I am taking this opportunity to bring to your notice an important development regarding Belle Haven Marina. On April 17th, the National Park Service (NPS) has notified Belle Haven Marina that it will not extend the concession contract to operate the marina. Further the NPS is considering alternatives for land use of the marina property. All will significantly impact your use of the marina. Several will completely eliminate all wet and dry storage of boats in the area. The enclosed notice from the NPS explains what they are contemplating. The one thing that is very clear is that the NPS action will significantly impact your use and enjoyment of the marina. The NPS will hold a Public Scoping meeting on 1 and 2 May at Potowmack Landing Restaurant during which they will explain their plans and receive public comment. Apparently while the public will have the opportunity to comment on the NPS alternatives, the public will not be invited to provide viable alternatives to the NPS. The NPS has developed seven alternatives for the use of the peninsula upon which the marina sits, but their approach almost foreordains the choice they will make and that is to restrict boaters use of the facilities at Belle Haven.

If the public does not express its will on this subject the NPS will move inextricably to deny the boating public use of our public access and severely restrict even further the boating community's enjoyment of the Potomac River. Within the last year, the NPS has already reduced the number of wet slips and dry storage of boats on the upper Potomac. While the public continues to express strong interest in enjoying the Potomac River and its benefits, the NPS has a consistent pattern of restricting public use by the boating community.

The NPS meeting is an important, indeed vital, opportunity for all of us, the public, to show our strong support for an active vibrant marina at Belle Haven.

Please review the NPS proposed alternatives and be prepared to provide written input to the NPS on the marina. The Friends of Belle Haven would like to see the NPS take a proactive position that maintains the existing facilities for both the boat-owning public and citizens who do not own boats, but rely upon the rental operations at the current marina.

If we do not activate our local and national community leaders to support the marina, I feel sure the NPS will deny the public our existing privileges and close the marina.

The Friends of Belle Haven will meet on April 26th at the Martha Washington Library to discuss these issues. The meeting will be from 7 PM - 8 :30 PM. Please call (703) 768-0018 if you can attend.

We can and must let the NPS know how important the continued operation of Belle Haven is to the great number of citizens of the greater Washington Metropolitan area.

Sincerely,