CANCELED: Jug Bay Wild Rice Seed Collection

From 08/20/21 10:00 am until 08/20/21 12:00 pm
CANCELED: Jug Bay Wild Rice Seed Collection

Note: This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather 

Date: Friday, August 20th, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Meeting Location: Jug Bay Natural Area, Patuxent River Park, 16000 Croom Airport Rd, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 (Map)

  • Note: The location may be subject to change depending on the rice seed maturity conditions. 

Project: Volunteers will help the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) to collect wild rice (Zizania aquatica) seed in the tidal emergent wetlands of the Patuxent River at Jug Bay. For over 15 years, AWS has been collecting wild rice seed as part of our wetland restoration efforts in the tidal Anacostia River. The seed collected will be used for propagation in the Anacostia River in the spring of 2022 through mudballing (seeding) and the production of seedlings that will be transplanted in the river once they reach a suitable size.

On this workday we will walk in the marsh with waders and we will bag the wild rice seedheads containing viable seeds. We will be using bags made with tyvek sheets to enclose the seedheads and then close the bags with zipties. After a couple of weeks we will return to collect the bags by clipping the seedhead stalks. This timing allows the seed to ripen inside the bags and prevent seed predation by birds. 

This event requires wading in the mud/water in warm weather conditions. Sunglasses are a plus to protect your eyes from the spiky wild rice seed. Bring plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. 

Physical Level of Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult 

  • This event requires wading in the mud/water in warm weather conditions, lifting, and bending. If you think any of the physical requirements will be problematic, please let us know.

Registration is required. Please register at least 2 days prior to the event date to receive additional information about the event. Anyone who doesn't register online will be denied access to the event. 

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Participant Requirements for Volunteer and Recreational Events:

Note: Requirements are subject to change based on state, local, and federal guidance and/or our own organizational determinations. 

1. Reservations. We are limiting the number of people at our events and pre-registration is required for each individual via AWS’s website (www.anacostiaws.org).  This includes each participant completing our on-line waiver form. Prior to your scheduled event, you will also be required to complete our COVID-19 screening questionnaire as part of our confirmation of your participation.

2. Group Limits: Events are limited to groups of up to 20-25, depending on the activity and location. There may be fewer or more participants depending on the ability to social distance and whether local directives allow.

3. Self-Monitoring:  All participants in the Anacostia Watershed Society’s (AWS) event are required to:

  • Complete our COVID-19 screening questionnaire prior to your scheduled event.
  • If you are sick (such as fever (100.4 or greater), cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, etc.), or have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 within the last 14 days, please do not come to the event!
  • If you have had any close contact with or cared for someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, please do not come to the event. 
  • If you become ill within one week of participating in the event, please consider reporting this to the [email protected] (our Human Resources email address).  We will keep your identity confidential.

4. Masks & Physical Distancing:  Participants who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, do not have to wear a mask or physically distance, indoors or outdoors, unless they are more comfortable doing so.

Participants who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19, must arrive masked and plan to stay masked throughout the duration of the event and practice physical distancing. 

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For more information before the event, please contact Emily Castelli at [email protected] or call 301-699-6204 x103.

Registration is required to participate
Click here to register


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