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Stream Restoration in Fairfax County

Fairfax County restores streams to prevent erosion and reduce pollution that could hurt the Chesapeake Bay. Most of the streams in the County have a lot of erosion. By reducing erosion, stream restoration also protects roads, bridges, trails and public and private property. It also helps improve the environment. Stream restorations can help streams heal and are the most effective way for the County to meet state requirements.

Colvin Run at Lake Fairfax Park before restoration

Colvin Run at Lake Fairfax Park two years after restoration

Fairfax County Stream Restoration Project Process

Site nominated, site selected, project funded, community outreach, project design and permitting, project construction, post construction monitoring & care — Nominated, Selected, Funded, Designed, Constructed, and Monitored. Community engagement occurs throughout project life.

Fairfax County stream restorations are funded through the Stormwater Service District tax assessed on all properties in the county. The county also gets grants from the state of Virginia.

To learn more about stream restorations and other stormwater projects please visit Watershed Improvement Plans, Projects and Restorations.

Stream Restoration Effectiveness

Research* tells us that:

Stream restorations make stable channels that protect roads, trails, bridges, property and sewer lines. They also help manage heavy storm flows.
Stream restoration reduces sediment and stores carbon and nutrients which improves water quality.
Restorations can improve stream habitat, but they are not effective at improving populations of small animals that live in the stream bottoms (macroinvertebrates). However, they don’t make those populations worse.
When we restore stream corridors, we can improve the condition of the forest by planting native plants and controlling invasive plants.

In 2007 Fairfax County partnered with the US Geological Survey to establish a long-term study of water resources in the County and specifically to observe how conditions may be changing in response to watershed improvement efforts - like stream restorations. Please visit the Fairfax County – USGS Partnership page to learn much more about this intensive monitoring effort and the studies produced from these efforts.

*Also see Stream Restoration FAQ: How does Fairfax County determine whether a stream restoration is successful?

Tree Loss in Streams

Many trees fall as streams erode. Stream restoration often involves construction work that can remove or damage trees and cause disturbance near streams. Fairfax County works to reduce these impacts and improve the ecosystems in stream valleys. To learn more about these efforts visit How is Stream Restoration Done? and Stream Restoration Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Stream Restoration Objectives

Knowing what stream restorations can and cannot do, we focus on four main areas for project success.

Resilience	Environmental Improvement	Infrastructure & Property Protection	Meet Regulatory Requirements
Withstand more intense storms Build for changes in land use and climate Support community needs Reduce flood impacts through floodplain connection	Improve water quality: less sediment & pollution Reconnect stream to floodplains to better manage flows Healthier streamside forests Control invasive species	Utilities (sanitary sewers, storm sewers, water, gas, electric, etc.) Trails Pedestrian Bridges Roads Buildings Public & private properties	Reduce sediment and nutrient pollution in county streams and to the Chesapeake Bay Meet Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit requirements

Why

Why is Stream Restoration Necessary?

Eroded bank on Hunting Creek before restoration, Alexandria, VA.

Streams in developed areas get damaged because of too much stormwater runoff. When trees are replaced by roads, parking lots, and roofs, rainwater flows off of these surfaces into streams faster. This causes erosion, carries pollutants, raises water temperatures, and can harm roads, trails, bridges, and sewer lines.

Fairfax County has to follow a pollution control plan (called a Total Maximum Daily Load or TMDL) for local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. This is required by a permit called the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit, issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Since most of the land in the County is privately owned, it's difficult to build more facilities to manage stormwater. Therefore, restoring streams is often the simplest and most cost-effective way to protect roads, trails, bridges, and sewer lines, and to reduce pollution.