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Chairman Phil Mendelson Councilmember Janeese Lewis George 2
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Councilmember Zachary Parker Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau 6
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Councilmember Brooke Pinto Councilmember Anita Bonds 10
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Councilmember Henderson Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 14
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Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie 18
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A BILL 20
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 25
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To amend the Department of Energy and Environment Establishment Act of 2005 to establish 29
the Natural Areas Conservation Program within the Department of Energy and 30
Environment to provide stewardship of and conserve District-owned or -managed natural 31
areas, develop a natural areas stewardship and invasive plant response plan, and establish 32
Natural Areas Stewardship projects. 33
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 35
act may be cited as the “Natural Areas Conservation Program Amendment Act of 2025”. 36
Sec. 2. The Department of Energy and Environment Establishment Act of 2005, effective 37
February 15, 2006 (D.C. Law 16-51; D.C. Official Code § 8-151.01 et seq.), is amended as follows: 38
(a) Section 101 (D.C. Official Code § 8-151.01) is amended as follows: 39
(1) A new paragraph (1A) is added to read as follows: 40 “(1A) “Conservation easement” means a nonpossessory interest of a holder in real 41
property imposing limitations or affirmative obligations the purposes of which include retaining 42
or protecting natural, scenic, or open-space values of real property, ensuring its availability for 43
agricultural, forestal, recreational, or open-space use, protecting natural resources, maintaining or 44
enhancing air or water quality, or preserving the historical, architectural, archaeological, or cultural 45
aspects of real property.”. 46
(2) A new paragraph (7A) is added to read as follows: 47
“(7A) “Integrated pest management” means a sustainable approach to managing 48
pests by combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes 49
economic, health, and environmental risks.”. 50
(3) A new paragraph (8A) is added to read as follows: 51
“(8A) “Low-impact recreation” means non-motorized outdoor, nature-based 52
recreational activities, including, but not limited to, boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, 53
picnicking, nature observation, photography, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and 54
enjoyment of open space.”. 55
(4) New paragraphs (9A) and (9B) are added to read as follows: 56
“(9A) “NACP” means the Natural Areas Conservation Program established by 57
section 109f.”. 58
“(9B) “Natural areas” means undeveloped or wild lands and those lands preserved 59
or restored and managed for their natural features, including but not limited to parks, forests, 60
grasslands, wetlands and shorelines on public and private lands.”. 61
(5) A new paragraph (13B) is added to read as follows: 62 “(13B) “Stewardship” means activities undertaken to maintain natural areas to 63
prevent the deterioration or impairment of a natural area, or land use, including management of 64
vegetation such as removal of invasive plants and planting of native species.”. 65
(b) New sections 109f and 109g are added to read as follows: 66
“Sec. 109f. Natural Areas Conservation Program establishment. 67
“(a) There is established the Natural Areas Conservation Program within DOEE. The 68
purpose of the NACP is to provide stewardship of natural areas owned or managed by the District. 69
“(b) NACP shall: 70
“(1) Provide stewardship of and restore the ecological function and value of 71
District-owned natural areas through integrated pest management and planting of native plants; 72
(2) Collaborate with the Department of Transportation on managing trees in 73
District-owned and -managed natural areas; 74
“(3) Develop expertise in integrated pest management, invasive plants, and the 75
promotion of native plants; 76
“(4) Collaborate with the University of the District of Columbia on the 77
propagation of native plants and operation of a native plant nursery; 78
“(5) Have the authority to develop Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with 79
the National Park Service (“NPS”) and other Federal agencies to supplement stewardship of 80
Federally-owned and -managed natural areas; 81
“(6) Coordinate with the Department of Parks and Recreation to allow low-impact 82
recreation in natural areas by installing and maintaining trails and signage; 83 “(5) Coordinate efforts to remove trash and combat illegal dumping in natural 84
areas in consultation with the Department of Public Works, Metropolitan Police Department, 85
United States Park Police and non-profit partners; 86
“(6) Monitor, track, and report on the state of the District’s Natural Areas; 87
“(7) Develop the Natural Areas Stewardship and Invasive Plant Response Plan 88
required by section 109g; 89
“(8) Partner with non-profit organizations, community-based groups, and 90
individuals to assist in the stewardship of natural areas; and 91
“(9) Coordinate Natural Areas Stewardship Projects (“Projects”) that supplement 92
DOEE’s stewardship of natural areas on District-owned and -managed lands. The Projects shall: 93
“(A) Provide technical assistance and training to individuals, 94
organizations, and grantees on the promotion of native plants and the removal of invasive plant 95
species; and 96
“(B) Provide tools and equipment to support trained groups in invasive 97
plant management and trash removal.”. 98
“(c) DOEE, pursuant to Title I of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, 99
approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1204; D.C. Official Code § 2-501 et seq.), shall have the 100
authority to issue rules to implement the provisions of sections 109f and 109g. 101
“(d) The NACP may issue grants in furtherance of its duties identified in subsection (b) 102
of this section, including to support Natural Areas Stewardship Projects.”. 103
“Sec. 109g. Natural Areas Stewardship and Invasive Plant Response Plan. 104 “(a) Within 24 months of the applicability date of this section, DOEE shall develop a 105
Natural Areas Stewardship and Invasive Plant Response Plan (“Plan”) to establish a strategic 106
vision for the stewardship of the District’s natural areas, and the Plan shall: 107
“(1) Identify and map all natural areas in the District; 108
“(2) Identify strategies for promoting the growth of native plants and managing 109
the removal of invasive plant species in District-owned and -managed natural areas; 110
“(3) Assess the use of critical area designations, as defined by D.C. Code § 8–111
1731.02, and conservation easements to establish permanent protection for District-owned and -112
managed natural areas and, if appropriate, provide recommendations for specific natural areas 113
that should receive a critical area designation or conservation easement; and 114
“(4) Assess, in coordination with the Department of Parks and Recreation and the 115
Department of Transportation, how to allow low-impact recreation in District-owned natural 116
areas with trails and signage. 117
“(b) The Plan shall include cost estimates for fulfilling each goal identified in subsection 118
(a) of this section. 119
“(c) At least 60 days prior to the adoption of the Plan, the NACP shall: 120
“(1) Publish a draft Plan for a public comment period of no less than 30 days; and 121
“(2) Convene at least 2 public meetings, including one for residents east of the 122
Anacostia River, to solicit public testimony and written comments on the draft Plan.”. 123
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 124
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 125
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 126
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code§ 1-301.47a). 127 Sec. 4. Effective date. 128
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 129
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 130
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 131
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 132
Columbia Register. 133