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"It's my hope that every one of my students feels encouraged to take his or her own initiative to appreciate and protect special local places. I try to instill in them that volunteering for organizations such as the Potomac Conservancy is an important way to do this."
Woody
 
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Good News! Farm Bill Passes Senate with Funding for Chesapeake Bay and Tributaries

On May 15, 2008, the U.S. Senate passed the Farm Bill by a veto-proof 85-15 margin. The Chesapeake Bay restoration will receive $438 million. This bill marks the first time that Farm Bill has guaranteed funding  for environmental programs that protect the Bay.  Click here for the Baltimore Sun's coverage.

Cedar Creek Fairfax Section of Potomac Heritage Trail Threatened

The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) is one of only eight national scenic trails that have been established by the Congress of the United States. The intended route of the trail is to follow the Potomac River from its mouth at the Chesapeake Bay all the way to Cumberland, Maryland, and from there retrace one of George Washington’s route to the Forks of the Ohio at Pittsburgh. The Fairfax County portion of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) is largely complete and lives up to its name. With your support, two of the few remaining gaps can soon be filled, in spectacularly scenic fashion. Both opportunities, however, face stiff resistance.

As we noted back in March, Army officials are trying to build the Fort Belvoir section of trail in an unappealing location next to busy U.S. Route 1 at a cost of $6 million, instead of using existing trails and dirt and gravel roads in the secluded Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge.

Take Action: Contact Fairfax County Supervisors Connolly, Foust, and Hyland, and ask them to support scenic trail alignments at Ft. Belvoir. Click here for a sample letter.

Supervisor Foust: dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov
Chairman Connolly: chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov
Supervisor Hyland: mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov

For more information: Contact Fairfax Trails & Stream at FairfaxTrails@aol.com.

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Advocacy Events

Saturday, May 15: The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has proposed regulations related to water quality permits for urban stormwater that are scheduled to go before the Soil and Water Conservation Board on May 15. The current draft permit regulations miss an important opportunity to control pollution associated with municipal stormwater and are insufficient to meet Virginia’s water quality standards, as required under the Federal Clean Water Act and Virginia Stormwater Management Act.  To read the full letter, click here.

Success Stories

Road Code Montgomery County (Md.) Council voted unanimously to adopt guidelines that ensure that streets are designed with all users in mind---pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders and drivers. The law also requires that county roads minimize polluted stormwater runoff.

Urban Tree Canopy  Frederick County’s Board of Education unanimously voted to support a goal to increase the tree canopy for all Board of Education  properties to 20% (from 12%) over the next 30 years. Frederick County Public Schools is the first school district in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to adopt a tree canopy goal. Click here for the press release.

   WV Conservation Funding The West Virginia legislature recently approved its first ever statewide fund for land conservation – the West Virginia Outdoor and Rural Heritage Trust Fund. With a dedicated statewide fund, West Virginia can begin protecting its most important lands, resulting in better quality of life for West Virginians, and better water quality downstream. The Conservancy is a founding member of the Coalition of West Virginia Land Trusts, which studied the options for state-level land conservation funding.   Add Your Story Here...



 

The Fairfax County portion of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) is largely complete and lives up to its name.  With your support, two of the few remaining gaps can soon be filled, in spectacularly scenic fashion. Both opportunities, however, face stiff resistance. 

 

As we noted back in March, Army officials are trying to build the Fort Belvoir section of trail in an unappealing location next to busy U.S. Route 1 at a cost of $6 million, instead of using existing trails and dirt and gravel roads in the secluded Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge.

 

To fill the trail gap between Great Falls Park and Scotts Run Nature Preserve, the PHNST needs to cross the Madeira School's property. There are at least two possible scenic routes, the ideal route being along the Potomac, turning inland along the eastern boundary to Georgetown Pike.  The Countywide Trails Plan obliges the Madeira School to allow trail access along the Potomac at its property, but advocates are encountering resistance.

 

Take Action: Contact Fairfax County Supervisors Connolly, Foust, and Hyland, and ask them to support scenic trail alignments at Ft. Belvoir and the Madeira School.  Click here for a sample letter.

 

Supervisor Foust    dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov

Chairman Connolly   chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov

Supervisor Hyland  mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

For more information:  Contact Fairfax Trails & Stream at FairfaxTrails@aol.com.