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PURPOSE Freshwater tidal marshes were once extensive along the Coastal Plain rivers of the mid- Atlantic region of the United States. After thousands of years of relatively low-impact use by Native Americans and several centuries of intense development by European Americans, freshwater tidal marshes have been reduced to scattered remnants that are now incapable of providing the extent of ecosystem services characteristic of widespread, healthy marsh ecosystems (Odum et al. 1984). Nonetheless, even remnant marshes provide numerous goods and services that benefit human society, including resident and migratory wildlife habitat, refuge for endangered species, spawning and nursery grounds for anadromous fish, attenuation of tidal energy, shoreline stabilization, flood control, water quality enhancement, carbon storage, aesthetic enjoyment, and recreational activities (Odum et al. 1984). Consequently, maintenance and enhancement of remaining tidal marsh is imperative both socially and ecologically. Dyke Marsh is an important, large tract of freshwater tidal marsh along the Potomac River in the Washington, D.C. area and has existed for at least 5,000 years (Myrick and Leopold 1963). Located just south of the city of Alexandria, VA, Dyke Marsh is viewed as a national treasure because of its proximity to the nation s capital and a large urban/suburban population, its history, and its current potential for provision of ecological services, recreational values, and educational opportunities. In addition, its location along a major travel corridor (George Washington Memorial Parkway) to one of the most popular tourist destinations in the D.C. area (Mount Vernon) provides Dyke Marsh Preserve (DMP) with opportunities to enhance the economic productivity and environmental education in the region. Smoot Sand and Gravel Corporation (SSGC) dredged approximately 270 acres of marshland along the outer fringes of Dyke Marsh from 1940 1972. The 1959 agreement with SSGC gave the United States government legislative mandate (Public Law 86-41) for management of the marsh so that fish and wildlife development and preservation as wetland wildlife habitat shall be paramount, and federal control over the entire 485 acres of DMP formally occurred in 1976 (see 1959 mandate pgs. ii-iii). To fulfill the 1959 mandate, a 1974 mandate called for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assist the National Park Service in designing multiple plans and assessments for restoration (e.g., National Park Service 1977), but none have been implemented (see 1974 mandate pgs. iv-vi). Thus the ecological value and potential of DMP continues to be impeded by its degraded state. Our team of researchers at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science s Appalachian Laboratory has compiled existing data and collected additional information to facilitate establishing feasibility of restoring dredged portions of Dyke Marsh while maintaining the integrity and health of the existing marsh. The final and most crucial step of our feasibility study is to convene all parties that would either be affected by or would be involved in the restoration. Our goal is to establish consensus among all interested parties on the feasibility of restoration and recommendations for restoration. Odum, W. E., T. J. Smith III, J. K. Hoover, C. C. McIvor. 1984. The ecology of tidal freshwater marshes of the United States East Coast: a community profile. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Report FWS/OBS- 83/17. i

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GOALS OF WORKSHOP 1) Assemble representatives of the scientific, regulatory and management agencies, and interested public that would need to provide input to a restoration project; 2) Have all parties review and comment on data (both quality and extent of information) pertinent to restoration of emergent marsh at DMP; 3) Ask all participants to comment on the feasibility of restoration from the perspective of their respective agencies or groups; 4) Receive recommendations from agencies and special-interest groups on whether restoration is feasible, and, if so, to what extent restoration should be attempted; 5) Establish consensus among all interested parties on whether to move forward with a recommendation to restore DMP. vii

8:00 am Registration and breakfast STRUCTURE OF WORKSHOP 8:30 am Introduction to workshop Welcome The process of establishing feasibility at Dyke Marsh Workshop groundrules Audrey Calhoun Katia Engelhardt Kathy Joyce 9:00 am Historical perspective Dick Hammerschlag 9:20 am Mandate of NPS for action on Dyke Marsh Dan Sealy 9:30 am Perspectives of agencies and special interest groups Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (Andrew Zadnik) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Sherry Krest & John Gill) Friends of Dyke Marsh (Ed Eder & Jeb Byrne) 10:15 am Break 10:30 am More perspectives Army Corps of Engineers (Claire O Neill, Robert Blama, Steve Pugh) 11:00 am Elements of restoration Summary of case studies Elements of successful restoration General scenarios of restoration Kristy Hopfensperger Katia Engelhardt Katia Engelhardt 12:00 pm Lunch (provided) 1:00 pm Summary of perspectives Katia Engelhardt 1:30 pm Discussion: Need for restoration Kathy Joyce 2:30 pm Discussion: Negative consequences for existing marsh Kathy Joyce 3:15 pm Break 3:30 pm Discussion: Essential information and resources Kathy Joyce 4:15 pm Discussion: Establishing concrete scenarios Kathy Joyce 5:00 pm Moving forward Audrey Calhoun 5:30 pm End of workshop viii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Friends of Dyke Marsh: Larry Cartwright, Ed, Eder, David Johnston Georgetown University: Edward Barrows, Daniel Kjar National Aquarium: David Nemerson National Park Service George Washington Memorial Parkway: Ann Brazinski, Joe Gilmer, Melissa Kangas, Jean Olson, Brent Steury National Park Service Center for Urban Ecology: Bill Lellis, Diane Pavek, Dan Sealy, Jim Sherald National Park Service Manassas Battlefield: Bryan Gorsira National Park Service Capitol Parks East: Stephen Syphax National Park Service Cape Cod National Seashore: John Portnoy, Charles Roman, Stephen Smith Northern Virginia Community College: Walter Bulmer University of Maryland College Park: Andy Baldwin U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Cecilia Donovan, Mark Mendelsohn U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Mike Mangold USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center: Richard Hammerschlag VA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage: Allen Belden ix