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2001 News Archive
October and November

October | November


October 11 2001

Cross-County reroute nears completion;
2 upcoming worktrips

HIGHLIGHTS
Volunteers near completion of half-mile Oakton Cross-County Trail Reroute 
Upcoming Worktrips Oct 27 and Nov 3
Fairfax Co approves 2002 referendum for $20M open space funding
Trail Advocacy Groups Invited to Gather At Appalachian Trail cabin, Oct 20

CALENDAR
Fri. Oct 12 9 am Potomac Heritage Trail Annual Caucus, Tamara Vineyards 
Sat. Oct 20 Trail Advocacy Groups Gather (see below)
Sat. Oct 27 9 am Cross-County Trail Worktrip (see below)
Fri. Nov 2 8 pm Awards Banquet for Park Volunteers, Fairview Marriott: info: 703 324 8581
Sat. Nov 3 9 am Potomac Heritage Trail Worktrip (see below)
Mon Nov 5 7:30 pm FTAS meeting
Sun. Nov. 11 (tentative date): Pimmit Run Hike
Mon Dec 3 7:30 pm FTAS meeting
Wed. Jan. 16, evening: Public hearing, Comprehensive Trails Plan Amendment
NOTE: The previously-announced Oct 22 CCT meeting at Oak Marr is postponed.

DETAILS
Volunteers near completion of half-mile Oakton Cross-County Trail Reroute Volunteer teams are well ahead of schedule on the Oakton CCT reroute,between Leeds and Lawyers Road. This reroute was identified by Fx Co Park Authority and Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, and was the focus of a Governor’§ôs Greenways Conference field trip. Though that event was cancelled, volunteers are expected to complete the reroute next week. The reroute avoids steep terrain, keeps as far from houses as possible and stays on public land, as verified by a recent Park Authority survey.

CROSS COUNTY TRAIL WORKTRIP: On Oct. 27, 9am, our volunteers will move on to a new section, in Great Falls north of Route 7 near Brian Jac and Leigh Mill Roads. The trail will be moved to higher ground to avoid wet, eroded areas. Please call Bill Niedringhaus at 703 821 0975 or fairfaxTrails@aol.com if you would like to participate.

POTOMAC HERITAGE TRAIL WORKTRIP, Nov 3rd, 9am. Several groups are joining forces on this Riverbend Park reroute--Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, Potomac Trail Council, Great Falls Trailblazers and FTAS. This section is also part of the extended Cross-County Trail. Please contact RobRentsch@aol.com if you’§ôd like to come.

Trail Advocacy Groups Gather at Cabin near AT in Round Hill The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is offering its cabin near Round Hill and the Appalachian Trail for the second annual caucus of local trail advocacy groups, Oct.20. It is a great chance to get acquainted with a dozen or more trail advocate groups around the area. Info please contact Tom Johnson at johnts3@juno.com

Fairfax Co approves 2002 referendum for $20M open space funding The BOS voted to move forward with $20 M open space/park bond referendum for 2002. The 1998 bond money has been spent and the next bond would be for 2004. This would be a non-scheduled referendum to keep the momentum going, money specifically earmarked for land acquisition.

October 21 2001

2nd Cross-County trail reroute flagged;McLean Citizens discuss stream protection.

HIGHLIGHTS
Oct 24, 8pm McLean Citizens Assoc to discuss Stream Valley Protection
Fx Co Park Auth, FTAS, map 2nd major CC Trail reroute near Colvin Run Mill
Nov 5 FTAS meeting to be held at Bruce Glendening's home, McLean
Oct 23 7pm Workshop in Herndon on Virginia DOT Trail Funding

REMINDERS
Sat. Oct 27 9 am Cross-County Trail Worktrip (info Bill Niedringhaus 703 821 0975)
Fri. Nov 2 8 pm Awards Banquet for Park Volunteers, Fairview Marriott: info: 703 324 8581
Sat. Nov 3 9 am Potomac Heritage Trail Worktrip (info Robin Rentsch RobRentsch@aol.com)

DETAILS
Oct 24, 8pm The next general meeting of the McLean Citizens Association will focus on Stream Valley Protection. McLean Community Center (MCC), Ingleside Avenue. Take 123 from Old Dominion one block towards Chain Bridge, take 1st left onto Ingleside Ave, MCC is just past the Library.

On Friday Oct. 19th, Fairfax Co Park Auth and FTAS flagged a second major Cross-County Trail reroute north of Colvin Run Mill. This new route rises above the flood plain to avoid a heavily eroded section. It will be marked with the new CCT signposts as soon as our volunteers complete it, starting Oct 27 (see above). It passes close to two majestic 200+ years old oak trees, perhaps the oldest along the CCT.

FTAS's next monthly meeting is Monday Nov. 5, 7:30 pm at Bruce Glendening's home. The focus will be on Pimmit Run trail planning. Info: 703-532-9093 or bglendening@yahoo.com. All are welcome. 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

Oct 23 7pm No Va Workshop on TEA-21 Trail Funding, Herndon VDOT's Programming and Scheduling Division (P&S) is holding nine workshops across Virginia to provide information on Virginia's process for awarding TEA-21 Transportation Enhancement funds and to answer questions about eligible projects and the application process. Info: Bob Terrell with VDOT manages the Transportation Enhancement Program, and he may be reached at 800-444-7832 or terrell_re@vdot.state.va.us Jerry Cassidy with DCR manages the Virginia Recreational Trails Fund Program, and he may be reached at (804) 786-3218 or jerrycassidy@dcr.state.va.us . NORTHERN VIRGINIA WORKSHOP Tuesday, October 23, 2001 at 7: PM Carson Middle School 13618 McLearen Road Herndon, Virginia (on the Chantilly side)

October 22 2001

NO Oak Marr meeting tonight. There is NO FTAS meeting at Oak Marr tonight. This was mentioned in previous e-newsletter, but not prominently (as some have kindly pointed out!)


October 31, 2001

New Web Tool for Trail Activists

GIS OPEN HOUSE: Fairfax County is expanding the available GIS services. See their open house Nov 14 9-4 at the Government Center, details at http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/maps/gisday.htm

2nd MAJOR CROSS COUNTY TRAIL REROUTE COMPLETED. Nine FTAS volunteers worked two hours Saturday to complete a reroute from Brian Jac lane to the the CCT's crossing of Difficult Run north of Colvin Run Mill Park.

NEW YAHOO LISTSERV: Soon we will be using a Yahoo listserv for our e-newsletter. It has archives and auto subscribe/unsubscribe.

REMINDERS
Nov 2 Fri. evening Awards Banquet for Park Volunteers, Fairview Marriott: info: 703 324 8581 PRICE $50 Proceeds to Open Space fund. FTAS will receive award
-Nov 3 Sat. 9 am Potomac Heritage Trail Worktrip (info Robin Rentsch RobRentsch@aol.com) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED !!!
Nov 5 Mon 7:30pm FTAS meeting on Pimmit Run Planning to be held at Bruce Glendening's home, McLean Info: 703-532-9093 or bglendening@yahoo.com
Dec 3 Mon 7:30pm FTAS general meeting, McLean Govt. Center

November 9, 2001

Pimmit Run Cleanup

Fairfax Trails and Streams will hold its semiannual Pimmit Run litter cleanup Nov. 11 from 1-4 pm. Please join us to clean up this beautiful stream valley. Litter bags and gloves available at Great Falls St, Westmoreland St, Brookhaven Dr, and Kirby Rd (where these roads cross Pimmit), and also at Kent Gardens Elementary School parking lot. for more info: Paul Blackburn at pekheng@email.msn.com or Ed Pickens at pickens_slim@hotmail.com

November 28, 2001

Dec. 3 7:30 General Meeting: McLean Govt Center, 1437 Balls Hill Rd. Our guest is Joan Dubois, Dranesville rep on the Fx Co Planning Commission, which will meet Jan.16 to review recent amendments to the Trails Plan. This is a chance to provide input. Also, we will discuss FTAS plans for 2002, and unveil new maps -- Giant GIS maps of Pimmit Run, Cross County Trail, Great Falls/Potomac trail -- New countywide _existing_ trails map

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT RIVERBEND PARK Dec 5
12 volunteers are needed Wednesday, December 5, to continue building a missing piece of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail in Riverbend Park, Great Falls. The work was begun by 17 volunteers on Nov 3, as announced here earlier. We need to widen the tread in some areas, build two check dams and stabilize edges. The leader is Hop Long of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, who will provide necessary tools. Hop has requested we meet at Riverbend Nature Center at 8:30 am, and be prepared to stay until 3:00. Please bring water and a lunch, wear boots and bring gloves. Hop has requested no children under 15 and no dogs. If you can join us Dec. 5, please contact Eleanor Weck at eweck@earthlink.net or 703-759-2059.

November 28, 2001

ACTIONS NEEDED

  • Please Urge that the Pimmit Trail be designated an "Opportunity Project"
  • Please Support 2002 Grant for Cross-County Trail

CALENDAR

  • Jan 16: Fx Co Govt Center, Planning Commision hearing on Trails Plan Amendment
  • Jan 26: Summit on stream protection, Algonkian Reg. Park
  • Jan. 28 7:30pm: Cross-County Trail Caucus/FTAS Jan Meeting: We will join forces with the Fx Co Park Authority and Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, and many other groups, for the first countywide meeting for CCT enthusiasts. Stay tuned. (More details below.)

DETAILS ON ACTIONS NEEDED

Please Urge Pimmit Run Trail Become an "Opportunity Project." We have raised $150,000 to build three Pimmit Run crossings between Old Dominion and Brookhaven St. We have a developer's offer to do the construction below cost. Unfortuately the project is stalled because the County has no staff to prepare the necessary documents. The only way to get the project moving is to designate it an "Opportunity Project", a program created by Dranesville's Park Board member, Rich Thoesen. It taps available bond funding to get staff time to break the log-jam. Our support is needed for Pimmit Run to achieve this designation. Please contact Lynn Tadlock at the Park Authority (Ph: 703 324 8573 Fax 703 324 3987; email lynn.tadlock@co.fairfax.va.us)
Please Write to Support CCT 2002 Grant for Lake Accotink/Old Keene Mill Road Underpass - the last missing section of bike-trail along Accotink Creek from Fairfax City to the Fx Co Parkway, 2 miles. Please write Mr. Robert O. Cassada Programming and Scheduling Division Virginia Department of Transportation 1401 East Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 Also, please send or fax a copy to Jenny Pate at (Fax) 703 24 3987 (jenny.pate@co.fairfax.va.us); she is preparing a "TEA-21" matching grant application and will include letters of support.

Jenny Pate's Nov 14 Report to the Cross-County Planning Team - Excerpts: The Accotink trail from King Arthur to Route 236 is in final design and plans should be submitted to DPWES January 2002. The Accotink trail from the Lake Accotink dam to Old Keene Mill Road is being scoped and will be presented to the PAB for approval in December. This project will be the subject of a TEA 21 grant proposal from the FCPA [see above alert!]. The scope for Difficult Run [Dulles Access Rd to Great Falls Park] will also be completed in December. A trail relocation near Leigh Mill Road has been almost completed by Park Authority maintenance staff -including a new culvert in a drainage ditch and a relocation of a section of trail to provide better access for crossing Leigh Mill Road.

STREAM VALLEY MAPS: The first two of a series of Park Authority trail maps are in production. One of the maps is for the southern section of Pohick to the Fairfax County Parkway. The other is for South Run SV from Burke Lake to Southrun Road.

NEW SIGNPOSTS: Signposts were installed this past spring on the initial 9.6 miles of trail. An additional .8 mile from the Parkway to Old Keene Mill and 1.8 miles from the Byron Avenue parking lot to the Lake Accotink trestle parking lot have recently been signed for a total of more than 12 miles complete. New item: a simpler signing system is being planned for the "backcountry" sections of the Difficult Run. A flexible sign post labeled with the CCT logo and arrows as needed will be purchased to use on the sections not easily accessible by maintenance vehicles. These will be used in combination with the recycled post signs to mark the entire length of the trail.

FTAS REROUTES COMPLETE: Two volunteer projects have been completed. A revised route for a section of trail between Lawyers Road and Leeds Road was flagged by volunteers during the months of September and October. The other project is a re-routing from the new FWC above route 7 to Brian Jac Lane. Additional work at Brian Jac will be marked later this year.

CCT CAUCUS IN JANUARY: A public meeting sponsored by PATC, FTAS and FCPA will be held at PATC headquarters on Monday, January 28, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. at PATC headquarters in Vienna... [The] meeting will include brief presentations by FCPA staff (maintenance, Resource Management, and Planning) as well as by all the partner groups. Other groups may present ideas or progress on trail projects. Future volunteer efforts will also be discussed. An agenda will be developed in the next month and announcements of the meeting will be included in various publications, websites, etc.