After more than a year of uncertainty, frustration, and determined advocacy, there is finally good news for one of Northern Virginia’s most treasured community resources. Dominion Energy has signed a new vegetation management and restoration agreement with NOVA Parks, bringing a decisive end to the threat of large‑scale clear‑cutting along the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail.
This outcome would not have been possible without the leadership of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, working closely with FABB and a broad coalition of local trail, environmental, and community advocates. Together, we helped ensure that the W&OD remains not just a transportation corridor, but a living park that serves people and nature alike.
What the New Agreement Does
Under the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding between NOVA Parks and Dominion Energy, vegetation management along the W&OD Trail will now be guided by clear, enforceable standards that balance infrastructure safety with environmental stewardship. In addition to better coordination, it commits to pruning instead of removal wherever feasible, replanting with low‑growing native trees, shrubs, and pollinator‑supporting plants, and enhanced invasive species management.
How We Got Here
This victory followed a long and difficult road. In November 2024, Dominion Energy abruptly withdrew from a long‑standing (though non‑binding) agreement with NOVA Parks and began planning far more aggressive vegetation removal. In February 2025, trees were unexpectedly clear‑cut along a four‑mile stretch of the trail between Vienna and Dunn Loring. Worse still, Dominion’s stated vision would have cleared vegetation along all 33 miles of W&OD parkland beneath its transmission lines.
The response from the community was swift and fierce. Trail users, conservationists, bicyclists, walkers, and local elected officials across Northern Virginia pushed back. By March, every trail‑adjacent jurisdiction had passed resolutions opposing the clear‑cutting. Dominion paused its work—but refused to meaningfully re‑engage with NOVA Parks.
Collective Action Made the Difference
Led by WABA and supported by FABB and other partners, the broader Northern Virginia advocacy community organized petitions, coordinated outreach to state and local officials, and escalated public pressure throughout the summer. When Dominion announced plans to resume clear‑cutting, advocates responded with a high‑visibility rally in Vienna, attended by more than 120 residents and a dozen elected officials.
That pressure worked. Negotiations restarted. Draft language reappeared. By December, Dominion committed not only to restoring the areas already clear‑cut, but to fundamentally changing how vegetation along the W&OD would be managed in the future.
The final agreement goes further than many dared hope—explicitly prioritizing restoration, native plantings, pollinators, and long‑term ecological health.
Why This Matters
This outcome is proof that grassroots advocacy works—especially when organizations collaborate, stay persistent, and refuse to accept false choices between safety and stewardship.
We’re proud to have played a role in this success. To everyone who joined the petition, rallied in Vienna, or called their local officials: thank you. The trail has its trees—and its community—because of you.
The next time you ride, walk, or roll along the W&OD—under the shade of restored trees, past wildflowers and birdsong—remember that these moments were protected because people spoke up. And that’s exactly why FABB and our partners will keep doing this work.
Want to help? Contact us at [email protected].
