2005 News Archive

Fairfax Trails and Stream E-news December 19 2005

HIGHLIGHTS
CROSS COUNTY TRAIL OFFICIALLY OPENS
2nd CCT TECTONIC BRIDGE COMPLETE (near Vale Rd)
CLEARING BY DOMINION POWER ON PIMMIT RUN

CROSS COUNTY TRAIL OFFICIALLY OPENS
The Washington Post writes (Sun. Dec 18, Metro, p3)

"A 10-year-old hiker's dream became reality yesterday when Fairfax County officials cut the ribbon on the Cross County Trail, a 38-mile path between Great Falls and Lorton.

The $6.5 million trail knits together several existing trails into one continuous route of asphalt, crushed gravel and dirt. Yesterday's ceremony, held in Annandale's Accotink Stream Valley Park, was attended by officials from the Fairfax Board of Supervisors and the Park Authority Board.

"This is a momentous occasion for Fairfax County," said Park Authority Director Michael A. Kane. "The Cross County Trail is all about connections. The CCT is so much more than just a trail. This is common ground that provides a pathway of connectivity for all residents."

The vision for the trail came from hiker Bill Niedringhaus, who noticed in 1995 that Fairfax's system of public trails ran nearly from the Potomac River to the Occoquan River, with only a few gaps.

His proposal to fill in the gaps, link the trails and give them a single name drew backing from the Park Authority and the BOS signed on in 2000." [end of Post article]

BOS Chairman Connolly spoke of the CCT being just the beginning, that it will be a spine from which a network of trails will spread across the county.

After the ribbon was cut, many of the approximately 100 attendees started hiking a brand new section of CCT, linking King Arthur Road (and the trail to Fairfax City) with Little River Turnpike (and the trail to Lake Accotink). This newest section has 3 bridges over Accotink Creek, and 3 road underpasses at the southern end.

Pictures of the event and the new trail will soon be posted on www.fairfaxTrails.org.

2nd CCT TECTONIC BRIDGE COMPLETE (near Vale Rd)
Three days after volunteers completed the CCT's first Tectonic (modular) bridge near Meadowlark Park, a second bridge, 38 feet long, was built on the CCT over a stream south of Vale Road, by Fx Co Park Authority. Another such bridge is planned (south of Georgetown Pike) early next year.

CLEARING BY DOMINION POWER ON PIMMIT RUN
Ed Pickens, president of FTAS, writes:
"Dominion Power is planning on starting within the next 2 weeks a limited program of maintenance under their high tension power line along Pimmit Run from above Bryan Branch Road to above the Dulles Access Road. Mark Rogers of Fairfax County Park Authority [and I] met with the Dominion Power forester on 13 Dec to review what Dominion Power plans to do on this cycle of their line maintenance program. Our assessment is that the planned line maintenance is limited in scope and where it inpacts private landowners Dominion Power has already coordinated with the private landowners involved. We visited the 2 sites where topping of trees is planned that might be significant (one just above Old Chesterbrook Road on FCPA property and one just below Old Dominion on the line of FCPA and private property). What Dominion Power plans is not major at either site and the debris will be cut and left well back into the woodline away from the flood plain in both cases. Dominion Power plans all along the line to hand trim the very small trees that have sprouted back up since their last line clearing operations and in certain locations will mow a strip down the center of the right-a-way and around certain power poles to give better access to selected power poles.

Fairfax Trails and Streams e-news December 12, 2005

NO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TUES (TOMORROW)
NO VOLUNTEERS are needed for tomorrow's CCT Bridge building project, south of Vale Rd in Oakton. The Fx Co Park Authority (FCPA) has enough staff committed to do it. Parts of the bridge are already complete. Come across the new bridge anytime after tomorrow!

CCT GALA OPENING DEC 17, 10am, Annandale
Come celebrate the opening ceremony for the CCT Saturday, Dec 17, 10am. Light refreshments will be served. To get there, take the Capital Beltway to Route 236 west and turn right onto King Arthur Road. Next, turn right onto Camelot Drive. The site is Camelot Swim Club, off Camelot Drive near Saxony Drive. For more information, call 703-324-8726 or 703-324-8662. You will be able to walk upstream on the new CCT segment from there to King Arthur Road, and downstream to Rt 236 and Wakefield Park. This is an important gap filled between two long-existing CCT segments, and includes 3 new crossings of Accotink Creek.

VOLS BUILD 28' CCT BRIDGE IN 4 HOURS
On Saturday, about 25 FCPA staff and volunteers (including many FTAS-ers) built an ET Tectonics fiberglass bridge across a gully just south of the Dulles Toll Road. FCPA's Alan Crofford supervised the construction. This is the first such bridge on the CCT, hopefully the first of many in the county. They are inexpensive because they are modular and much of the work can be done by volunteers. We started at 10am, finished just after 2 pm. Everyone had a lot of fun, even though we got pretty wet and muddy (2 inches of snow on the ground). Pictures will be posted soon at www.fairfaxTrails.org The site has had a series of small fords and bridges, all of which have washed away. Not this one. It's massive, 28-feet long, and will stay put!

CCT Caucus Mon. Jan 23, 7:30 pm. Green Spring Gardens Park, Annandale.
FTAS will award the Cross County Trail Champion of the Year award. FCPA will show a video of all the recent progress on the CCT. Light refreshments. FTAS' next meeting in McLean is on Monday, February 27.

2 CCT Difficult Run trail crossings expected by end of January
Soon, the FCPA expects to finish two CCT fairweather crossings of Difficult Run. Each features natural-looking stepping stones (for hikers) and a parallel, hard cobbled streambed surface for equestrians. They are:
- Just downstream of Browns Mill Road (construction has already started).
- Near Old Dominion (construction will begin soon). Park at Georgetown Pike, walk upstream , pass under Old Dominion Drive's high bridge, to reach the site. NOTE a third ET Tectonics bridge is planned for the deep gully you'll pass on the way, where our volunteers built 1/2 mile of new CCT in October. We'll be asking for volunteers to help build it in March.

Giles Run trail bridge, on the CCT / Laurel Hill Greenway in Lorton, should be completed by May 2005, at a cost of $500,000. It will cross a very wide marshy area, where the old prison-railroad foundation washed away recently.

Fairfax Trails and Streams e-newsletter December 9, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS
Vol Bridges to be built at 2 CCT sites: Saturday, Tuesday 10 am.
Wash Post article on Cross County Trail
CCT Opening Ceremony Dec 17

DETAILS

2 CCT BRIDGE PROJECTS RESCHEDULED

Jenny Pate of FCPA wrote this morning:
Please join us tomorrow, Saturday the 10th at 10:00 at Squaw Valley Drive, Directions to the site: take route 66 to 123 north. Take 123 north to a right on Beulah Road. Take Beulah almost to the Dulles Access Road, where you will turn left on Lozano and then take the first right onto Squaw Valley. I am not able to be there, but we need your help!

On Tuesday, please help with the larger bridge - 10:00 a.m. at Samaga Drive - Directions to the site: take route 66 to 123 north. Turn left on Hunter Mill Road (route 674). Take Hunter Mill Road to Samaga Drive south of Vale Road across from the Unitarian Church. Turn left on Samaga and park along the road shoulder past the creek underpass. Please be considerate of the property owners and don't block the driveways, park on lawns, etc. Dress for the lovely weather, bring food and drink, etc. See you there! - Jenny

Washington Post article on Cross County Trail (mentions Bill Niedringhaus, FTAS)

Supervisors Seek Bike Policy Update; Cross County Trail to Open Dec. 17
By Jacqueline L. Salmon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 8, 2005; Page VA03

As park officials prepare to open the 38-mile Cross County Trail on Dec. 17, the Board of Supervisors is asking county agencies to figure out ways to better incorporate bicycles on roads and trails. In an effort to encourage the use of bicycles in traffic-clogged Fairfax, the board agreed Monday to ask the county departments of Transportation and Planning and Zoning to consider such proposals as creating a countywide map of bicycle facilities and identifying roads that could accommodate bike lanes without considerable construction. Board Chairman Gerald E. Connolly (D) proposed the effort. With the planned completion of the Cross County Trail, Connolly said, "the time has come to actually look at our bicycle policy." The Cross County Trail knits together a network of existing trails through some of the county's most scenic areas, from the Occoquan
River in southern Fairfax to the Potomac River in Great Falls in the northern end of the county.
"This is a momentous occasion for Fairfax County," said Michael A. Kane, director of the Park Authority, in a news release announcing the opening ceremony, to be held at 10 a.m. Dec. 17 at the Accotink Stream Valley portion of the trail in Annandale."The Cross County Trail is all about connections," Kane said. "The trail is so much more than just a trail. This is common ground that
provides a pathway of connectivity for all residents." An intricate network of bike paths crisscrosses Fairfax. But responsibility for construction, maintenance and providing information about them is divided among government agencies. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has jurisdiction over the popular Washington & Old Dominion trail, which runs 45 miles
along an old railroad route through Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties, as well as the cities of Falls Church and the towns of Vienna and Herndon. In Fairfax, eight major bicycle trails -- including the Accotink Creek Trail and the Burke Lake Park Trail -- are maintained by the
county, as are a number of smaller trails. The Park Authority will operate the Cross County Trail.
With bicycle trails scattered among agencies, Connolly said, "I just think we need to pull that all together."

The supervisors also asked county agencies to examine the possibility of creating a staff position devoted mostly to bicycle facility planning and of forming a pilot bicycling network in one part of the county. The county already has money it could invest in bicycle trails, Connolly said. Included in the $165 million transportation bond issue approved last month by voters is about $5 million for the construction of trails and sidewalks. Allen Muchnick, president of the Virginia Bicycling Federation, called the proposed bike policy overhaul a "step in the right direction." He said that Fairfax desperately needs a comprehensive map of bike-accessible routes in the county and a full-time bicycle planner who is accountable for bike projects. He noted that Arlington is far ahead of Fairfax on the issue; the county has a bicycle project manager and a bicycle promotion planner. Connolly introduced the resolution that led to the creation of the
Cross County Trail with county and federal government support. Bill Niedringhaus, a hiker, first presented the idea to the Park Authority in 1995. According to a news release, Niedringhaus took a map of Fairfax and highlighted the public land in green. He noticed a continuous green line snaking from the north to the south across the county, with three or four gaps. He formed a group called Fairfax Trails and Streams, lobbied at bond hearings and enlisted Connolly's
support. "I realized that Fairfax County had a jewel in its midst," Connolly said. "Why not work to connect these existing parcels of land, acquire and obtain needed pieces of property and easements to make one long trail?" The opening ceremony Dec. 17 is at the new bridge near the Camelot Swim Club overflow parking lot. Light refreshments will be served. To get there, take the Capital Beltway to Route 236 west and turn right onto King Arthur Road. Next, turn right onto Camelot Drive. Camelot Swim Club is off Camelot Drive near Saxony Drive. For more
information, call 703-324-8726 or 703-324-8662.

Fairfax Trails and Streams e-news - November 29, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS
- Need vols to build trail bridges Dec 9-10
- Elly Doyle Award (to Ed Pickens) in media; pix on website
- Widespread Progress on CCT

CALENDAR
- Mon. Dec. 5, 7:30 pm FTAS meets, 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean
- Fri, Dec 9, 8:00 am Tectonics Bridge to be built south of Toll Rd.
- Sat. Dec 10, 8:00 am Tectonics Bridge to be built south of Vale Rd.
- Sat. Dec 17 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for CCT, Camelot Swim Club.
- Mon. Jan 23, 7:30 pm CCT Caucus, Green Springs Gardens Park
- Sat. May 6, CCTrail Fest--all day, all along the CCT

NEED VOLS TO BUILD BRIDGES Dec 9-10
Jenny Pate of Fx Co Park Authority reports: We are moving forward with the installation of
the two fiberglass bridges under the assumption that we are going to get a building permit in the next few days. There is a possibility we will have to reschedule, but right now we are set for Friday Dec. 9th and Saturday Dec. 10th.

We need between 10 and 15 workers on each day. On Friday, we should have staff people to recruit, but would probably welcome a few non-staff folks so we can have continuity on Saturday. I need names of volunteers who will be able to help so we can be sure we have enough people, but not too many. Please respond (Jenny.Pate@fairfaxcounty.gov) or have people contact me directly.

We will meet at 8:00 a.m. on both days - Friday at the cul-de-sac of Squaw Valley Drive off Beulah Road, south of the Dulles Access and Toll Road; Saturday at Samaga Drive off Hunter Mill Road (if I get written permission from the property owner - otherwise, we will have to come in from Vale Road - I will confirm locations prior to the day.) Both these locations are residential streets with very little parking - please respect the property owners lawns, driveways, etc.. Carpooling would be helpful.

ELLY DOYLE AWARD PIX, ARTICLES
Pictures from the ceremony are now online. An article on the Elly Doyle award (to FTAS's Ed Pickens) appears on the front page of the 23 November McLean Times with the by-line 'By Cathy Saunders, Special to The Times'. It mentions all FTAS folks that we included in the draft article.

The Washington Post Sunday Magazine (27 Nov) has an article on Donaldson Run and Stream Preservation. Excellent article concerning the toxic spill of 4 years ago and the effort to recover from that spill.

WIDESPREAD PROGRESS ON CCT
The Accotink trail from King Arthur to route 236 will be completed in December 2005. Stream stabilization at Georgetown Pike is complete and a newly routed trail has been cleared by volunteers on October 15. Land acquisition is complete and construction has been started on the stream crossing of Difficult Run at Browns Mill Road and will be started shortly for the crossing south of Old Dominion Drive. These two remaining crossings are scheduled to be completed during the fall and winter, 2005-2006.

Installation of mile markers is underway. Starting at the north first mile of the trail, mountain bikers and Park Authority maintenance staff will be installing mile and half mile markers all the way down the trail to Pohick Road. Trailhead signs have been or are being installed on all sections of the trail except for the sign that will go in at Americana Park (Wakefield) when the construction project is complete. Eventually, a trailhead sign will also be installed in the Laurel Hill greenway. Thirty-five interpretive signs have been ordered and should be delivered by the end of the year for installation in spring 2006. Additional CCT flexible markers are also on order and will be installed as needed for clarification of the route.

Two fiberglass bridges have been ordered for installation south of the Dulles Access and Tollroad and south of Vale Road. Tentative dates of December 9 and 10 have been set for installation of the two bridges by volunteers and Park Authority staff. Permits are needed and the installation is weather-dependent. More info as it is confirmed.

We discussed acknowledging adopting groups for trail maintenance and agreed that there will be recognition on the Park Authority CCT website as the adoptions are finalized and the website is revised. Information on restrooms, drinking water, and other facilities will be included online, as well as on informational and directional signs to be installed within the next year.

We discussed the agenda for the CCT Caucus to be held on January 23 at Green Spring Gardens Park. The following elements are being considered as part of the program:
* Award of the CCT Champion of the Year
* Premiere of the CCT video
* Presentation of the State of the Trail Report and announcement of plans for the CCTrailfest to be held on May 6, 2006

Fairfax Trails and Streams e-news - 13 Nov 2005

REMINDERS:
- FTAS meets tomorrow, Monday Nov. 14, at 7:30 (usual place, McLean Gov. Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road).
- Elly Doyle Awards ceremony (honoring Ed Pickens) is at 7:30 PM to 10 PM on Nov. 18. It is at the Waterford at Fair Oaks, which is next door to the Stay America Hotel which is on the east side of Fair Oaks Mall complex. Hope to see you there

Fairfax Trails and Streams E-news - 27 Oct. 2005

PIMMIT RUN TRAIL/STREAM FALL 2005 CLEANUP
SATURDAY, 29 OCT. 2005 9AM to NOON
Information Ed Pickens 703-448-0415

Volunteers are needed to pick up trash along Pimmit Run at the sites listed below. Garbage bags and gloves will be available at each of the sites. The most critical sites are, in order: Kirby Road/Claiborne, Maddux Lane, Bryan Branch, and Brookhaven.

- MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL (Marshall Drive where road crosses the Run)
- GREAT FALLS STREET (Near Lemon Road)
- WESTMORELAND STREET (Near Little League Park)
- OLD CHESTERBROOK ROAD (At bridge over the Run)
- OLD DOMINION DRIVE (At bridge just South of Central McLean)
- BROOKHAVEN DRIVE (Where it dead ends off Linway Terrace)
- BRYAN BRANCH (Where it dead ends into Highlands Swim Club)
- COLLEEN PLACE (At the end of the road off of Lochraven Drive)
- MADDUX LANE (Off Chesterbrook Road – near stormwater pond)
- KIRBY ROAD (At intersection with Claiborne Drive & Kirby Road)
- ROSAMORA COURT (Chain Bridge Forest Area)
- CHAIN BRIDGE (At parking area on Glebe Road under Parkway)
- McLEAN HIGH SCHOOL (Front parking lot of high school)

FTAS holds Pimmit Run cleanups semiannually, each spring and fall. We invite all volunteers to meet at noon for a photo op for the Fairfax Co. Park Authority.

CALENDAR
-Mon. Nov 14, 7:30 pm FTAS meets, 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean
-Fri. Nov. 18, 7pm Elly Doyle Awards honor Ed Pickens, Waterton at Fair Oaks Mall
-Mon. Dec. 5, 7:30 pm FTAS meets, 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean
-Sat. Dec 17 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for CCT (Rt. 236)
-Mon. Jan 23, 7:30 pm Annual CCT Caucus
-Sat. May 6, 2006: Major CCT celebration

New pictures of recent worktrips and hikes are now available.

Fairfax Trails and Streams E-news 23 September 2005

Our meeting, originally scheduled for this Monday evening 9/26, has been postponed one week, to Monday, Oct. 3. Hour and place are the same: 7:30 pm at the McLean Govt Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean (near Rte 123 and Lewinsville Rd).

Fifteen FTAS volunteers, over two days last week, built a section of trail between Old Dominion and Old Chesterbrook, including a solid Pimmit Run crossing. A small part of this trail is on private land. We coordinated our work closely with the landowners. The trail is not yet finished or open. It is expected to be open to the public later in the fall.

Fairfax Trails and Streams E-news --- Sept 10, 2005

CALENDAR
-Tue-Wed Sept 13-14, 5:30pm Pimmit Worktrip (pizza/drinks), Old Chesterbrook Rd.
-Sat. Sept 17 1-3 pm. Great Falls Pk Master Plan, Public Comment, Visitors Ctr.
-Sat. Sept 17 2 pm. Pimmit Run Nature/History Hike, Chain Bridge, jcornell@gmu.edu
-Mon. Sept 26 7:30 pm FTAS meets, 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean
-Thu-Fri Oct 13-14 Potomac Trail Caucus, Shepardstown, WV (info www.potomactrail.org)
-Sat. Oct 15, Nov 19 CCT Worktrips, with MORE and FTAS, near Old Dominion Drive
-Sat. Oct 29 9 am Pimmit Run Litter Cleanup
-Mon. Nov 14, 7:30 pm FTAS meets, 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean
-Fri. Nov. 18, 7pm Elly Doyle Awards honor Ed Pickens, Waterton at Fair Oaks Mall
-Mon. Dec. 5, 7:30 pm FTAS meets, 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean
-Sat. Dec 17 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for CCT (Rt. 236)
-Mon. Jan 23, 7:30 pm CCT Caucus (date tentative)
-Sat. May 6, 2006: Major CCT celebration

PIMMIT WORKTRIP Tues/Wed 5:30: Thanks to Ed Pickens' tireless efforts working with the local
residents, volunteers and county officials, there is now a public right of way for a major new section
of the Pimmit Run Trail, from Old Chesterbrook Rd to Old Dominion Dr. But we need your help to
build it! We must clear brush and build a ford. Park at Old Chesterbrook Rd at Longfellow St, near
the bridge. There will be pizza and drinks.

LITTER CLEANUP on Pimmit Run is Sat. Oct 29, 9am; rain date is Sun Oct. 30, noon. Sites
include all road crossings.

Mark your calendar for Nov. 18, 7pm, when FCPA honors Ed Pickens, winner of the Elly Doyle
award. There will be heavy hors d'oeuvres. Ed will speak and ask FTAS members to rise, so it
would be great to have a large turnout.

GREAT FALLS PARK has a new 150-page master plan. Come learn about it, and comment,
Saturday 9/17, 1-3 at the Visitor's Center. We are pleased the plan moves the Potomac Heritage Trail off the road and into the park, but would like a river-side route (at least for hikers). We would like the CCT to cross the park along this route (so that it reaches the Falls).

The Clarks Run Bridge, Riverbend Park, was badly damaged by flooding last month. The damage clearly came from Clarks Run itself, not the nearby Potomac, leading us to believe that a fiberglass bridge might be the solution for the site. It would likely cost much less than the existing structure did.

The NV Regional Park Authority has mowed many miles of Heritage Trail that we hiked June 11,
from Riverbend Park, through Seneca Park to Lowes Island. You can now go out and enjoy this
wonderful, remote, beautiful stretch near the river.

The FCPA is preparing a 20-minute video on the CCT, to be shown at the CCT Caucus (January 23), with interviews of several FTAS members who have helped create it.

Fairfax Trails and Streams E-News 17 Aug. 2005

Our next meeting is this Monday, Aug. 22, 7:30 pm.Speaker is Bruce Wright, of the Fairfax Co. Non-motorized Transportation ("Trails") Committee.

There has been a lot of news on many fronts: Cross County, Pimmit, and Potomac Heritage Trail. Some is summarized below; much more news will be presented at the meeting.

CALENDAR

  • Aug. 22 7:30 pm FTAS meets, 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean
  • Early Sept date TBA 5:30pm Worktrip on Pimmit to connect Old Chesterbrook, Old Dominion
  • Sept 17 2 pm. Pimmit Run Nature/History Hike, starts near Chain Bridge. Info jcornell@gmu.edu
  • Sept 26 7:30 pm FTAS meets, 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean
  • Oct 13-14 Potomac Trail Caucus, Shepardstown, WV (info www.potomactrail.org)
  • Oct 15, Nov 19 CCT Worktrips, with MORE and FTAS, near Old Dominion Drive
  • Nov. 18 evening, Elly Doyle Award Ceremony (Congratulations, Ed Pickens of FTAS!)
  • Fall, dates TBA Laurel Hill Trail worktrips

CROSS COUNTY TRAIL PROGRESS REPORT

The Accotink trail from King Arthur to route 236 is under construction
and scheduled for completion near the end of the year. Construction is
also under way for stream improvements to Difficult Run at Georgetown
Pike. Plans have been submitted for DPWES approval for the improvements
to Difficult Run at Browns Mill Road and south of Old Dominion Drive.
Both of these sections are currently in land acquisition.

Volunteer work days are scheduled for October 15 and November 19 to
complete the trail between Old Dominion and Georgetown Pike. Other days
may be scheduled in late fall or early winter to install signs through
portions of the Laurel Hill Greenway trail. The northern section of the
LHGT is due to constructed by Pulte. This construction has been delayed
by permitting problems and will not likely be completed prior to 2006.

The Park Authority is planning to order two fiberglass (Tectonic) bridges to cross
the tributaries south of the Dulles Access Road and south of Vale Road.
These bridges may be installed near the end of the year or early in
2006.

CCT Signs have been installed last week south of Route 7 (Carpers Farm Rd). The CCT signage is now continuous to Oak Marr and beyond.

SUMMER 2005 Issue of Potomac Heritage Trail News now available at www.potomacTrail.org

Fairfax Trails and Streams E-news July 31, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS
-AUG 3, 5:30pm PIMMIT WORKTRIP (VOLS NEEDED!)
-PIMMIT TRAIL IMPROVED ABOVE GT FALLS ST.
-PAUL GILBERT TO LEAD No Va REGIONAL PARK AUTH
-REPORT ON TRAILS DAY HIKES (June 4-11)
-WORK BEGINS ON CCT IN GREAT FALLS, ACCOTINK CREEK
-FCPA's 2005-2009 TRAIL SCHEDULE ONLINE
-A NEW MILE OF POT HERITAGE TRAIL OPENS IN LORTON
-NEXT MEETING AUG 22, 7:30 pm

Pictures from many of these items are or soon will be posted at www.fairfaxtrails.org

DETAILS
AUG 3, 5:30pm PIMMIT WORKTRIP (VOLS NEEDED!)
FTAS will clear the trail from Maddux down to the Parkway overpass, which is in pretty bad shape with multiple trees down and heavy growth in number of section; the stone dusted section by Maddux Lane is heavily overgrown, also. Please join us Wed 3 Aug at 5:30 pm, at Claibourne St at Kirby Rd.

PIMMIT TRAIL IMPROVED ABOVE GT FALLS ST.
Ed Pickens and Victor Litwinski led an FTAS crew here last month to (1) improve the ford just above the road (Victor hauled huge boulders into place to make this crossing much easier for hikers); (2) reroute the trail to higher ground in several spots, improve drainage other spots, and (3) install a stairway to facilitate hiker passage over a barrier between the road and the ford.

PAUL GILBERT TO LEAD No Va REGIONAL PARK AUTH
Paul Gilbert has accepted the position of Executive Director of the No Va Regional Park Authority (NVRPA), as of July 18. Paul has led the No. Va Conservation Trust (NVCT), and has been a very good friend to Fairfax Trails and Streams. He helped negotiate an agreement, for instance, for NVCT to acquire property for the trail along Pimmit Run at Brookhaven Drive. We look forward to working with Paul and the NVRPA, especially on the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail which passes through many NVRPA properties and trail easements. Congratulations to Paul! More info at www.nvrpa.org.

REPORT ON NTD HIKES (June)
-June 4 Cross County Hike and Sign Unveiling. About 50 people attended the FCPA’s Oak Marr CCT sign unveiling. A map of the entire CCT now stands along Jermantown Road, where the northbound CCT leaves that road and passes behind the Oak Marr Golf Course. Twenty people went on to complete the full hike, from Colvin Run back to Oak Marr. We used the new Tattersall reroute, completed by MORE in May. We had to cross a slippery log at Little Difficult Run, since the ford we have used for years finally washed out. We met the Hunters Valley Riding Club on the W&OD coming the other way. This group, led by Beverly Dickinson, repaired the Little Difficult ford several weeks later, and MORE rerouted the CCT south of Route 7 to keep it entirely on FCPA property.

-June 11 Algonkian-Riverbend Hike,
Thirty-four hikers participated. Most hiked the 12 miles between Riverbend Park (Fairfax Co) and Algonkian Park (Loudoun Co.)Â This included many remote sections through-hiked only once before. A number of improvements were made since then, by volunteers and by the NVRPA. Ten hikers did a shorter section: 2 1/2 miles from Algonkian to Seneca Park.

-and filling a missing link in the CCT.

WORK BEGINS ON CCT IN GREAT FALLS, ACCOTINK CREEK
Construction has begun on moving the CCT to the west side of Difficult Run between Georgetown Pike and Old Dominion Drive. During the construction, the parking lot at Georgetown Pike may be closed. This is a major project which will eliminate two CCT crossings of Difficult Run, and help to stabilize Difficult Run.Â

On June 4, FCPA held a ground-breaking ceremony for a CCT asphalt section that will be built by the end of the year. It runs along Accotink Creek, between Little River Tpk and King Arthur Road. It will cross Accotink Creek three times. This will complete a major missing link in the CCT between Lake Accotink/Wakefield Park and Eakin Park/Thaiss Park/Fairfax City.

-FCPA's 2005-2009 TRAIL SCHEDULE ONLINE
FCPA's 2005-2009 Planning/Development Schedule, approved 1/12/05, may be viewed at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/pd2005-2009projectschedule.pdf.
It specifically allocates 2004 Park Bond funds to specific projects, including timetables for CCT, Pimmit, Laurel Hill, and other trails. It includes an item "Cross County
Trail Phase 2" for 2006-2009.

-A NEW MILE OF POT HERITAGE TRAIL OPENS IN LORTON
A new mile-long trail on Fairfax County public (non-park) wooded land opened officially on June 16, at the Noman Cole Water Treatment Plant in Lorton. It runs from Route 1 to Old Colchester Road, roughly parallel to Pohick Run but to the north. It is ideally situated to become a link in the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. After speeches and a ribbon cutting, the 20 attendees hiked the trail. Speakers included:Mt. Vernon’s Supv. Gerald Hyland, PHNST Superintendant Don Briggs, officials from the Plant, Joe Chudzik of Mason Neck Citizens Assoc, Doug Pickford (No VA Regional Planning Commission, Paul Gilbert (see above), and FTAS’ Bill Niedringhaus (who first envisioned this trail). The trail, including two wooden bridges, was built entirely by volunteers from FTAS, Potomac Heritage Trail Association and other groups.

NEXT MEETING AUG 22, 7:30 pm (our normal time, 4th Monday; apologies for giving an incorrect time for previous meeting!)

Fairfax Trails and Streams E-news 24 July 2005

Though we have not met for two months, a lot has been happening on the trails.

Our speaker is Bruce Wright, Gerry Connolly's appointee to the Fx Co Non-motorized Transporation Committee.

Agenda items include:
Updates on recent Nat. Trails Day hikes: (Oak Marr to Colvin Run, Algonkian to Riverbend)
Updates on recent trail work:
- Pimmit above Great Falls St.
- Cross County south of Rt 7, and at Little Diff. Run Ford
- Potomac Heritage Trail (opening ceremony at Noman Cole Trail in Lorton)
Upcoming events
- on Pimmit, CCT, Laurel Hill, Potomac Heritage Trail
Push to complete the CCT this year.

Fairfax Trails and Streams E-news 30 May 2005

HIGHLIGHTS
Pimmit worktrips Tues 5/31 and Thurs 6/2 
CCT Reroute planned south of Rt 7 
Cross-County Hike 6/4 (meet at Oak Marr)  
Algonkian-Seneca-Riverbend Hike 6/11 (meet at Algonkian)  
FTAS will not meet in June: next meeting July 25

Pimmit worktrips Tues 5/31 and Thurs 6/2. Info Ed Pickens 448 0415. Come join Ed Pickens and FTAS for some trail maintenance on Pimmit Run. As before there will be sodas and pizza. 5:30 pm Tuesday 5/31 meet at Great Falls St. in the gravel area where it crosses Pimmit Run 5:30 pm Thursday 6/2 meet at Olney Park.

CCT Reroute planned south of Rt 7 A recent survey showed the current CCT wanders off parkland at a spot south of Route 7. Please help reroute it back onto parkland. Date still to be announced, but probably week of June 6.  Please contact Randy Kerr ( lerrkerr@aol.com ) or Jenny Pate ( jenny.pate@fairfaxcounty.gov .

(Reminder, emailed previously)
Cross-County Trail Hike (Northern half, 10 miles) June 4, 9am
Bill Niedringhaus will lead a Fairfax Cross-County Hike hike from Colvin Run Mill Park to Oak Marr Recreation Center, Oakton, 10 miles, on National Trails Day. The route covers several new sections not open for the last CCT Hike, both north and south of Vale Road. Also, the Fx. Co. Park Authority will unveil a large new sign there, with a map of the entire CCT.
Directions:  Oak Marr RECenter can be reached by taking Beltway Exit 49 which is Route 66 west to Route 123 north. From Route 123 north turn left onto Jermantown Road at the second stop light. Oak Marr RECenter will be on the right.  Information fairfaxTrails@aol.com , 703 244 2476.

(Reminder, emailed previously)
Algonkian Park to Seneca Park hike- June 11, 2005 at 9am beginning at the Sports Plex at Algonkian Park - Karen Jones will lead a hike along a newly-opened section of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, from Algonkian Park to Seneca Park.  Option for 2.5 mile or  12 mile distances available. Be one of the first to hike the newly completed section thru Lowes Island  linking Loudoun County with Fairfax County.  From the 495 Beltway take Rt 7 WB toward  Sterling/Leesburg, take Algonkian Parkway to the right (you will also see that this is where the Farifax County Parkway ends and Algonkian Parkway begins) ; take Algonkian Parkway for about 2.5 miles and make a right onto Cascades Parkway (or follow signs for Algonkian Park) the Sports Plex is on your right- we will meet at the far pavillion near the playground.  Info:  sadiqi53@aol.com

Fairfax Trails and Streams E-news 22 May 2005

HIGHLIGHTS
May 23, 7:30 pm (Tomorrow) FTAS Meets
June 4, 9am Cross-County Trail Hike (Northern half, 10 miles)
June 11, 9am Algonkian to Seneca to Riverbend Park hike (3 or 12 miles)
June 11, 8:30 - 11 Clean Streams Workshop, Chantilly

FTAS Meets Tomorrow, Monday 23 May at 7:30
AGENDA:
- Speaker: Patrick Lucas, of FCPA, on Trail Safety
- Updates on Pimmit Run, Cross-County Trail and Potomac Heritage Nat. Scenic Trail
- Potomac Heritage Trail Newsletter (Winter 2005 and Spring 2005 issues)
- National Trails Day events

Cross-County Trail Hike (Northern half, 10 miles) June 4, 9am
Bill Niedringhaus will lead a Fairfax Cross-County Hike hike from Colvin Run Mill Park to Oak Marr Recreation Center, Oakton, 10 miles, on National Trails Day. The route covers several new sections not open for the last CCT Hike, both north and south of Vale Road. Also, the Fx. Co. Park Authority will unveil a large new sign there, with a map of the entire CCT. Directions: Oak Marr RECenter can be reached by taking Beltway Exit 49 which is Route 66 west to Route 123 north. From Route 123 north turn left onto Jermantown Road at the second stop light. Oak Marr RECenter will be on the right. Information fairfaxTrails@aol.com, 703 244 2476.

Algonkian Park to Seneca Park hike- June 11, 2005 at 9am beginning at the Sports Plex at Algonkian Park
Karen Jones will lead a hike along a newly-opened section of the Potomac Heritage National
Scenic Trail, from Algonkian Park to Seneca Park. Option for 2.5 mile or 12 mile distances
available. Be one of the first to hike the newly completed section thru Lowes Island linking
Loudoun County with Fairfax County. From the 495 Beltway take Rt 7 WB toward
Sterling/Leesburg, take Algonkian Parkway to the right (you will also see that this is where the Farifax County Parkway ends and Algonkian Parkway begins) ; take Algonkian Parkway for about 2.5 miles and make a right onto Cascades Parkway (or follow signs for Algonkian Park) the Sports Plex is on your right- we will meet at the far pavillion near the playground. Info: sadiqi53@aol.com

CLEAN STREAMS WORKSHOP
WHAT: A "How-to" Workshop for residents, featuring the basics of Erosion and Sediment
Control on construction sites. Participants will learn how to spot and report erosion and sediment control problems on construction sites. Experts from Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties will show how residents can help minimize sediment pollution of Virginia's streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Participants will receive handouts and there will be time for Q&A.
WHEN: Saturday, June 11, 2005, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Sully District Governmental Center; 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly.
RSVP and More Information: Please contact Katherine Mull, Northern Virginia Regional Commission, kmull@novaregion.org or 703.642.4625

Fairfax Trails and Streams e-news April 24, 2005

FTAS meets Monday April 25, 7 pm at McLean Govt Center, 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean

Agenda
-SPEAKER: Matt Meyers, County Stormwater Management Office, Manager for Middle Potomac (all watersheds in McLean) Watershed Management Planning Effort
-Pimmit Run Cleanup Report
-McLean Day (21 May) Preparation/Planning
-Pimmit Run Trail Developments
-Brookhaven Reroute Completed
-Easement downstream of Old Chesterbrook
-Updates on Consolidated Volunteer Work List
-Pimmit Run Trail Hike on 30 April

Fairfax Trails and Streams e-news March 26, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS/CALENDAR
- March 28 7:30pm: FTAS Meets Monday, 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean
- April 2 9-noon: Litter Cleanup, Pimmit Run--Please call Ed 703 448 0415
- April 9 CCT reroute 1100' at Miller Hts Rd (info Randy 703 273 9446)
- April 16 12:30-4:30 Mid Potomac Watersheds Forum, Longf. Mid School, info www.fairfaxcounty.gov/watersheds
- May thru Oct. THIRTEEN Trail-construction projects, Pimmit, CCT, PHT: dates TBA
- June 4 9 am CCT Hike, Oak Marr to Colvin Run.
- June 11 9 am PHNST Hike 12 miles, Algonkian Park to Riverbend Park

DETAILS
- FTAS Agenda Monday, March 28 7:30pm 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean
- Guest Speaker: Diana Sicosis from Fairfax Watershed Network, to talk on Stream Cleanups
- Update on Pimmit Run Trail, CCT and Potomac Heritage NS Trail
- FTAS Projects for 2005
- Stream Monitoring Developments - Catherine Saunders.
- Pimmit Run Cleanup Discussion
- Plans by FCPA to Restore Pimmit Trail's bridge at Kent Gardens

- Pimmit Run Litter Cleanup: April 2 9-noon
---Part of the overall Potomac Rivershed Cleanup with 3 April from 1-4 PM as backup.
Planned Pimmit Run cleanup locations and projected site coordinators:
Olney Park - Judy Smith of Troop 828;
Great Falls Street - Mark Evenson;
Burke Spring Branch - Catherine Saunders;
Westmoreland Street - Rick Cooper;
Old Chesterbrook Road - Victor Litwinski;
Old Dominion - Johyn Schell;
Brookhaven - Paul Blackburn;
Bryan Branch - Ed Pickens;
Kinyon Place /Colleen Lane - Don Finberg;
Maddux Lane - Steve Dryden;
Kirby Road - Bruce Glendening;
Glebe Road - Ric Francke;
Marshall High School - Deborah Buffington;
Saucey Branch - TBD.
Volunteers: Please let Ed Pickens know by EMail (pickens_slim@hotmail.com) if they plan on attending and which site they plan on going to so that we can assign the right number of folks to all the cleanup sites.

There are also organized cleanups on Difficult Run and many other streams on April 2nd.

Fairfax Trails and Streams e-news February 24, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS
- FTAS Agenda Monday, Feb 28 7:30pm 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean
- Milestones for CCT Completion in 2005
- New Bridge opens on Pimmit Trail opposite Little League
- New signs mark Pimmit Run Stream Valley Park/Trail
- Pimmit Run Litter Cleanup: April 2 9-noon
- Volunteers Needed for Trail Building March 5 9am
- Algonkian Park to Seneca Park hike (June)

DETAILS
- FTAS Agenda Monday, Feb 28 7:30pm 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean:
1. Briefing by Matt Meyers on the Middle Potomac Watershed Planning Process; Matt is the County Stormwater Planning Division Project Manager for this Watershed Management Plan Development.
2. Update on CCT: (summary of Jenny Pate's briefing to the CCT Caucus in late January)
3. Approved Budget for FT&S Projects for 2005 - discussion on what was approved for 2005
4. Projected Work Projects for Spring and Summer 2005 for FT&S Work Projects - Request for tentative signups for projects.
5. Stream Monitoring Developments - Catherine Saunders.
6. Pimmit Run Cleanup Discussion
7. Plans by FCPA to Restore Pimmit Trail's bridge at Kent Gardens

- Milestones for CCT Completion in 2005
The FCPA has set the following goals for completion of the CCT this year.
May: Trail Construction at Byron Ave.
May: Underpass at Dulles Access to open officially
July: Tattersall Park volunteer trail construction on public land (to shorten amount of trail on road)
Sept: Footbridge installed south of Vale
Nov: Trailhead Signs installed
Nov: Brochures completed for the five remaining sections (3,5,7,9,10)
Dec: King Arthur Road to Rt 136: trail completed
Dec: Trail crossing of Browns Mill Road and nearby Difficult Run Crossing completed
Dec: Leigh Mill to Georgetown Pike trail, including G. Pike Stabilization
Dec: Mileage signs installed, every half mile.

- New Bridge opens on Pimmit Trail opposite Little League
The new bridge makes hiking the trail much safer and more pleasant between Westmoreland and Great Falls St. It was built as an Eagle Scout project, with assistance from Ed Pickens (our president) and the FCPA. It is 16 feet long and spans a deep gully just downstream of where the trail crosses Pimmit Run near the Little League batting cage.

- New signs mark Pimmit Run Stream Valley Park/Trail
The Park Authority has erected "Stream Valley Park" signs at three Pimmit Trailheads, eastbound at Great Falls St, and both directions from Westmoreland St, which invite the public to enter the park along the trail.

- Pimmit Run Litter Cleanup: April 2 9-noon
---Part of the overall Potomac Rivershed Cleanup with 3 April from 1-4 PM as backup.
Planned Pimmit Run cleanup locations and projected site coordinators:
Olney Park - Judy Smith of Troop 828;
Great Falls Street - Mark Evenson;
Burke Spring Branch - Catherine Saunders;
Westmoreland Street - Rick Cooper;
Old Chesterbrook Road - Victor Litwinski;
Old Dominion - Johyn Schell;
Brookhaven - Paul Blackburn;
Bryan Branch - Ed Pickens;
Kinyon Place /Colleen Lane - Don Finberg;
Maddux Lane - Steve Dryden;
Kirby Road - Bruce Glendening;
Glebe Road - Ric Francke;
Marshall High School - Deborah Buffington;
Saucey Branch - TBD.
Volunteers: Please let Ed Pickens know by EMail (pickens_slim@hotmail.com) if they plan on attending and which site they plan on going to so that we can assign the right number of folks to all the cleanup sites.

- Volunteers Needed for Trail Building March 5, 9am
With the assistance of the managers at the Noman Cole Treatment Plant, volunteers are requested to help clear a new trail (proposed as part of the Potomac Heritage Nat. Scenic Trail), including building two small bridges. Info: Please call Ric at 571-436-7801

- CCT Trails Day Hike (Northern half) June 4 9am
Bill Niedringhaus will lead a CCT hike from Oak Marr Recreation Center, Oakton, to Colvin Run Mill Park, 10 miles, on National Trails Day. The route covers several new sections not open for the last CCT Hike, both north and south of Vale Road. Stay tuned for details.

- Algonkian Park to Seneca Park hike (tentatively set for June 11)
Karen Jones will lead a hike along a newly-opened section of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, from Algonkian Park to Seneca Park. This will be the first organized hike on this section linking Fairfax and Loudoun Counties.

Fairfax Trails and Streams e-news January 23, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS
CCT Caucus TOMORROW (Monday) 7:30; refreshments 7 pm
Laurel Hill Greenway may soon extend CCT 4 miles south
5 major CCT Volunteer projects for 2005
Dates for FTAS 2005 meetings in McLean

DETAILS
CCT Caucus TOMORROW (Monday) 7:30; refreshments 7 pm
Details from our previous newsletter are repeated at bottom.

Laurel Hill Greenway may soon extend CCT 4 miles south
Jenny Pate wrote on 1/18/05:
[Fx Co Park Auth] Director, Mike Kane, and our Division Director, Lynn Tadlock...
both indicated that they want to see the Laurel Hill portion of the trail
"blazed", which I am taking to mean having signs and a route, before the end
of this year! They also want mileage (and half mile) markers installed on
all the trail (except probably for the temporary route which we will have to
delineate in Laurel Hill until the re-development areas get more defined, I
think). So, we have a huge year coming up. I hope all of you are as excited
as I am about getting this whole thing "done." Though it will be temporary
in sections, we will be able to go from the Occoquan to the Potomac.

5 major CCT Volunteer projects for 2005
Jenny Pate also wrote on 1/18/05:
The big volunteer projects this year will include:

1) Defining and marking a new trail on the new route off Miller Heights Road to the existing stonedust trail (approximately 1100 linear feet)
2) Rerouting the section north of Browns Mill Road onto PA property (approximately 500 linear feet)
3) Defining and marking a new trail from the new crossing south of Old Dominion to Georgetown Pike (approximately 3000 linear feet)
4) Marking and installing mileage and half-mile signs on entire route from the Potomac down at least to Wadebrook Terrace
5) Defining and marking a temporary route for the Laurel Hill Greenway (4 miles +)

Plus several more miles of sign installation on the northern sections and
various small rebuild and repair projects. Also, I hope to have two
pedestrian bridges installed, probably with the assistance of the Park
Foundation.

Happy New Year! Are you all up for the challenge? I'm excited and SURE NEED
YOUR TOTAL COMMITMENT!!!

Fairfax Trails and Streams e-news January 8, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS
Cross County Trail Caucus: Jan 24, 2005, 7:30
FTAS next meeting in McLean: Feb. 28, 7:30
Vols needed to install CCT Signs, Oakton--Jan 10 and 14

DETAILS
Cross County Trail Caucus: Jan 24, 2005, 7:30
The 4th Annual Cross County Trail Caucus will be held at Woodson High School, 9525 Main Street in Fairfax on Monday, January 24, 2005, 7:30 p.m. Come out and support the trail. We will premier “The Cross County Trail – the Ten Minute Tour” and the State of the Trail status report will be presented and distributed to all attendees. We will recognize our volunteer trail maintainers and be seeking additional volunteer groups to partner with. Fairfax Trails and Streams, with Potomac Rivers Greenways Coalition, will present the Cross County Trail Champion of the Year Award. We’ll also talk about National Trails Day events – past and future. As the trail nears completion, the excitement is spreading. Come be a part of it all!

Vols needed to install CCT Signs--Jan 10 and 14
Volunteers needed to carry and post Cross-County Trail Signs in Oakton
Please contact Jenny Pate, Fx Co Park Authority, 703 324 8726.
We need volunteers to carry the sign-installing tools (fairly heavy) and the signs themselves. Installation could take about 2 hours each day. The signs are needed to mark the route of the CCT clearly. Monday, Jan 10 (1 pm) and Friday, Jan 14 (time TBD)

PARKING: Monday 1/10 1 pm: Oak Marr Rec Center (I-66 to 123 towards Oakton, left on Jermantown Rd, right into Rec Center), park near golf clubhouse. Friday 1/14 time TBD: Just off Vale at Valestra Ct (near bridge over Difficult Run), at CCT crosswalk, west of Hunter Mill Rd.

 

 




  home | cross-county trail | pimmit run trail | resources | maps | news | join webmaster | sitemap  
Site Design by DRJ