Arlington County and Vicinity Boathouse Environmental Assessment

The George Washington Memorial Parkway is pleased to announce the availability of the Arlington County and Vicinity Nonmotorized Boathouse Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA evaluates a proposed boathouse and related facilities on the Virginia side of the Potomac River south and west of Washington, DC, on land administered by the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

The purpose of the action is to meet the direction of Congress to provide enhanced public waterfront access near Arlington County, increase access along the Virginia shoreline for nonmotorized water-based recreational activities on the Potomac River and alleviate pressure on other area boathouses. Currently, Arlington County residents and the three public high schools use area boathouses located in Washington, DC. The rowing conditions, potential conflicts with motorized watercraft, and travel times between Arlington County and the boat clubs make some of these locations less than ideal for the high school rowing programs, as well as for other community users.

NPS evaluated three action alternatives for the proposed boathouse and related facilities at sites on the Potomac River in Rosslyn and at Gravelly Point, as well as two soft launch locations at Roaches Run and Riverside Park. NPS also evaluated the impacts of a no-action alternative, in which no new nonmotorized boathouse would be constructed. NPS has identified "Alternative C: Combination Upper and Lower Rosslyn Sites" as the preferred alternative. Under this alternative, NPS and Arlington County would develop a low-impact, flood resistant riverfront boat storage facility and launching site, including a boathouse facility and floating dock on the Potomac River shoreline in Virgina just below the Key Bridge in Rosslyn. A support facility containing office space, locker rooms, restrooms, and space for education and outreach would be developed on site in Rosslyn out of the floodplain, between Lynn Street, the I-66 off ramp, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Soft launches would be developed at Riverside Park and Roaches Run.

Document Content:

EA GWMP Arlington Boathouse_508 compliant1.pdf   (8.2 MB, PDF file) EA GWMP Arlington Boathouse_Appendices.pdf   (27.1 MB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of Acrobat Reader from Adobe Systems.