Local Officials, Residents Meet to Discuss Opening Public Lands

Protection, proper management, harmony and access were the keywords at the second annual Conservation Forum held Monday night.

Hosted by the Prince William Conservation Alliance, a board of local and state panelists spoke with residents about their concerns regarding three publicly owned lands – Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge in Woodbridge, Dove's Landing, located along the Occoquan River and Lake Manassas – that are all closed to the public. 

Panelists included Congressman Gerry Connolly, Rob Hartwell, Commissioner on the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, Mike Kane, Land Conservation Officer with the Piedmont Environmental Council and Chairman of the Washington Smart Growth Alliance Conservation Program and Charlie Grymes, Chairman of Prince William Conservation Alliance.

A hot-button topic was Featherstone Nature Refuge in the eastern end of Prince William County, which runs parallel between VRE rail tracks and the Potomac River. to the public for nearly 40 years.

Congressman Connolly spoke vehemently in support of opening Featherstone refuge to the public. Grymes also agreed that Featherstone needed to be opened to the public. 

“If you don’t know what you’ve got you won’t manage it well and protect it,” said Grymes. He also spoke of the need to educate the next generation on the natural resources in the area before they believe everything is a “manicured HOA lawn.”

“What does it cost to take that sign that says public land keep out and make it say ‘welcome public, this is a nature preserve,’” said Grymes.

While Featherstone was at the forefront of the evening's conversation, the topic of opening Dove's Landing, in the mid-county area, and Lake Manassas also were brought to attention. 

When asked by an audience member if additional funds could be allocated in support of refuges, Congressman Connolly said that, “It’s not a matter of are we going to find another resources, I believe we need to have a rational dialogue. All spending is not bad. Making investments in this [refuge] is good.”

Grymes spoke to the need for funding citing that the best way to protect refuges such as Featherstone are to generate local residents’ interest in the areas in an effort to garner the community’s time and energy.

Joan Patterson of the Friends of Potomac River Refuges, one of several conservation groups present at the evening meeting, thanked Congressman Connolly for his support of refuge.

“I really hope you will consider pushing as hard as you can for additional funds,” said Patterson.

Program sponsors included  Prince William Conservation Alliance, Prince William Wildflower Society, Northern Virginia Bird Club, Piedmont Environmental Council, Sierra Club, Virginia Chapter, Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and the Audubon Naturalist Society.

For more information on the Prince William Conservation Alliance, click here.