Rappahannock plan is coming into focus

Rusty Dennen

A picture of how Fredericksburg's vast swath of riverfront easement land should be used--or left alone--is beginning to emerge.

A committee will unveil a draft watershed management plan Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. at the University of Mary Washington's Jepson Center. It will outline how the property will be managed for access, recreation and wildlife, and the public will get another chance to weigh in.

The Friends of the Rappahannock has been spearheading the effort, along with representatives of Fredericksburg's planning and utilities departments, watershed property manager Lee Sillitoe, and the easement holders--the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, The Nature Conservancy and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

The Fredericksburg City Council in 2006 created a permanent conservation easement on more than 4,200 acres running more than 20 miles along the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers. The city purchased the land from Virginia Electric and Power Co. in the 1960s.

"What's really new here is the specifics of managing the campsites, trails and [river] access points, and more detail about permitted recreational uses," John Tippett, executive director of Friends of the Rappahannock, said yesterday.

The process began more than a year ago, with an initial public meeting last March. Tippett said crafting the details, which he stressed are at this point only recommendations, has been a collaborative effort.

"We spent a lot of time talking to the key stakeholders--the people who use the property--to find out what's important to them, and quite a bit of time looking at the ecological integrity of the property," he said.

Hunters, fishermen and paddlers weighed in. The Virginia Natural Heritage Program helped identify important ecological sites.

Fredericksburg has had a management plan for the property for years, but this is a major update.

There are two new concepts, Tippett says.

The first is management by infrastructure.

"In other words, we're going to manage the ecological impact by managing trails and access points."

For example, new access points may be limited beyond what's already available and public boat landings and river outfitters. As recreational demand increases, access would be encouraged at already established sites such as Hunting Run and Rocky Pen Run reservoir intakes along the Rappahannock.

Second, the plan envisions three corridors of recreational-use intensity. Areas of high-intensity use would be Motts Run to the city; moderate use would run from Blankenbaker's to Motts Run; and low intensity would be upstream from Blankenbaker's.

"The use gets lower the farther upstream you get from the city--areas that have the highest ecological value," Tippett said.
Hunters have used the property for years and that would continue, with some restrictions.

"We've had a lot of feedback from hunters who wanted to make sure it would still be open," Tippett said, noting that as more people use the easement lands, conflicts will arise.

"We found that there's very little overlap between hunting and primary recreational-use seasons, so we've struck a balance."

No-hunting zones would be established within 100 yards of campsites and boat-launch access points. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has similar restrictions around highways and homes.

Four-wheel-drive vehicles, all-terrain vehicles and motorbikes would continue to be banned from the property.

After the Feb. 17 meeting, an updated draft will go on to the City Council for review, with another opportunity for public comment.

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Source: http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2010/022010/02022010/525108/printer_friendly

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