Draft Remarks for NPS Director Stanton Potomac River Day

Draft Remarks for NPS Director Stanton

Potomac River Day

1. People to recognize: Attached is a current draft of the agenda with key elected officials noted. Sent separately.
2. Talking Points:

1. Welcome to Piscataway National Park and thanks for joining us to celebrate "Potomac River Day".  

The U.S. Congress created this area in 1961 to protect the view from Mount Vernon in VA.  It was created as a pilot project in the use of easements to protection significant places from obtrusive urban expansion.  It is a fitting place to hold this year's Potomac River day because it shows you what the American people, Congress, the National Park Service and the Accokeek Foundation have done working together to protect, conserve, interpret and enjoy the heritage of the Potomac.

Today is a time to celebrate the Potomac River, but also a time to recognize the importance of our partners and partnerships within this watershed.  More than a single grant or accomplishment, today is about the Potomac, its watershed, the people who live, work and visit here, and their vision of the future.  Congratulations to each of you for all you have done to make this area one of the great rivers of America.

Before we hear from other federal agency representatives about their Potomac River accomplishments and commitments, let me take a few moments to share my insights with you about the past year.  As you know, the National Park Service is the lead Federal government agency for the Potomac American Heritage River Initiative.  Like you, we have had-and will continue to have a long-term commitment to the protection and recreational use of the Potomac.  We also are committed to facilitating and supporting community-led initiatives that are aimed at caring for this special places we call the Potomac.

Since we last met a year ago at Roosevelt Island, it has gotten cooler.  Who could forget the temperature and humidity at last year's Potomac River Day?  The past year has been a year of progress, considerable accomplishment, and hard work for all of us.  With the leadership of the Board of the Friends of the Potomac and the River Navigator, Glenn Kinser--who is on detail to the NPS from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and the assistance of many, many of the Friend's public and private partners, we have jointly supported and assisted locally-led efforts including:

• The Accokeek Foundation's Leadership Potomac
• An African American Heritage Guide to the Potomac
• A Potomac Regional Heritage Tourism Initiative led by the Potomac Heritage Partnership
• Helping the Friend's of the Potomac raise over $400,000 of funds for locally led projects and activities.
• Pendleton's County, WV's Integrated Waste Management Proposal
• The Friend's Nation's River Bass Tournament
• A Symposium on the North Branch of the Potomac River in MD
• The Potomac Conservancy's Land Trust Workshop

We have also worked together, with the financial assistance of the U.S. Appalachian Regional Commission, Forest Service, Environmental Protection Agency and National Park Service, to conduct "Community Partner Workshops" with communities throughout the watershed. 

The workshops attempt to bring federal government and private sector service providers together with community leaders to help local officials help themselves to conserve, protect, restore, revitalize and enjoy the Potomac River watershed.  To date we have worked together to help with:

   

• The Annacostia River Community Summit in Washington, DC
• A Coal Heritage Trail Community Workshop in Lonaconing, MD
• The Petersburg, WV Water Supply Workshop
• A Kitzmiller, MD Workshop
• The Four-Mile Run Community Workshop in VA
• The North Fork of the Shenandoah River Workshop in VA

This year, through large and small partnerships, we have moved the Potomac American Heritage River effort from a vision with potential to on-the ground results.

Now let's talk about the next year.  These representatives from federal agencies will each share their commitments to the Potomac.  The National Park Service is committed to continuing to serve as the lead agency for the Potomac American Heritage River and will assist the Friend's and their member organizations through existing programs and by helping to support the River Navigator. 

We also have appointed Glenn Eugster as Assistant Regional Director for Partnership Programs to assist and coordinate various agency program areas, and those of other government agencies and private groups, to find ways to use partnerships to help NPS park and program managers, and community leaders meet National, State and local goals and objectives. This effort will focus on seeking non-NPS funds to help park and program managers achieve goals; coordinating activities related to the Rivers and Trails Programs, Chesapeake Bay Program, the 

Countryside Stewardship Exchange and the Potomac American 

Heritage River Initiative.

             

The National Park Service, with the support of Congress and 

various public and private trail agencies and organizations, is committed as a full partner to the increasing interest in the concept of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.  NPS has selected Mr. Donald Briggs as the first Superintendent for the Potomac Heritage Scenic Trail to assist with coordination; with locally-led recreational, educational and conservation projects; and with support for the continuing growth in partnerships built around the Trail corridor designation.

                       

The National Park Service also commits to work with the Society of American Foresters (SAF), in cooperation with the Friends of the Potomac, the Alexandria Seaport Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service, the Potomac Heritage Partnership, and others, to work together on November 17, 2000 to help the residents and visitors of the Washington Metropolitan Region make the connection between the woods and their water and explore the legacy of 100 years of forestry in the United States. More than 1,700 attendees of the SAF centennial convention will be asked to give assist community and public land management forestry efforts in the neighborhoods, parks and public lands in and around DC.  Planned activities include tree plantings, community workshops, an international forum on forestry, forest 

walking tours, and habitat improvement within the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay watershed.

             

I hope you will take time to enjoy the progress you have made to protect, restore, revitalize and enjoy the Potomac.  May you have continued success in your work!