Recognizing Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve

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Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise to salute my colleagues Congressman JOHN DINGELL and Congressman JIM MORAN for their support of a rare natural and national treasure in Northern Virginia, the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve.

In 1959 Congress passed legislation to make this wetland ecosystem a National Park unit, which was introduced by Congressmen Dingell, John Saylor and Henry Reuss. Congressman Moran has introduced H. Res. 701, of which I am a proud cosponsor, to recognize their efforts and the 50th anniversary of Dyke Marsh.

The Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, just south of Alexandria on the Virginia shoreline of the Potomac River, is a rare, 485-acre freshwater, tidal wetland in suburban northern Virginia, just north and east of my district. I was proud to represent this Wildlife Preserve during my tenure as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The marsh is 5,000 to 7,000 years old and is one of the most significant temperate, tidal, freshwater, riverine marshes in the National Park system. It is a remnant of the tidal wetlands that once lined the Potomac River.

Congress designated Dyke Marsh as a nature preserve ``so that fish and wildlife development and their preservation as wetland wildlife habitat shall be paramount.'' Today it has 360 known species of plants, 6,000 arthropods, 38 fish, 16 reptiles, 14 amphibians and over 300 birds.

``Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is a wonderfully complex ecosystem,'' says Georgetown Biology Professor Dr. Edd Barrows. ``It may have as many as 18,000 species, from bacteria through bald eagles.'' Depending on the time and season, visitors can see bullfrogs, snapping turtles, great blue herons, black rat snakes, wood ducks, red-winged blackbirds and plants like pickerelweed, spatter-pond lily and wild rice. It is an important outdoor classroom for students of all ages and a laboratory for many area scientists.

Like all wetlands, Dyke Marsh provides ecological services including flood control, water quality enhancement, habitat, fish nursery, and shoreline stabilization.

I commend Congressman Dingell for his vision, and Congressman Moran for his commitment to preserving this ecological gem. I have been and will continue to be a proud supporter of the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve.

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