Congress of the Potomac

Summary of the Responses Gathered From Participants at the September 12, 2003, “Congress of the Potomac” Meeting - Rockwood Manor, Maryland.

(November 12, 2003)

heritage conservancy pa.

Briggs, Don – National Park Service

Corkern, Wilton – Accokeek Foundation

Fellows, Andy – Clean Water Action 

Gantt-Wright, Iantha - Consultant

Gerloff, Scott – PHP

Rebecca Hanmer – US Environmental Protection Agency

Hoffman, Joe – Interstate Commission for the Potomac River Basin

Janes, Margaret – Appalachian Center

Koch, Stella – Audobon Naturalist Society

Logan, Matthew – Potomac Conservancy

Meyers, Erik – Environmental Law Institute

O’Herron, Michelle – University of Maryland, Environmental Finance Center

Okay, Judy – Virginia Department of Forestry

Pickford, Doug – Northern Virginia Regional Commission

Sloan-Blersch, Stacy - Army Corps of Engineers

How Do You or Your Organization Benefit From the Realization of a "Congress of the Potomac;"

• Sharing information, enhance partnerships, strengthen education efforts, promote public education;
• Improve coordination among practitioners and organizations;
• Strengthen/harmonize science and research efforts (e.g. promote baseline assessments on water quality);
• Create regulatory authority for the ICPRB;
• Move forward with region-wide conservation agenda;
• Support organization’s watershed restoration efforts;
• Promote recreational access along the river;
• Assist with participating organizations’ wetlands protection efforts;
• Promote awareness among elected officials in specific jurisdictions;

What Will You or Your Organization Contribute to a “Congress of the Potomac?”

• Will wait for a more specific agenda/program to form before making commitments; 
• In-kind staff assistance (organizing meetings, facilitating, research, writing) ;
• Space for events; 
• Funds (the amount varies depending on the evolution and scope of the work program);  
• Technical information and data;  
• Webspace for reports;
• Publish articles in newspapers, journals, or magazines 

What is Your or Your Organization’s View of Success and What is the Measure of a Successful Congress?

• Enhanced ability of participating organizations to meet their own objectives;
• Holistic approach to water quality and quantity management;
• A diverse congress with representatives from a variety of organizations and geographic areas;
• Increased awareness among the public and elected leaders about the condition of the Potomac;
• An agenda/plan agreed upon for action that focuses on conservation and including short, mid, and long-term goals;
• Creating a long-term vision for the region;
• Strengthened and symbiotic relationships among non-profits;
• Stronger exchanges of technical information;
• Improved legislation and policies;
• Implementation of existing legislation such as the Clean Water Act;
• A biannual meeting of practitioners from the watershed which follows the ‘congress’
• Creation of an ‘identify’ for the Potomac region;
• Creates a forum for the work of the ‘tributary teams.’