ABOUT MINNIE'S ISLAND
Minnie’s Island, located near the Maryland bank of the Potomac River about 100 yards off-shore
from Lockhouse 8 on the C&O Canal, is roughly eight acres of boulders, trees, plants, and wildlife. At one end of the island sits a 30-foot by 15-foot wooden cabin with a large deck.
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Minnie's is home to many rare species of plants brought by frequent floods -- wildflowers bloom in the spring, warblers sing in the towering trees and young mergansers hone their diving skills in the river.
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The island is a retreat from urban Washington, beloved by the families who owned it through the years. It was designated a protected area when its private owners donated the island to the newly-formed Potomac Conservancy in 1994. In 2021 the Potomac Conservancy is transferring stewardship responsibilities of the island to the Minnie's Island Community Conservancy, which is dedicated to continuing the island's protection and conservation.
You can read about the history of Minnie's Island in this article from The Washington Post: A Gift in the Potomac for All of Washington
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Minnie's Island Community Conservancy (MICC)
MICC was established in April 2021 with the intention of serving as a non-profit stewardship organization for the island. As the organizational Mission Statement puts it, MICC "is dedicated to the preservation of the ecological, architectural, scientific, and humanist legacy of Minnie’s Island. The mission is to maintain and improve the grounds and Cabin for use by, but not limited to, supporting community members, members of select disadvantaged groups, local MD and DC under-funded educational schools & institutions, as well as the river-oriented scientific communities. The overarching mission of the Minnie’s Island Community Conservancy is to establish a mutually beneficial synergy between the adjacent Cabin John community and the island, creating opportunities for nature conservancy by means of recreation, education, conservation, social engagement, and potential scientific research."
Recent Updates
- All trails have been cleared, providing access to the island’s north and south banks, view sheds of the Potomac River looking south and the North Channel to the north.
- 11 American Chestnut Trees, donated by the American Chestnut Foundation, have been planted throughout the Island.
- A rigorous Natural Resources Management Plan has been developed, establishing guidelines for the proper stewardship of the island.
- Close to 50% of the Cabin’s foundations have been replaced.
- George Mason University’s Environmental Science and Policy Department conducted a day-long
“-Bioblitz” on Minnie’s Island. An iNaturalist page has been created documenting the biodiversity of Minnie’s (www.Inaturalist.org)
-The Well Head has been reconstructed and is ready to receive a manual well pump in the Fall of 2022.
Minor modifications to the cabin’s floor plan are in the works to accommodate the long-awaited
composting toilet.
-Our List of Interested Folks has grown to 230 individuals, many of whom have visited the island.
-Our surrounding communities and families are starting to access Minnie’s Island for picnics, recreation, and camping.
July 30, 2021
MICC has been approved by the IRS as an IRC Section 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Donations to MICC are now officially tax deductible.
May 2021
The Potomac Conservancy agreed to convey the Minnie's Island property and improvements to MICC later this year.