• Preserve open space through the Virginia Land ConservationFoundation and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (40%).
• Provide grants to all Virginia localities for a wide variety of natural resourcespurposes (35%).
• Ensure clean water throughout the Commonwealth through the WaterQuality Improvement Fund (19%).
• Assist our inner cities with environmental cleanup andredevelopment through the Virginia Brownfields Restoration and EconomicRedevelopment Assistance Fund (5%).
• Administer the Fund (1%).

Fairfax Trails and Streams e-newsletter 21 April 2002

AGENDA for FTAS MONTHLY MEETING 22 April 7:30 pm

1. Guest Speaker Doug Pickford, Northern Virginia Regional Commission. Doug, who has been working lot-by-lot with staff from Fairfax,Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington and Alexandria, will discuss strategies/issues/routes for building the Potomac Heritage National ScenicTrail, and how volunteers and trail advocates can help make it happen

2. Guest Cliff Noyes will discuss last month's Cross-County Jog, How the Jog came about Preparation. Brief recap of the event. Comments on trail markings, stream crossings, conducting events on CCT.

3. FTAS will summarize recent progress on the CCT

LOCATION: Potomac Appalachian Trail Club Headquarters, 118 Park St SE, Vienna. It is the same site as January CCT Caucus, near 123 & W&OD.

Fairfax Trailsand Streams e-newsletter 9 May 2002

Sat. May 11 10:45am downtown McLean - McLean Citizens Foundation's Unveiling ceremony for new historic map of Pimmit Run Valley. Designed by FTAS'ers Steve Dryden and John Weiler. Location is Old Dominion Dr at Holmes St. Immediately afterwards we will hike from Brookhaven back to Old Dominion Drive along Pimmit Run, to look at the sites of three bridges FTAS volunteers hope to help build in the next 12 months.

Wed. May 16. 9-11 am Erection of Cross County Trail Signs over three-quarters mile on Difficult Run. Volunteers needed to help haul the signs, please call Bill at 703 821 0975.

Sat. May 18 McLean DAY Lewinsville Park, Chain Bridge Rd. FTAS'ers Steve Dryden, EdPickens and Paul Blackburn will staff our booth. We could use another two volunteers (if you can help, please contact JSDRYDEN@bellatlantic.net) This will be the first time we will offer for sale our new historical map and brochure of Pimmit Run, and our new FTAS bumper sticker.

REMINDERS
Sat. May 25, 9am: Hike along part of Pimmit Run. Info: rowemm@aol.com .

Mon. May 27, 7:30 pm, Pimmit Run Trail Planning. McLean Govt Center, 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean. Guest speaker, Katie Goldberg of the NorthernVirginia Conservation Trust, which owns a site of a future trail bridge over Pimmit Run

May 31, June 1, 2. Ultimate Cross County Hike. Each day we meet at the _endpoint_ at 9am,shuttle to the beginning (on a 42-person bus), and hike back. Details at www.fairfaxTrails.org and www.americanhiking.org NewFCPA brochures with detailed CCT maps will be available for the first time. About half of the Cross County Trail,including several difficult-to-follow sections, has been marked (over the last 6 weeks) with new flexible signs bearing the CCT logo.
9am Friday, May 31 12mi. Lake Accotink to Oak Marr Recr Center
9am Saturday June 1 12mi. Oak Marr Rec. Center to Colvin Run Mill Park
9am Sunday June 2 15 mi. Colvin Run Mill Park to Algonkian Park

Fairfax Trails and Streams e-newsletter 15 May 2002

PARK AUTHORITY SEEKS YOUR INPUT ON FUTURE PRIORITIES The Fx Co Park Authority seeks your input this spring on its future priorities, for a study to becompleted at the end of 2002. You may (1) testify in person, (2) testify by e-mail, and (3) join a focus group. To testify please contact Judy Pederson 703 324 8662 or parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov , for more info. You may also e-mail your comments to that address; if they arrive by June 20 they will be considered in the study.

PUBLIC HEARING SITES
May 20 7pm Mason Dist. Govt Ctr, 6507 Columbia Pike
May 21, 7pm McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside, McLean
May 22, 7pm FCPA Hqtrs,Herrity Bldg 106-7, 12055 Govt Ctr Pkwy,Fairfax
May 23, 7pm Whitman Interm School, 2500 Parkers Lane, Alexandria
Talking points: FTAS has a special interest in preserving open space and ensuring trail connectivity along stream valleys, notably PimmitRun, the Cross-County Trail (Difficult, Accotink, and Pohick streams) and thePotomac Heritage National Scenic Trail along the river.

FCPA FOCUS GROUP FOR TRAILADVOCATES MAY 23 The FCPA's study includes focus group interviews with groups of 8to 12 participants. Focus groups feature discussions of "larger issues" facing FCPA. A focus group for trail advocates on Thursday, May 23 at 8:30 a.m. at FCPA Headquarters, Herrity Building, 4th floor, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Virginia. If you are available to participate in thisfocus group, please contact Sandy Stallman, 703-324-8643 or sstall@co.fairfax.va.us

PHOTOS OF 5/11 HISTORICAL MAP UNVEILING are posted at http://www.mcleancitizens.org/TrailsPhotos.htm. About 20 people, from MCF and FTAS, as well as a reporter from the Connection, covered the unveiling. The maps will be on sale for the first time at FTAS's booth at McLean Day, Lewinsville Park, May 18 11-5.

MCF/FTAS SURVEY 3 PIMMITBRIDGE SITES After the map ceremony, the group hiked along Pimmit Run from Old Dominion to Brookhaven Drive, to survey the sites for the three trail bridges we plan to build. There was much discussion of crossing sites, options and strategies. An old easement has been discovered in the area that may provide additional options; a title search is underway to assess its current status. The consensus is to work towards building all three bridges, taking the time to get them in the best sites (e.g., rather than install one bridge quickly).

PIMMIT RUN PROJECT MANAGERAPPOINTED The FCPA has appointed Christina Schuler project manager for the Pimmit Run Trail. Work is planned to start in July. She also manages a section of the CCT near Lake Accotink.

500 FTAS BUMPER STICKERSPRINTED They show a one-color variantof our "flag" logo, displaying our name and website. We expect them to be available at McLean Day5/18.

CCT SIGNS ERECTED FROM OAKMARR TO MILLERHEIGHTS RD On May 15, FCPA staff and FTAS volunteers (Chuck Roper, Sue Lapins, Kristin Lucia, Diana Gibson and Bill Niedringhaus) erected 15 of the new flexible CCT signs on this section, which was hard to navigate, but no longer!

CLARK'S BRANCH CROSSING PLANNED AUGUST 2002, on the PHNSTrail north of GreatFalls Park. FCPA has devised a plan to reinstall the existing culverts, which will be anchored to the stream bed and welded together. Trail volunteer groups can then install a surface over the culverts suitablefor hiker and equestrian use. Park staff have met with a contractor who has equipment that can navigate the terrain without causing damage. The work is planned for August 2002.

DRANESVILLE TRAIL REPRESENTATIVE Bill Niedringhaus is stepping down as Dranesville representative to Fairfax County's Non-Motorized Transportation committee. The new Dranesville representative to the NMTC is Wade Smith, Trails & Environment Chair of the McLean Citizens Association. Wade, a long-time FTAS-er, prepared our Brookhaven bridge proposal to the MCF. He has led efforts to complete trails along Lewinsville Rd. Bill continues as president of Fairfax Trails and Streams and the Potomac River GreenwaysCoalition, and serves on the board of the Potomac Trail Council and on itsTrail Designation Committee.

CROSS COUNTY TRAIL UPDATE FCPA's Jenny Pate notes from the April 30 meeting of the Cross County Trail Working Group:

The Accotink trail from King Arthur to route 236 is in plan review with VDOT and DPWES with a scheduled bid date of fall 2002 and construction by the end of 2003. The Accotink trail from the Lake Accotink dam [to an underpass of] Old Keene Mill Road to Hunter Village Drive is in design with plans for construction by the end of 2003. Design has also been started on section VIII[northern Difficult Run] Four new stream crossings and an underpass at the Dulles Access Road are planned.

Maps for the Pohick section (Map 1 of 10), the Accotink from the Parkway to the LakeAccotink dam (Map 2 of 10), and the Reston/W&OD section (map 8 of 10) are being printed for distribution on Trails Day, June 1. A map of trails in Wakefield Park (map 4 of 10) is ready for publication this summer, as is a new CCT overall brochure.

Signposts have now been installed on more than half of the route (over 17 miles),including a new section between Hunter Valley Drive and Lawyers Road using the new flexible signs [another three-quarters mile was signed May 15; see above]

Acquisition is proceeding at various locations along the route. Surveying is being done for several properties in the Difficult Run stream valley to clarify location of property lines, easements and the existing footpath.

Several events are scheduled for National Trails Day, including the Ultimate CC hikefrom Lake Accotink into Loudoun County [over 3 days, May 31-June2]. Various groups will join with the UCC hikers at different points on the three days of the hike. FCPA is sponsoring a "What's New on the Trails" update and possible circuit hike to Lake Accotink Park starting at Wakefield Park at 9:00am June 1.

[Near-future] volunteer projects include a re-routing of the trail through Oak Marr and into Tattersall during the summer and fall, improvements on the west side of the Brian Jac relocation, and work on identifying the route through Difficult Run on tax map 37-3.

REMINDERS
Sat. May 18 McLeanDAY Lewinsville Park, Chain Bridge Rd. FTAS-ers Steve Dryden, EdPickens and Paul Blackburn will staff our booth. We could use another two volunteers (if youcan help, please contact JSDRYDEN@bellatlantic.net) .

Sat. May 25, 9am: Hike alongpart of Pimmit Run. Info: rowemm@aol.com

Mon. May 27, 7:30 pm, Pimmit Run Trail Planning. McLean Govt Center, 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean. Guest speaker, Katie Goldberg of the NorthernVirginia Conservation Trust, which owns a site of a future trail bridge over Pimmit Run

May 31, June 1, 2. Ultimate Cross County Hike. Each daywe meet at the endpoint at 9am,shuttle to the beginning (on a 42-person bus), and hike back. (We are asking $5per rider to defray the cost). Detailsat www.fairfaxTrails.org and www.americanhiking.org
9am Friday, May 31 12 mi. LakeAccotink to Oak Marr Recr Center
9am Saturday June 1 12 mi. Oak Marr Rec. Center to Colvin Run Mill Park
9am Sunday June 2 12 mi. Colvin Run Mill Park to Loudoun Co

FTAS JUNE MEETING Mon. June 24 7:30 pm McLean Govt Center 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean GUEST SPEAKER: Laura Grape. She is an aquatic biologist who works as the outreach coordinator for the Stream Protection Strategy group of the Fairfax County DPWES. She will speak on Fairfax County's Watershed Masterplanning and stream protection efforts.

Report on Ultimate Cross-County Hike FTAS' big National Trails Day event took place May 31-June 2. Under the able leadership of Henri Comeau, we hiked the first leg on Friday, starting at Lake Accotink. The weather was hot but pleasant the first 80% of the way, in the shadow of the woods. The last three miles south of Oak Marr were difficult--the only long on-road segment of the CCT. The good news: there is hope for an alternate more wooded route. Mayor Mason of Fairfax City (in the last days of his term) talked with us at some length; the incoming city government is seriously interested in protecting open space and extending the trail further up the Accotink towards 123.

Saturday we continued from Oak Marr. Dranesville Supervisor Stu Mendelsohn met with us at the meeting spot (before rushing off to visit other Dranesville Trails Day events). Providence Supervisor Gerry Connolly spoke of his vision of completing the CCT as soon as possible, and echoed the mayor's interest in getting the middle part off-road. He joined us for the first three miles, along the newly-signed segment to Miller Hts Road (previously very difficult to navigate), as far as the Leeds Road. There, the Hunter Valley Riding Club graciously provided us with snacks and drinks (the group also sponsored its own NTD event, a horseback ride). Sully Supervisor Mike Frey spoke some words of encouragement. Then on through Oakton and Reston to Tamarack Park--by this time some of us were a bit low on water, so it was a very welcome sight to see volunteers from Northern Vienna Trails (led by Jennifer Madden) welcome us with more drinks and snacks! Jennifer's group seeks to complete a network of trails, e.g. linking Wolf Trap, Meadowlark Park and the CCT. The trail, overgrown in previous years, was in very good shape all the way to Colvin Run Mill, thanks to increased awareness and use. The part north of Browns Mill Road was freshly stonedusted. The county is well into scoping along this entire segment; the biggest task is a safe crossing of Browns Mill Road. This leg had the highest turnout of the three, with 21 starting and 17 finishing.

Sunday, we hiked from Colvin Run to Loudoun County, the longest of the three legs. This is the first Cross-County Hike to go north of Great Falls Park. Supervisor Kate Hanley wished us well, and Loudoun Supervisor Chuck Harris spoke of plans to extend the Potomac National Historic Scenic Trail into Loudoun County. The first part used the newly-built and signed reroute at Brian Jac Road. To cross Difficult Run without benefit of ford, the hikers brought sandals and towels to get across and continue with dry feet. The Great Falls Park snack bar, near the halfway point, was an ideal lunch spot. A major obstacle has been overcome by the completion of a low water bridge across Clarks Run in Riverbend Park, thanks to the Great Falls Trailblazers. A second stream crossing has recently been built several miles north--a fantastic looking structure with planks along a huge log. Looking like something from "Lord of the Rings", it is never level. Lets hope it survives the next flood! Karen Jones deserves major kudos for enabling Sunday's event--her team cleared a very long stretch of trail along the river south of Seneca (also near Clarks Run); she provided a detailed and absolutely necessary map of the northern 5 miles. Since Karen got a nasty ankle sprain while clearing trail and couldnt hike with us, she drove to various places along the hike to take pictures. These, along with Nick Boyer's and those of the Hunter Valley Riding Club, will soon be available on our website, www.fairfaxTrails.org . Nick also deserves credit as the only one (in addition to Bill Niedringhaus, the event's coordinator) to complete all three legs.

We all look forward to the final leg, from Occoquan to Accotink, to complete the Ultimate Cross-County Hike.