For information contact: Isabel Kaldenbach (703) 979-3076

Arlington, Va., July 15, 2000 -- Officials of Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE) joined officials from the Alexandria Seaport Foundation and elected representatives from Northern Virginia to break ground on a nursery that will grow plants for wetlands remediation on the Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax shorelines.

"This new nursery is part of a bold project that will help provide stocks of aquatic plants for critical filtering areas along our riverbanks, while educating the area's young people about watershed ecology and the importance of environmentally sensitive watershed management," said Martin Ogle, ACE chairman. "We appreciate the support of Alexandria Seaport Foundation, Arlington County Board Chair Barbara Favola, and U.S. Representative Jim Moran in helping bring this project to the area."

The project will propagate stocks of aquatic plants for re-seeding and planting in area streams, stabilize riverbanks, clear watersheds of obstructions and invasive exotics, and enhance riparian buffer areas through tree stabilizations and new plantings. Area youth and volunteers will be utilized in these efforts, particularly at-risk youth.

The project is being led by the Alexandria Seaport Foundation, with support from ACE and a $45,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, as well as support the National Park Service, and private donors.

Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment is a 1,600 member non-profit educational and service organization serving the residents of Arlington. It is funded primarily by the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services, although last year's funding was supplemented by sales of an award-winning calendar documenting the seasons along one of the area's watershed environments. ACE has helped local wetlands remediation, restoration and preservation efforts for several years. In addition to stream clean-ups and remediation work, ACE works to educate northern Virginians to change behavior and help preserve the environment, particularly the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Each year over 250 residents volunteer their time with ACE contributing over 1200 hours of volunteer service.