The Issue
Access To Fletcher's Cove is Disappearing
Fletcher’s Cove is a revered and historic outdoor resource along the Potomac River, located just below the fall line in the Potomac Gorge–roughly 2.5 miles upstream of Georgetown. The site is managed by the National Park Service within the boundaries of the C&O Canal National Historical Park, which receives millions of visitors each year. Fletcher’s Cove is one of the few public access points where for over one hundred years, visitors have enjoyed safe and reliable access to the Potomac river for fishing, boating, wildlife watching, and many other forms of outdoor recreation.
Today, Potomac River access at Fletcher’s Cove is at risk.
The Problem:
In the 1960s, a large deposit of soil from a nearby infrastructure project was placed just upstream of the Cove.
Though perhaps well-intentioned, the upstream structure created an impediment to historic river flow and eliminated the natural flushing process that occurred at Fletcher’s for many centuries.
Year after year, the Cove has filled slowly with sediment, limiting its functionality as a public access point to the Potomac. With each passing season, access to the river is increasingly limited.
If action isn’t taken soon, the Cove may fill in entirely.
Upstream fill left behind in the 1960s
The Solution:
Friends of Fletcher’s Cove is working alongside a broad coalition to permanently restore the Cove. With our partners, including the District of Columbia, members of Congress, the National Park Service, local contractors, and outdoor businesses and conservation groups, we are working to achieve our vision.
Restoring access to the Cove means addressing the challenge in at least two phases:
Short-term: Dredge the Cove to provide emergency relief and short-term access. This phase will provide time while we work to achieve the long-term solution.
Long-term: Plan and implement a sustainable solution that addresses the core issue at Fletcher’s Cove: the human-made impediment that has altered the historic flow of the Potomac River near the site.
Next Steps:
Resources
Learn more about the history of the site, and how FFC is advocating to protect access at Fletcher's Cove.
Take Action
Write a letter to your Member of Congress urging them to support our work.
About Us
Learn more about FFC