Residents urge cautious barberry removal at Garrett Mountain; county points to stewardship plan

Several residents used the May 12 public comment period to urge caution on plans to remove barberry from Garrett Mountain Reservation, saying rapid removal could eliminate the only remaining understory that provides cover for migratory birds and other wildlife.

A resident who gave a 268 Washington address told the board the nature center and reservation are an important migratory stopover and conservation area, saying, "there's been 245 different bird species observed here." Another commenter, identifying himself as Dave Biker, said the county must not "rip out the barberry with a sledgehammer," and urged a slower, staged approach with replacement plantings to avoid further habitat loss where deer have already devastated understory.

Vera Lazar, who identified herself and gave a Clifton address, asked the board to follow through on a prior historian's request to hang memorial tablets honoring early contributors to the nature center.

After public comment the administrator acknowledged the concerns, said the county partnered with Friends of Garrett Mountain and retained a state-approved forester as part of an approved stewardship plan, and offered to share that plan and meet with commenters to walk through details.

The transcript records residents' concerns about removing barberry without a replacement-planting strategy, the role of deer in changing the understory, and requests for public astronomy and education programs at the new environmental center. The county response on the record says the project is part of a stewardship plan and that staff will follow up with residents and share documentation.

The record does not include a staff presentation of the stewardship plan details (timelines, contractors, or funding breakdown) on the public record; the administrator offered to forward the plan and schedule follow-up meetings.