We need your help to address vandalism in the Observatory Hill area of the Rivanna Trail, along the segment between Ivy Road and Fontaine Avenue. We've had troubling reports from the U.Va. Environmental Sciences department that someone has been removing research flags in the woods that mark plots for student research.
These flags are essential for ongoing research projects involving many years of students’ efforts. The flags were first removed two weeks ago, after which students carefully re-identified plot boundaries with bright pink flags, only to have every single flag taken again last week.
- First, please do not remove any flags you encounter while using the RT.
- Second, if you see someone removing flags, please ask them courteously to stop.
- Third, please report to us (rivannatrails@gmail.com) with any information you have about who may have removed flags in the past, or suspicious activity you may observe in the future.
Thank you very much for helping us be a good neighbor and to show respect for other trail users.