III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D 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 (for himself and Mr. WARNER) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

JANUARY 28, 2010 

Reported by Mr. BINGAMAN, without amendment 

MAY 7, 2010 

Considered and agreed to 

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’’; 


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SRES 297 ATS 

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 proposed 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 


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SRES 297 ATS 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

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

4 precious ecosystem that serves as an invaluable nat5 ural resource both locally and nationally; 

6 (2) recognizes and expresses appreciation for 

7 Representative John Dingell’s, Representative John 

8 Saylor’s, and Representative Henry Reuss’s leader9 ship in preserving this precious natural resource; 

10 (3) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Fed11 eral legislation designating the Dyke Marsh Wildlife 

12 Preserve as a protected wetland habitat; 

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

14 protect and restore this fragile habitat, in which a 

15 diverse array of plants, animals and other natural 

16 resources is threatened by past dredging and filling, 

17 a gradual depletion in size, urban and suburban de18 velopment, river traffic, stormwater runoff, poach19 ing, and non-native invasive species; and 

20 (5) commends the Friends of Dyke Marsh for 

21 its longstanding commitment to promoting conserva22 tion and environmental awareness and stewardship, 

23 so that the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve may be 


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SRES 297 ATS 

1 enjoyed by generations for the next 50 years and 

2 into the future. 

Æ 


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