Rock Creek Golf Course Rehabilition Plan

The Birds of Rock Creek Golf Course Need Your Help

Carolina Wren (male) singing proudly from a tree.

National Park Service is planning to remove 1,293 trees!

A variety of bird species makes this very special place home year-round and others need the trees to help them survive migration. While we understand that some of the trees will need to be cleared (namely the invasive species), the current rehabilitation plan put forth by National Links Trust and the National Park Service needs to be scaled down.

Native trees and plants are vital for birds

Insects thrive off of native trees and birds thrive off of thriving insects.
Native trees adapt uniquely to our local environment and help mitigate the effects of climate change!

Of the 2,763 trees on the course 1,293 trees will be removed. 119 of these are Heritage trees. 1,155 are native. 209 are invasive or non-native. 3 are dead.

See which trees will be removed here: ROCR Rock Creek Golf Course Tree Inventory Analysis 2024 (arcgis.com)

Read the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact, as well as other information here:

ParkPlanning - Rehabilitation of the Rock Creek Park Golf Course (nps.gov)

The birds at Rock Creek Golf Course!

All photos taken by DCBA member, Brian Wee, on golf course property.

American Kestrel

In winter in many southern parts of the range, female and male American Kestrels use different habitats. Females use the typical open habitat, and males use areas with more trees. This situation appears to be the result of the females migrating south first and establishing winter territories, leaving males to the more wooded areas.
*Source.*

Tree Swallow

Tree Swallows have helped researchers make major advances in several branches of ecology, and they are among the best-studied bird species in North America. Still, we know little about their lives during migration and winter.
*Source*.

In an effort to rehabilitate the Rock Creek Golf Course the National Park Service has signed a 50-year lease with National Links Trust, giving them control to manage and redesign the course. Their current plan aims to improve the course, both for golfers and the general public. Much of the plan is needed (for example: the current clubhouse is not ADA accessible, nor does it have bird-friendly windows), however, the plan as it currently is calls for the removal of too many trees! This will disrupt the habitat for birds, bats, frogs, and many other animals. Majority of which have been decreasing in population and need as much protection as possible.

National Links Trust also plans to build a 50-bay driving range. This driving range will increase the noise and light pollution inside of Rock Creek Park. Not all is known about the plans for this driving range, but it’s effect on the bats, birds and other crepuscular animals could be severe.

With some commissioners showing concern over the plan, and others pushing it to be approved, the National Capital Planning Commission postponed their final approval vote to a later date.
This is great news because it allows for more time for each respective commissioner to look into the over 3,000 public comments submitted! And allows for the National Park Service to work with the public and the concerned organizations to help move the plan forward in a more collaborative approach.
Learn more about the meeting here: Commission Meeting Archive (ncpc.gov)