Goose Creek Association Timeline

1970 – GCA founded to promote orderly growth and to oppose successfully the discharge of
sewage effluent into Goose Creek along upper Crenshaw Road

1971 – GCA conducts first water sampling of the Goose Creek

1973 – GCA supports Loudoun County in adopting the Land Use Assessment Program that
provides for deferral of real estate taxes on property that meets certain agricultural,
horticultural, forestry or open space use criteria

1974 – GCA and partners work successfully to prevent Fairfax County Water Authority and the
Army Corps of Engineers from daming Catoctin Creek to supply water to the DC metro
area in case of drought; dam would have flooded 3000 acres in Loudoun County; GCA’s
strategy included getting Goose Creek and Catoctin Creek named as state scenic rivers

1975 – GCA works with partners to successfully oppose the development of Rt. 50 into a 4-lane
road between Gilbert’s Corner and Paris

1976 – Goose Creek officially becomes a Virginia State Scenic River.
Benefits of Scenic River Designation:

● Encourages closer review of projects and proposals by state agencies and localities
● Requires General Assembly authorization for dams
● Provides for continued existing appropriate riparian land uses
● Allows for project review and monitoring of designated river segments by
Governor-appointed Virginia Scenic Rivers Board.

1979 – GCA organizes first community Goose Creek Cleanup

1988 – GCA identifies three major threats: intense housing development, infrastructure
expansion (building & expanding roadways), and water supply (transfer of water from
one watershed to another). GCA developed a strategy to make it difficult and
expensive to develop water & highway infrastructure through establishment of
conservation easements and historic districts

1988 – GCA funds expert studies related to town planning for the development of Marshall
Service District

1989 – GCA works on Round Hill Area Management Plan in Western Loudoun County

1987 – GCA establishes office at the Brown House on Atoka Road and Rectors Lane

1991 – GCA participates in protest against the expansion of Route 17 to 4 lanes through Paris
Valley

1992 – GCA begins successful traffic calming project from Gilbert’s Corner to Paris

1993 – GCA starts to sponsor public forums on conservation topics, including BMPs, native
trees, riparian buffers, conservation easements, sustainable farming and the Clean Water
Coalition

1994 – GCA and partners successfully oppose Disney’s America in Haymarket, Prince William
County with GCA organizing the first mass meeting

1996 – GCA and partners successfully oppose expansion of Route 50 to 6-lanes from east
Gilbert’s Corner and 4-lanes from Gilbert’s Corner to Paris and opposes Outer Beltway

2000 – GCA activates community protests to proposed development along GC near Notre
Dame Academy after Michael Laris’s “Life and Growth in Loudoun County” reports
more than 30 new species of aquatic life in the GC

2000 – GCA begins stream monitoring program with VA DEQ

2002 – GCA participates in VA DEQ watershed study

2002 – GCA establishes Beaverdam Creek Historic Roadways District with Loudoun County

2004 – GCA sponsors the Crooked Run Valley Rural Historic District

2006 – GCA becomes a 501c3 nonprofit

2006 – GCA works with coalition partners to limit size of Salamander Resort, and to encourage
conservation easement and riparian buffer on its grounds

2006 – 2007 – GCA conducts “Life in the Country” Festivals

2007 – GCA and partners successfully oppose railway siding in Delaplane

2008– GCA sponsors Cromwell’s Run Rural Historic District

2010 – GCA publishes M. Janes’ “Life in the Country” booklet

2012 – GCA begins Goose Creek Challenge – riparian buffer program

2012 – GCA presents ”Keep the Uranium Ban” Forum

2013 – GCA sponsors the Little River Rural Historic District

2014 – GCA produces Stream Monitoring Report Card

2015 – GCA begins presenting documentaries at the Hill School with “Switch”

2015 – GCA and partners meet at Mr. Weather FEMA site to discuss new waste water treatment
system impact on GC tributaries

2016 – GCA and partners successfully waylay VDOT development plan for a truck stop in
Markham, Fauquier

2016 – GCA shows “Plastic Paradise” documentary

2016 – GCA moves to Middleburg Professional Center

2017 – GCA challenges the development of the True North Data Center along the Goose Creek
in Loudoun County

2017 – GCA successfully opposes special exceptions for the B Chord Brewery and
unsuccessfully opposes the Catesby Event Center in Loudoun County

2018 – GCA and LTVA present Dr. Ellen Stofan: “What We Can learn About Earth From
Space” at Hill School

2019 – GCA and LTVA show “Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman” documentary

2019 – GCA supports public and private transfer of development rights in Loudoun’s
Comprehensive Plan

2019-2020 GCA successfully opposes Barrel Oak hotel development in Fauquier

2020 – 50th anniversary – GCA premiers “Goose Creek” video; GCA and LTVA show “Biggest
Little Farm” documentary

2021 – GCA video wins Grand Prize at Virginia Environmental Film Festival

2021 – GCA successfully opposes Goose Creek Overlook Development in Ashburn with
unprecedented reversal by Loudoun BOS

2021 – GCA and LTVA produce a virtual Environment Film Festival during COVID shutdown

2021 – GCA and its partners successfully waylay Blackthorne Inn Events Center

2021 – GCA and FOR produce Stream Monitoring Report Card

2021 – GCA and FOSR start Level III professional stream monitoring

2021 – GCA Celebrates 50+ years of work to protect and preserve the Goose Creek watershed
with a Family Festival at Aldie Mill