Shenandoah National Park Invasive Species Management

Shenandoah National Park (SNP) is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts from the nation’s capital and surrounding areas. The National Park Service manages the land with an eye on recreation and habitat, so when they envisioned replacing outdated facilities with natural areas, SNP hired The Davey Tree Expert Company, WSSI’s parent company, to implement their vision. WSSI joined the team to provide invasive species management and native plant expertise.

The Challenge

SNP was interested in converting underutilized park sites back to natural habitats. The Big Meadow site contained two unused buildings and asphalt that required demolition and removal, as did the Loft Mountain Campground and the Loft Mountain Picnic Area. An abundance of invasive plant species at the sites required suppression to create the natural landscape that SNP desired.

Our Solution

Once the sites underwent demolition, WSSI’s Ecosystem Specialists took steps to restore the sites to their natural state. We designed and oversaw implementation of an aggressive invasive species control program in 2023 to target 12 species (full lists are below).

To supplement the invasive species management, the WSSI team conducted temporary and permanent seeding and planting of native vegetation through the disturbed areas of the sites. Site restoration and monitoring continued in 2024 with two additional herbicide treatments during the growing season.