Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center

Atlantic White Cedar

The eastern boundary of Arlington Echo is formed by Indian Creek Branch Cove. It is documented that Indian Creek contains 40 seedlings, 88 living trees and 25 dead trees of the Atlantic White Cedar species: a globally threatened plant (Keith Underwood: Meadowview Biological Research Center, Woodford, Va, 1997 ). This number is relatively low despite the fact that the soils and hydrology of Indian Creek are suitable for growth of the diminishing Atlantic White Cedar.

We have obtained funds to support the propagation of the threatened Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis Thyoides) in order to restore the Indian Creek Cove. Arlington Echo is an ideal site for this coordinated recovery effort since the Indian Creek bog has the appropriate conditions for immediate restoration and the fact that this identified Atlantic

White Cedar stand is located on and buffers our property (a public facility). Students will have opportunities to directly harvest, plant and nurture a piece of life while restoring wetland areas and improving buffer zones in the Critical Areas. The non-tidal bog growing area that we have established serves as an educational demonstration site for the 18,000 students and 7,000 adults visiting the Outdoor Education Center annually. In the future, Arlington Echo, cooperating schools and community associations, including Severn River Association, together will strive to restore other Atlantic White Cedar stands located in Anne Arundel County.

The Atlantic White Cedar Restoration Project will positively impact the health of the Chesapeake Bay.