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George Washington Memorial Parkway Vista Management Plan / EA
George Washington Memorial Parkway » George Washington Memorial Parkway Vista Management Plan / EA
The National Park Service (NPS) George Washington Memorial Parkway (the Parkway) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) - Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (EFLHD) are undertaking an environmental assessment to finalize a vista management plan for historic vistas along a 2.65-mile portion of the Parkway from Spout Run to Glebe Road Bridge.
The Parkway runs along the Potomac River through Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia (DC), protecting the landscape and natural shoreline while offering magnificent scenic vistas of DC and the Great Falls of the Potomac River. Along its route, the Parkway also connects important historical sites, memorials, and scenic and recreation areas in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. The Parkway honors the nations first president, and as a scenic roadway, it protects and preserves cultural and natural resources along the Potomac River below Great Falls to Mount Vernon and is part of a comprehensive system of parks, parkways, and recreational areas surrounding the nation's capital.
In 2018, the NPS, in cooperation with EFLHD and the National Capital Planning Commission, completed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) compliance to rehabilitate the north section of the Parkway from Spout Run to Interstate 495/Capital Beltway, known as the North Section Rehabilitation project (see https://pepc.nps.gov/publicSummary.cfm?projectID=65603&).
Despite periodic management by the NPS, most of the historic vistas have become obscured by native and invasive vegetation. In fall 2024, under NPS direction, the construction contractor for the North Section Rehabilitation project partially or completely cleared 10 of the 15 vistas that were rated as having the most scenic value of the historic vistas previously assessed in NPS documentation. During the clearing process, NPS and EFLHD determined the scale of the vegetation removal required additional NEPA compliance. A stop-work order was issued on October 16, 2024, to halt any additional vista clearing efforts. Vista clearing efforts were paused until NPS developed a long-term management strategy and solicited agency and public input.
The proposed Vista Management Plan / EA will account for vista management work already completed by NPS, finalize a vista management plan, and meet the compliance requirements of the associated North Section Rehabilitation project.
The Parkway runs along the Potomac River through Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia (DC), protecting the landscape and natural shoreline while offering magnificent scenic vistas of DC and the Great Falls of the Potomac River. Along its route, the Parkway also connects important historical sites, memorials, and scenic and recreation areas in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. The Parkway honors the nations first president, and as a scenic roadway, it protects and preserves cultural and natural resources along the Potomac River below Great Falls to Mount Vernon and is part of a comprehensive system of parks, parkways, and recreational areas surrounding the nation's capital.
In 2018, the NPS, in cooperation with EFLHD and the National Capital Planning Commission, completed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) compliance to rehabilitate the north section of the Parkway from Spout Run to Interstate 495/Capital Beltway, known as the North Section Rehabilitation project (see https://pepc.nps.gov/publicSummary.cfm?projectID=65603&).
Despite periodic management by the NPS, most of the historic vistas have become obscured by native and invasive vegetation. In fall 2024, under NPS direction, the construction contractor for the North Section Rehabilitation project partially or completely cleared 10 of the 15 vistas that were rated as having the most scenic value of the historic vistas previously assessed in NPS documentation. During the clearing process, NPS and EFLHD determined the scale of the vegetation removal required additional NEPA compliance. A stop-work order was issued on October 16, 2024, to halt any additional vista clearing efforts. Vista clearing efforts were paused until NPS developed a long-term management strategy and solicited agency and public input.
The proposed Vista Management Plan / EA will account for vista management work already completed by NPS, finalize a vista management plan, and meet the compliance requirements of the associated North Section Rehabilitation project.