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2000 News Archive
January thru March

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BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ACTS ON FAIRFAX CROSS-COUNTY TRAIL On January 10, the FCPA presented its plan for building the Fairfax Cross County Trail to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS), which voted unanimously to proceed with the plan. FCPA staff was directed to coordinate with the Countywide Trails Committee on design issues. The FCPA's plan is unchanged from the draft version summarized in our previous e-news, calling for completing the FCCT in eight phases, following mostly the route we hiked on the June and November Cross-County Hikes. The BOS had previously approved $100,000, enough for the first five phases. Four of these are south of Fairfax City; one is on Difficult Run (Lawyers Road to Dulles Toll Road). Additional phases may be funded this spring; stay tunedÖ

TWO APPLICATIONS FOR PIMMIT RUN TRAIL FUNDING NEAR COMPLETION We are in the process of completing two applications for Pimmit Run Trail funding, both due this month. One is for state funding under the TEA-21 program; the other is for a grant from the McLean Citizens' Foundation. Both are oriented towards acquisition of missing-link right-of-way and completing this trail. Both require matching funds from the applicant, which in our case include (a) $20,000 earmarked for Pimmit Run Trail between Great Falls and Olney Park, (b) $126,000 in recreational proffers (currently part of the Dranesville trails budget), and (c) with FCPA Board permission (see below), $120,000 designated for Pimmit Run Trail in the 1998 Park Bond.

WASHINGTON POST PLANS CROSS-COUNTY TRAIL ARTICLE JAN. 20 Bill Brannigan of the Washington Post has been conducting interviews for an article on the FCCT, which he says may appear in the Fairfax section on Thursday, Jan. 20 (tomorrow).

FTAS TO SPEAK TO FCPA BOARD JAN. 26 We are scheduled to make a presentation to the FCPA Board at their meeting at 7:30 pm Wednesday, Jan. 26. (Note the date-I previously reported an incorrect date to some of you). Bill Cuttler of FCPA arranged to get us on the agenda. We plan to: (1) Request FCPA Board support for our Pimmit Run proposals (2) Request permission to use the $120,000 Park Bond funding allocated to Pimmit Run Trail as part of matching funds for our applications (chances for an application's approval improve as the ratio of committed to requested funds increases) (3) Present our recommendations on the FCCT. These include: giving highest priority to acquiring right-of-way and to completing the entire route as soon as possible by relying on volunteers. Using terminology from the FCPA's plan, this means finishing Option 1 before starting Options 2 and 3. (4) Offer to help in whatever way is possible (e.g., blazing, clearing) to open as much of the FCCT as possible by National Trails Day on June 3. (5) Request that FCPA take certain actions (e.g., do surveys this winter/spring in a few areas) to allow additional natural-surface segments of the FCCT to be opened by then. (6) Invite the Board to an FCCT opening ceremony on National Trails Day.

TRAIL MAINTENANCE TRIP FOR CROSS-COUNTY TRAIL, MARCH 11 In cooperation with FCPA, we will organize volunteers to maintain a section of the FCCT, tentatively set for Saturday, March 11, 9-11am. The work will mostly involve clearing brush and blow-downs, and possibly rerouting or re-grading a few short sections.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED A grassroots organization such as FTAS relies entirely on volunteers. We have had a very successful year, with an active corps of volunteers, but important tasks languish and await a new volunteer to step forward and make a commitment. We need your help! Tasks include: (1) To write an article about the FCCT for the Potomac Review, which has asked us to contribute to their summer "Winding Trails" issue. (2) To help design and organize our National Trails Day event (3) To serve as our Webmaster (our web site has very rich content, but after several years of hard work our current webmaster would like to retire; there is a large backlog of new material to organize and post) (4) To develop a FCCT brochure, in coordination with the FCPA (building on the success of our Pimmit Run Trail brochure) Please contact Bill Niedringhaus at 821 0975 or rowemm@aol.com if you would like to volunteer.

FTAS JOINS AMERICAN HIKING SOCIETY's ALLIANCE FOR TRAILS We have joined the alliance, under which the AHS' national web site provides a link to our website, and a place to post news and upcoming events.

TRAILS ADVOCACY WEEK, MARCH 12-15 The American Hiking Society writes: "[we invite] you to participate in our annual "Hike the Hill: Trails Advocacy Week", scheduled for March 12-15, 2000. Advocacy week provides an opportunity for AHS members to come to Washington, DC to receive training on trails issues and advocacy skills, meet with prominent federal personnel, and network on major policy issues. During Advocacy Week you will have the opportunity to talk to the decision makers directly and educate them about your trails and projects. Our advocacy focus for 2000 is full funding for trails within the National Park Service, BLM and USDA Forest Service, full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and passage of the Willing Seller Amendments to the National Trails System Act" Residents of the Washington area may help in another way-provide lodging for out-of-town trail advocates (which include students and others who may not be able to afford hotels). For more information, contact Celina Montorfano, 301 565 6704 x 205 cmontorfano@americanhiking.org, or Mary Margaret Sloan, 301 565 6704 x204, mmsloan@americanhiking.org.

PIMMIT RUN TRAIL FUNDING APPLICATIONS COMPLETED FTAS has completed and mailed its TEA-21 application for Pimmit Run Trail, asking for $500,000 for the trail, using as matching funds $146,000 (committed) and $220,000 (tentative). The matching funds percentage is 22% for the committed funds, and 43% if the tentative funding (from MCF application and FCPA Park Bond) are applied. Much of the TEA-21 application (project description and the case for prioritizing the project) are at the end of this e-newsletter. FTAS has also completed the MCF application, asking for $100,000 for the Pimmit Run Trail. Thanks to Wade Smith for completing this application.

RECENT NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF FTAS/Great Falls Trailblazer TRAILS - The McLean/Great Falls Connection, Jan 26 -Feb 1, 2000, "Connecting The Trails", mentions Eleanor Weck and Robin Rentsch and the Georgetown Pike/Walker Road trails, and Bill Niedringhaus and the Cross-County Trail and Pimmit Run Trail. - Thursday, January 20, page 1 of the Washington Post's Fairfax Weekly section, "County Trail Is A Step Closer", mentions Bill Niedringhaus and the Cross-County Trail

FTAS TO MEET WITH FCPA BOARD, STAFF The FTAS presentation to the FCPA Board Jan. 26 was cancelled due to snow. Instead we will meet with the FCPA Board Subcommittee on Design, which meets Feb. 2 at 2 pm, in the Herrity Bldg, 12055 Government Center Parkway, 7th floor. Our goals are: - To ask FCPA Board to confirm as matching funds for our TEA-21 application the $120,000 that FCPA staff has earmarked for Pimmit Run from the 1998 Park Bond. - To thank the FCPA Board for approving the FCCT and an application for matching funding for land acquisition for the FCCT. - To discuss the role of volunteers/natural surface trails in opening sections of the FCCT promptly, in the event there is not enough money to complete stone-dusting the entire FCCT (recommended by the FCPA Board) promptly. - To work and plan together for a National Trails Day (June 3) event to celebrate the FCCT We are still scheduled to discuss these and other items in more detail with FCPA staff at 1:30 on February 8 (Herrity Building, , 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 927). If you are interested in coming, please call Bill Niedringhaus (883 7169).

NEXT STEPS FOR THE CROSS-COUNTY TRAIL Jenny Pate, FCPA's Countywide Trails Coordinator, sent the following e-mail to NMTC on January 27. As mentioned at the Non-Motorized Transportation Committee (NMTC) meeting on the 12th, I would like to walk the proposed route of the cross county trail in each supervisory district with the district rep, Park Operations (PO) area manager, and Resource Management Division (RMD) rep, as appropriate. However, this isn't urgent and can wait until the weather is more cooperative. What I do need to do as soon as possible is talk with each district representative, RMD rep, and each area manager about the mapped route in your area - any concerns you might have, any questions, disagreement with proposed route, etc. Also, I would like to talk about anything you might know about areas needing acquisition. The first step in our proposed implementation of the trail is to design and contract for sign posts marking the route. We will be able to install posts on the existing trail after the signs are purchased, but would, of course, wait to install others until later in the process. (Note to Tim/Brian: I need to identify somewhere to store the sign posts after they are purchased, until they are installed). I am thinking of some sort of 6x6 or 8x8 post - wood or possibly some other material (concrete, synthetic?), routed or otherwise labelled with the cross county trail logo. Any suggestions, references, etc. are welcome and solicited. NMTC reps, please give me a call so we can set up a time to talk about your route. We do want you all involved in this process and as we start to move forward with the implementation, will be working with each of you. Thanks for your input on this project. Jenny

NEW WEBSITE FOR MT VERNON TRAIL EXTENSION Bob Swennis sent the following e-mail Jan. 31 A web site has been created describing the proposed extension of the Mount Vernon Trail upstream from Rosslyn in Arlington to I-495 in Langley, Virginia. http://www.mindspring.com/~potomacgreenways/mtvernon/ If you are a webmaster for an organization that would be interested in this trail extension, please create a link on your web page to this site. If you would like to have the site show a cross link to your organization's site, please email that connection to Tom McCready (potomacgreenways@mindspring.com), who is the webmaster for the Mt. Vernon Trail site.

TEXT OF TEA-21 APPLICATION FOR PIMMIT RUN TRAIL FUNDING PROJECT DESCRIPTION Pimmit Run Trail TEA-21 Proposal January 2000 The project, proposed by Potomac River Greenways Coalition (PRGC), a 501(c)3 charitable corporation, and its McLean-based subsidiary, Fairfax Trails and Streams (FTAS), is a trail along the Pimmit Run Stream Valley through the heart of McLean, VA. The 6.4-mile trail will run from the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library near Marshall High School on Route 7 (western terminus), to Chain Bridge at the mouth of Pimmit Run, which crosses the Potomac to Washington, DC (eastern terminus). A branch extends to the West Falls Church Metrorail station. The trail may be built in phases. The first phase will run from Tysons Pimmit Library to Potomac Hills just east of The Potomac School, and include the West Falls Church branch. This phase can be done relatively quickly along a well-defined route mostly in the public domain. Later the trail will extend westward to the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) rail-trail, and eastward through a more rugged and remote, heavily wooded area to Chain Bridge. This eastward section has several possible routes and presents more challenges in obtaining right-of-way. PRGC volunteers are negotiating with several of the landowners and have good prospects of obtaining some needed rights-of-way by donation. Several sections of the trail already exist, under the jurisdiction of the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA). Our goal is to link them together. Our volunteers have worked with FCPA to relocate some heavily-eroded parts of the existing trail, and plan to help with construction and maintenance for new sections of the trail, in cooperation with FCPA. Most of the land required is in public ownership; access along the flood-plain is needed in several places. Several stream crossings will be constructed. The trail will provide a variety of benefits to the McLean area. It follows a clean stream through a valley rich in wildlife, through a densely-populated inner suburb (entirely within the Capital Beltway), passing through the McLean Central Business District, crossing the major arterial roads and linking them with three schools, several parks and three other recreational facilities directly on the trail and several schools just off it. The eastern terminus at Chain Bridge is rich in history and provides many trail connections up and down the river in Virginia and on the DC/Maryland side. This application suffices for Phase 1 and also includes some resources for obtaining right-of-way elsewhere on the trail. It is crucial to take advantage of opportunities that arise, which may be well below market but fleeting-at least two of the missing-link properties are subject to by-right development. PRGC is applying independently for funding from another local source (McLean Citizens Foundation). If both applications are successful we may have sufficient resources to complete the entire Pimmit Run Trail. ATTACHMENT B Pimmit Run Trail Potomac River Greenways Coalition (PRGC) TEA-21 Proposal January 2000 A. RELATIONSHIP OF THE PROJECT TO SURFACE TRANSPORTATION The Pimmit Run Trail provides direct access to the main thoroughfares of McLean, including Route 7, Great Falls St., Westmoreland St., Old Dominion Drive and Chain Bridge Road, all of which have Metrobus routes and parking. The link to the West Falls Church Metro station could follow several routes, each about two-thirds of a mile. One, mostly off-road, exits the main Pimmit Run Trail at the McLean Little League runs north behind Longfellow Intermediate School, Longfellow Park and Haycock Elementary School, to Haycock Road and a sidewalk to the station. An unmarked partly-natural-surface trail exists there now but crosses one privately-owned vacant lot (it is on the County's Comprehensive Trails Plan). Another possible route, also on the Plan, runs from Olney Park along the Dulles Airport Access Road right-of-way, to provide non-motorized access for the first time to the east side of the station, currently used only for bus transfers. It would shorten the non-motorized distance to the Metrorail station by about a half-mile from downtown McLean. The Pimmit Run Trail is broadly parallel to Dolley Madison Blvd (Route 123) on the north side, and Kirby/Idylwood Road on the south, both of which have long gaps without any non-motorized access. The trail's eastern terminus is Chain Bridge, which provides pedestrian access over the Potomac River linking Virginia and Washington, DC. The Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) trail runs along the DC/Maryland side of the river, while the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail runs along the Virginia side. The Pimmit Run Trail would complete a long trail loop up the W&OD to Leesburg and White's Ferry, and down the C&O to Chain Bridge. B. INCLUSION IN A STATE/REGIONAL PLAN The entire Pimmit Run Trail is included on the Fairfax County Comprehensive Trails Plan. The entire stream valley corridor is designated for public park use according to Fairfax County's Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The project has the endorsement of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (see attached letter), and of the McLean Citizens Association (see attached resolution). C. DEMONSTRABLE NEED/COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT (BENEFITS OF PROJECT) The Pimmit Run Trail provides many useful non-motorized links in McLean (in addition to the road/bus/trail links discussed in A). It allows access between the McLean Central Business District and many neighborhoods lacking trail or sidewalk links now. The trail also links three schools directly on the trail (Lemon Road School, Kent Gardens School, and Potomac School, two more on the spur to West Falls Church Metrorail Station (see A), and several other schools just a few blocks away. Three recreational facilities (Olney Park with ballfields and picnic areas, McLean Little League and Highlands Swim/Tennis Club) are directly on the trail, as are a number of small parks. The trail's western terminus is the Tysons Pimmit Regional Library, one of the largest libraries in Fairfax County. D. COMMUNITY SUPPORT/PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PRGC, a 501(c)3 charitable corporation, and its subsidiary Fairfax Trails and Streams (FTAS) are centered in McLean, where the majority of its members and board live; our monthly meetings are held in McLean. PRGC/FTAS designed the Pimmit Run Trail brochure (enclosed). These were distributed to several hundred homes near Pimmit Run with a request for donations; over 5% of these (an unusually high percentage) responded with $25 or more in donations to PRGC. A total of $1100 was raised in this way. Our matching funds will come from several sources. The largest, $126,000, comes from a McLean-based real-estate development firm, Elm Street Developers (representing West*Group). Working together, PRGC, Elm Street, and Fairfax County Supervisor Stuart Mendelsohn (see attached letter) arranged for the recreational proffers for a large development project in McLean to be earmarked for the Pimmit Run Trail. Another local source is $20,000 designated by Supv. Mendelsohn for building a portion of the Pimmit Run Trail. Also, the Fairfax County voters approved a 1998 FCPA bond which includes $4.2 million for trails over the next six years. Of this, $120,000 is tentatively planned to be used for the Pimmit Run Trail. We are working with the FCPA to include this amount in our matching funds (decision expected in February 2000). The McLean Citizens Association approved a resolution (attached) which supports both the Pimmit Run Trail and this application. The chairperson of the MCA Transportation Committee made the original presentation for this application to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in December 1999. E. PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY The entire trail will be accessible to the public. Public access by road/bus/rail links is discussed in A. Parking is available at various places along the trail (e.g. Tysons Pimmit Regional Library, several schools, Olney Park, and along most of the cross-streets). In addition, non-motorized access is available from a number of residential streets. F. COMPATIBILITY WITH ADJACENT LAND USE The Pimmit Run Trail is compatible with adjacent residential, business, school and park land use. As mentioned above, the entire trail is included on the Fairfax County Comprehensive Trails Plan, and the entire stream valley corridor is designated for public park use according to Fairfax County's Comprehensive Land Use Plan. G. PUBLIC/PRIVATE VENTURE As discussed in D, matching funds are from proffers from private developer, who has worked closely with PRGC to help earmark $126,000 in recreational proffers for the Pimmit Run Trail. PRGC has held discussions about the trail with several neighborhood citizens groups. We have also discussed the benefits of land/easement donations with some of the landowners, and expect that several will provide the donation needed. H. ENVIRONMENTAL/ECOLOGICAL/AIR QUALITY BENEFIT Several points apply: - Ecological benefit comes from public awareness and exposure to the stream valley environment. - The Pimmit Run Valley is rich in wildlife (e.g., over 50 types of birds including great blue herons, green herons and occasional bald eagles); more detail available at http://www.mindspring.com/~potomacgreenways/flora.html - PRGC sponsored a litter cleanup in April 1999, attracting 30 participants who filled 50 bags of trash (see attached McLean Times article). PRGC is in the process of committing to regular litter cleanups of Pimmit Run through the Adopt-a-Stream program. - PRGC plans to monitor Pimmit Run's macro-invertebrates, to gauge the stream's water quality over time. Steve Dryden of the Audubon Naturalist Society provides a more detailed discussion of the Pimmit Run stream valley environmental assets, at http://www.mindspring.com/~potomacgreenways/balk.html I. SIGNIFICANT AESTHETIC VALUE Pimmit Run is probably the cleanest stream inside the Capital Beltway. The western four miles comprise a surprisingly green and scenic corridor through the most densely populated areas of McLean. The eastern two miles is much like the adjacent Potomac River Valley, a more remote and rugged area, and a jewel all the more valuable since it is so close to the city. J. IMPACT ON COMMUNITY ECONOMY AND TOURISM As mentioned above, the Pimmit Run Trail allows many McLean residents to walk to downtown McLean who cannot safely do so now, and therefore will contribute to McLean's commercial development. When the trail is complete, links with long-distance trails such as the C&O Canal, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and the W&OD Trail, as well as with the West Falls Church Metrorail Station, will likely bring circuit hikers through McLean, which is uncommon now. A hiker could walk ten miles from Downtown Washington (Roosevelt Bridge) to McLean almost entirely through scenic woodlands. The American Whitewater Affiliation rates the lower half of Pimmit Run (below Old Dominion Drive) as a Class II-III Rapid (http://www.awa.org/awa/river_project/Virginia/Pimmit_Run.html) K. EDUCATIONAL IMPACT The Fairfax County school system can benefit from access to flora and fauna along the trail. As mentioned in C, five schools are directly on the trail (including the West Falls Church spur) and several more are a few blocks away. The trail's western terminus is a key educational resource, the Tysons Pimmit Regional Library. L. SAFETY IMPACT The Pimmit Run Trail provides safe non-motorized access to downtown McLean for many neighborhoods lacking it now. The fact that the trail is largely away from roads makes it especially safe. The project includes crosswalks at all road crossings. The trail runs broadly parallel to Dolley Madison Blvd (Route 123) on the north side, and Kirby/Idylwood Road on the south, both of which have long gaps without any non-motorized access. Thus the Pimmit Run trail provides for the first time a safe east-west route entirely across McLean. M. ORIGINALITY AND NUMBER OF ENHANCEMENT CATEGORIES Seven of the twelve categories apply: 1. Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities 2. Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety and Educational Activities 3. Scenic Easements and Scenic or Historical Site 5. Landscaping and Other Scenic Beautification 6. Historic Preservation 8. Preservation of Abandoned Railway Corridor (note: the railroad company went bankrupt in the 1890's before the tracks were built along Pimmit Run, but the right-of-way still exists at several locations along the stream). 11. Mitigation of Pollution due to Highway Run-off and Wildlife Protection. N. HISTORICAL VALUE A brief history of Pimmit Run, starting in 1608 (when Capt. John Smith sailed up the Potomac "as far as the falls" just above the mouth of Pimmit Run), is available at http://www.mindspring.com/~potomacgreenways/pimhist.html A historical marker at Glebe Road and Chain Bridge Road reads: THE MOUTH OF PIMMIT RUN: Thomas Lee patented land in this area in 1719. Here at the head of navigation of the Potomac River, he established an official tobacco inspection warehouse in 1742, the beginning of Arlington's first industrial complex. After 1794, [residents]...built a grist mill, brewery, distillery, cooper and blacksmith shops...After 1815, a cloth mill, woolen factory and paper mill were established along the run...In the 1890's, the Columbia Light and Power Company used Pimmit Run to generate electricity. Stone from nearby quarries was loaded on scows moored to the iron rings that still can be seen embedded in the rocks below. In 1814, according to local historian Winslow Hatch (Old Roads and New Insights, 1985) the Declaration of Independence was hidden from the invading British army in a mill near the mouth of Pimmit Run. The Colonial-era Salona Plantation is a few hundred yards from the Pimmit Run Trail. It is a private residence now and not open to the public, but someday it may be and the trail could link to it. President James Madison fled there during the 1814 invasion. For details, see http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpsrv/local/longterm/tours/civilwar/lee.htm During the Civil War, Fort Marcy (http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/vapa/FtMarcy.htm) was one of two forts guarding the route into Washington at Chain Bridge. The Potomac Heritage Trail coincides with the Pimmit Run Trail west of Chain Bridge before fording Pimmit Run and climbing to pass through the ruined fort, now a park. A bridge near here is shown in a Civil-War-era photo (http://www.mindspring.com/~potomacgreenways/pimphoto.html) as well as a 1915 photo of a later bridge. Hiking along Pimmit Run doubtless dates to Indian times. A November 1935 Washington Post article (http://www.mindspring.com/!potomacgreenways/wanderbi.html) describes and maps a hike led by the Wanderbirds (a still-extant hiking group) along the length of the then-rural Pimmit Run. O. STRATEGY FOR UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE Upkeep and maintenance would be by FCPA, assisted by PRGC volunteers. PRGC has emphasized the use of volunteers in reducing cost and time needed to build/maintain trails. P. RELATIONSHIP TO A PREVIOUSLY-FUNDED PROJECT As mentioned above, the Pimmit Run Trail connects to many others, including the W&OD, the C&O, and the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. The latter connects to another nearby trail, the Fairfax Cross-County Trail, for which volunteer efforts by PRGC/FTAS have helped obtain $100,000 in funding in 2000 (see attached Washington Post article from Jan. 20, 2000).

PIMMIT RUN "ADOPT-A-STREAM" TEAM MEETS FEB 22 (Tomorrow!) Steve Dryden, Carolyn Triplett, Bob Jordan and Paul Slattery are leading the effort to "Adopt" Pimmit Run. They will meet at Carolyn's house 8 pm Feb. 22 to make plans. Focus will be on an April 1st litter cleanup along the stream. All are welcome to attend. Address is 1709 Macon St, McLean. Tel: 8933062

SUPERVISOR CONNOLLY OFFERS TO MEET WITH FTAS 3/30 Supervisor Connolly of Providence District (including Tysons Corner and Merrifield) has taken a leading role in promoting the Fairfax Cross-County Trail. Our usual 4th-Monday meetings do not work since they conflict with Board meetings, but he has offered to speak to us on Thursday, March 30, a Thursday evening.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED -- We have not yet located a place to meet (libraries, McLean Government Center and Community Center have nothing available). Can anyone get access to a room (capacity at least 25) for the evening of March 30?

A WALK ALONG CAPTAIN HICKORY RUN IN GREAT FALLS (noon Wed. Feb. 23) Someday this stream valley trail system could link downtown Great Falls, the Turner Farm and Nike parks, and the Cross-County Trail. The Great Falls Trailblazers will walk part of this system on Wed. Feb. 23, at noon. Details please contact Eleanor Weck at eweck@earthlink.net

FCPA TO ERECT 9 "CROSS-COUNTY TRAIL" MILEPOSTS TO BE UNVEILED JUNE 3 On Feb. 8, representatives of FTAS and FCPA met. The following is a summary by Jenny Pate, FCPA's Trails Coordinator: Attendance: Fairfax Trails and Streams (FTAS) - Bill Niedringhaus; Brian Junkins; Beverly Dickerson; Phil Hocker; Chuck Sloan Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) - Bill Cuttler; Jenny Pate The purpose of meeting was to establish a priority list of volunteer projects FTAS would like to perform to assist in the implementation of the cross county trail. There was also discussion of possible National Trail Day (June 3) events. Priority Volunteer projects - recommended by FTAS Portion of Phase 3 - from Tamarack Park to the Dulles Access Road -Tax Map 27-2, Hunter Mill District - clearing and possible re-routing of existing footpath - two culverts and signage needed - target date: March 11 Portion of Phase 6 - from Lawyers Road to Leeds Road - Tax Map 27-3 and 37-1, Sully District - clearing and possible re-routing of existing footpath - three stream crossings needed: one large fairweather crossing and two culverts, plus signage - no funding available for crossings unless additional funding is provided by BOS Portion of Phase 7- from the end of asphalt trail in Oak Marr Park to Miller Heights Road - Tax Map 47-1 and 47-3, Providence District - establishing route for trail, including determining location of tributary crossing or crossings - no funding available for crossings unless additional funding is provided by BOS Proposed for National Trail Day: ribbon-cutting ceremonies in each supervisory district or in two neighboring districts, jointly. Attendance could include the BOS representative, the PA representative, and NMTC representative. Temporary sign posts can be installed by Park Authority crews at nine symbolic locations. Short hikes linking districts or highlighting interesting segments of the existing trail could possibly be planned as well. Park Authority staff will work with FTAS and NMTC to determine location for nine sign posts. A simple one page flyer could be developed for distribution at events, as well. A modification of GIS 4000 scale map, including major roads will be on one side of flyer. Other side could include a description of planned route, proposed implementation, opportunities for involvement, etc.

On Thursday, Feb. 17, Jenny Pate e-mailed the following to the Feb. 8 FTAS attendees and to the Nonmotorized Transportation Committee Just to let you all know what is going on with the cross county trail. I put in a work order for our Park Operations Division to create 9 sign posts to be installed before National Trail Day. These will be located so that two districts can combine for a ribbon cutting or unveiling event with the possibility of short hikes along the trail route. I have been reviewing the existing trail locations and propose several sites, at least in the southern part of the county. Mt. Vernon/Springfield - event can be held near Saratoga ES along the Pohick. We can install sign posts at the Mt. Vernon terminius (Alban and Rolling Road) and possibly at the Springfield/Mt. Vernon line (the Plantation Pipeline easement). A hike could go from the starting the the Mt. Vernon end and back to the Parkway. Lee/Braddock - event can be held in Lake Accotink Park - the district line is the railroad tracks. We can install sign posts below the dam at the Lake and somewhere in Lee District, maybe at Byron Avenue Park, to provide focus for a short hike through the Accotink. Mason/Providence - the dividing line is Woodburn Road. The Accotink trail extends into both districts from the dividing line, so an elementary school along the route is probably the best bet for an event starting point. Hunter Mill/Sully - the line is Lawyers Road. The event will probably need to be somewhere in Hunter Mill District, since the trail through Sully has very few good access points. Dranesville - is probably going to have to be on its own, unless Hunter Mill/Sully and Dranesville can all be combined into an event near the Hunter Mill/Dranesville line - such as Colvin Run Mill As soon as you all start to finalize plans for Trail Day, you will need to confirm with the parks involved that parking will be available and get an assembly permit from FCPA. Any comments, questions, give me a call or send an e-mail. Please keep me up to date on your Trail Day plans. Thanks. Jenny

FTAS' Bill Niedringhaus replied The locations Jenny suggests sound good. Here's a possible timetable for National Trails Day, which allows several hikes but also allows non-hikers to attend as many unveilings as desired. As much as possible, the unveilings come before the hikes so we can time them accurately. The schedule is ambitious, but hey, it's a long trail!

SAT. JUNE 3, NATIONAL TRAILS DAY 8 am UNVEILING, SPRINGFIELD MILEPOST (Hooes Road at Pohick Cr.) carpool to Saratoga Elem School and hike 1 mile to 9:30 am UNVEILING, MT VERNON MILEPOST (Alban Rd at Pohick Cr.) Optional 3 mile hike back to Hooes Rd., arriving about 11 am. Note: At Hooes Rd, parking's not great but road is little used and there aren't residents nearby. An alternative would be to put Sprfd. Milepost further south and do both from Saratoga, as Jenny suggests, but a shame to miss hiking this sparsely-used and very nice 3-mile section. 1 pm UNVEILING, LEE MILEPOST (Lake Accotink, maybe at Flag Run bridge) Carpool to Byron Ave Park at Old Keene Mill Rd 2 pm UNVEILING, BRADDOCK MILEPOST (near Little League at Byron Ave Park) Optional 3-mile hike back to Lake Accotink, arriving around 3:30 pm. 5 pm UNVEILING, MASON MILEPOST (King Arthur Road underpass) parking along road or at Camelot Elem Sch, then short hike to 6 pm UNVEILING, PROVIDENCE MILEPOST (Woodburn or Prosperity Road/Eakin Park)

SUN. JUNE 4 10 am UNVEILING, SULLY MILEPOST The best milepost spot in Sully is probably beside the equestrian facility near Leeds Rd. ---Parking's not great but, but nowhere else in Sully is better ---Leeds Rd is wide enough for lots of cars to park there; we'd be there only briefly Carpool to Colvin Run Mill 11 am UNVEILING, DRANESVILLE MILEPOST (at 1st bridge north on Rails-to-River Trail) 11:30 am UNVEILING, HUNTER MILL MILEPOST (just south of Route 7) Optional 6-mile hike back to Leeds Road, arriving around 2:30. If we can afford a few extra mileposts, there are several other high-use locations that cry out for them, and would help raise awareness of the FCCT. These include: - Accotink trailhead just south of Old Keene Mill Rd - Braddock Road - Wakefield Park near the tennis courts. - Reston, The Glade Trail - W&OD, near Tamarack Park - Great Falls National Park (ideally in the park, but could be just outside, on FCPA land at the Georgetown Pike trailhead) It might be a nice goodwill gesture to offer a milepost to Fairfax City also, to erect at Thaiss Park near Pickett Rd. Mayor Mason was a major National Trails Day participant last year. The post would have to say "Future" till the adjacent section is built. - Bill

UPCOMING FTAS EVENTS:
-- FEB. 28 (TOMORROW, Monday 7:30pm) FTAS monthly meeting, 1437 Balls Hill Rd. McLean. This past month has been chock full of significant new developments (summarized in this and recent e-newsletters); our agenda will be to discuss them, their implications, and our next steps.
-- MARCH 11 (Saturday 9am): Trail Maintenance, Cross County Trail between the W&OD and the Dulles Toll Road. The FCPA has given FTAS the go-ahead for this event, a significant new expansion in our partnership. Volunteers meet at Tamarack Park, 9-11am (more details later).
-- MARCH 30 (Thursday 7:30pm) FTAS monthly meeting. NOTE THE UNUSUAL TIME AND PLACE: at Conference Room 3 in the McLean Community Center, Ingleside Drive near the Dolley Madison Library. Guest speaker is Providence Supervisor Gerry Connolly, to discuss ideas for the Cross-County Trail.
-- APRIL 1 (Saturday 9am) Adopt-a-stream cleanup of Pimmit Run at various places.
-- APRIL 8 (Saturday 9am, Colvin Run Mill Park): Hike along Vienna-Reston parts of Cross-County Trail with Hunter Mill Supervisor Hudgins (including the segment maintained March 11). This time/place is still tentative.
-- APRIL 24 (Monday 7:30pm) FTAS monthly meeting (a return to our normal time and place). We have invited new Dranesville FCPA Board member Rick Thoesen who has tentatively accepted.

STANDARDS FOR VOLUNTEER-MAINTAINED TRAILS PUBLISHED FOR STATE OF VIRGINIA These trail standards, made available in draft form in May 1999 at Governor Gilmore's Trails Conference in Roanoke, have been published; a copy will be available for viewing at Monday's meeting.

JOHN TAGGART IS NEW FTAS WEBMASTER John Taggart, who set up the April 8th hike with Supv. Hudgins, has also volunteered to be FTAS' new web master. He'll be at Monday's meeting if you'd like to discuss ideas for it, or e-mail him at jtagga@co.arlington.va.us

UPDATE ON PIMMIT RUN TRAIL TEA-21 APPLICATION The McLean Chamber of Commerce has written a letter in support of the application--thanks to Don Finberg for working with Mr. Wilburn and other members of the MCC. As reported earlier, the FCPA Board's Planning and Land Acquisition Committee voted in favor of committing $120,000 in Park Bond funding as matching funds for our TEA-21 proposal for the Pimmit Run Trail. Our hope was to add this amount to $146,000 in matching funds from other sources. The full board, however, tabled the motion at the request of Dranesville's new representative, Rick Thoesen. The $120,000 is still earmarked for Pimmit Run Trail land acquisition and stream crossings, but not until 2002-03 according to current FCPA Board prioritization.

POTOMAC HERITAGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL (PHNST) NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT Harry Belin and Janice Artemel of the Potomac Heritage Partnership ask your support of a new PHP initiative which would provide: -- Documentation and evaluation of this trail's alignment from the West Virginia-Loudoun County line to the mouth of the Potomac River -- Assistance to municipal governments and community groups [such as FTAS!] in planning, designing and installing interpretive materials and facilities including brochures, maps and wayside exhibits highlighting significant aspects of the PHNST corridor. They ask you write a brief letter of support for this project to your US representative and senators. Please call Ms. Artemel at 202 333 4478, or 202 457 5634, for additional information and example letters.

CALL FOR SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO COMPREHENSIVE TRAILS PLAN Fairfax County is reviewing the Comprehensive Trails Plan for possible amendments. Do you have any additions to suggest? A copy of the Trails Plan map will be on view at Monday's meeting. NOTE: most of the trails FTAS has proposed are already on the Plan. It includes most stream valley trails (specifically, all of Difficult Run, Pimmit Run and Little Pimmit Run). A few small segments of the Cross-County Trail are not on it but are on FCPA land and are being added to it.

FRIENDS OF LAKE ACCOTINK PARK TO MEET MARCH 1st Alison L. Hess writes: I volunteer with the managers of Lake Accotink Park and have devoted a substantial amount of time to cleaning up what is a fairly abused "natural" environment... [there are] plans to expand and construct new facilities at the Wakefield Recreation Center ... renovation and restoration plans for Lake Accotink, [and there is an] upcoming meeting on water quality in Accotink Creek. ... A roughly 4.5 mile stretch of Accotink Creek north of the lake failed the EPA Total Daily Maximum Load tests for fecal coliform contamination and sedimentation impacts on benthic organisms. A meeting is planned for March 1st at Robert Frost School to discuss potential sources of contamination and potential responses. The more people there to support activities--voluntary and otherwise--to clean up the creek could only help. Please contact the Park Supervisor, Tawney Hammond, directly. Or you can reply to me at ahess@nemw.org, and I'll try to get you more complete information. I hope you'll find ways to help us FLAPS (Friends of Lake Accotink Park). Thanks - Alison L. Hess

Logistics for Sat. 3/11 Trail work trip - We'll meet at 9 am Saturday at Tamarack Park, to work on the Fairfax Cross-County Trail. Tasks include clearing, cutting through blowdowns, and regrading a short section. The trailhead is reached (from Dulles Toll Road): south on Hunter Mill, left onto Tamarack Drive, right onto Horseback Trail to the cul-de-sac. Since parking is limited, there will be a carpool from the Roy Rogers at South Lakes Village Shopping Center, Reston (South Lakes at Twin Branches). Some of us will be there for breakfast around 8:30. Brian Junkins and several other members of the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE), who have done similar work at Riverbend Park, scouted the area last weekend and have made plans for the regrading and for avoiding some of the wettest areas. MORE will bring their own tools; FTAS will bring tools from the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, and if you have your own tools, bring them (shovels, weed-whackers, loppers, saws, etc.) Hope to see you there, the weather looks good so far. There will be light refreshments. It should be a fun and satisfying morning.

Great Falls Trailblazers Meet March 15, 7:30pm The next meeting of the Great Falls Trailblazers will be Wednesday, March 15, 7:30 pm at the Old Schoolhouse, next to the Grange on Georgetown Pike. Our agenda will include: --- deciding on the content and format af a bulk mailing to the Great Falls community --- suggestions for changes to the Comprehensive Plan Trail Map --- trail cleanup schedule --- list spots of difficulty for equestrian entrances to Great Falls National Park The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust is holding a fundraising event at the Old Brogue on March 20 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Call 703-354-5093 for more info. NVTC has been most helpful to us, and is the only conservation group we have found that is willing to hold strip easements for trails.

Worktrip and likely rain SATURDAY SHOWERS? Chance of rain is 80% tomorrow. Still, we'll met at Roy Rogers (South Lakes Village Shop Ctr, Reston) 8:30-8:55) and play it by ear. We'll go in light rain (sometimes an advantage in trail work), but postpone in a downpour. MORE members are coming independently (please call Brian Junkins at 703 404 0481)

OTHER NEWS - The March 30 meeting of Fairfax Trails and Streams will be co-sponsored by the McLean Citizens Association. Its at the McLean Community Center, 7:30, Rm 3, next to the Dolley Madison Library. Speaker is Supv Connolly (Providence), on trail topics, particularly the Cross County Trail. There will be NO meeting on the usual 4th Monday (the 27th) - On April 3,4, and 5 the Board of Supervisors will hold public hearings on the budget. A consideration item has been added to the budget which would fund much or all of the Cross-County Trail (including land and crossings); therefore this is an opportunity for enthusiasts to show up and testify. Fx Co Govt Center, 12000 Govt. Ctr. Parkway, Fairfax. Please call 703 324 3151 for more details. - A conference, "Managing Stormwater in Fairfax County", will be held on April 26 at the Fx Co Govt Center. The six ponsoring groups include No. Va. Soil and Water Conservation District and the No. Va Building Industry Assn. The $28 fee includes lunch. Call 703 324 1460 for details.

30 VOLUNTEERS IMPROVE THE FAIRFAX CROSS-COUNTY TRAIL IN THE RAIN (MARCH 11) Thirty volunteers worked in steady rain Saturday morning, March 11, to clear brush, saw away blowdowns, widen and level the grade where needed, and reroute or improve drainage for some short wet sections. The work covered a two-mile section of the Fairfax Cross-County Trail from the W&OD to the Dulles Toll Road. The event was organized by FTAS. The largest contingent of volunteers was from the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE), led by Brian Junkins. The Hunters Valley Riding Club, led by Beverly Dickerson and Lonni Briggs, provided a good-sized crew as well.

YOUR TESTIMONY NEEDED APRIL 3,4, or 5 FOR CROSS-COUNTY TRAIL AND OTHER FAIRFAX CO TRAILS The current Fairfax County allocation for trails/sidewalks in the County Exec's budget is one million, down significantly from last year. Supv. Connolly has submitted a memo asking that two line items for trails be considered: an additional $1.4M for trails/sidewalks (to match last year's allocation), and an additional $2 million for the Fairfax Cross-County Trail. The latter figure would be enough to complete land acquisition and stream crossings for the FCCT and to stone-dust most of it. It is important that trail activists devote their time and effort not only by laboring in the field, but also by testifying for trails at political hearings. In the past, trail advocates have not been as vocal as advocates for other budget items, and trails suffered a long drought through most of the 1990's. We have done better in the last couple of years, but must keep the momentum going. The public has a chance to testify on the budget on any of the three evenings of April 3, 4 or 5. You may sign up to testify on your own for 3 minutes--call 703 324 3151 to get on the speakers list. Or you can join Fairfax Trails and Streams, which is signed up for 3 minutes on April 3 (approx 8:30 pm)--please contact 703 821 0975, rowemm@aol.com, or just show up and join us at the site--the Fx Co Govt Center, 12000 Govt. Ctr. Parkway, Fairfax VA. Our vision of volunteer trail advocacy is that it allows "enlarging the entire pie" for trails throughout the county. FTAS will testify in support of both the Cross-County Trail and the general trails/sidewalks initiatives, and encourage other speakers to do likewise.

POSSIBILITY OF 100 VOLUNTEER WORKERS ON CROSS-COUNTY TRAIL ON NATIONAL TRAILS DAY On Thursday, March 16, Mark Nelson of REI, Inc., assessed two segments of the Cross-County trail as a possible site of REI's annual NTD event, which typically draws 100 skilled trail volunteers under Mark's experienced supervision. Hiking with Mark were representatives from the Fairfax County Park Authority, the Potomac Conservancy and Fairfax Trails and Streams. The two segments run from Oak Marr Park to Miller Hts Road and from Lawyers Rd. to Leeds Rd. Possible improvements discussed were rerouting heavily eroded or wet sections and replacing some steep segments with switchbacks. Next step: REI needs to evaluate another possible trail project in Maryland, decide which to pick and (if it is the Cross-County) walk it again with the Park Authority and FTAS to plan the work in detail.

OPENING CEREMONY FOR CROSS-COUNTY TRAIL ON NATIONAL TRAILS DAY June 3-4 Our main event for National Trails Day (June 3 and 4) will be the unveiling of signposts marked "Fairfax Cross County Trail". There will be unveilings at the beginning and end of hikes of various lengths, in four areas. Scheduling details are still being ironed out: all times listed are still _TENTATIVE_:
_____Colvin Run/Reston/Oakton area (Saturday June 3 at 9am)
_____Eakin Park/King Arthur Road area (early Sunday)
_____Wakefield Park and Lake Accotink: this event is being combined with Springfield Days, an annual event there (late morning Sunday June 4)
_____Pohick Run between Alban Road and Hooes Road (late afternoon Sunday June 4) We are looking for eight volunteers--a leader and an assistant for each of the four events. Please contact Bill Niedringhaus at rowemm@aol.com or 703 821 0975 if you are interested.

The most likely signpost sites are, from north to south (these also are _TENTATIVE_):
--- Dranesville: on Rails-to-River Trail at first bridge north of Rt 7, Great Falls
--- Hunter Mill: at Glade Trailhead at Twin Branches Road, Reston
--- Sully: at equestrian rink off Leeds Road, Oakton.
--- Providence: trailhead on Woodburn or Prosperity Ave, Merrifield
--- Mason: at trailhead on King Arthur Road, Annandale
--- Braddock: at Wakefield Park ballfields
--- Lee: at southern end of Lake Accotink
--- Springfield: at Pohick Creek at Hooes Road trailhead or somewhat south of there
--- Mt Vernon: at Pohick Creek and Alban Road, Lorton.

LOGISTICS FOR LITTER CLEANUP ON PIMMIT RUN APRIL 1st FTAS will hold its second annual clean-up of Pimmit Run on the morning of Saturday, April 1. The group is organizing the clean-up as part of Virginia's new Adopt-a-Stream program. Under Adopt-a-Stream, FTAS has received six one and one-half foot metal signs that identify Pimmit Run. The signs will be placed at major road crossings with the stream this spring. FTAS plans to work at three sites on April 1. They are: Brookhaven Road and Pimmit/BryanBranch (captain: Harvey Sachs: 703-848-8137; sachs@erols.com); Old Dominion Drive and Pimmit (captain: Paul Slattery: (703-356-6670; pslat@compuserve.com); and Kent Gardens Park and Pimmit (captain: Caroline Triplett: 703-893-3062; caroline.triplett@juno.com). Volunteers should call the captain for the site of their choice. Volunteers will assemble at points selected by the captains for a safety briefing at 9:30 am, and start the clean-up at 10 am. Plans call for work to conclude about 1 pm. The rain date will be Sunday, April 2, at 1 pm. The Adopt-a-Stream program is administered by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

OPENING CEREMONIES FOR LOCAL SECTIONS OF AMERICAN DISCOVERY TRAIL America's first coast-to-coast trail officially opens its DC segment Wed. April 12, at 10:30, in Rock Creek Park. On Mon. April 10, 6:30-8 pm, you can hear the story of how the ADT was created, and meet people who have walked its entire length. There are other related events April 4, 7 and 8. The ADT does not enter Virginia but follows the C&O Towpath from Georgetown/Chain Bridge to Cumberland. Details call Chris Voell 301 668 2202 or cvoell@aol.com.

REMINDERS:
------ Pimmit Run Cleanup April 1, 9:30
------ FTAS meeting March 30, 7:30, McLean Community Center
-------FTAS testimony supporting Cross-County Trail and other trails, Mon. April 3, approx. 8:30, Fx Co Govt Center.

PIMMIT CLEANUP The 2nd annual FTAS Pimmit Run cleanup is Saturday, April 1st at 9:30 to about 1. Please call one of the site captains:
1) Brookhaven Road and Pimmit/BryanBranch (captain: Harvey Sachs: 703-848-8137; sachs@erols.com);
2) Old Dominion Drive and Pimmit (captain: Paul Slattery: (703-356-6670; pslat@compuserve.com)
3) Kent Gardens Park and Pimmit (captain: Caroline Triplett: 703-893-3062; caroline.triplett@juno.com).
Around 1:15 we expect to have a photo-op with Supervisor Mendelsohn at Old Dominion Drive and Pimmit Run, at a new sign saying "Pimmit Run Adopted by Fairfax Trails and Streams". The cleanup was mentioned in today's McLean times, p. 2. Rain date: Sunday, April 2, at 1 pm. This is one of many Potomac Valley cleanups on Saturday; others are at Riverbend Park in Great Falls, and along the Arlington tributaries.