Anna Soroka '20

Intern, Fairfax County Park Authority, Summer 2019

This summer I worked for the Fairfax County Park Authority as a Natural Resource Management Intern at Huntley Meadows Park. Huntley Meadows is a 1,500-acre wetland located in Alexandria, VA, and a crucial habitat for rare native plant and animal species. In 2013, the park completed a $3 million restoration project to improve the wetland habitat and reduce the impacts of surrounding development in the area.

In order to monitor the impacts of the restoration project on the park, I collected and analyzed macroinvertebrate samples from the wetland to determine the water quality throughout the park. The final product of my research was a 30-page 2019 Water Quality Report for Huntley Meadows. In my spare time I assisted in rare plant surveys, invasive plant management, goose counts, vernal pool surveys, bluebird box surveys, and pesticide application. I built mallard tubes for the upcoming spring, performed butterfly surveys throughout the park, and worked with professional ornithologists and lepidopterists in the field.

Each of these experiences showed me the diverse range of responsibilities for a natural resource manager, and I am thankful for the opportunity to enhance my skills in field research, invasive species management, and land stewardship.