“The mission of the Dragon Run Special Area Management Plan
is to support and promote community-based efforts to preserve the cultural, historic,
and natural character of the Dragon Run, while preserving property rights and
the traditional uses within its watershed by improving the tools available to
manage its environmental, social, and economic resources.”
Attendance
Garrie Rouse (Mattaponi Canoe and Kayak); Davis Rhodes (Friends
of Dragon Run); Kay Bradley (Northern Neck-Middle Peninsula Public Education
Consortium); Jerry Horner (Rappahannock Community College); David Fuss (Middle
Peninsula Planning District Commission)
Welcome
and Introductions
David Fuss welcomed everyone and began introductions.
Advisory
Group Overview
David provided a brief overview of the SAMP project and the
role of the Advisory Group.
Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats
David led the group through a brainstorming exercise to
discuss the strengths and weaknesses of education and access in the watershed.
The group also discussed external opportunities and threats that exist.
There was discussion about land-based access and the need to
manage access in the Dragon. Experience-based education was viewed as essential
to having the community care for the Dragon. The role of conservation easements
and land ownership changes was discussed. Jerry proposed the idea for an
outdoor education center. Logistical difficulties of access were addressed.
Liability problems for access and private landowners were discussed. There was
discussion about grants and partnerships. The now defunct Dragon Run Folk
Festival was discussed. The idea of a regional entity to manage public access
sites was mentioned.
What’s
Next?
The group agreed to meet next
on April 17 at MPPDC offices at 7:30 PM. David promised to digest the
discussions into priority areas. The priority areas below were distilled from
the discussions and mailed to group after the meeting. They appear in no
particular order.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned.