The National Park Service has had a near-perfect reputation for staunchly defending natural foliage along the Potomac River — except for one stadium-sized blemish on its record in 2004. That year, Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder hired workers to take chain saws to several acres of woodlands around his $10 million Potomac home, giving him an uninterrupted view of the river and C&O Canal.
The gash in the landscape made headlines, especially after officials from the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park and park service officials said they had signed off on the razing.
Turns out Snyder was given permission to cut down 130 mature trees because his lot had been invaded by nonnative flora species the park service had been trying to keep out of its forests. The agreement also required Snyder to replant native species in the cleared area.
But backlash from conservationists prompted multiple investigations into the park service’s unusual move. The agency — until then — had been far less understanding with other prominent owners of riverfront homes, such as former Virginia Sen. Charles S. Robb (D), James Grafton Gore Sr. (brother of former Republican activist Louise Gore) and waterbed manufacturer Isaac Fogel.
A Montgomery County investigation revealed the park service could have profited from the Snyder agreement. If the value of the enhanced view — as assessed by a new appraisal — exceeded the value of what the park service gained in the deal, Snyder was to donate the difference to the federal government.
Snyder reached a settlement with the county in 2005 that included paying $37,000 toward county forest conservation, replanting trees he cut down and placing several acres of his property in a permanent conservation easement.
– Liz Farmer
