It’s safe to say that one of the reasons people love the Northern Neck is the place itself: It’s water, farmland, vistas, rich outdoors opportunities, and wildlife. And it’s easy to understand why. The authors of the Northern Neck chapter (PDF) of the Virginia Outdoors Plan 2018 write,
The Potomac and Rappahannock rivers and the Chesapeake Bay form three of the boundaries for the Northern Neck Recreational Planning Region. There are more than 1,000 miles of shoreline, which comprise 38 percent of the total Tidewater shoreline in Virginia. Wetlands cover 37,890 acres of the region. More than 50 percent of the region’s land area is forested.
The region features a wealth of natural and historical assets including the 88-mile Northern Neck Heritage (bike) Trail (PDF), Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, George Washington Birthplace National Monument, and the Northern Neck National Heritage Area (Northern Neck National Heritage Area - All Documents and Projects). All are US National Park Service properties or trails.
State parks and properties ― such as Belle Isle State Park, Westmoreland State Park, and Hughlett Point Natural Area Preserve ― add to the variety and opportunity to be outside.
Locally, communities and organizations are adding green opportunities such as Hometown Community Park in Callao, Watermen’s Heritage Park in Reedville (Reedville, VA to Get Watermen’s Heritage Park Thanks to Land Donation), and the TriWay Trail in Kilmarnock, Irvington, and White Stone.
Water is as important as land on the Northern Neck. NAPS (Northumberland Association of Progressive Stewards) earlier this year published an updated guide to paddling Northumberland County. Head to Paddler’s Guide page for the brochure and individual waterway maps. The website Virginia's Water Trails delivers in spades. The Northern Neck page features an interactive map and printed guides for 15 trails.
Access to parks and outdoor and historical spaces are important to Virginians. According to the Virginia Outdoors Plan (2018), “71% of Virginia households visit natural areas; 67% walk for pleasure; and 56% visit local, state, and national parks.” And 2021 Access to Outdoor Recreation Survey Results (PDF) reported that 92% of respondents selected the option “Very Important” to the question “How important is it to you and any other persons living in your household to have access to outdoor recreation opportunities? (Please choose one).”
Demonstrating the interest, Virginians were among the 98,843 visitors at the George Washington Birthplace National Monument in 2023. (Source: Visitor Use Data) Yet 2021 Access to Outdoor Recreation Survey Results also shows that public spaces are avoided because of crowding, with 75% of respondents saying that they have avoided using a trail or park because of crowding. This is certaily the case with Hughlett Point Natural Area Preserve in Northumberland County. Parking is deliberately limited and visitation seasonally restricted:
Hughlett Point and Dameron Marsh natural area preserves contain some of the most significant Chesapeake Bay wetlands for marsh birds, and also support pristine sandy shorelines that provide habitat for the federally threatened northeastern beach tiger beetle and nesting sites for rare shore birds. To protect these species and their significant habitats, designated sections of preserve shorelines may be closed during specific periods of the year to both land (walking) and water (boat landing) access. Thank you for your help in conserving some of Virginia's rarest wildlife by observing the posted seasonal closings of designated shorelines at these two Northern Neck preserves. (Source: Hughlett Point Natural Area Preserve).
The federal threat
The beauty and importance of place are why President-elect Trump’s pick for Secretary of the Interior Gov. Doug Burgum is so troubling to so many. Burgum is all for making the US the world’s largest producer of fossil fuel and using public lands to do it. In fact, Burgum champions Trump’s aggressive drilling posture “drill baby drill.” On the plus side, he is not a climate change denier. (Source: What to know about Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead Interior Department and as energy czar)
The nomination worries environmental and public lands supporters and protectors as is shown in the image below. (Note: The full text is available at the end of this post in text format.) And it should worry those who value and use the vast outdoor amenities on the Northern Neck such as the Northern Neck Heritage (bike) Trail and George Washington Birthplace National Monument. While drilling may not be in the cards for federal parks on the Northern Neck, it is entirely possible that these places may not be maintained and protected under the next president.
A Letter from the ALTNPS Coalition
(Assuming confirmation)
Dear Gov. Doug Burgum,
As you prepare to assume the critical role of overseeing our nation’s public lands, we, the ALTNPS Coalition, would like to take this opportunity to set forth some vital expectations. Our shared commitment to protecting America’s natural heritage is essential, and we hope that your tenure will honor this responsibility.
That said, let us be clear:
We will not compromise on the reduction of national parks, national monument lands, or any protections for our public lands and wildlife. These treasures belong to all Americans—not to corporations, not to developers, and not to the interests of a select few. They represent our shared heritage, our collective responsibility, and the hope for a sustainable future.
Our mission has always been, and will continue to be, to protect, preserve, and provide access to these lands for future generations. As articulated in the National Park Service Organic Act of 1916:
“To conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”
This mission is non-negotiable. Any attempts to undermine it—whether through budget cuts, policy changes, or weakening protections—will be met with steadfast resistance.
We are committed to transparency and accountability, and we will ensure the American people remain informed about any decisions affecting their public lands. Should you attempt to jeopardize these principles, you will face a well-organized and informed public, fully prepared to defend their rights. A reminder to the American people: freedom of information requests are your right. Feel free to request as much information as you wish, and we encourage you to exercise this right.
Furthermore, we strongly condemn any efforts to intimidate or root out members of the Resistance, as occurred under Secretary Zinke. This is your chance to stand on the right side of history. Work with us to protect and enhance America’s public lands, not degrade them. You have the opportunity to build a legacy of stewardship and integrity—one that future generations will celebrate.
We will hold you accountable, but we will also support every decision you make that aligns with our shared responsibility to protect these lands. The choice is yours.
Respectfully,
The ALTNPS Coalition