On the 14th April about 30 Boy Scouts and 20 parents descended on The Bow and did a fantastic job of cleaning up fallen branches, old tires, sheet metal, fencing wire and much more junk. I was really surprised at what they found, considering we’ve been at this for several years now. Thanks to Mr Gavelis and his son Ever for organising this.
The next project is to rid Bowood (that area between the Oxbow Trail and the school playing field) of Swallow-wort or nick-named Dog Strangling Vine (DSV). The Scouts intend to cut it down once it has sprouted, to reduce the amount of seeds produced.
Its a very invasive weed from Ukraine and because it is a milkweed, it messes up the Monarch Butterfly’s life cycle, as they lay their eggs on it and don’t survive.
But other help is on the way –http://www.nyisri.org/research/swallow-wort-biocontrol/
Hypena opulenta is a moth and it’s caterpillers munch through the DSV.
The Oxbow Blog 
I think that is a wonderful idea. We really need to expand the good work already done by Boy Scouts.
Let me talk to Eric Gavelis, who is the current permit holder.
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Greetings. My son and I were kayaking and went on the first little island of the Oxbow. He loved the little island and wants to clean it up. I’m not sure we’re allowed to do anything on the island at all, but if the garbage was removed and the enormous amount of dead sticks/wood were removed or arranged somehow, it would be a much more safe and pleasant place for people to visit. He’s a scout and is 11 years old, but really wants to help. Is this allowed? Can others help?
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