The C&O Canal, including the Gold Mine Tract, is classified as facing imminent failure regarding forest regeneration if current trends persist. In response, the National Park Service (NPS) has initiated a comprehensive restoration project to encourage forest regeneration. NPS staff have already planted over 100 native trees and shrubs in the Gold Mine Tract to combat the threat of invasive species. In order to reach maturity, a tree seedling must overcome multiple challenges, including habitat degradation, invasive species, white-tailed deer, and other forest pests.

To start the regeneration process, a seed must first reach the forest floor, germinate, and sprout towards the sun. Here, a seedling faces threats from habitat loss and degradation. Visitors who stray from the path create social trails, unofficial trails that damage plants and newly restored habitats. The crush of a wandering boot can cause an early end to natives just beginning to grow. It also degrades habitats, making it more challenging for new plants to sprout. The Gold Mine Tract is a “protected area so acreage won’t shrink but social trails can still lead to loss. They lead to the trampling of plants, spreading of invasives, and increased erosion,” explains C&O Canal Natural Resource Program Manager Layne Strickler. Encouraging park visitors to remain on established paths is critical for fostering high-quality habitats for both plants and wildlife.

If a seedling manages to rise above the forest floor, it now must compete with invasive non-native species to establish itself safely in the forest. Invasive species have growing patterns that allow them to spread quickly, outcompeting native plants for essential resources like water, sunlight, and space. This poses problems for our native seedling, which grows slower and in a more limited area. As the concentration of invasive species rises, the Gold Mine Tract becomes an increasingly unsuitable habitat for mammals, birds, pollinators, and other creatures who call the forest home. If the seedling captures enough nutrients and sunlight to sustain its growth, it grows into a sapling, drawing the attention of the white-tailed deer. White-tailed deer are prolific throughout the region and have an incredibly detrimental impact on forest regeneration, as described by Strickler.

“Regeneration of trees is really low because of deer. That’s a big problem because…there are no trees to take advantage of the canopy gaps. Invasive species take advantage of these openings because deer don’t eat them.”

As deer numbers increase, they consume more young native plants across the forest, whereas non-native invasive species, like Japanese barberry, wavyleaf basketgrass, winged burningbush, and leatherleaf mahonia, often lack natural predators, leaving their growth unchecked. Young plants are the preferred food for deer and often do not reach maturity because of intense deer browsing. The park has been managing deer since 2019 and is implementing deer prevention strategies for Gold Mine reforestation.

After avoiding herds of white-tailed deer, with a little bit of luck, a sapling will reach maturity. Unfortunately, that does not mean our tree has escaped all of the forest’s threats. Young and mature trees are under constant threat from forest pests, such as the emerald ash borer, which devastated the park’s ash trees several years ago. First noted in 2024, Beech leaf disease is an emerging pest in the Gold Mine Tract. This nematode infests Beech leaves, weakening trees and ultimately leading to their death.  There are no established management or treatment plans to combat this disease. However, the park is proactively preparing for gaps in the forest canopy as larger trees fall.

“Part of restoration is anticipating gaps and planting trees there so there are trees ready to take off when the Beech tree comes down,” says Strickler.

Photo credit: NPS

NPS has planted trees and understory plants in areas with current or anticipated canopy gaps and will be expanding plantings to meet forest regeneration needs. These efforts are designed to sustain the Gold Mine Tract for generations to come, preserving one of the largest protected forests in Montgomery County.

Photo credit: NPS

Photo credit: NPS

To support this restoration initiative, the Trust has received the Perennial Garden Club’s 75th Anniversary Grant for Native Plants. The Perennial Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club of America, a national organization cultivating the bond among people, plants, and the environment. Thanks to the generosity of its members, the Trust will work in partnership with the National Park Service and engage a native plant and forest restoration specialist to assist with the restoration process. We also look forward to working with PGC members as volunteers to provide early maintenance support for this essential project.  This grant will at least double the park’s efforts and enable the restoration of additional acres in the Gold Mine Tract. These plantings will lay the groundwork for a new population of mature native trees, increasing canopy resilience and ensuring connected habitats remain. The project will also increase biodiversity by planting a variety of trees and understory plants, furthering the forest’s resiliency for years to come.

Photo credit: NPS

Photo credit: NPS

The Gold Mine forest provides critical habitat in the Piedmont region and will require ongoing care to prevent imminent failure of the ecosystem. We are proud to support the National Park Service’s project to restore the forest’s ecological integrity and look forward to achieving this through the collective stewardship of our partners and the canal community.