1.    Cemetery cleaning and investigation as to the origins (East End site and the other cemeteries in the preserve.

Brian to check with Amanda to see if we may engage the Prince William County Archeologist in ascertaining who is buried in the East End cemetery and who began maintained it up to a certain date in time

• “LJ” and “Friends” Cemeteries (East End) will be maintained in current condition for now.  Amanda and I have not had a chance to discuss the PWC Archeologist but I think as landowners, VOF should make contact with them first.
• “Corum” will remain undisturbed for now.
• Chapman will be kept clean inside and cleared around the outside boundary to prevent vegetation growth on wall.  I am lining up someone to repair the broken headstone.  No decision has been made on the removal of the Paulownia tree(s).
• Dawson will be kept clean inside and cleared around the outside boundary to prevent vegetation growth on wall.  Dawson needs to have the entrance step repaired.  In the future possibly use a black metal chain to delineate graves outside of stone wall.

2.    Complete the build out of the Chestnut Ridge Loop Trail Nature Trail

Remove vegetation and blowdowns and install sign markings

• I think most of this has been completed more or less by Janis a few weeks ago.  We can let it settle, keep it clear, and then discuss any problems as they arise.

3.    Replace or perform major upgrades on several of the Bridges notably Dawson's. Catlett's, & Mountain Road.

We agreed to fix the trads at the present time by replacing or trading over the present boards.

• I am having second thoughts about replacing these bridges but I need to talk with Amanda.  I would like to close Catlett Trail, remove the Catlett bridge and the bridge that has fallen near Mtn Road, but leave the Mtn Road bridge for now.  We could just screw a piece of plywood on top for a temporary patch to last the year.

4.    Complete the survey and perform any realignments of trails.

Brian has placed the finalization of the trail plans on the top of the priority list

• Ugh.  Ugh.  This will be a work in progress as it may just be piecemealed together.  This may best done as a field day where we can meet and debate some ideas.

5.    Install blocking or fences to return Social trails to the forest.

This will be accomplished post build out and acceptance of the Trail Plan

• See number 13.

6.    Trail marking or (Blazing) throughout the preserve.

This is under discussion and needs to be further thought out. We need to have a guidance as to the color scheme for the sign or blazed trails. Blazing can be painted over with non toxic paint to change the scheme.

• Amanda and I are both against blazing.  We both like Janis’s idea of the metal stripes on the trail posts showing distances to the next post but still haven’t settled on an alternative. 

7.    Construct Interpretive Historical Blue/Gray trail for the 150 commemoration of the Battle of Thoroughfare Gap.

We began with Brian a walkthrough of the potential Historical Trail at the Quarry slot and some very good suggestions came out of the tour and this will be finalized later

• I would like to flush out this idea more.  We can close those two steep sections of Chapman Tr and Quarry Trails while making more of the quarry visible.  Both trails where they intersect Fern are in bad shape and need to be addressed anyway.

8.    Continuing discussion on the Jackson Hollow opening and the Mil to Mil trail future project.

This is in the future and should however be placed in the five year looking ahead plan

• I had a good laugh at the 5 year plan as I would settle for a 5 week plan at this point!!
• This is something that is out of my hands and not in the PATC scope of work.  The majority of the trail has already been worked out on paper and VOF is working to attain the needed easements.  This will be a looooooong process.  Heck, the M2M has been talked about for 40 years now.  This will also depend on how well we can manage the 800 ac of BRMNAP that is open to the public as to whether people will give us an easement.
• It is also in the current Management Plan to keep the Jackson Hollow area closed to public access for the near future. 

9.    Realignment or abandonment of the new By-Pass around the spring on the Fern Hollow trail.

Some hikers (we did not receive any negatives in our random discussions with hikers) and Michael have been complaining about the steepness of the steps. We advanced a much better route to finish the trail back on the original. Brian is to speak to Amanda. Time involved in the relocation is estimated at less than 3 hr

• Based on the discovery of an unknown stone spring box the proposed reroute will not be feasible as it is too close to the spring box.  The seeps have been exposed and channels created for the water to drain.  I hope to have this project finished this week.

10. The Boardwalk on the Main trail from the Mountain Road.

We have clear evidence that Mountain road continues to want to be a stream with some major drainage issues. We suggested some culverts and a diversionary path for the drainage vein that flows up trail onto the Mountain Road. As an alternative and in keeping with the Natural nature of the Area it would behoove us to look at a switch backed trail coming down from the alternate trail and over a built over the grade culvert in line with the flow of water on the road.

• The boardwalk was just one idea and probably will be DOA.  The stream channel needs to be addressed first.  A few culverts may help but we are at the bedrock in sections so those may not work either.  This is still up in the air but debatable.  The switchback is still on hold.

11.  Fix the uneven tread on the Chestnut Ridge Trail (Former Alternate trail) by cut and fill repairing.

This can easily be accomplished this weekend

• This should be discussed in the field before beginning.

12.   Install fencing at various locations:

I have the idea of using a low fencing to mark the side trail entrances (Chapman, Dawson, Chestnut Ridge Loop, etc) that would funnel visitors to the trail instead of cutting the corner.  It could be a theme carried through the NAP.  Perhaps a three-tiered snake fence or a short post (knee high) with a two beams angled along both sides of the trail.  Just something low key, that isn’t too obnoxious but still says “here’s the trail.”

13.   High Point Area – still under investigation

We need a catchy name for the top.  Technically it isn’t High Point so that name may be misleading.  I envision that the new map will show it separately from the NAP (even though it technically still is by deed.)  I was leaning toward “White Cliff Loop Trail” which to me says it is a loop and you return the same way.  But perhaps I give our visitors too much credit.

• The following will occur once VOF settles on a plan and has signage:

o   The current barricade at the intersection of Ridge/Ridge Loop will be removed and the social trail to the west will be closed.

o   A threshold/funnel of some sort will be erected at the point the trail enters private property with a list of more restrictive uses as per our use agreement with the land owners.

o   We will designate either 2 overlooks or a short overlook loop at the top and close the other 20 social trails by fencing or other means.

o   We will have a trash removal day where we clean our usage agreement area so we have a clean slate to begin with.

o   Several of the social trails along Ridge Trail will be closed for restoration.  It may be necessary to keep one open for those hikers who are unable to walk to the top.

14.   Fern Trail working back from Ridge Trail

Since this trail will remain open under all trail plans it seems logical to address the erosion and problems beginning at the top and working our way back to the boardwalk.  It seems the main culprit is simple a lack of clearing the existing drains and removing the logs that block them.

• There are multiple areas where the drains can be cleaned or reopened and the berms broken so the water will drain.
• There are some areas where a small culvert may be appropriate.
• This can best be discussed in the field.

15.    Remove all railroad ties and wood along Mtn Road.

There are about 4 piles of various stacks of wood that need to go as they only block the flow of water.

• There is a row of ties about 15 feet long just above the boardwalk that appear to be a big factor in our current problem.  The elevation change at this point is close to level and I can imagine if these ties had not been left behind then water may have flowed back under the boardwalk instead of down the road.

16.  Miscellaneous.