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INTRODUCTION
Fairfax County's environment is resilient,
but not indestructible. No matter what income, age, gender,
ethnicity, or address, everyone has a need and right to breathe
clean air, to drink clean water, and to live and work in clean
surroundings. A healthy environment enhances our quality of
life and preserves the vitality that makes Fairfax a special
place to live and work. As the natural places in Fairfax become
surrounded and our county continues to grow, we need strong
leadership to ensure that future generations can enjoy a healthy
and beautiful environment.
The county's population growth rate of 18 percent during the
last decade resulted in a population of more than one million
people. The associated development has put the natural environment
at a crossroads. This growth has brought more impervious surfaces,
fewer mature tree stands, more cars, and more waste generation,
which in turn have degraded streams; created chronic unsafe
air days; and left less open space for habitat, rainwater absorption,
air filtering and, yes, visual relief.
The environmental impact of every decision the county makes
must be carefully and purposefully evaluated. Environmental
concerns should not be trade-offs or compromises; rather they
should be one of the essential decision making criteria. The
Board of Supervisors is elected to represent the citizens of
the county and should be a source of creative decision-making
and leadership.
SECTION 1 - FAIRFAX COUNTY: A RECORD
OF COMMITTMENT
Fairfax County's environmental policies
and actions have played a significant role in protecting our
environment. Some important decisions:
- The Occoquan Watershed downzoning
has helped keep our drinking water clean for the past 20 years.
- The Stream Protection Strategies are
developed that can now be implemented to restore stream health
and prevent further deterioration.
- The October 2000 Policy Plan amendment
supports the application of low impact site design techniques
to reduce stormwater runoff volumes and peak flows to increase
groundwater recharge and preserve undisturbed areas.
- The Watershed Management Plans underway
for all 30 watersheds will provide concrete steps toward better
storm water management and cleaner streams
- The March 2003 staff report on "The
Role of Regional Ponds in Fairfax County's Watershed Management"
has recommended a number of better ways to manage storm water
runoff.
- The adaptive reuse of the former Lorton
prison site (Laurel Hill) will balance land conservation with
housing, schools and recreation.
- A cleaner Potomac River is now swimmable
and fishable.
- The County has built more than 350
parks, recreation centers, and other open space areas and
has acquired 6,011 acres for new open space during the past
few years, a 30 percent expansion in our parklands.
- The Board hired the first Environmental
coordinator in the history of the County to insure interconnectedness
of our environmental programs.
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