Printer
TextFairfax County Seeks Community Input for Watershed
Fairfax County Office of Public
Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
703-324-3187, TTY 703-324-2935, FAX 703-324-2010
Oct. 14, 2004
Fairfax County Seeks Community Input for Watershed
Fairfax County invites residents to a workshop on Thursday, Oct. 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. to seek their input on a plan that proposes solutions to flooding, stream bank erosion, pollutants and other critical stormwater issues in the Popes Head watershed that makes up 19 square miles located in the southwestern area of the city of Fairfax and Hemlock Overlook Regional Park.
The draft plan review workshop will be held at Clifton Elementary School, 7010 Clifton Rd., Clifton, to review the Popes Head Creek watershed management plan and contribute ideas for restoring its streams and habitats.
“Community review of this first draft plan is critical,” says Paul
Shirey with the Fairfax County Stormwater Planning Division. “It ensures
that the plan will help make progress toward improving the watershed’s
condition and the quality of life for residents and businesses.”
Popes Head Creek is facing the loss of natural buffers, flooding, stream
bank erosion, polluted runoff and litter. The draft plan was created by a
citizen’s advisory committee as part of the watershed management planning
process for the Popes Head Creek watershed to identify and solve these
problems.
An overview of the plan is scheduled at 7 p.m. for new participants. The full plan will be presented at 7:30 p.m. followed by a break-out session for residents to provide feedback to Fairfax County project engineers.
The county will develop management plans for all 30 of its watersheds that empty into the Potomac River and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. The Popes Head Creek watershed management plan provides a consistent basis for evaluating problems and implementing solutions. The goal is to protect and restore streams and related natural resources, such as wildlife habitat. As part of the development of each management plan, county staff members are working with local communities to identify issues and generate solutions to problems in their respective sub-watersheds.
The Popes Head Creek watershed planning process began in June 2003 and will be completed by winter 2005. A citizen’s advisory committee, comprised of 20 community representatives from neighborhoods, businesses, conservation groups and other local interests, drafted the plan. A public issues scoping forum was held in January and a public watershed forum was hosted in March. The workshop on Oct. 28 will present the strategy developed with community input for restoring the watershed of Popes Head Creek.
Popes Head Creek originates in the southwestern area of the city of
Fairfax and flows into Bull Run at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park.
Including its major tributaries (Piney Branch and Castle Creek), it
drains a 19-square mile watershed primarily made up of large residential
lots with commercial and medium density residential areas in the upper
reaches. According to recent stream physical assessments and data from
local volunteers conducting biological monitoring, Popes Head Creek is
exhibiting signs of degradation associated with growth. Popes Head Creek
also suffers from some problems common to streams in developing
watersheds such as loss of natural buffers, flooding, stream bank
erosion, polluted runoff and litter.
Children are welcome to attend the workshop. Advanced registration is
not required, but will help coordinators to ensure adequate space. To
reserve a space, send an e-mail message to curt.ostrodka@amec.com or call
703-488-3713, TTY 711.
This project and the watershed planning program are administered by the Stormwater Planning Division of the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. More information can be found on the county’s Web site at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/watersheds. Select the link in the middle of the page “Know What’s Happening in Your Watershed and Get Involved -Click Here,” then click on “Find A Watershed” at the bottom of the page and then click on “Popes Head Creek” on the map.
For additional information, contact Fred A. Rose, P.E., chief,
Stormwater Management Branch or Paul Shirey, P.E., program manager, at
703-324-5500, TTY 711.
Website Survey 