National Capital Region FY 2003 Rivers & Trails Assistance Proposal March 27, 2003

National Capital Region 

FY 2003 Rivers & Trails Assistance Proposal

March 27, 2003

1. Project Title and Description

a. Title: Potomac American Heritage River Initiative (AHRI), River 

Navigator Assistance Project 

b. Location:  The 14,670 square mile Potomac River watershed 

within MD, VA, DC, WV, and PA.

1. Implementation Responsibility:  NPS assists states, local 

governments and private groups to implement community-based actions through existing laws, regulations, and programs.

1. Tasks:  The project is to fund, through a cost-share 

arrangement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through NPS-NCR, the Potomac AHRI River Navigator position for a period until November 2005. Funds will be used to pay for the Navigator salary, benefits, travel, and support services in order to provide technical assistance to communities within the watershed.  The assistance will be provided in collaboration with the Friends of the Potomac, the lead-community partner for the initiative.  

The purpose of such assistance is to help implement a strategy to sustain the Friends of the Potomac and enable the Potomac AHRI to “graduate” in 2005.  Assistance will be targeted to help build partnerships to achieve community-set goals, developing concept plans, engaging public participation, and identifying potential sources of funding. 

The specific tasks and projects to be implemented will be identified jointly with the Friends of the Potomac and their member organizations, consistent with the American Heritage Rivers Initiative.  

1. Who will be involved:  The Friends is 501 (c )3 non-profit 

organization that represents more than 200 public and private organizations that have endorsed the initiative.  A Federal Agency Committee that works to provide information and assistance to meet local needs assists the Navigator.  NPS-NCR Office of the Regional Director, and Partnership Office will assist and support this effort.

1. Populations to Be Served: Nearly five million people live in the 

Potomac River watershed.  The population reflects a mix of diversity in terms of age, ethnicity, occupations, and communities.

1. Prior Activity: The Potomac AHRI began in November 1998.  

The National Park Service, National Capital Region, was selected by the Friends of the Potomac and the Council on Environmental Quality, as the lead-federal agency.  NPS-NCR, with assistance from EPA and FWS, has supported the River Navigator since that time. Current funding and agency commitments to this position are scheduled to end on June 30, 2003. The AHRI was intended to sunset in July 2003, however, the Administration has determined that this effort will be extended.  It has been proposed by the Assistant Secretary’s Office and the Director that the Potomac AHRI assistance be continued for two additional years, from the date that the River Navigator assistance first began.

1. Resource Importance

1. Most Important Resources:  The Nomination of the 

Potomac River Basin prepared by the Friends of the Potomac in December 1997 for the American Heritage Rivers Initiative, documents the resources that the community organizations believe are important.  In addition, the following studies have documented the resources values of the watershed: 1) 1995 The Potomac River Watershed: A National Resource, National Park Service; 2) 1994 Potomac River Watershed Visions Project, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chesapeake Bay Program Office; 3) 1978 Areas of National Concern: Potomac River Report, National Park Service; 4) 1968 Land, People, & Recreation in the Potomac River Basin, Federal Interdepartmental Task Force on the Potomac, U.S. Dept. of the Interior; 5) 1968 The Nation’s River, U.S. Dept. of the Interior; and 6) 1998 The Potomac was one of 14 rivers to be designated by the President as an American Heritage River.

Experts agree that the Potomac basin--“the Nation’s River”, is one of the most geologically and ecologically distinctive watersheds in the U.S.  NPS experts have called the Potomac valley the “Grand Canyon of Cultural Resources”.

3.Anticipated Results

1. On-the-ground Results: The River Navigator will initially work

with community partners to identify a priority list of actions, including on-the-ground results to be achieved within the first year. Priority projects and anticipated accomplishments will be developed within 120 days of approval of this project. Projects that have been identified by the Friends, as high priority, and may be the focus of assistance, include: the Congress on the Potomac; Leadership Potomac; community assistance for drinking water protection; the Potomac River Watershed Heritage Tourism Initiative; the Metropolitan Washington Green Infrastructure Demonstration Project; and the Lower Potomac River Access Forum.  In addition, the River Navigator will respond to community requests and develop appropriate new projects and provide consultations.

1. Other Accomplishments:  This project funding will enable NPS to 

provide Rivers & Trails assistance within the National Capital Region.  NCR is the only region in the Service that does not have a funded Rivers & Trails Program.  This project will improve the effectiveness of the Rivers & Trails Program in this region.

4.Support for the Project:

a. Stakeholders:  The President directed Federal agencies, through an  Executive Order, to assist communities implement the Potomac AHRI through existing programs. The River Navigator assistance proposal is supported by the Friends of the Potomac and its 200 member organizations.  37, of the watersheds, 38 counties have endorsed the Potomac AHRI.  In addition, the effort has the active support of the Potomac River Watershed Caucus, a group of 14 Members of Congress. 

b. Project Partners: The River Navigator proposal is a collaborative effort between the Friends of the Potomac, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and NPS-NCR.  As part of this proposal EPA would detail Dale Medearis to NPS-NCR to serve as the River Navigator, for a period of two-years. Mr. Medearis has local, National, and international experience in greenways, smart growth, green buildings, urban watershed management, children’s health, GIS, and regional greenspace planning.  EPA is willing to contribute $50,000 annually in salary to support this effort.  The Friends are willing to provide inkind services to assist and support the activities of the River Navigator, as per the current Cooperative Agreement between NPS and Friends of the Potomac.  NPS-NCR is willing to provide administrative support, management, office space, and a GSA vehicle.

1. RTCA Program Role

a. Type of Assistance: NPS-NCR requests $100,000, each year for two-years, for salary, benefits travel and support expenses, to support the Potomac AHRI River Navigator. The Navigator will be employed by NPS-NCR and assigned to work in the Regional Director’s Office as part of the Partnerships Office.  The project is proposed to begin staring on July 1, 2003.

1. Contact Information

a. National Park Service: Glenn Eugster, Assistant 

Regional Director, National Park Service, National Capital Region, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW, Room 350, Washington, DC 20242.  By telephone call (202) 619-7492.  By fax: (202) 619-7220. By email: glenn_eugster@nps.gov