Community Report – March 18th

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Get to know PWC’s Turtles

As the chill of winter retreats, making way for spring to emerge from the thawing ground, you might start to see all sorts of critters digging their way from their burrows and flying in from the south. Native turtle species are slowly plodding back into frame with the warmer weather and we thought it appropriate to share some fun facts about our shelled neighbors. 

Turtles Some Of The Way Down

According to the Virginia Herpetological Society, Woodland Box Turtles can survive the winter by burying themselves a couple of inches in the soil, nestled beneath leaves and grass. Different populations across the eastern US tolerate freezing temperatures differently though, with Ohio natives more prepared for icy cold than South Carolina ones. 

Could you ask a turtle for directions?

Probably not since they can’t talk or write. That said, box turtles have a strong homing instinct and work hard to find their way home. Virginia DWR says it’s best to leave turtles where they are if you can, because they might get hurt on their trek back if relocated. If you do see one, try reporting your sighting! Citizen science is a helpful part in the effort to stop the population decline of box turtles in Virginia.

Maybe just a quick nap…

The Eastern Painted Turtle is the most commonly seen basking turtle in Virginia. The Virginia Herpetological Society has a handy tip to help with identification – these turtles have 2 yellow spots behind their eyes. Next time you see a bump on a log, take a closer look!

Don’t snap at me!

The largest snapping turtle found in Virginia weighed 51 pounds! To get to that size it probably feasted on crayfish, insects, fish, algae, duckweed, and toads. Some snapping turtles have been known to even prey on the occasional duck and goose. I wonder if they fight over the bill?

So this spring, keep an eye out for the turtles that call Prince William County home. Great places to see them include the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk, the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and Prince William Forest Park. Remember to report box turtle sightings and feel free to let us know where you’ve been seeing the most turtles.

Invasive Species Removal

At the end of February and the beginning of March, PWCA volunteers were happy to help Diane, PWC Soil and Water District, PWC Environmental Management, and Prince William Wildflower Society to remove invasive honeysuckle vine and multiflora rose from the County Animal Services Center and Shelter. The shelter, which began construction in 2020, was one of the first buildings in the county built under the new landscaping guidelines that PWCA helped push for. This collaborative effort was a wonderful way to celebrate Invasive Species Week! If you’d like to get involved in future projects, please fill out our volunteer form here.

Data Center Updates

Update: Wellington Glenn Technology Park Public Hearing Postponed

You made a difference! The vote on Wellington Glenn Technology Park has been deferred to April 1 to allow more time for public review of the project’s changes. The developers have agreed to:

• Reduce building heights to 65 feet (below the by-right limit)
• Limit FAR to 0.35
• Proffer to a 50 dBA sound requirement

While these adjustments acknowledge some concerns, they do not address the broader issues we’ve raised, particularly regarding cumulative environmental impacts and land use compatibility.>>read our full comments here.

Additional environmental concerns have also not been addressed:

1. Tree Preservation & Buffering – The applicant claims to exceed county tree conservation requirements, but the proffers include so many exceptions for utility encroachments and infrastructure that there’s no assurance of actual tree preservation. Additionally, the project does not meet the required 50-foot perimeter buffer and proposes a waiver that could eliminate the buffer altogether. 
2. Resource Protection Areas (RPAs) & Utilities – The applicant has not clarified where electrical lines will be placed, raising concerns that essential infrastructure could encroach on RPAs or disrupt required buffers. The county’s Watershed Management Branch recommends reforestation in RPA areas, but the applicant has not committed to this.
3. Native Landscaping – The applicant is only committing to 80% native plant use, with exceptions that weaken this standard. There is no reason this project cannot commit to 100% native landscaping, as recommended by county environmental staff.

Review the updated proffers here.

Share your views here. 



Governor’s Decision on HB1601 is Coming—Still Time to Share Your Views! 

The governor will make a decision on important bills by next Monday, March 24, including HB1601. This bill is crucial to protecting our communities from the growing impact of data centers. Don’t miss your chance to speak up for what matters to you!

Click here to fill out the form

What’s this bill?

HB1601 (see overview here) – Requires noise assessments and allows localities to evaluate data center impacts on water, agriculture, parks, historic sites, and forests. Also mandates an electric utility review of necessary substations and transmission lines. 

Take a moment to share your views.



Interview with Julie and Ashley at Data Center Dynamics Conference

Last November, PWCA was invited for a podcast interview hosted by Data Center Dynamics during their conference in Northern Virginia. It’s now been published and you can view the interview by clicking the image below. 

For a brief highlight that we particularly enjoyed, check out the clip here

Dominion Transmission Line Expansion Through Manassas National Battlefield

Dominion originally planned to upgrade the existing transmission line between Morrisville and Wishing Star using a wreck-and-rebuild approach. However, due to reliability issues driven by rapid data center development, this option is no longer viable. Instead, Dominion will expand its easement and construct a parallel line, potentially taking an additional 100–115 feet of land from Manassas National Battlefield Park.

While the easement expansion is limited to 65 feet in most areas, the battlefield will face significantly greater impacts to accommodate two H-frame structures and theoretically limit viewshed impact. In residential areas, where there’s simply no room to take more land, wreck-and-rebuild remains the planned approach.

In future meetings, we will explore options for National Park representatives to weigh the concerns of taking more parkland versus further degrading the viewshed. Notably, this upgrade doesn’t account for the additional needs if the PW Digital Gateway moves forward, exposing the flaw in the argument that this was an ideal location due to existing infrastructure—a claim that was rightly challenged even way back during the public hearing.

Upcoming Events

Bluebell Festival

Sunday, March 30th | 10:00 – 3:00

Merrimac Farm WMA Stone House

Registration Required | Donations Appreciated

Mark your calendars and get ready to ring in spring with this year’s Bluebell Festival on Sunday March 30th! Meet local organizations, learn about nature, go on guided tours, get involved in your community, and, of course, enjoy beautiful Virginia Bluebells! This family-friendly event is free for all, though you should bring cash for vendors and donations, and it’s a great way to welcome spring with our community. Due to the popularity of this festival we’re doing some things differently so please register for a time-slot ticket here and take note of our event details here.

Volunteer Opportunities

If you’re looking to make an impact in your community, learn more about nature, or just try something new, now’s the perfect time! We’ve got a lot of great volunteer opportunities up for grabs. Just respond to this email with your interest, fill out our volunteer form here, or call us!

Bluebell Festival

The Bluebell Festival is coming up fast and volunteers like you help ensure it runs smoothly for the thousands of visitors we’ve had over the years. We have spaces open for parking volunteers, trail volunteers, tour announcers, welcoming volunteers, photographers, and clean up volunteers. Each position has shifts so you won’t need to work the whole day. Join us and help make the festival a success!

Questions? Contact us: [email protected] or (703) 490-5200

Fill out the volunteer form below if you’re interested in any of the following opportunities.