Gerald Stokes presented a historical perspective of the founding of Friends of the Dragon Run and about the challenges we face in conserving livable and environmentally sustainable landscapes, at the November Annual Meeting.

Now retired, Jerry was the Assistant Director for Protected Areas of the United States Forest Service.

Between 1985 and 1990, he worked in Virginia for Chesapeake Bay preservation. He was an employee of the US Forest Service and Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Soil and Water of the Commonwealth of VA and assigned to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.. His supervisor at the time, Joe Maroon, told him that a land owner, Louise McKenna, wished to sell, but also preserve, her property in the Dragon Run. Jerry met with Jimmy Morgan, and asked if he could raise funds to purchase the property. Within days, Jimmy had obtained financial commitments and created the Friends of Dragon Run, which was pursuing 501(3)(c) status.

Surveying the property was a major undertaking and required approximately a year of work. Jerry and Ed Haile, volunteered their time every weekend from December until the following November to complete the marking of boundaries of the 203 acres of swampland. Mike Wynn, Ed’s supervising surveyor, closed the traverse by making the last visual sighting while standing in the frigid water in November.

The property now known as Big Island and Little Island was purchased by FODR. At that time, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) was the State Charter Organization with authority to hold conservation easements. Jerry worked with FODR and VOF to establish conservation easements along the Dragon Run.

Since 1990, a number of groups have been working on conservation of the Dragon Run Watershed:

The Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission (MPPDC), a network of four counties, that sponsors the Dragon Run Steering Committee

The Dragon Run Conservation District, created by MPPDC to define high standards of conservation

The Dragon Run Steering Committee, recently revitalized, consisting of landowners and Board of Supervisors

The Special Area Management Plan, being developed by the Steering Committee

FODR purchasing conservation easements and additional land on Route 602

The Nature Conservancy, developing a plan of conservation for the 90,000 acres of the watershed

The process of conserving the Dragon Run Watershed is one of the most successful efforts that Jerry has been involved with in his 30 year-career with conservation.

Commitment of so many people to FODR shows continued enthusiasm. Jerry suggests that FODR enlist graduate students to research the grassroots effort begun in the 1970s. The work could help to promote a model of conservation and could be a source of support and funding for the future.

Jerry reminded the group of the need for a global approach to conservation. The encroachment of land development, urban sprawl, and pollution are significant. Urban sprawl especially on the fringes of national parks, for example, makes fire management very difficult. Sprawl around Fredericksburg, Virginia has extended into our historical sites. There is a plan to build a new town on the battlefield. Land owners and developers see profit and do not see the impact on the local environment. "What is individually rational, is collectively insane."

One of the best strategies for conservation includes working through local governments to promote reasonable local zoning. Acquiring conservation easements is another strategy that is particularly helpful for conserving valuable/precious lands. Purchasing easements is a terrific strategy if funding is available. Counties can hold easements and can fund purchase through taxation of deeds. The development community is a big barrier and local governments often have power to conserve but don't use it.

Jerry's parting words were "think globally and operate locally."                                          Adrienne Frank

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