Preservation of Guilford Woods as a Natural Area Reserve

Stephen Prince & Amy R. Sapkota April 24, 2023

1. Vision, Background & Aims

The Vision

Guilford Woods and Guilford Creek provide natural beauty, inspiration, ecosystem services, and opportunities for field instruction, research, and outdoor recreation. They are especially precious in the midst of an increasingly urban landscape. To ensure that these natural resources are preserved into the future, it is proposed that UMD establishes the UMD Guilford Woods Natural Area Reserve. A reserve will extend the University arboretum greatly enhancing the range and growth forms of tree species. Beyond the conservation goals, this would further solidify UMD’s place as a global leader in sustainability and climate action.

Background

Guilford Woods is a ~15-acre forest at the southern edge of the UMD campus. Like many remanent urban forests, it provides environmental and human health benefits (“ecosystem services”) including: improving air quality; conserving soil; reducing stormwater runoff flooding of downstream communities; reducing urban heat island effects; supporting wildlife and other biodiversity; removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; and enhancing mental and physical health of the University community.

Aims

  • Establish a “Guilford Woods Natural Area Reserve” and seek permanent protection.
  • Conserve natural processes and biodiversity to provide key ecosystem services in perpetuity.
  • Promote use as a living classroom, for the University of Maryland, local K-12 schools and the public. 
  • Inspire UMD students with natural beauty by providing opportunities for recreation and relaxation. 
  • Enhance mental wellbeing of UMD students, staff, and faculty by providing opportunities for relaxation and recreation.
  • Aim to attract a diversity of students across all education levels and socio-economic statuses.
  • Facilitate environmental research by provision of field sites using the unique and diverse environments in the Woods. 
  • Form a strong relationship with residents in the local community including a volunteer program to share in practical management tasks, mentoring student projects and fundraising.
  • Form a Guilford Woods Advisory Group composed of experts and administrators to manage the Woods, establish goals and facilitate the development and implementation of a Management Plan.

2. Management Plan

2.1. Summary

In order to manage Guilford Woods it is proposed that the University forms a Guilford Woods Advisory Group that would establish goals and facilitate the writing and implementation of a comprehensive Management Plan. The fundamental aims of this Plan would be to: 1) promote ecosystem services in perpetuity; 2) Establish a living classroom for UMD, local K-12 schools and the public; 3) Facilitate environmental research in the Woods; 4) Contribute to the mental health of UMD students, staff, and faculty by providing opportunities for relaxation and recreation; and 5) support stronger relationships with residents in the local community.  

2.2. Background

Guilford Woods is a ~15-acre forest at the southern edge of the UMD campus. Like many remanent urban forests, the Woods provide ecosystem services, far beyond what its size may suggest. These include: removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; improving air quality; conserving soil; reducing stormwater runoff; reducing urban heat island effects; supporting wildlife and other biodiversity; and contributing to the mental and physical health of the University community. 

Recently UMD explored partnering with a development company to clear-fell the Woods and build graduate and private housing, to be referred to as “The Western Gateway.” Following a campaign of opposition from the Campus and surrounding communities, UMD paused the project in October 2021. That development proposal follows on another in 2009 (“Mosaic at Turtle Run”), also later abandoned. In addition to saving the Woods, the recent Save Guilford Woods campaign served to raise awareness of the possibilities to more fully use the land for the benefit of the University. This has matured into a proposal to establish a multipurpose Natural Area Reserve with appropriate policies and plans to manage the Woods in perpetuity. 

To put these plans into effect by managing the property, it is now proposed that the Campus forms a Guilford Woods Advisory Group that would establish and facilitate the implementation of a Management Plan for the Woods. It is envisaged that much of the implementation will be undertaken by a Conservation Working Group composed of volunteers from all levels of the University - from administrators to undergraduate students and the public. Some conservation tasks are being undertaken by local residents and others. While their involvement meets one of the aims of a comprehensive management plan and is to be encouraged, currently this is unsupervised and without expert oversight. The Guilford Woods Advisory Group would direct and channel this “freelance” work to contribute most to the overall management plan.

2.3. Advisory Group

Consist of UMD faculty experts, instructors, graduate and undergraduate students, Facilities Management staff, and community liaisons, organized somewhat similarly to the existing Arboretum and Botanical Garden. A Chair and Co-Chair would be appointed to coordinate Group meetings, lead the development of the Management Plan (see #5 below) in consultation with Campus and State advisors (e.g., Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Campus Facilities Management, Extension Service, Maryland Department of Natural Resources and other advisory bodies) and liaise with the Campus Administration. The Group will seek to develop a comprehensive management plan and provide leadership in accomplishing the Plan. Where appropriate, management tasks to be undertaken by the Conservation Working Group. At the outset this program will include the following tasks:

  • Review aims and purposes of GW conservation. Identify relevant management issues and prioritize. Draft Task Lists based on urgency, labor needs and cost.
  • Review the management of similar reserves elsewhere including Universities and Colleges .(e.g. Towson University Glen Arboretum)
  • Prepare a written Management Plan (see below) 
  • Establish a Guilford Woods Conservation Group
  • Invite experts to prepare written guides to inform faculty and educate visitors. 
  • Establish and maintain liaison with: University administration, students, staff, public, EcoWellness, Arboretum, Sustainability Office, key Academic Departments etc.
  • Inform faculty about teaching opportunities provided by the Woods
  • Develop student academic opportunities through summer and semester internships and class projects.
  • Seek funding: sources, prepare solicitations, administration of funds, where necessary with the UMD Foundation. For example, some funds may be available from the “Sustainability Fee” is paid by all students, which provides funding for projects that promote environmental sustainability, and positively impact and enhance the student experience at UMD. Funds are allocated to projects that “…. integrate sustainability into teaching, research, and service at UMD”.

2.4. Conservation Working group

UMD students, faculty, administrators, staff volunteers and members of the public to help undertake conservation tasks in collaboration with UMD Facilities Management (e.g., trash removal; minor upkeep of trails; removal of invasive species; planting of native shrubs, trees and plants).

Examples of tasks:

  • Protection from deer
  • New plantings
  • Control of undesirable invasives
  • Paths – maintenance,  make new paths, place signage 
  • Install numbered signs throughout the Woods marking stations where interesting features can be observed. Locations of stations and descriptions of features to be provided by experts commissioned by Management Group. 
  • Routine patrolling and reporting of significant natural and anthropogenic activities.

2.5. Draft Management Plan

The Management Plan would: 1) propose specific improvements in the Woods that would address floods, deer and weed control and improve access and enjoyment of the Woods; 2) facilitate educational and research activities in the Woods; 3) commission written guides with information about the Woods; and 4) seek permanent preservation.

2.5.1. Improvements in the Woods

Deer control: The current deer population is far in excess of the carrying capacity of the Woods, furthermore, it is likely to grow because of the continuing development of nearby forested land. The Management Plan would consider methods for population control, protection for individual saplings and larger areas using deer-proof fencing. 

Weed control: Small urban forests like Guilford Woods are susceptible to invasion by noxious and invasive weeds. Strategic removal of invasives (currently mostly consisting of herbaceous and understory woody plants) would be a management priority. 
Tree planting: The overpopulation of deer in the Woods has led to the destruction of most tree saplings and hence there is little natural regeneration. An extensive tree planting program is needed. This could be aided by coordination with State and County government initiatives intended to maintain and expand tree cover, such as the State’s Tree Solutions Now Act of 2021. 

Improving access, signage: Currently, there is only one footpath through the Woods and it is in need of renovation. It is used intensively by walkers to access the Campus. The Management Plan would recommend approaches to improve the existing path and create new ones, bike paths, and benches that would allow for greater use and enjoyment of the woods. Signs at the entrances of the Woods and directions would not only assist visitors and provide a contact address for questions etc. but also would make clear the ownership of the Woods and rules applying to its use.

The entrances to the Woods are in the SE, from Calverton Dr. and in the E from Mowatt Lane. It is shown on some versions of Google Maps. The Mowatt La. entrance is currently reached across the College Park LDS Institute of Religion parking lot. At some time in the future, it may become necessary to construct an entrance direct from Mowatt La. While there is a possible route, it may involve some excavation to climb the steep bank from the Wood path to the level of Mowatt La. There are, in addition, a number of small access paths from Windsor Drive. 

Flooding: The Management Plan would call for exploration of stormwater management options that could reduce flooding and poor water quality in Guilford Creek which drains into the Anacostia River. At some time, engineered structures such as bioretention pools and new wetlands, may be proposed and funded by the County. In so far as this involves alterations of the Guilford Woods, the Management Group should take a major role.

2.5.2. Promote Educational and Research Activities

An important component of the Management Plan would be to facilitate the use of Guilford Woods for teaching, research, and recreational activities. This would be in accordance with the “Reimagine Learning” pillar of the UMD Strategic Plan. Practical steps might include creation of a database of materials on the environment and biota, such as species lists, identification guides, descriptions of the urban forest features, and details of the topography, habitats, hydrology, geomorphological features, soils, and woodland climate. A particularly valuable resource would be to archive details of activities undertaken by past classes and research activities to provide ideas and background information, including copies of completed student projects.

2.5.3.  Develop a Guilford Woods website

A dedicated, official, UMD website is needed to promote the Woods as a Campus resource. This might include links to other web sites relevant to the Woods (e.g. Friends of Guilford Woods https://friendsofguilfordwoods.weebly.com/) For visitors, the website could also provide information on notable features by installation of in-situ interpretive signs with URLs/QR codes to relevant sections of the website. Most important, the content would include the materials to support the educational and research activities described above.

2.5.4. Advocate for Acquisition of Privately-Owned Properties That Are Part of the Woods

An important step towards establishment of the Natural Area Reserve would include working with owners of adjacent parts of the Woods that are currently not owned by UMD (e.g., 4.47 acres currently owned by a developer, and wooded parts of neighboring Church and private properties). In the longer term the University might plan to acquire those. This might be assisted by liaising with the County and State, utilizing existing land preservation rulings, also non-governmental organizations that support conservation.

2.6. Looking Ahead

A first step in permanent preservation of Guilford Woods would be for the University to declare the Woods as a Natural Area Reserve, and to recognize the Guilford Woods Advisory Group to maintain a Management Plan. Such a natural area would provide important resources for all the aims of the University, from teaching to research to local outreach, and provide some critical ecosystem services. Guilford Woods would contribute to a ring of natural areas around the Campus, including the Golf Course, Campus Creek, the Wooded Hillock, the Paint Branch riparian strip, and provide a remarkable termination of the EcoWellness Walk. This will be a unique environment for a suburban campus and undoubtedly will be a feature of UMD that will be attractive to prospective students and candidates for UMD positions. It will also represent an expansion of natural areas in greater College Park and contribute to improved town-and-University relations. The preservation will further demonstrate UMD’s commitment to sustainability and ensure UMD’s place as a leader in climate action. 

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