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Friends of the Rappahannock was formed 25 years ago to protect the river from its headwaters to the Chesapeake. |
By RUSTY DENNEN
A lot of water has passed under the Interstate 95 bridge since Friends of the Rappahannock was born 25 years ago.
And in that time, the river-protection group has grown from a handful of concerned activists to a membership of more than 2,000 dedicated to protecting the Rappahannock from its headwaters to the Chesapeake Bay.
As FOR this year celebrates its 25th anniversary, it is extending its reach, announcing that it hopes to hire a river keeper for the Rappahannock's tidal portion by 2011.
FOR says the river keeper would be affiliated with the New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance and "will be an active voice on river issues in the lower Rappahannock basin." That includes Lancaster, Middlesex, Essex, Richmond and Westmoreland counties.
Over almost three decades, FOR has built its reputation on advocacy, restoration and education. Another tactic is "constructive engagement" with farmers, developers and local governments to work out practical solutions to problems in the watershed.
While it might look pristine, the Rappahannock is being degraded by sediment runoff and nutrient pollution from development and agriculture. And with the rapid growth of the region, there are concerns that the river is being loved too much by those who live around it and use it.
Executive Director John Tippett says FOR continues to make an impact.
"To me, the past 25 years shows the power of persistence, and the tremendous strength that comes when we join our voices and actions together as citizens to make a difference on specific issues. Grass roots advocacy really does work."
Kandy Hilliard, who chair's FOR's executive committee, said there's still much to do.
"The challenges to the Rappahannock have not shown any signs of slowing down, and FOR won't either," she said. "We're expanding our programs to ensure that we pass on a cleaner river to our grandchildren."
FOR cites among its accomplishments:
Helping establish a permanent conservation easement on 4,232 acres of land along the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers.
Being instrumental in the removal of Embrey Dam, which opened 600 miles of water upstream of Fredericksburg to migratory fish.
Educating more than 30,000 area schoolchildren who completed FOR's field environmental education programs.
Repairing more than 45,000 feet of stream and river banks to filter pollution.
Completing dozens of stream-bank restoration projects on farms along the river's headwaters.
Pioneering low-impact development planning with local governments in which developers use "living filters" to reduce pollution in runoff water.
Friends of the Rappahannock, riverfriends.org
Rusty Dennen: 540/374-5431
Email: rdennen@freelancestar.com
