We received some questions about mowing and tree work being done at Glebe Harbor Beach.  Neighbors living adjacent to the beach property have routinely volunteered, with the consent of the Association Board, to provide additional lawn maintenance of the field behind the beach and to cut back the phragmites growing on the beach property.
Phragmites is an invasive species of grass to the Northern Neck that grows rapidly and crowds out existing native vegetation that native and migrating bird and aquatic species depend on in tidal areas.   The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality lists aggressive mowing of phragmites as one of several means of controlling the growth and
spread of this invasive species.  The Association Board gave permission to these volunteers and supported their efforts over the past few years to improve the use of the common field and maintain open access onto the beach area by cutting back the phragmites.  This work has been done with the consent of the Association Board and without charge to either the Sanitary District or the Association.

A few years ago, the Association Board was asked about removing a few trees growing along the beach property line.  After consulting with County Land Use, we approved felling certain trees as long as they were 100 feet or more from the shoreline and the tree remains were left to decay naturally providing further habitat.  That work was undertaken last fall with volunteers, with the consent of the Association Board and
without charge to either the Sanitary District or the Association.  Once the spread of the phragmites has been curbed, we plan to move ahead with replanting of native grasses and vegetation to stabilize the sand fringe back to the field behind the beach area and incorporate additional plantings to the beach property, thereby creating new vegetated
cover for the beach property.

https://www.deq.virginia.gov/Portals/0/DEQ/CoastalZoneManagement/task10-03-07.pdf