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QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

Stormwater Management Ponds
Fairfax County, Virginia

All dry stormwater management ponds are designed to retain stormwater temporarily and drain within two to three three days after the rain stops.
The county maintainsmaintains over 1,000 dry ponds; an additional 400-500 dry ponds are privately maintained by the property owners.
The majority of wet ponds (between 200-300) are privately maintained by the property owners; only a few (less than 10) are maintained by the county. See below for maintenance contact information.
State and federal laws require that stormwater be controlled to prevent flooding and reduce pollutants. Stormwater management ponds are constructed to address these impacts of development.
A dry pond with a shallow wetland marsh provides better treatment of polluted stormwater and poses less of a mosquito problem than a dry pond with lawn grass because of natural controls such as the fish, frogs, and dragonflies associated with a wetland marsh ecosystem.
Mosquito larvae require a minimum of 7-10 days in standing water or other suitable breeding environments to produce mosquitoes.
The county has an inspection and treatment program for mosquito control through the Fairfax County Health Department (703-246-2300, TTY 703-591-6435).

Wet Pond: A wet detention pond has a permanent pool of water ( wet pond photo ).
Dry Pond: A dry detention pond temporarily fills with water during a storm and retains it for up to 48 to 72 hours, but is dry most of the time ( dry pond photo ).
Flood Control Pond: A flood control pond is a dry pond that stores stormwater run-off and then releases it slowly over a one to two hour period. It performs very little pollution treatment.
Pollution Treatment Pond/Best Management Practice (BMP): A dry BMP is a dry pond that treats stormwater by retaining the water for 48 to 72 hours, allowing sediments and other pollutants to settle. All wet ponds are BMPs.
Shallow Wetland Marsh: A shallow wetland marsh is a dry pond with 6- to 18-inch deep pools of water planted with a variety of wetland grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees.

To report a malfunctioning/blocked dry pond or for information on maintenance responsibility for a stormwater pond, please call the Maintenance and Stormwater Management Division at 703-934-2800, TTY 711, or use the Stormwater Management Pond Maintenance Request Form .
To request an inspection for the presence and possible treatment of mosquitoes, please contact the Fairfax County Health Department at 703-246-2300, TTY 703-591-6435.