Frustration with how the Little Hunting Creek Final Draft Watershed Plan was being presented boiled over recently at the South County Government Center. It was triggered by the format insisted upon by consultants conducting the public information session.
"All parts of the plan are interrelated. To break into groups and only have questions related to those groups is astonishing. By the time the groups come back to the main session most of people will be gone," said Jay Spiegel, a Mount Vernon resident.
His frustration was directed at Karen Firehock, Institute for Environmental Investigation, University of Virginia, the primary coordinator of the study. She insisted that questions be limited to the breakout sessions rather than entertained at the general opening session.
Although she promised to get a copy of all questions and comments to those in attendance either "by e-mail or snail mail," there was a plea by Spiegel and others that questions be considered at the opening general session. Firehock turned down the request.
The printed agenda attached to each attendees handout designated a 30 minute opening session entitled "Presentation of final watershed plan," followed by a two hour and fifteen minute "Tour watershed stations. The program called for a concluding general session of 30 minutes allotted to "Next Steps." There was no provision for a wrap- up general session devoted to participant questions and answers.
EACH OF THE four rotating sessions was limited to 30 minutes per station. They were devoted to specifics affecting each subwatershed: North Branch, Paul Springs Branch, North Little Hunting Creek and South Little Hunting Creek and Potomac River.
Firehock said, "One of the most important goals [of the study] is to involve the community." She also noted, "We will develop a plan with state and local agencies to achieve our goals."
Fred Rose, chief, Storm Water Planning Division, Fairfax County, kicked off the program by telling the audience of approximately 50 citizens, "This was planned for the community by the community. The vision is to integrate the environmental plan so that everyone benefits."
The Little Hunting Creek Watershed Management Plan provides an array of strategies for achieving four basic goals:
*Reduce stormwater impacts on the watershed from impervious areas to help restore and protect streams.
*Preserve, maintain, and improve watershed habitats to support native flora and fauna.
*Preserve, maintain, and improve the water quality of the streams to benefit humans and aquatic life.
*Provide a means for increasing community involvement for long-term watershed stewardship.
AS EXPLAINED in the executive summary, "Recommended plan actions will be implemented over the 20-year life span of the Little Hunting Creek Watershed Management Plan." This is based on a priority list for actions, according to project consultants.
Information packets contained a "Capital Improvement Program Project Implementation" list identifying project expenditures covering fiscal years 2005 to and including fiscal year 2020. This encompassed 92 projects with a price tag of approximately $42.5 million.
Additional information on the study and plans for the watershed can be obtained by going to web site littlehuntingcreek@virginia.edu. Attendees were urged to submit their comments no later than June 18.