We are very pleased to inform all of our ORMA supporters
that, in a face-to-face
meeting last week (before the Memorial Day weekend), representatives of
the Corps of Engineers told Congressman Tom Davis that maintenance
dredging of problem areas on the Occoquan will begin this October. The
existence of problem areas is not in question and the Corps has finally
acknowledged their existence on the river. Specific dredging locations,
timing, disposal sites, scope of work and other details still need to be
worked out, with the expectation and hope that local input will be
involved.
ORMA was advised of the foregoing today (May
31) at a meeting at Mr. Davis' Woodbridge office attended by
Occoquan Mayor Pat Conway, Town Councilman Leo Smith, Treasurer Winn
Frank, Prince William Supervisors Ruth Griggs and Hilda Barg, ORMA
representative Tom Coldwell, Mr. Davis's staff assistants Mike May and
(by telephone) Barnaby Harkins. It was Harkins who relayed the good
news about the Corps' decisions and has been the principal staff member
who worked the appropriation of funding for the effort.
Meeting attendees greeted the news with much
enthusiasm and agreed to keep watch on the progress of this project. The
group will meet again in approximately thirty days.