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River easement to become permanent part of annual celebration

Date published: 4/1/2007

By RUSTY DENNEN

The Great Rappahannock Whitewater Canoe Race has drawn paddlers and crowds to Fredericksburg for 27 years.

This year's gathering on the first weekend in June will have a more festive nature--it will commemorate the city's protection of thousands of acres or riverfront land.

"This year we wanted to kick it up a little so that we're celebrating the river in a variety of ways," said Bill Micks, a canoe outfitter and co-owner of the Virginia Outdoor Center on Fall Hill Avenue.

Last April, after nearly three years of deliberation, the City Council approved a permanent conservation easement on 4,232 acres running 25 miles upstream through Spotsylvania, Stafford, Culpeper, Orange and Fauquier counties. It includes bald eagle habitat and a number of historic sites.

The city has begun a search for a full-time river steward to manage and protect the property.

Each year, Fredericksburg plans to mark the approval of the easement with several events.

"One of the council's goals was to look for ways to celebrate the easement," City Manager Phillip Rodenberg said.

As part of this year's observance, John Tippett, executive director of Friends of the Rappahannock, will deliver a "State of the River" report to the City Council at its April 24 meeting. Mayor Tom Tomzak is expected to issue a proclamation and note key dates in the easement process.

"This will give us a chance to take stock of where we are and hopefully make this an annual thing to keep the focus on these lands," Tippett said.

Winners of a river photo and essay contest will be announced during the canoe race weekend. Later in June the city is planning a canoe trip and has invited Gov. Tim Kaine, Sen. John Warner and local boards of supervisors to see the riverfront acreage.

The easement is one of two milestones on the Rappahannock in three years.

In February 2004, Embrey Dam was breached and later demolished to allow migratory fish to reach hundreds more miles of spawning areas upstream.

The removal of the dam has been a boon for paddlers as well.

A new stretch of white water was created where the former dam pool was, below the Interstate 95 bridge, and paddlers no longer have to portage around the barrier.

RIVER FÊTE ADDS NEW EVENTS The Great Rappahannock Whitewater Canoe Race will be held June 2-3. Along with canoe races, an expanded schedule this year will include a Scout challenge race, a Paddle for a Cause fundraiser and events marking the creation of a permanent easement on the city's undeveloped riverfront land. For more information, or to sponsor an event, contact Bill or Denise Micks at 371-5085.

Date published: 4/1/2007