H. Res. 701 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
October 7, 2009. 
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 eco-
system 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 instru-
mental in passing this legislation and in preventing pro-
posed development along the Potomac River, thereby pro-
tecting 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 ap-
proximately 485-acre parcel;
•HRES 701 EH 
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 en-
hancement, wildlife habitat, nursery and spawning 
grounds, and recreational and aesthetic enjoyment; 
Whereas the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve serves as an out-
door laboratory for scientists, educators, students, natu-
ralists, artists, photographers, and others, attracting peo-
ple of all ages; and 
Whereas the Friends of Dyke Marsh is a conservation advo-
cacy group created in 1975 and dedicated to the preser-
vation and restoration of this wetland habitat and its 
natural resources: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve of 
Fairfax County, Virginia, as a unique and precious eco-
system that serves as an invaluable natural resource 
both locally and nationally; 
(2) recognizes and expresses appreciation for Rep-
resentative John Dingell’s, Representative John Saylor’s, 
and Representative Henry Reuss’s leadership in pre-
serving this precious natural resource;
•HRES 701 EH 
(3) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Federal 
legislation designating the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve 
as a protected wetland habitat; 
(4) expresses the need to continue to conserve, pro-
tect and restore this fragile habitat, in which a diverse 
array of plants, animals and other natural resources is 
threatened by past dredging and filling, a gradual deple-
tion in size, urban and suburban development, river traf-
fic, stormwater runoff, poaching, and non-native invasive 
species; and 
(5) commends the Friends of Dyke Marsh for its 
longstanding commitment to promoting conservation and 
environmental awareness and stewardship, so that the 
Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve may be enjoyed by gen-
erations for the next 50 years and into the future. 
Attest: 
Clerk.