Fort Meade, MD – The Fort Meade Directorate of Public Works (DPW) Environmental Division has launched a project to improve the shoreline of Lake Burba by removing invasive plant species and creating a new meadow and habitat for pollinators.

Burba Park and Lake, a hub of outdoor recreation at Fort Meade, attracts visitors for family picnics, unit organization days and other community events. The park’s 0.8-mile walking and running trail circles the lake, where users often notice thick vegetation between the water and the trail.

Julie Adkins, DPW natural resources program director, said the area is difficult to maintain. “We actually did a Lake Burba improvement project about 20 years ago, but that was the last time we put significant effort into maintaining the shoreline,” she explained.

The new project will focus on three main areas: removing invasive plant species along the south shore, creating a meadow between the lake and Roberts Avenue, and establishing five small “pocket” pollinator gardens. » on the north side. Removal of invasive plants will cover approximately 1,000 feet of shoreline, while the meadow area will span approximately 0.8 acres, mixing native grasses and wildflowers. The pocket gardens, each approximately 200 square feet, will include native flowers to support local pollinators.

“This project will benefit not only the immediate environment but the entire Fort Meade community,” Adkins said. “It’s a team effort and we collaborate with various partners.”

Army Fellows biologist Sarah Shpak, who joined the DPW in May, is participating in the project. “Julie was really trying to get as many stakeholders involved as possible,” Shpak said, noting the participation of DPW’s master planning division, MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) and the team. rainwater. “We are also looking to expand community involvement in future years, perhaps in connection with Earth Day or other volunteer initiatives,” Adkins added.

The team is in talks with local high school ROTC students, who are expected to help with stewardship and maintenance tasks, such as weeding.

The first phase of the project began in mid-October with the application of herbicides to control invasive plants. Although the changes won’t be immediately visible, Adkins noted that the area might look somewhat unsightly during the transition. “The flowers will be planted in November and next year,” she said. “By March or April, we expect the grasses and flowers to start growing and the area to look much better. »

Improvements to the shores of Lake Burba are expected to improve both the ecological health of the area and the park visitor experience, contributing to the long-term sustainability of this popular community space.