Community Report, May 31 2022; read online here. You make our work possible! Donate today

LETTER: In Prince William, true land-use planning has been sidelined by a development free-for-all

Unpredictability and instability are sweeping through Prince William's rural crescent, an area on the county's western side without public sewer and characterized by picturesque forests, fields, and national parks.

From massive rezonings that would put data centers next to national parks and state forests to comprehensive plan changes that extend public sewer to rural areas and replan agricultural land for vaguely defined industrial uses, it seems county leaders are no longer engaging in an authentic planning process and have instead handed over the future of the rural crescent to developers.

These decisions are jeopardizing our clean drinking water and inducing costly sprawl. Worse, they are raising fears and forcing rural residents to face a choice: sell a home they love or risk the value of their property as industrial development goes up around them. | continue reading...

Community Townhall: Help Protect the Health of the Occoquan Reservoir

Thursday, June 2, 7:00 pm at Jenkins Elementary School 4060 Prince William Parkway, Woodbridge, 22192

Doors open at 6:30 pm, with exhibits to view. Free. Tickets available online here or at the door!

From the Outer Beltway to the Occoquan Reservoir, and from Prince William Forest Park to Manassas National Battlefield, learn how proposed land use changes threaten our public drinking water and how you can affect change!

Speakers

Welcome - Kim Hosen, Prince William Conservation Alliance

Opening remarks - Rob Hartwell, former Potomac River Commissioner

Deshundra Jefferson, Montclair resident and smart growth advocate

Racial inequities in land use and what you can do promote equity

Julie Bolthouse, Piedmont Environmental

Costly Outer Beltway induces development and impacts watersheds

Bill McDow, Belmont Bay Community

Managing stormwater runoff and impacts to Resource Preservation Areas

Kyle Hart, National Parks Conservation Association

Potential impacts to the Occoquan Reservoir watershed and national parks

Elizabeth Ward, Green Risks

Development in the Rural Crescent will raise the cost of public water for residents

Frank Washington, Coalition to Protect Thoroughfare

Many threats are facing Prince William; within them, division is our greatest enemy

Learn the facts – Get engaged – Make a difference!

Sponsored by the Prince William Conservation Alliance

PWC Data Centers: Potential Adverse Environmental Impacts

In this presentation, Kevin Draganchuk, an engineer at CEA Engineers, provides a compelling overview of how proposed data centers next to our national parks would impact stormwater during and after construction. If approved, the PW Digital Gateway for example would increase sedimentation equivalent to 2,000 large dump trucks into our streams!

Explore Neabsco Creek and the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

Saturday, June 18, 10:00 to 11:30 am

RSVP here | Free, donations are appreciated

Join us for an easy 1.5-mile walk down the Boardwalk (ADA compliant) exploring Neabsco Creek, led by Charlie Grymes. This creek has been settled for nearly 20,000 years, from the Paleo-Indians to today's residents, like us. In 1608, fish were so plentiful in the Potomac River that the English tried to catch dinner by swinging a frying pan from their boats.

In the mid-1700s, Northern Virginia's first industrial development was the Neabsco Iron Works located just upstream of the modern I-95 bridge. After cutting the forests for charcoal and tobacco, the soil eroded and created the mudflats that we will cross. The views are spectacular, bring your camera and binoculars if you have them.