III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 297 

To recognize the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve as a unique and precious 

ecosystem. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 1, 2009 

Mr. WEBB submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

RESOLUTION 

To recognize the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve as a unique 

and precious ecosystem. 

Whereas the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve on the west bank 

of the Potomac River just south of Alexandria in Fairfax 

County is one of the largest remaining freshwater tidal 

marshes in the Greater Washington, DC, area; 

Whereas Congress expressly designated the Dyke Marsh ecosystem for protection in 1959, fifty years ago, under 

Public Law 86–41 ‘‘so that fish and wildlife development 

and their preservation as wetland wildlife habitat shall be 

paramount’’; 

Whereas the Honorable John D. Dingell of Michigan, the late 

Honorable John P. Saylor of Pennsylvania, and the late 

Honorable Henry S. Reuss of Wisconsin were instrumental in passing this legislation and in preventing proVerDate Nov 24 2008 02:42 Oct 02, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR297.IS SR297

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•SRES 297 IS 

posed development along the Potomac River, thereby protecting the Dyke Marsh ecosystem from further dredging, 

filling, and other activities incompatible with a preserve; 

Whereas Dyke Marsh is 5,000 to 7,000 years old and is a 

unique natural treasure in the national capital region, 

with more than 6,500 species of plants, insects, fish, 

birds, reptiles and amphibians contained within an approximately 485-acre parcel; 

Whereas the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is a significant 

element in the historic character of the Mount Vernon 

Memorial Parkway; 

Whereas freshwater tidal marshes are rare, and the Dyke 

Marsh Wildlife Preserve is one of the few climax, tidal, 

riverine, narrow-leafed cattail wetlands in the United 

States National Park Service system; 

Whereas wetlands provide ecological services such as flood 

control, attenuation of tidal energy, water quality enhancement, wildlife habitat, nursery and spawning 

grounds, and recreational and aesthetic enjoyment; 

Whereas the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve serves as an outdoor laboratory for scientists, educators, students, naturalists, artists, photographers, and others, attracting people of all ages; and 

Whereas the Friends of Dyke Marsh is a conservation advocacy group created in 1975 and dedicated to the preservation and restoration of this wetland habitat and its 

natural resources: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Pre3 serve of Fairfax County, Virginia, as a unique and 


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•SRES 297 IS 

1 precious ecosystem that serves as an invaluable nat2 ural resource both locally and nationally; 

3 (2) recognizes and expresses appreciation for 

4 Representative John Dingell’s, Representative John 

5 Saylor’s, and Representative Henry Reuss’s leader6 ship in preserving this precious natural resource; 

7 (3) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Fed8 eral legislation designating the Dyke Marsh Wildlife 

9 Preserve as a protected wetland habitat; 

10 (4) expresses the need to continue to conserve, 

11 protect and restore this fragile habitat, in which a 

12 diverse array of plants, animals and other natural 

13 resources is threatened by past dredging and filling, 

14 a gradual depletion in size, urban and suburban de15 velopment, river traffic, stormwater runoff, poach16 ing, and non-native invasive species; and 

17 (5) commends the Friends of Dyke Marsh for 

18 its longstanding commitment to promoting conserva19 tion and environmental awareness and stewardship, 

20 so that the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve may be 

21 enjoyed by generations for the next 50 years and 

22 into the future. 

Æ 


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