Walker Nature Center
A LOOK INSIDE • Calendar of Events 4 • Kids’ Corner 6 • Fairy Festival 7 • Film Fest 7
BRANCHING OUT
Nature Notes The Lakes of Reston JUNE By Sharon Gurtz
By Idalina Walker
• • • •
Butterfly Weed, Threadleaf Coreopsis and Bee Balm bloom. White-tailed Deer fawns are born. Elderberry and Viburnum shrubs in bloom. American Goldfinch nest.
JULY • • • • •
Green Frogs are calling. Black Cohosh, Cardinal Flower and Purple Coneflower bloom. Annual Cicadas and Katydids are common. Tent Caterpillar moths emerge from cocoons. Damselflies and dragonflies are active.
AUGUST • • • • •
Copperhead snakes give birth to live young. Eastern Box Turtle and Snapping Turtle eggs hatch. Mountain Laurel and Rhododendron shrubs are in bloom. Asters, goldenrods and sunflowers bloom. Southern Flying Squirrel young are born.
In Reston, we work hard to protect out The water from Lake Anne eventually treasured trees and backyard habitats. flows into Anne’s Run which flows into This practice has given many of us a Lake Fairfax. This 28-acre lake collects sense of identity as a Tree City USA to runoff from a watershed of over 600 acres. hold with great pride. Reston’s lakes, Its average depth is 13 feet. When studying though all manmade, are also held in the health of a lake, it is important to high esteem for their beautiful viewsheds consider the volume of the lake in in all seasons. These lakes enhance our comparison to its watershed area. Reston experience, offering habitat Pollutants in the runoff greatly affect for wildlife, complementing the water quality. Common the lakeside pathways and pollutants include fertilizer offering a perfect escape and lawn care materials, aboard your watercraft of paint products, pet waste, choice. While you enjoy asphalt sealers and gasoline. the lakes this summer, it Extra nutrient load can is important to remember result in an overabundance the hard work they do for of algae. To prevent the lake the community—retaining from looking like pea soup, stormwater runoff in Reston the water is treated with a and improving water quality copper sulfate compound downstream. Here are some during the summer months. Photo by: Jim Kirby interesting facts about these aquatic workhorses and the challenges they face. Lake Thoreau Reston’s deepest lake was created in Lake Anne 1971. It was known to early residents as Reston’s founder, Bob Simon, named Lake Elsa. In 1979, its name was changed Reston’s oldest lake after his second to Lake Thoreau after the larger Elsa was wife. It was created in 1962 through the divided by the South Lakes dam to create impoundment of Colvin Run. Today, the it and its sister lake, known today as Lake lake is still fed by 2 branches of Colvin Audubon. Reston’s high school, South Run, one of which includes overflow Lakes gets its name from these two lakes. from Lake Newport and runoff from the Thoreau is located in Reston’s largest surrounding area. watershed, Snakeden Branch. Continued on page 2
Summer 16 Volume Eighteen