 |
Four Cities, State
and
Federal Governments
Launch Most Ambitious
Initiative Yet! |
Discover the
9 things YOU can do
today to help make the Elizabeth River Swimmable and Fishable by 2020!
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| Dignitaries
present beach towels with the Swimmable-Fishable logo to
students, demonstrating their commitment to the goal!
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It's official! The comprehensive campaign to make
the Elizabeth River swimmable and fishable by 2020 was launched
September 15th at the High Street Landing in Portsmouth.
National, state and local VIPs and dignitaries endorsed what Elizabeth
River Project Executive Director Marjorie Mayfield Jackson says "is the
most ambitious initiative yet designed to clean up the river."
Dignitaries from all levels of government announced their dedication to
the campaign. L. Preston Bryant, Virginia Secretary of Natural
Resources, formally announced the commonwealth's commitment to the
action plan. Col. Dionysios Anninos of the United States Army Corps of
Engineers, Kathryn Hodgkiss of the US Environmental Protection Agency,
and Jackson also addressed the guests. Mayors of the four affected river
cities, Portsmouth's Dr. James Holley, Virginia Beach's Meyera
Oberndorf, Chesapeake's Dr. Alan Krasnoff, and Norfolk's Paul Fraim,
also announced their citys' commitments to the campaign.
It's official! The comprehensive
campaign to make the Elizabeth River swimmable and fishable by 2020 was
launched September 15th at the High Street Landing in Portsmouth.
National, state and local VIPs and dignitaries endorsed what Elizabeth
River Project Executive Director Marjorie Mayfield Jackson says "is the
most ambitious initiative yet designed to clean up the river."
Dignitaries from all levels of government announced their dedication to
the campaign. L. Preston Bryant, Virginia Secretary of Natural
Resources, formally announced the commonwealth's commitment to the
action plan. Col. Dionysios Anninos of the United States Army Corps of
Engineers, Kathryn Hodgkiss of the US Environmental Protection Agency,
and Jackson also addressed the guests. Mayors of the four affected river
cities, Portsmouth's Dr. James Holley, Virginia Beach's Meyera
Oberndorf, Chesapeake's Dr. Alan Krasnoff, and Norfolk's Paul Fraim,
also announced their citys' commitments to the campaign.
Leaders took part
in a multi-boat flotilla and ceremonial presentation with area
schoolchildren to signify their dedication to the clean up efforts.
The swimmable, fishable campaign represents dramatically higher
expectations for the severely degraded Elizabeth River, long labeled
Virginia's most toxic tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. After 15 years
of success with wetland restorations, organizing toxic cleanups and
engaging industries, citizens and government to do their part, the
non-profit Elizabeth River project has set bold new goals for also
making the river safe for human health.
The long-term action plan was recently updated based on consensus
recommendations
of more than 100 stakeholders from science, government, business, and
community organizations. The new plan, titled
The River of the Future
(download the large pdf file) includes seven fundamental goals:
- Clean up the bottom of the Elizabeth River.
- Restore and conserve wetlands, shellfish beds and forested
shores.
- Restore thriving marine life by increasing dissolved oxygen and
reducing excess nutrients as well as toxics in the water.
- Make swimming and fishing safe for humans by reducing harmful
bacteria to acceptable levels.
- Make environmental responsibility the standard for business and
development activities in the Elizabeth River watershed.
- Safeguard the river through integrated, protective public
polices and regulations.
- Create a river revolution, led by a grassroots army of citizens
of all ages who understand, embrace, and promote the restoration of
the Elizabeth River.
| According to Joseph J. Thomas,
President of the Board, Elizabeth River Project, the 2020 Vision
is simple: "Our legacy will be a clean river that is safe for
fishing and swimming, and teeming with wildlife, while
sustaining a thriving economy, so that our children and
grandchildren will know that we had them in mind." |
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