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If a piece of land has not been mapped
for soils, how should a builder identify the soils in the site
development plan?
I've noticed a lot of horse farms on the
bigger lots in Fairfax County, is this good or bad for the
environment?
What can a typical homeowner do to improve
the health of streams?
Am I allowed to build a pond in my
backyard?
I can't get plants to grow in a section
of my yard. Can I have my soil tested?
I am having trouble with my septic system.
Who should I call?
I noticed sediment coming off an active
construction site. Where should I report this?
I am interested in labeling storm drains in
my neighborhood. Who should I contact?
I have a tree that is sick? Who can advise
me on this?
I just bought a home in Fairfax
County. Where do I call to initiate water service?
How can I find out the type of soil I have
on my property?
Are you the U.S. Department of
Agriculture?
What areas of northern Virginia do you
cover?
I have drainage and erosion problems in my
yard. Where can I get advice on solving these problems?
What should I do if I see someone pour motor
oil or paint down a storm drain?
I am concerned about bacteria in the meat I
recently purchased at the local market. Where can I report my
concern?
The runoff from the Fairfax County Parkway
floods part of my backyard, preventing grass from growing and
eroding the soil. Can you redirect the runoff pipe from the highway
median away from my yard?
What is a TMDL?
If a piece of
land has not been mapped for soils, how should a builder indicate
the soils on the site development plan?
In unmapped areas or for parcels where soil types cannot be
definitively extrapolated from adjacent mapped parcels, the builder
must have a soil scientist visit the site to map the soils on the
property before building can commence. The Permit Office,
703-324-1555, TTY 711, on the second floor of the Herrity
Building has a list of certified soil scientists for hire.
A 2001 Letter to Industry (pdf) explains
when geotechnical reports are required for submission.
I've noticed a lot of horse
farms on the bigger lots in Fairfax County. Is this good or bad for
the environment?
Horse farms are good because of their low density and small
impervious cover, but it's important that they are properly managed
to keep pollutants out of the streams. An NVSWCD staff member works
with horse-keepers to develop and implement conservation plans that
prevent pasture erosion, minimize the use of fertilizers and
pesticides, and manage the manure. A guide to agricultural best management
practices for horse operations in suburban communities is also
available on the NVSWCD web site.
What can a typical
homeowner do to improve the health of streams?
Get a soil test before you fertilize and then, apply fertilizers
and pesticides responsibly. Don't cut the grass to the edge of a
stream or pond. Leave a buffer to filter pollutants and provide
wildlife habitat. NVSWCD staff can advise homeowners on problems
with ponds, eroding streams, drainage, problem soils, and other
natural resource concerns. For more information about managing land
for a healthier watershed, read You and Your Land, a
Homeowner's Guide for the Potomac River Watershed and the Watershed
Stewardship Guide.
Am I allowed to build a
pond in my backyard?
Ponds can be constructed for fishing, swimming, landscaping,
animal and wildlife watering, or water quality management.
Depending upon the size and location of the pond, certain
regulations may apply. The article "Building a
Farm or Amenity Pond" from the November 2002 issue of
NVSWCD's publication, Conservation Currents,
can provide you with additional information.
I can't get plants
to grow in a section of my yard. Can I have my soil
tested?
You may pick up a soil testing kit at the Northern Virginia Soil and
Water Conservation District office or at any Fairfax County
public library. The kit has instructions explaining how to send a
sample to a lab at Virginia Tech. For a fee of $7.00, the soil
testing lab will send you an analysis within two weeks. " Testing Your Soils
Fertility", an article from the NVSWCD's publication Conservation Currents
provides additional information.
I am having trouble with my
septic system. Who should I call?
Call the Fairfax County Health Department at 703-246-2201, TTY
711.
I noticed sediment coming
off an active construction site. Where should I report
this?
Call Fairfax County's Code Enforcement Division at
703-324-1937, TTY 711 or send an e-mail.
I am interested in labeling
storm drains in my neighborhood. Who should I contact?
The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District
coordinates storm drain labeling projects in Fairfax County. Call
the program coordinator at 703-324-1423, TTY 711 or send an
e-mail.
I have a tree that is
sick. Who can advise me on this?
Call the Virginia Cooperative
Extension at 703-324-8556, TTY 711 or e-mail extension agent
Adria Bordas.
I just bought
a home in Fairfax County. Where do I call to initiate water
service?
Call the Fairfax County Water Authority at 703-698-5800, TTY
711.
How can I find out the
type of soil I have on my property?
E-mail the
Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District or call
703-324-1460, TTY 711 with your street address in Fairfax
County, and staff can identify the soils at that location if the
area has been mapped. If you live in Arlington County, call
703-228-3629, TTY 711 for soils information or
view a map online (pdf). No information is currently
available for the City of Alexandria or the City of Falls Church
because the soils have not been mapped. Call or e-mail the soil and
water conservation districts in Prince William
(703-594-3621, TTY 711) or Loudoun
(703-771-8395, TTY 711) counties for soils information in
those jurisdictions.
Are you the U.S. Department of
Agriculture?
No, we are the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation
District. We work closley with the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a branch of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA). You can reach the NRCS District
Conservationist at 703-771-8395, TTY 711. The general number
for the USDA in Washington, DC, is 202-720-2791, TTY
202-720-2791. The closest office of the
Virginia Department of
Agriculture is in Warrenton at 540-347-6380,
TTY 711.
What areas of Northern Virginia
do you cover?
When it was founded in 1945, the Northern Virginia Soil and Water
Conservation District (NVSWCD) included Fairfax, Prince William,
and Loudoun counties. In 1971, the three counties split into three
districts, and Fairfax County retained the Northern Virginia title.
Today NVSWCD has the same geographic boundaries as Fairfax
County, which includes the towns of Clifton, Herndon, and
Vienna. The District does not include the cities of Falls
Church, Fairfax, or Alexandria.
I have drainage and
erosion problems in my yard. Where can I get advice on solving
these problems?
The technical staff of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water
Conservation District can assess the problems and advise you on
possible solutions. Send us an e-mail
with your name, address, daytime phone number, and a brief
description of your problem or call 703-324-1460, TTY
711.
What should I do if I see someone
pouring motor oil or paint down a storm drain?
If you see anyone pouring any substance into the storm drain, you
should call 911, especially if it is motor oil or another toxic
substance. If the person has a vehicle, write the down the tag
number. Storm drains are for stormwater only, NOT motor oil, paint,
or even grass clippings. If you don't see it happening but suspect
dumping has occurred, you should report it to the HazMat Technical
Support Branch of the Fire and Rescue Department. Call
703-246-4386, TTY 711.
I am concerned about bacteria in
the meat I recently purchased at the local market. Where can I
report my concern?
For food safety concerns in a grocery, contact the Virginia
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at
1-800-552-9963. For questions about food safety in a
restaurant, call the Fairfax County Health
Department at 703-246-2444, TTY 711.
The rain and snow runoff from the
Fairfax County Parkway floods part of my backyard, preventing grass
from growing and eroding the soil. Can you redirect the runoff pipe
from the highway median away from my yard?
The Fairfax County Parkway is maintained by the Virginia
Department of Transportation (VDOT). If you have a complaint about
ditches, drainage, or storm drains on state owned or maintained
property, call VDOT at 703-383-8368, TTY 711. The operator
will forward your complaint to the appropriate VDOT area
office.
What is a TMDL?
TMDL stands for Total Maximum Daily Load. A TMDL is a
calculation of the maximum amount of a given pollutant from all
contributing sources that a water body can receive and still meet
water quality standards. A TMDL is always specific to one type of
pollution. For example, Accotink Creek, above Lake Accotink, has
been identified as an impaired water body under Section 303(d) of
the Clean Water Act. Therefore, the Commonwealth of Virginia, under
a federal mandate, must develop a TMDL for Accotink Creek. In
addition to being a calculation, a TMDL is a plan that
defines the pollution reductions needed to meet water quality
standards. It also serves as a model for restoring the water body
by allocating those reductions among the sources of pollution in
the watershed. Thus, a key to TMDL development is identifying the
sources of the pollutant.
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