The document discusses plans for a stream restoration project along Long Branch Tributary at Falls Park in Fairfax County, VA. It provides background on regulatory drivers for the project including improving water quality and restoring the Chesapeake Bay. A watershed assessment found the Accotink Creek watershed, where the project is located, to have poor stream conditions. The proposed project would restore approximately 600-900 linear feet of incised stream channel through approaches like regrading and reconnecting the floodplain. A community meeting was held to discuss the design process and gather feedback. The projected timeline has design completion in May 2016 while construction is currently only funded for design.

1. A Fairfax County, VA, publication
Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
Working for You!
LONG BRANCH TRIBUTARY @ LONG BRANCH
FALLS PARK STREAM RESTORATION PROJECT
INFORMATION MEETING
August 20, 2015

2. Stormwater Planning Division
Agenda
Why?
• Program Drivers
• Accotink Creek Watershed Management Plan
 Watershed Assessment and Characterization
How?
• Stream Restoration (AC9208)
• Approaches
• Examples
• Design Development Process
When?
• Timeline/Next Steps
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3. Stormwater Planning Division
Program Drivers
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• Stream Restoration: Return physical and ecological functions of the stream to
the maximum extent possible
• Erosion Control
• Public Safety
• Improve Water Quality
• State and Federal Regulations
 Chesapeake Bay Agreement
 Partnering states (VA, MD, DC, DE, PA, WV) signed the agreement to restore the bay health and ecosystem.
 Executive Order
 President Obama recognized bay as national treasure (May, 2009) and calls to restore the bay
 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Permit (MS-4)
 Easements rights and responsibility to maintain/upgrade
 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL)
 Regulates amounts of pollutants in waterways
Implementation Strategies (Fairfax County - 400 Sq. Mi.):
 Watershed Management Plan
 Developed for 30 watersheds
 Priority areas for retrofits/restoration

4. Stormwater Planning Division
Watersheds/Drainage Areas
Accotink Creek > The Potomac River > The Chesapeake Bay…
• ~ 52 square miles
• ~ 111 miles of stream
Accotink Creek Stream Assessment
 Physical Assessment: 91 Miles (conducted in 2002)
 Results:
 Poor condition with severely incised stream and
significant portion with unstable banks – 91%
channels
 Most of watershed’s tributaries in widening stage
 Habitat Assessment:
Results: ~29% Good, ~37% Fair,
~31% Poor, ~3% Very poor
 DEQ listed portions of the Accotink Creek Watershed as impaired
waters (impairments: mercury, PCB, Benthic, Pathogens)
 TMDLs: Fecal Coliform, E. Coli, PCB
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Accotink Creek Watershed:
Watershed Characteristics/Stream Assessment
Benthic (in progress – identifies chloride and sediment as stressors for habitat) – expected December, 2016
For details: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/watersheds/accotinkcreek.htm

5. Stormwater Planning Division
~ 600-900 LF of stream
restoration
- Incised channel
- Eroded bed and banks
- Unstable slopes
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Proposed Project

6. Stormwater Planning Division 6
Restoration Approaches

7. Stormwater Planning Division 7
Restoration Approaches (contd.)

8. Stormwater Planning Division 8
Restoration Approaches (contd.)

9. Stormwater Planning Division 9
Restoration Approaches (contd.)

10. Stormwater Planning Division 10
Restoration Approaches Design Elements

11. Stormwater Planning Division
Example Projects: Government Center Stream Restoration Before & After
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Drainage Area
(acres)
Phosphorous Removal
(lbs/yr)
Nitrogen Removal
(lbs/yr)
Sediment Removal
(tons/yr)
150 10.7 202 1.6

12. Stormwater Planning Division
Example Projects: Poplar Springs, Burke Before & After
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Drainage Area
(acres)
Phosphorous Removal
(lbs/yr)
Nitrogen Removal
(lbs/yr)
Sediment Removal
(tons/yr)
230.4 7.5 141 1.25

13. Stormwater Planning Division
Existing conditions
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14. Stormwater Planning Division
Existing conditions (cont’d)
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15. Stormwater Planning Division
Design Development Process: Community Participation
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• Community involvement at the pre-design, concept, preliminary, and
95% final design phases.
 one or 2 volunteers who participate in the design process and
bring information back to the community for sharing
• Community meetings
• Design review meeting
• Discussion and feedback
• Construction access
• Pre-Construction meeting
• Involvement during construction
All of the impacts to the community during the construction will be
discussed during the design review meetings, and the design team will
address them as much as possible.

16. Stormwater Planning Division
Timeline and next steps
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• Survey & Data Collection - September, 2015
• Hydrology Assessment & Layout Sketch - October, 2015
– Pre-design meeting
• Conceptual design - November, 2015
– Conceptual design review meeting
• Concept revision - January, 2016
– Pre-final design meeting
• 95% design : June, 2015 - March, 2016
– 95% design review meeting
• Design Completion - May, 2016
• Construction - Currently funded for
design only
• Cost: estimated ~ $800K

17. Additional Information
For additional information, please contact
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes
Stormwater Planning Division 17
Sajan Pokharel
Ph.: 703-324-5687
Email: Sajan.Pokharel@fairfaxcounty.gov