Board of Supervisors - Hunter Mill District

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1801 Cameron Glen Drive
Reston, VA 20190
Walter L. Alcorn
Hunter Mill District Supervisor

April 13, 2021 Joint Board Matter: Route 7 Infrastructure Project and Environmental Impacts

Joint Board Matter With Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust

Background:

As the Board is aware, the Rt. 7 widening project is well underway after several years of engineering and planning by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Virginia Department of Transportation, Fairfax County Department of Transportation, and many other federal, state and county agencies. Unfortunately, as flagged by a group of local residents in an April 7 Connection newspaper article, the final outcome is not a good one for Colvin Run where it empties into Difficult Run. And this was despite extensive study and review, as well as public input.

A couple of photos I took last Sunday, April 11 (attached) show that in the name of protecting wetlands the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the one option that was probably the worst option for the stream - putting Colvin Run into a concrete channel.    

This result is not good for Colvin Run, not good for Difficult Run, nor is it consistent with the best management stream management and restoration techniques developed and implemented in dozens of locations around the county.  

Motion:

Mr. Chairman, I move that staff review the environmental review processes undertaken in the Rt. 7 widening project that has resulted in the concrete channeling of Colvin Run and recommend changes in county, state, and/or federal processes to achieve a more balanced and holistic approach toward minimizing the overall environmental impact on similarly-scaled and situated infrastructure projects. Such recommendations could include proposed changes in state or federal law in the board’s legislative program.  I would so move.  

April 7, 2021 Connection Article: http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2021/040721/McLean.pdf

Colvin Run Near Difficult Run April 2021 Colvin Run Near Difficult Run April 2021 2

 

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