Stormwater Management Pond Quick Reference Guide
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
Stormwater Management Ponds
Fairfax County, Virginia
KEY POINTS
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All dry stormwater management ponds are designed
to retain stormwater temporarily and drain within two to three three
days after the rain stops.
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The county maintainsmaintains over 1,000 dry
ponds; an additional 400-500 dry ponds are privately maintained by
the property owners.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Mosquito larvae require a minimum of 7-10 days in standing water or
other suitable breeding environments to produce mosquitoes.
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The county has an inspection and treatment program for mosquito control
through the Fairfax County Health
Department (703-246-8931, TTY 711).
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Wet Pond: A wet detention pond has a permanent pool of water (wet pond
photo).
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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).
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Flood Control Pond: A flood control pond is a dry pond that
stores stormwater runoff and then releases it slowly over a one to two
hour period. It performs very little pollution treatment.
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Pollution Treatment Pond/Best Management Practice: Also called
BMPs. 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.
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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.
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Stormwater Management
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