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2001 News Archive
July thru September

July | August | September

JULY MEETING, ON PIMMIT VOLUNTEERS, 7:30pm July 23 It will be at Bruce Glendening's House. All are welcome. The focus will be on Pimmit Run volunteer projects. Please RSVP to 703-532-9093 or bglendening@yahoo.com We will also decide whether to meet in August.
DIRECTIONS
1: Kirby - Chesterbrook Intersection
2: Turn onto CHESTERBROOK RD. 0.7 miles
3: Turn LEFT onto FOREST LN. 0.2 miles
4: Turn LEFT onto OAKDALE RD. 0.1 miles
5: Turn RIGHT onto CRESTWOOD LN. 0.1 miles
6: Turn RIGHT onto WOODACRE DR. 0.4 miles
7. GO TO VERY END OF WOODACRE DR TO 1428, red brick Cape Cod house at the end of the cul-de-sac. Good luck! It is easy to get lost in this mid-1960s development.

SUPV STU MENDELSOHN GUEST AT FTAS SEPTEMBER MEETING Stu has offered to be FTAS's guest Sept 17, 7:30pm. His support has been crucial on several FTAS-supported trail projects. This date is a change and would replace the 9/24 meeting. We thus need to find a volunteer host.

NPS STUDY UNDERWAY FOR PHNS Trail Gt Falls to Whites Ferry, Belvoir The National Park Service has allocated $30,000 for detailed study of routes for the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail through Loudoun and Fairfax Counties. Hop Long of the PATC will head the effort north of Great Falls Park. The study will enable next year's funding (if approved) to go to construction, possibly including Clarks Run Bridge in Riverbend Park

NMTC SEEKS 10 TOP TRAIL PRIORITIES in each Fx Co DISTRICT Fx Co's Nonmotorized Transportation Committee is attempting to make a list of the ten top trail priorities for each district. FTAS plans to provide input for Dranesville and possibly other districts. If you have suggestions please send to rowemm@aol.com. Each districts supervisor expected to make a final decision.

FAIRFAX JOURNAL's JULY 3 ARTICLE ON CCT Bill Niedringhaus, President of FTAS, wrote this letter to the editor of Fx Journal: "As president of Fairfax Trails and Streams, the group that originated the idea of the Cross-County Trail (CCT) and organized the Cross-County Hikes, I enjoyed your supportive article about the Trail (July 3, 2001)-but need to point out a significant error. Our public testimony about the CCT did not "overwhelm" the Board of Supervisors, nor suddenly win them over as the article implied. The Board in fact already supported the CCT. Half the members participated in the first Cross County Hike. Our testimony thanked them and urged continued support. The Board has done so, unanimously approving funding resolutions introduced by Supervisor Connolly ($900,000 for FY01). FTAS continues to work with government officials, landowners and volunteers to help complete the CCT."

JIM MORAN's TRAIL REP WALKS PIMMIT RUN WITH FTAS, July 14 Tim Aiken, who handles trails issues for Rep. Jim Moran, walked Pimmit Run from Chain Bridge to Olney Park. Led by Ed Pickens, about a dozen hikers joined Tim. The trail was reported to be in quite good condition.

DIFFICULT RUN COMMUNITY CONSERVANCY MEETS JULY 21 Please contact Joe McGrath for details at joemcg@bellatlantic.net

NPS PUBLISHES DRAFT DOCUMENT on Mt VERNON TRAIL thru McLean The National Park Service released in April a "30% draft" report (only a few copies) of the proposed Mt Vernon Trail extension, from Rosslyn to the Legion Bridge. This hard-surface trail would run along wide roads in Arlington, across Pimmit Run just above Chain Bridge and then roughly along GW Parkway/Turkey Run. It would be parallel but well separated from the PATC-maintained Potomac Heritage Trail. A "60% draft" is expected in August and a "100% draft" at year's end. A copy will be available at FTAS' July 23 meeting. FTAS has not taken a position on this trail.

FTAS, CCT FIELDTRIP FOR MID-ATLANTIC GOV's CONF Sept 17 FTAS and PATC (with field help from FCPA) will co-host a workshop on volunteer trail construction at the Mid Atlantic Governor's Conference on Blueways and Greenways Sept 16-18. On Sept. 17 a bus will leave the main conference site at Crystal City for an Oakton Cross-County Trail site (between Leeds and Lawyers Rds). The PATC's Cadillac Crew will demonstrate trail maintenance techniques. In August, FCPA will visit the site with FTAS and PATC and survey the area to determine public right-of-way. It may recommend trail reroutes, regrades, or other volunteer actions.

ANNUAL POTOMAC HERITAGE CAUCUS Oct. 12 in Loudoun County Stay tuned for details.

Listbot service is closing this week. Soon, members on this list will be invited to re-join FTAS' e-newsletter as a MSN community. For you, once you switch, all will be much the same as before. Our e-news archives will be moved to the MSN site.

TRAIL NEWS: Research in Fx County land records has confirmed that two key Pimmit Run trail right of way indeed exist. One is at Kinyon Place off Colleen Lane's cul-de-sac, allowing access to the Potomac Hills section the trail. Another is along Little Pimmit Run near Kirby Road. This and much else will be discussed at our Monday, August 27 meeting, 7:30 pm, at the McLean Govt Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road.

Fairfax Trails and Streams Enews-AUGUST 27 MEETING Is back in the McLean Govt Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road, 7:30pm. Pimmit Run Trail volunteers will report on progress. Maps will be available showing the easements mentioned in last e-news. Supervisor Stu Mendelsohn will be our guest next at next month's meeting, details TBA. FTAS WORKSHOP SEPT 17 ON CCT IN OAKTON The Park Authority, with support from FTAS and PATC, plans to survey and flag possible reroutes to the CCT in Oakton, between Leeds and Lawyers Road, early next month. This is in preparation for our workshop at the Mid-Atlantic Governors Conference on Greenways, Blueways and Green Infrastructure. The conference is in crystal City, Arlington; our workshop is on the trail on Monday Sept 17. If you are interested in developing trails it is an excellent way to get more involved and informed. Please see http://www.conted.vt.edu/blugrnways.htm for more info. STORM DAMAGE ON CROSS-COUNTY and PIMMIT TRAILS Recent heavy rains have caused damage to local stream valley trails. On Little Pimmit, approaches to a fairweather crossing near Maddux Lane were washed out. Jenny Pate of FCPA distributed photos which will be posted on our website soon. On Pimmit Run, three small bridges were washed out east of Great Falls Street. Equestrian Peter Moore of Great Falls reports from the CCT along Difficult Run: "... Wow! The water appears to have run 5-6 feet above the bank in the big storm. The magnitude of the flood is impressive ... There is a large tree blocking the Run @ the concrete sewer line crossover between near the Old Dominion overpass heading towards the G'town Pike parking lot. Going the other way, a large 4'x 8-10' conduit pipe was completely lifted from the path & left tilted into the Run right before [Leigh Mill] Rd & the County field ... Hopefully the County will be out soon to make repairs." I'd appreciate any other reports of trail conditions after the storm. STATUS OF CCT LINK KING ARTHUR RD-RT 236 FCPA's Jenny Pate reports: The project to extend the existing trail from King Arthur to Wakefield is in design (Burgess and Niple). .. It is one of the largest, most expensive trail sections the Park Authority has ever built. The project involves over a mile of paved trail, at least five culverts, wet area trail detail, three stream crossings, acquisition of an easement [on one property], extension of [existing easement], and improvements under the Rt. 236/Beltway interchange under three separate ramp/bridges along the creek. We also are required to do a wetland delineation and an environmental impact report. Current project estimate is $1.6 million. We have about $600,000 in bond funds, a $425,000 CMAQ grant (congestion mitigation) and just got news we received a $408,000 TEA-21 grant for this year. That puts us about $200,000 short of the estimate. We still have to have the plans approved by the County (DPWES) and VDOT. Assuredly trail building on public land with public dollars is not easy nor cheap. Especially when stream crossings, federal grants, and VDOT are involved. If approvals are granted as we hope and the easement acquisitions proceed, we should be ready to bid next spring (2002) with construction through the summer/fall/early winter of 2002. This is one of the last missing links along the Accotink Gateway Connector trail - part of the Cross County trail.

HIGHLIGHTS
FTAS Wins Fx Co Pk Auth's Elly Doyle Award
Robin Rentsch wins NVRPA Award
2 Public Hearings Sept 10 on Stream Protection, New Parks
SEPT 17 FTAS meeting: Guest Supv. Stu Mendelsohn
OCT 22 FTAS meeting AT OAK MARR, Focus on Cross-County Trail 

DETAILS
AWARDS: On Sept 7, FCPA announced the winners of the 2001 Elly Doyle awards, including FTAS for our work in helping create the CCT and other trails, and to help protect our stream valleys. At the same press conference, the Northern VA Regional Park Auth. announced Rentsch wins the 2001 NVRPA Mess Award for her long service notably helping create and improve the W&OD bike and equestrian trail. On Nov 2, both awards will be formally presented at an 8 pm banquet at the Fairview Marriott, Falls Church. Tickets are $50. Proceeds go to Fx Co. Open Space Land Preservation Fund. Please call 703 324 8581 if you would like to attend.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
SEPT 17, 7:30 pm (Monday) FOCUS: Pimmit Run Trail planning GUEST: Dranesville Supervisor Stuart Mendelsohn. LOCATION at Veronica Slajer's house, 1463 Kirby Road, McLean. DIRECTIONS: Kirby Rd (Rt 695), coming from Old Dominion toward 123, on right near Ingeborg Ct.

OCT. 22nd, 7:30 pm (Monday) FOCUS: Cross-County Trail Volunteer Trail building GUEST: FCPA rep (TBD) LOCATION at Oak Marr Recreation Center ("Grand Central Station" on the Cross-County Trail). DIRECTIONS: Beltway, West on I-66, exit Rt 123 north, left Jermantown Road ___This is FTAS' first meeting outside McLean since we started in 1998. Our focus will be the CCT, especially volunteer efforts to reroute and improve many sections of it. We hope this central-CCT location will draw new CCT enthusiasts.

NOV. 12, 7:30 pm (Monday) in McLean at a volunteer's house TBD

DEC.. 4, 7:30 pm (Monday) we return to the McLean Government Center at 1437 Balls Hill Road

TRAIL CLEARING/BUILDING (details see next e-news) Sept 17, 1:30 pm FTAS, PATC sponsor workshop, "Trailbuilding 101", at Leeds Road on the CCT --- several more will be needed this fall

OTHER FTAS FALL EVENTS:
---Oct. 12 Potomac Heritage Nat Scenic Trail Annual Caucus, 9-3, Loudoun County (details TBA)
--- Oct 27-28 weekend: Fx Co Volunteerfest: FTAS and GFT will reroute Pot Heritage Trail
--- Nov 2 Banquet. Awards presented to FTAS and Robin Rentsch (see above)
--- Several TRAIL CLEARING events are planned, see next e-news

PUBLIC HEARINGS
SPEAK OUT FOR STREAM VALLEY PROTECTION
morning SEPT 10 th The Fairfax Board of Supervisors meets on Monday, Sept. 10, 10:15am, at the BOS auditorium at 1200 Gov. Center Pkwy. On the agenda will be the question of whether to authorize funding to revise the county maps to better recognize perennial streams. Such designated streams are the only ones that receive protection from inappropriate development under Virginia's Chesapeake Bay protection act. Currently, the county map is highly inaccurate, ignoring miles of streams that flow year-round. This is an opportunity to speak out for stream valley protection.

HEARING TO PROPOSE NEW PARKS FOR DRANESVILLE
SEPT 10th 7pm This is the first in a series of Monday night meetings, to culminate Dec 10, to nominate new parks for the Comprehensive Plan. 30 ideas have been received so far. McLean Govt Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road.

HEARINGS ON REVISED TRAILS PLAN
Oct 3rd and Nov. 19th The Staff Report for The Policy Plan Amendment to Revise the Countywide Trails Plan is available online at www.co.fairfax.va.us/nmtc/plan_staff_report. Public hearings are scheduled at the Government Center before the Planning Commission on Wednesday, October 3, 2001, at 8:15 P.M., and the Board of Supervisors on Monday, November 19, 2001, at 4 P.M.

OAKTON CROSS-COUNTY TRAIL (CCT): FTAS and the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) will hold a "Trailbuilding 101" workshop on Sept 17 at the CCT in Oakton. The event is part of the Mid-Atlantic Governorsí Conference on Greenways, Blueways and Green Infrastructure (info see http://www.conted.vt.edu/blugrnways.htm). The workshop will replace a very steep section of the trail with switchbacks. There is too much work to finish that day; we will be back. WE WILL NEED YOUR HELP!!! The relocation was flagged Sept 5 with Ffx Co Park Authority (FCPA), PATC and FTAS. A little further north, near Lawyers Road, the CCT needs to follow a narrow strip of public land, but it was never certain it actually did. FCPA sent surveyors (also on Sept 5) and the verdict--mostly, the trail is in the right place! Only two very short segments need reroutes. FCPA's Jenny Pate said that once this relocation is complete, FCPA will install the distinctive new CCT signposts to identify the route, which includes a stepping-stone crossing of Little Difficult Run. A longstanding FTAS goal is to sign as much of the CCT as possible, so this is a big opportunity.

LEIGH MILL ROAD, GREAT FALLS: The FCPA also asked FTAS to improve two sections of the Great Falls part of the CCT, moving highly eroded trail to higher ground. Similarly, if this can be finished in 2001, the FCPA will install the new CCT signposts on this entire section (despite unimproved crossings of Difficult Run).

RIVERBEND PARK: In late Oct or November, we will team up with the Great Falls Trailblazers to reroute a section of the Potomac Heritage Trail in Riverbend Park. Later, we expect to helpat the request of Jenny Pate of the FCPA) do two more reroutes of the Cross County Trail north of Colvin Run--near Leigh Mill Road and Brian Jac Road, to move two highly eroded sections to higher ground. To finish this will require several additional worktrips. Additional progress on several sections of CCT

SOUTH OAKTON: The (stonedust or natural-surface) section north of Oak Marr Rec. Center (Jermantown Road) to Vale Road nominally includes 1/4 mile along Miller Heights Road. However, FCPA and FTAS have asked the Tattersall Homeowners Association for permission to cross 300 feet of their common property to keep the trail entirely in the woods. The local supervisor (Gerry Connolly) hiked this section in July with some of the homeowners and several FTAS members. Also, FCPA and FTAS have met with the HOA several times to discuss issues such as liability, privacy and parking. It was agreed at a July HOA meeting that the FCPA would propose in writing a trail route on HOA land that would generally keep it deepest in the woods, farthest from the adjacent houses. A ramp would be necessary at Miller Heights Road because of a steep drop from the side of the road. The FCPA has nearly completed the proposal and will soon present it to the HOA. Two-thirds of the HOA members must sign the agreement for it to take effect.

MERRIFIELD: It is now possible to follow the future (asphalt) route of the King Arthur Road to Rt 236 section (discussed in a recent e-news); it has been flagged with wooden stakes and orange tape. It will cross Accotink three times; these will be neither bridges nor fairweathers, but rather look like the new Accotink CCT crossing near Nutley Road, which leaves the stream bed undisturbed. The route is roughly that of the Cross-County Hikes--but nicer, further from the beltway in some places. A subcontractor familiar with working with VDOT and wetland issues is designing this section.

SPRINGFIELD: This (asphalt) section, south from Lake Accotink to Old Keene Mill Rd., is next to be built after the above, helped by a $408K TEA-21 grant the Park Authority received in June. It also will feature three of the new type of crossings of Accotink Creek. Two crossings allow the trail to avoid a steep section under phone lines near houses. A third allows an underpass of Old Keene Mill Road (avoiding 1/4 mile along the road), where it will connect with an existing asphalt CCT section which runs south to the Parkway. Thus, it will follow a more scenic route than used during the Cross-County Hikes.

GREAT FALLS PARK: Though accessed almost entirely by car now, Great Falls Park will soon be major junction of long distance trails--the CCT from the south, and PHT from the west alont the Potomac and the east along Georgetown Pike. The Great Falls Trailblazers, Dranesville district and Fairfax County staff met with the managers of Great Falls Park last week to discuss access from a 4th trail along Georgetown Pike from the west. The GFP management reacted positively to the park's serving as a trail nexus (even though it would be harder to collect fees). The reduction in parking demand and pollution were seen as plusses. They also showed interest in marking the Cross-County Trail there with the new FCPA signposts.

5 New FCPA Stream Valley Trail brochures planned for early 2002 Jenny Pate of FCPA is designing sets of stream valley trail brochures. They would include detailed maps of existing trails. The first five are all in the southern part of the county, Wakefield Park, Lake Accotink, South Run, Pohick Run and Rocky Run.

Unlike last year, no federal matching funding for the Cross-County Trail or Potomac Heritage Trail made it into the House Transportation bill, despite the $2.05 million funding initially requested by the three local congressmen listed below. However, funding may be restored in the House-Senate conference if enough people write letters of support. Short one- or two-sentence letters are fine. The funds are needed mainly to complete stream crossings, and are important to maintain the momentum of this project. Please write to Congressman Frank Wolf (who is on conference committee) urging FULL TCSP FUNDING for these two trails. Letters from Wolf's district are especially helpful. It would also be helpful to cc Congressmen Tom Davis and Jim Moran, who represent the CCT and Fairfax PHT region. The decision could come as soon as ten days so time is critical. Please pass the message on to other supporters. Cong. Frank R. Wolf; 241 Cannon House Office Bldg; Wash DC 20515-4610 Fax: (202) 225-0437 Phone (202) 225-5136 geoff.gleason@mailhouse.gov Cong. Tom Davis; 306 Cannon House Office Bldg; Wash DC 20515-4611 Fax: (202) 225-3071 Phone: (202) 225-1492 tom.davis@mail.house.gov Cong. Jim Moran; 2239 Rayburn House Office Bldg; Wash, DC 20515-4608 Fax: (202) 225-0017 Phone (703) 971-4700 jim.moran@mail.house.gov Order of effectiveness: Regular US mail, fax, phone, e-mail To subscribe OR unsubscribe please e-mail FairfaxTrails@aol.com We apologize for any duplicated messages. We are experimenting with different list-serv options.

REMINDER: NEXT FTAS MEETINGS -- SEPT 17, 7:30 pm (Monday) FOCUS: Pimmit Run Trail planning. GUEST: Supervisor Stu Mendelsohn. LOCATION: V Slajer's house, 1463 Kirby Road (Rt 695), McLean. 0.9 miles east of Old Chesterbrook; 0.8 miles west of Rt 123, near Leven Preserve --OCT. 22nd, 7:30 pm (Monday) Focus on Cross-County Trail Volunteer Trail building LOCATION at Oak Marr Recreation Center

Mid-Atlantic Governors Conference has been scaled back. Organizers report: The conference will open as planned on Sunday [today]. Speaking sessions (i.e., concurrent sessions) will be held as planned on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Pre-conference excursions on Saturday and Sunday will be held as planned. However, all mobile workshops on Monday and Tuesday will be cancelled.... The conference format includes 8 concurrent sessions running during eachtime period, so there will be plenty of opportunities for attendees to choose from if individual sessions must be cancelled due to a lack of speakers. Second, the roads in D.C. and in Crystal City, Virginia are open and we anticipate no problems with local travel. The metro system is also fully operational. Our conference hotel, the Crystal Gateway Marriott informs us that there has been no interruption to their services. The area is completely safe and has returned to normal operations. Finally, we encourage you all to attend the conference in spite of the national tragedy that has occurred, and to take advantage of the tremendous informational and networking opportunity that the conference will still provide. At the same time, we are sensitive to the fact that some individuals will be forced to cancel their participation. If you have registered and do not plan to attend, please contact the Conference Registrar at Virginia Tech (phone: 540-231-5182, fax: 540-231-3306) to inform them of your cancellation and request a refund of registration fees. Thank you all for your patience and understanding. Jamie ........................................... Jamie L. King, Ph.D. Environmental Consultant 2001 Mid-Atlantic Governors' Conference on Greenways, Blueways, & Green Infrastructure (info see http://www.conted.vt.edu/blugrnways.htm) email: jking@wam.umd.edu