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Big Wins, Let's Keep Going
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These are meaningful wins, and every resident who wrote an email, attended a meeting, shared information with neighbors, or spoke up should take a moment to celebrate. They are reminders that collective action works. Nothing is truly decided until it's built...or permanently protected.
While the Digital Gateway rezoning has been overturned, the Comprehensive Plan designation remains in place. Likewise, the developers behind Dulles South will likely return with another proposal. Six Towers and Quantico Ridge are still pending. And as study after study supports our concerns about the cumulative impacts of data centers on community and environmental health, our board has directed County staff to work with data centers to identify community benefits and develop a public messaging campaign promoting those benefits. (see DIR 26-13 / Bailey)
Mid County Civic Association recently hosted a meeting to help residents learn more, ask questions, and discuss what's next. >>View Meeting
This movement has never been just about stopping individual projects. It's about realizing a positive vision for Prince William County. Our community has invested years of work and millions of public dollars into developing the Comprehensive Plan, Strategic Plan, Community Energy and Sustainability Master Plan, and the Purchase of Development Rights Program. Together, these plans outline a future built around thriving communities, protected natural resources, and responsible growth.
PWCA's 3Rs Smart Growth Vision—Reimagine, Reinvest, and Redevelop—reflects the essence of these plans. Rather than continuing to consume forests, farmland, and open space, we believe Prince William can meet future needs by investing in existing communities while protecting the landscapes and water resources that make our county special.
This week, Tuesday, July 21st, during the 2 PM meeting, the Board will consider initiating two proposals:
- 11.A. RES - Initiate Comprehensive Plan Amendment #CPA2026-00016, Manassas Preserve - Gainesville Magisterial District - Ahmad Behzad, Planning - Mobility, Economic Growth, and Resiliency >>read more
- 11.B.RES - Initiate Comprehensive Plan Amendment #CPA2026-00003, Catharpin Valley Estates - Gainesville Magisterial District - Eric Griffitts, Planning - Mobility, Economic Growth, and Resiliency >>read more
During the last Comprehensive Plan update, Prince William County already made significant concessions for future housing growth; now it's time to hold the line. We cannot have a successful PDR program if CPA's like these are on the table. The incentives for development will be too strong. Lands here are not open space waiting to be developed. They are part of our critical infrastructure to protect our drinking water.
It is a commonly held belief that rural areas deplete the aquifer and therefore suburban-style development would be better; this is not the case. Check out this Green Risks podcast on Spotify that busts this myth and explains the important role these lands play.
Share your views by emailing the board or attending this week's meeting and speaking during Public Comment. If you wish to speak virtually, sign up here by Monday at 5 pm.
We're not defined by what we're standing against. We're defined by what we're standing for: thriving communities, clean air and water, protected farms and forests, and a Prince William County we can pass on to future generations with hope in our hearts.
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Drought Watch Highlights Why Land Conservation Matters
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Recent rains have provided some relief, but they haven't ended the region's water challenges. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a drought warning for Northern Virginia, while the broader Washington metropolitan region remains under a Drought Watch. Local officials are asking residents to voluntarily conserve water as unusually dry conditions are expected to persist throughout the summer.
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The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' Drought Watch affects nearly six million residents across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia. For Prince William County residents, this serves as an important reminder that our water supply depends on more than rainfall alone. Our resilience to drought is shaped by both weather patterns and how we use the land around us. >>read more on the Green Risks Blog
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Here are some simple tips residents can use to optimize indoor and outdoor water use:
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Monitor watering lawns, plants and shrubs;
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Sweep sidewalks and driveways (instead of using a hose);
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Avoid washing your car, or instead use a commercial car wash that recycles water;
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Fix any plumbing leaks – especially toilets and faucets;
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Reduce shower length;
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Turn off water while brushing your teeth; and
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Wash full loads of dishes and clothes.
Source: Fairfax Water
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This connection between land use and water resources is why "Provide sustainable drinking water" is a smart growth principle we added in our "3Rs of Reaching Our Potential" vision for Prince William County.
During our recent program, Buckland (Not) Preserve: Conservation Residential or Sprawl?, Michael Kieffer of the Bull Run Mountains Conservancy shared a striking example of how development can affect local waterways. A stream that had historically flowed year-round gradually transitioned from perennial to intermittent as the cumulative impacts of nearby development took hold. The change didn't happen overnight; it took nearly a decade for the full effects to become visible.
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This example illustrates an important reality: the decisions we make today about growth and land use may not reveal their consequences for years. It is also why maintaining large rural parcels - 1 house per 10 acres - and protecting farmland in western Prince William County remains so important. The rural landscape does more than provide scenic views and agricultural opportunities—it helps recharge groundwater, protects streams, and protects the watersheds that supply drinking water to our communities.
Residents on well water and the eastern end of Prince William County rely on these lands for their drinking water.
One effective tool available to address this challenge is the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program. By compensating landowners for permanently protecting their farms and forests, the program helps strengthen the rural economy while reducing development pressure on critical drinking water watersheds. Applications for the current PDR cycle opened on July 1st.
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We explored these ideas further during our recent program, Smart Growth Protects Rural Communities. Speakers Kevin Parker and Stewart Schwartz discussed how preserving rural lands and creating walkable communities are not competing goals—they are complementary strategies. Smart growth recognizes that by directing development toward areas that can support infrastructure, services, and transportation options, we can reduce pressure on farmland, forests, and drinking water resources.
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The principles of smart growth include both preserving natural resources and creating vibrant, walkable neighborhoods. At first glance, those goals may seem incompatible. In reality, they work together. Thoughtful countywide planning allows us to accommodate growth while protecting the landscapes and watersheds that make Prince William County a desirable place to live.
This connection between conservation and community was also on display during the Kim Hosen Memorial Hike, where participants joined staff from Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation to explore Bull Run Mountain. The landscape protects important wildlife habitat, local history, and the headwaters that eventually flow into Lake Manassas and the Occoquan Reservoir—reminding us that the water coming from our taps begins far upstream.
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As drought conditions continue, the importance of protecting our water resources becomes even clearer. Conservation is not only about preserving open space; it is about ensuring clean, reliable drinking water for future generations.
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Bluebird Monitoring is one of PWCA’s key citizen science programs. The Eastern Bluebird is a protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Each spring, teams of PWCA volunteers (at Chinn Park and Merrimac Farm WMA) begin training and coordination for the upcoming monitoring season. Many of the volunteers return year after year to help protect these birds. They take turns monitoring the 14 bird boxes twice a week during the spring and summer breeding season to document: what bird species are using the box, how many eggs are present, when they’ve hatched, and when they have fledged (left the nest for the first time). We are extremely grateful to have such dedicated volunteers at both locations and want to share a behind-the-scenes story of how volunteers make a difference through their work.
The Chinn Park monitoring trail has been at the epicenter of construction for a stream restoration project, both last season and this season. When Volunteer Amy arrived for her trail monitoring shift one mid-April morning, she found that construction had shifted to a new area, directly impacting nest boxes 12 and 13. Box 13 had four recently hatched chicks (hatchlings) in it but also had construction materials surrounding it as it was in the active construction zone - with even a loud wood chipper nearby. Fearing for the wellbeing of these chicks, Amy spoke to the construction crew and let them know about the risk to the bluebirds. There had been a lapse in communication and the appropriate information about the bluebird boxes was not relayed to them before the work began. They were collaborative in wanting to help find a solution. In search of options, Amy also spoke to a nearby homeowner, who offered that the box could be moved onto or nearby his property.
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That evening, Amy shared this information with the Bluebird Monitoring Team Leader, Rita, as well as with PWCA staff. The next day, Amy, Rita, and PWCA’s Executive Director, Ashley, met at the site to determine next steps. Box 13 was moved out of the main construction area but within visibility of the prior location. This was essential in the hopes that the parents would see the box in its new location and return to care for their young. The work crew assisted with moving the box and new contacts were established to improve communication between the involved parties going forward.
Now, all that was left to do was wait and see if the parents returned. Amy and Rita watched for about an hour to see if the parents would go to the box in its new location but they kept returning to the old spot. Then, the next morning, good news! Amy saw both parents visiting in the box in the new location. This brought relief to the entire monitoring team and all involved, knowing that the parents were able to adjust and continue to care for the hatchlings in a quieter location.
Thanks to these dedicated volunteers, the four hatchlings of Box 13 were able to get the care they needed from their parents, and they have since fledged. Additionally, new communication lines were opened between County POCs, the work crew, and PWCA that led to regular updates on any potential construction impacts and a better quality of life of the nearby bluebirds. If you’d like to join our incredible volunteer team, please complete our volunteer form here.
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During our spring Adopt a Stream event at Cedar Run at Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area, a team of our amazing volunteers was hard at work. They removed a bumper, two tires, bottles, and more. The total trash removed was over 90 pounds! This actually isn't that much; this is because most of the area upstream is protected by rural lands. Thank you, volunteers, for making such a positive impact on this ecosystem. If you'd like to help join this initiative in the future, complete our volunteer form here.
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Merrimac Garden Volunteer
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Maintaining our Wildlife Garden at Merrimac Farm WMA is a great way learn more about native plants, meet like-minded nature lovers, and spend some time outside. In this role, you’re making a difference for the animals that live around Merrimac by helping to ensure the garden is thriving with the native plants our local pollinator species need.
We're looking for volunteers to assist on weekend mornings from 8 AM to 11 AM on July 26 (Sunday), and throughout August (Saturdays). If this sounds like a good fit. Reach out using the info below to let us know which date(s) you can join us.
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If you’re looking for a way to get outside while making an impact in your community, just respond to this email with your interest, fill out our volunteer form here, or call us!
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Questions? Contact us: alliance@pwconserve.org or (703) 490-5200
Fill out the volunteer form below if you're interested in any of the following opportunities.
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