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Maryland Alliance for Greenway Improvement and Conservation

March 25, 2000

Honorable Albert Wynn

8601 Georgia Ave.

Suite 201

Silver Spring, Maryland 20905

Subj: Paint Branch Stream Valley Park

Dear Representative Wynn:

Since the Naval Weapons Research Center in White Oak will be redeveloped by GSA to consolidate the Food and Drug Administration Offices, it gives us an excellent opportunity to recommend the Paint Branch Stream Valley Park be extended through this property along the stream valley. Protecting the Paint Branch watershed has been a twenty year old project, and millions of dollars have been spent on it. Sensitive land use practices, including special zoning along with performance based best management practices, has allowed both development objectives and environmental protection to be accomplished . Its time to extend this protected area below the facility at White Oak to provide reconnection of the upper Paint Branch to the lower Paint Branch watershed.

The Paint Branch watershed has been divided by the Naval Surface Weapons Research Center for many years. Wildlife movement patterns terminate at its fenced boundaries. We now have an opportunity to open these facilities to enable dispersal routes for wildlife and plants. This corridor might eventually be extended through the National Agriculture Research Center and down into the Greenbelt Park. This would provide a wonderful park for both animals and people and allow a previously fragmented wildlife habitat to become whole again.

The stream valley itself, which cannot be built on, is the area we recommend securing as a wildlife corridor. It is of relatively little value for development of houses or other structures, but of great value for preservation of plants and wildlife. As a designated wildlife corridor, this park corridor should be a minimum of 600 meters in width.

We ask you to help FDA/GSA recognize these local conditions exist and to join our efforts as stewards of the Paint Branch. We also ask FDA/GSA to become active in the federal/regional/local partnership focused on Anacostia River Restoration. Maintaining the existing high quality riparian wildlife corridor and buffer is a critical goal of the Chesapeake Bay 2000 program which has identified the Anacostia watershed for priority assistance. This program will provide substantial justification for establishing a stream valley park corridor with a minimum width of 600 meters.

We'd be happy to discuss these recommendations with you at your convenience.

Sincerely,

Bob DeGroot

President, MAGIC

The following Alliance Partners have agreed with and support this letter: