About the Basin, September 1, 2017

Photo Credit: thisisbossi, “Cacapon state park”

A scenic 2-hour drive west from the D.C. metro area will land you at a state park that looks more like a resort than a park. Cacapon (pronounced “Ca-cape-un”) Resort State Park,

near Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, is still a state park at heart, though. It boasts a small sandy beach for swimming, paddle boat rentals, serene fishing spots, many hiking trails, and a nature center. However, the park’s additional amenities make a weekend at Cacapon more glamping than typical old-fashioned camping. You will also find an 18-hole golf course, horseback riding, a hotel and conference center, and cabins decked out with all the necessities for a weekend away.

Vintage Postcard of the beach at Cacapon Resort State Park

It’s vintage, unostentatious vibe has visitors returning again and again. One online reviewer said it best: “Stop being pretentious and stay here.” Activities at Cacapon bring you back to the good ol’ days. You can make new friends with a pickup game of basketball, get your family together for a game of beach volleyball or challenge your in-laws on the tennis courts. For the techies that just can’t separate themselves from their phone, the hiking trails abound with geocache treasures.

For something a little special, hike up Cacapon Mountain to an observation deck where you can see West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania in one sweeping view. It is always a breathtaking site, but even more so during leaf peeping season in October.

If you are looking for something a bit more primitive, check out the Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area just east of Cacapon Resort State Park. This 23,000-acre park offers 75 basic campsites. Many afford an inexpensive waterfront view of Sleepy Creek Lake. Unlike Cacapon Resort State Park, amenities are few and far between in this area that truly embodies West Virginia’s slogan, “Wild and Wonderful”.

About the Basin, August 25, 2017

Photo Credit: Flickr, Dykes Marsh, Geoff Livingston

Just down the river from Alexandria, Va., exists 485 acres of marsh, swamp forest and flood plain known as Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve. It is an oasis amidst the concrete jungle. It is part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway managed by the National Park Service. The Preserve has an impressive diversity of flora and fauna, including more than 270 species of birds and 300 species of plants.

Many runners, walkers, and bikers enjoy the Mount Vernon Trail, a 17-mile paved path, that winds through the marsh. The Haul Road Trail is short at .75 miles, but provides a look at each type of habitat in Dyke Marsh.

Kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding are the primary activities at Dyke Marsh. They allow visitors a more intimate view of the river and the wildlife that calls the area home. Rent a boat at the marina next door, then paddle south along the shore for the short trip to the marsh.

Photo credit: Flickr, Dyke Marsh, Virginia, La Citta Vita

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in the process of restoring the marsh that is currently eroding at an  average of 6 to 7.8 feet per year. Restoration efforts, which include planting native aquatic vegetation, are scheduled to be completed by 2019.

An active volunteer group, Friends of Dyke Marsh, holds a variety of events open to the public, including a bird walk lead by expert birders each Sunday at 8:00am, plus lectures, educational events, and more. Some upcoming events include a talk on September 13 on Wetland Plants by Dr. Nancy Rybicki, a U.S. Geological Survey Aquatic Biologist and a discussion on November 15^th about the health of Hunting Creek and area streams by Dr. Kim Mutsert of the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University. The volunteer group also actively works to restore the marsh by planting trees and other activities.

About the Basin, August 18, 2017

If you were not lucky enough to book a spot on the Royal Caribbean’s Total Eclipse Cruise to watch Bonnie Tyler belt Total Eclipse of the Heart at the moment the moon blacks out the sun in Monday’s solar eclipse, there are plenty of local eclipse celebrations to choose from.

Plan on taking a selfie with the moon? You know looking directly at the sun during an eclipse can create irreparable eye damage, but it could damage your phone as well. You might want to use those solar glasses for your phone’s camera and check out NASA’s guidelines for safely photographing the eclipse.

In the Potomac River basin, the moon will start to show a shadow around 1:00pm, peak between 2:00-3:00pm and be over by 4:00. Exact timing depends on your specific location. Many state and national parks are holding special events to commemorate the occasion. Here are some of the events going on around the Potomac River basin.

Virginia:

Many Virginia State Parks, including Caledon State Park, are holding special activities to learn more about the science behind solar eclipses and providing a limited number of commemorative solar eclipse glasses. They invite the public to bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket to enjoy the astronomical show.

For a real adventure, head out on the Potomac River for a Solar Eclipse Kayak Tour at Algonkian Regional Park in Sterling, Va.

Maryland:

“Dark Sky” parks are areas with little light pollution and are ideal of eclipse viewing. Point Lookout Park, where the Potomac River meets the Chesapeake Bay, is one such park. Although they are not holding a special event, it would be a great place to watch eclipse.

Rocky Gap State Park is offering a hike, a hula hoop workshop, and yoga class in celebration of the solar eclipse.

Rockville Science Center and Gaithersburg Community Museum are hosting a free, fun viewing party at Observatory Park. Science projects, free solar viewers, and hands-on activities are planned.

Many more fun events are planned in the area. Check out your local park, museum or college for other viewing parties!

About the Basin, August 11, 2017

Located along the Potomac River in Prince William’s County, Virginia, Leesylvania State Park has a lot to offer its multitude of visitors. As one online reviewer states, “This gem of a park offers peace and quiet in the middle of the hubbub of NoVA.” Although small, the park offers a range of amenities for those looking to escape the city for a day, including trails, a boat ramp into the Potomac River, visitor’s center, picnic shelters with barbecues, fishing spots, a playground, and more.

(c) Flickr, Mrs.Gemstone, “Leesylvania State Park – PotomacBeach”

A Living Shoreline project is currently in progress at the park to prevent erosion and create a habitat for aquatic plants and animals. This type of restoration project builds up the shoreline using natural materials to create a wetland environment that protects the shore from erosion and provides valuable habitat. There is an informational walk open to the public on September 10 to learn more about the project and the ecological principles behind it.

Having only been open since 1992, the park itself is relatively young. However, the area is full of history, with some spots within the park listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The land was once owned by some of the more famous residents of northern Virginia, the Lee and Fairfax families. Chimneys are all that remain of these notable residences though. A few members are buried in a cemetery within the park. These historic sites are accessible by trail. Learn more about the wartime history of the area on the Potomac River Blockade Boat Tours in September and October.

In addition to the events above, the staff at Leesylvania State Park provide weekly events for people of all ages. Walks, talks, and other adventures explore the wildlife of the area, from the bottom of the ponds to the sky above. If you can’t make it to a scheduled event, park staff are usually on hand to discuss wildlife, fishing spots, or history of the park.