IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 701 
To recognize the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve as a unique and precious 
ecosystem. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 30, 2009 
Mr. MORAN of Virginia submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on 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 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-
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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; 
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 Pre-
serve of Fairfax County, Virginia, as a unique and 
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precious ecosystem that serves as an invaluable nat-
ural resource both locally and nationally; 
(2) recognizes and expresses appreciation for 
Representative John Dingell’s, Representative John 
Saylor’s, and Representative Henry Reuss’s leader-
ship in preserving this precious natural resource; 
(3) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Fed-
eral legislation designating the Dyke Marsh Wildlife 
Preserve as a protected wetland habitat; 
(4) expresses the need to continue to conserve, 
protect 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 depletion in size, urban and suburban de-
velopment, river traffic, stormwater runoff, poach-
ing, and non-native invasive species; and 
(5) commends the Friends of Dyke Marsh for 
its longstanding commitment to promoting conserva-
tion and environmental awareness and stewardship, 
so that the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve may be 
enjoyed by generations for the next 50 years and 
into the future. 
Æ 
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