month.
A community meeting hosted by the Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance and county leaders at The Barn at Brambleton on Wednesday night served as a program overview for residents interested in the initiative. The program was funded by the Board of Supervisors earlier this year to the tune of $2 million after LIRA brought its members’ growing concern over invasives to the board’s attention.
LIRA, which now has 78 Loudoun homeowners associations as members, is led by Mike Littman, who said the work is garnering national attention.
“We now have affected state legislation on invasive plants. Blue Ridge Prism really leads that, but we helped influence it and the governor signed a bill that was passed this past year, and then even at the national level, we were just asked to be on a committee for NAISMA, which is the nationwide invasive organization. We’re on their planning committee now for their event next year in DC, so we can help influence what happens with that,” Littman said.
Board of Supervisors’ Vice Chair Michael Turner (D-Ashburn) said the issue is one that everyone can support.
“It cut across partisan political lines. It cut across parochial community lines. Everybody got on board. I’ve never seen the Board of Supervisors embrace so completely and so quickly, uniformly, a concept. Everybody likes this idea. I’m pretty sure it’s going national. You heard it’s going national. I mean, we are an exemplar for the rest of the country with this program. That’s how good this program is,” Turner said.
Assistant Director of General Services Mark Aveni touted the program as the epitome of collaboration between local government and the community.
Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance President Michael Littman speaks during a kickoff event for a program, funded by the county, to removed invasive plants in the county.
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
“The board approved this program on June 17, and here we are at the end of August. And the supervisors just talked about funding, and they talked about collaboration, and they talked about the unique nature, but what I want to talk about is government works best when it works with people,” Aveni said. “And we would not be here at the end of August with a room full of people in a lovely building like this, if it wasn’t for government working cooperatively with LIRA and all the other collaborators that you’ve heard about. So, to me, that’s the biggest success story. I mean, I worked in state and local government my whole career, and let me tell you, it usually doesn’t work like this.”
Program Administrator Leah Sattler walked the attendees through the process of applying, which will begin with property owners getting a project estimate from a contractor.
“This is going to detail the particular work that your project requires, along with the value associated with completing that work,” Sattler said.
The second step involves filling out a project overview form, found on the county’s website, which includes what types of invasive plants are on the property and the techniques property owners can use to use to remove them, as well as a timeline for making grant applications.
The first window to apply will open Sept. 15 and close Sept. 26.
“We’re going to be opening up the window for the first year every two months, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to submit that application,” Sattler added.
Sattler will perform site visits on the properties to make sure they align with the program goals and then the application will be considered by a review board.
A submitted application can either be approved directly or conditionally approved, which will require adjustments on the property owner’s part prior to beginning the project. Once approved, a property owner will need to obtain any needed permits to complete the work on the property.
“After you’ve met all the requirements of permitting and regulations, then I will send you an email with your letter of award, and your project will be ready to begin. So at this point, you can start contacting your contractors and having them begin the work. I’ll be in contact with you throughout your project’s lifespan,” Sattler said.
Applicants are generally expected to begin the work no later than six months following the award letter and complete it no later than 12 months after the letter. Once the project is completed, the property owners begin a three-year maintenance period.
“The purpose of this period is to make sure that all the hard work you put into that first year is going to be long lasting, not just for three years as you’re required to maintain it, but even beyond then. There’s a lot of work you’re putting into your property so let’s keep it free of invasives,” Sattler said.
The county also completed pilot projects earlier this year to test the program’s format. Kate Morganti, who lives at One Loudoun, was one of pilot participants.
Kate Morganti shares how her participation in a county pilot program resulted in a $26,000 grant to remove invasive species from One Loudoun Central Park.
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
The mixed-use community includes a 35-acre public park known as One Loudoun Central Park, which Morganti said was becoming overrun with invasive plants.
“Central Park isn’t just a pretty space, it’s thoughtfully designed. … the landscape blends turf grass with natural forested areas, pollinator gardens and native plant beds. But beneath all that beauty loomed a growing threat. More than 10 aggressive invasive plant species, each one listed as immediate or high concern by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. These plants were choking out natural habitats,” she said.
They received a $26,000 grant from the pilot program to remove the invasive plants and install educational signage throughout the park. Morganti said they did not need to replant any native species.
“Instead, our proposal committed to natural revegetation, allowing native plants to rebound on their own once the invasives were removed,” she said.
A second program overview event will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at Bluemont Vineyard. Register to attend online. Learn more about the county program online at loudoun.gov/invasiveplants.