Improving the Environment: Do it Yourself

I'm on the Prince William County Mid-County Civic Association's Occoquan Watershed Overlay District Committee. We have been struggling for months on a recommendation to the Prince William County Planning Commission so they may proceed with creating the actual District (or additional zoning requirements for the Occoquan Watershed to protect the Occoquan reservoir). We are near closure.

It might be a while before we ever see the final Occoquan Watershed Overlay District, because there are several competing equities involved (homeowners, developers, environmentalists, the Planning Commission, County Staff, and community groups to name a few). There are a few lawsuits against the EPA (Farm Bureau, Builders, U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, the National Chicken Council, and the Fertilizer Institute... perhaps a couple of others) regarding their latest guidance on pollutants (or TMDL). 

People don’t have to wait for the government to start improving water quality in the Occoquan Watershed. They may take voluntary action on their own now. There are several programs available to educate homeowners today on how to manage non-native invasive species of plants, reduce the use of chemicals and pesticides on their property, promote natural succession, conserve water via water barrels and sound water management principles, etc. Wildlife is an indicator of a healthy environment. A healthy environment is good for water quality. Some examples of “self help” include:

• The Prince William County Virginia Cooperative Extension Education and Master Gardener Program. VCE offers a full range of free classes and educational materials to educate homeowners and businesses on property management best practices. Master Gardener Volunteers are available to consult with homeowners directly on a variety os issues upon request.
• The Northern Virginia Audubon Society Audubon at Home program. This volunteer group is available to consult with homeowners directly on land management best practices. It also has a Wildlife Sanctuary program to certify properties who take specific steps to make their property more environmentally friendly.
• Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries training and Habitat at Home program. VDGIF provides training and education for landowners so they may manage and improve their property using best practices to attract wildlife.

Recommend the Occoquan Watershed Overlay District:

• Include the opportunity for property owners and business to help themselves directly by electing to participate in these volunteer programs,
• Provide for publicity to make property owners aware of these opportunities for self-help, and
• Encourage Prince William County citizens to participate in these programs.

No matter what the final Occoquan Watershed Overlay District ends up looking like, enforcement will be an issue. Since participation in programs such as these is voluntary, they improve the environment and the quality of the water in the Occoquan Reservoir at to cost to the taxpayer and no expense associated with enforcement.

Consideration should be given to implementing this simple, volunteer, enforcement free program in Prince William County immediately. There are several lawsuits surrounding the current water quality mandates which may complicate or hold up implementation indefinitely. We can start this program immediately to mitigate that risk with resident driven self-help.