Sept. 8 Hearing for Hughes River Scenic Designation

A Public Hearing for the Hughes River designation as a "Scenic" River will be held in the Rappahannock county courthouse on Wednesday, September 9, at 7:00. You are encouraged to attend, because it will be educational and your supervisor will take note of your participation. You can make a stronger voice in support by contacting your supervisor in advance of the meeting.

DCR publication describing what scenic designation does and doesn't do.

BACKGROUND: Rappahannock County has one state-designated Scenic River, the Rappahannock, recognized by the Commonwealth in 1985. In the 2007 Virginia Outdoors Plan, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) recommended that seven other rivers originating in our County be evaluated -- the Hughes, Hazel, Thornton, Rush, Jordan, Covington, and Piney.

In 2008, the Board of Supervisors requested that DCR evaluate any of these rivers that the public supports. Riparian landowners on the Jordan requested and facilitated such an evaluation. DCR reported a positive recommendation in a letter to the supervisors on June 16, 2009. This was followed by a public hearing, at which four environmental groups, the Historical Society, and several landowners voiced their support for scenic designation. The supervisors voted unanimously to recommend designation. There was no opposition.

DCR sent a similar letter to the supervisors of Culpeper, Madison, and Rappahannock counties, recommending the Hughes River be designated as scenic. The Culpeper supervisors have already approved the request. A Public hearing for the Hughes River will be held in the Rappahannock county courthouse on Wednesday, September 9, at 7:00. RappFLOW has submitted a letter to the supervisors, and will voice its support at that meeting. RappFLOW and especially Hal Hunter have also provided technical and informational support to the riparian landowners throughout this process.

Additional information about Scenic Rivers will be available shortly.

I look forward to seeing you at the Sept. 9 meeting.

Beverly Hunter
Member, RappFLOW Board of Directors

Contact information for the supervisors:

Bob Anderson, Stonewall-Hawthorne District: 987-8206 or rpanderson@rappahannockcountyva.gov

Ronald L. Frazier, Jackson District: 937-5983 or ronfrazier_bos@hotmail.com

S. Bryant Lee, Hampton District: 675-3178, 13153 Lee Highway, Washington, VA 22747 (no e-mail)

Roger A. Welch, Wakefield District: 675-3686 or roger@genevawelchgallery.com

Eddie Wayland, Piedmont District: 987-9252 or edwayland@rappahannockcountyva.gov

posted September 7, 2009