Mallows Bay-Potomac River Proposed National Marine Sanctuary Study Area Profile of Alternatives 2000 to 2015

photo collate of shipwreck and kayakers

This report will support the designation process for the proposed National Marine Sanctuary in Mallows Bay Potomac River. A study area profile includes a characterization of the area where the social and economic impacts of resource use take place and an overview of what is currently known about the uses of the natural and cultural resources that exist within the study area. For this application, there are three alternatives being considered and one is sanctuary management’s preferred alternative. The preferred alternative, Alternative C, includes the primary counties of Charles County, MD, Stafford County, Prince William County and King George County, VA. The secondary counties and cities being analyzed are the District of Columbia, Prince George’s County, MD, Fairfax County, Fredericksburg City, Arlington County, Loudoun County, Alexandria City, Fairfax City, and Manassas City, VA. The other alternatives also referred to as study area B and D are also included in the analysis. Study areas consider where the economic and social impacts take place. This report looks at the population measurements, demographic profiles and economic profiles of each study area in comparison to the state of Maryland, Virginia and the U.S. Both Maryland and Virginia are included in the report for comparison purposes due to the location of Mallows Bay Potomac River being adjacent to both states’ shorelines. For the overview of the uses of the natural and cultural resources within each study area, information was obtained from the states’ outdoor recreation plans. Although county and study area specific information was not available for recreation and tourist use of the natural and cultural resources of the study areas, information was obtained from a state-wide study that contains estimates of participation by recreation activity and the trends in those activities. This will aid future researchers in filling gaps in information for the study areas.

Keywords

Mallows Bay, Potomac River, Sanctuary, Population, Population Density, Population Growth, Population Density, Per Capita Income, Unemployment, Unemployment Rate, Gender, Race/Ethnicity, Age, Labor Force, Personal Income, Employment, Proprietors Income, Proprietors Employment, Personal Income, Personal Income by Industry, Employment by Industry, Economic impact of tourism, state recreation areas, beaches, maritime attractions.