NORTH BRANCH RENAISSANCE

POTOMAC AHR
Remarks by J. Glenn Eugster, River Navigator


NORTH BRANCH RENAISSANCE


START BY SAYING THAT THE AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVERS INITIATIVE HAS A LOT IN COMMON WITH YOUR DISCUSSIONS THIS WEEK.

OBVIOUSLY THE POTOMAC IS ONE OF THE 14 RIVERS RECOGNIZED BY THE PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE ORDER. RECOGNITION IS IMPORTANT TO REAFIRM THAT THIS WATERSHED IS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR A VARIETY OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS.

2. AHR’S RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WATERSHEDS AND THE PEOPLE WITHIN THEM. IT LINKS THE IDEA OF WATERSHED CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION WITH HERITAGE—THE WATERSHED AS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK AND RECREATE—IN THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

AHR RECOGNIZES THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO CONSERVE, RESTORE AND REVITALIZE THE POTOMAC RIVER WATERSHED IS BY LOCAL INITIATIVE. THE EFFORT DIRECTS FEDERAL AGENCIES TO HELP PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES ACHIEVE A VISION OF HOW YOU WANT YOUR RIVER TO BE IN THE FUTURE.

4. THE AHR EFFORT ISN’T ABOUT THE PRESIDENT, HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER OR FEDERAL AGENCIES. RATHER IT IS ABOUT THE RIVER, ITS WATERSHED, ITS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES, AND YOUR VISION OF THE FUTURE.

LONG BEFORE THERE WAS AN AHR INITIATIVE THERE WERE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, GROUPS, BUSINESSES AND STATE AGENCIES WORKING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND BENEFIT FROM THE POTOMAC RIVER’S ASSETS.

LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER WHERE WE ARE WITH THE POTOMAC AHR EFFORT.

FRIENDS OF THE POTOMAC AND THEIR MEMBERS SUBMITTED A NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION.

RECOGNIZED AS AN AHR ON JULY 30, 1998 AND THE NPS IDENTIFIED AS THE LEAD FEDERAL AGENCY

RIVER NAVIGATOR SELECTED IN JANUARY 1999

FEDERAL AGENCY TEAM CONVENED IN MARCH 1999 TO IDENTIFY WAYS THE FEDS COULD HELP THE FRIENDS OF THE POTOMAC ASSIST LOCALLY IDENTIFIED PROJECTS

JULY 30, 1999 MEMBERS OF THE POTOMAC RIVER CAUCUS DECLARED CELEBRATED “POTOMAC RIVER DAY” TO: A) RECOGNIZE LOCAL SUCCESS—WITH FEDERAL PARTNERS; B) KICK-OFF FOR THE FRIENDS OF THE POTOMAC; C) ANNOUNCE 20 FEDERAL AGENCY COMMITMENTS SECURED.


STEP THROUGH SOME OVERHEADS:

FRIENDS MISSION STATEMENT: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
WHO ARE THE FRIENDS? BOARD MEMBERS—NEW BOARD TO BE ELECTED IN MARCH 2000 BY MEMBERS
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
JULY 30, 1999 COMMITMENTS TO THE POTOMAC
LEAD AGENCY/SPONSOR THE RIVER NAVIGATOR
PUBLIC LAND STEWARDSHIP
LEADERSHIP IN THE POTOMAC
REGIONAL HERITAGE TOURISM INITIATIVE
CONGRESS FOR THE POTOMAC
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
ANNUAL REPORT ON PROGRESS


SUMMARY: THE POTOMAC AHR PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO ADD-VALUE TO WHAT YOU ARE ALREADY DOING. IT’S NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR LOCAL INITIATIVE. THE FEDERAL TEAM WON’T DO THINGS FOR YOU AND THEY WON’T DO THINGS TO YOU. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN USING THIS ASSISTANCE GET INVOLVED WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE POTOMAC---JOIN THE FRIENDS; HELP LEAD THE EFFORT; IDENTIFY YOUR PROJECT ASSISTANCE NEEDS.

AND MOST OF ALL REMEMBER THIS ISN’T ABOUT THE PRESIDENT’S PLAN FOR THE POTOMAC; NOR IS IT ABOUT FEDERAL AGENCY IDEAS FOR THE NORTH BRANCH. IT IS ABOUT THE RIVER, ITS WATERSHED; THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK AND RECREATE HERE. MORE IMPORTANTLY IT IS ABOUT THE GOALS YOU HAVE FOR YOUR AREA AND HOW YOU PLAN TO ACHIEVE THAT VISION.