Approved November 28, 2023
October 24, 2023 MINUTES
Meeting held in person with a virtual option via Microsoft Teams
MINUTES
Mr. Peters called the meeting to order at 9:30 am. Those attending in person and virtually (*) were:
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NVSWCD Directors and Associate Directors Jerry Peters, Director-Chairman Scott Cameron, Director-Vice Chairman Chris Koerner, Director-Secretary/Treasurer Monica Billger, Director Johna Gagnon, Associate Director* John Peterson, Associate Director*
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Cooperating Agency Representatives Linda Barfield, DPWES Debbie Cross, Virginia DCR Casey Iames, USDA-NRCS
Guests Rhonda Bitterli* Gary Bangs* Emilie Brundage Mary Ellen Flynn* Austin Hope*
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NVSWCD Staff Members Willie Woode, Executive Director Scott Baron, Urban Conservation Specialist* Stacey Evers, Urban Agriculture Specialist Trish Feth, Communication Specialist Judy Fraser, Urban Conservation Specialist Denisa Hendriyadi, Education Specialist Intern Don Lacquement, Urban Conservation Specialist Ashley Palmer, Communications & Education Specialist Dan Schwartz, Soil Scientist Heather Shackley, Operations Manager Sophia Wood, Urban Conservation Specialist
*Participated Remotely |
Welcome and Introductions
Mr. Peters welcomed all to the meeting and noted there was a quorum with four board members present.
Presentation: Watersheds in Fairfax County
Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
Linda Barfield and Shannon Curtis, Stormwater Planning Division
Paul Reynolds, Maintenance and Stormwater Management Division
Linda Barfield introduced staff members of the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) who would be presenting. Shannon Curtis presented a slideshow outlining the challenges and opportunities involved in watershed and stormwater management in Fairfax County. Highlights included:
- Fairfax County streams average between poor and fair; three-quarters of streams in the county are impaired.
- Improving stream health is a shared responsibility. Partnerships between public and private entities play an important role, such as the partnership with Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD), and grant programs like the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP).
Paul Reynolds discussed the partnerships between the Fairfax County Stormwater Planning Division, the Maintenance and Stormwater Management Division, and NVSWCD.
Presenters answered questions from the board.
Minutes September 26, 2023
Mr. Koerner reported that he had reviewed the minutes of the September 26, 2023 meeting of the NVSWCD Board of Directors and that they had been distributed in advance of the meeting.
A motion (Koerner-Cameron) to approve the minutes of the September 26, 2023 meeting was approved by voice vote.
Treasurer’s Reports –September 2023 and Quarter 1 FY 2024
Mr. Koerner reported that the Treasurer’s Reports for September 2023 and Quarter 1 FY 2024 had been distributed in advance of the meeting. Hearing no comments, the Treasurer’s Reports for September 2023 and Quarter 1 FY 2024 were accepted by consensus to be filed for audit.
Technical Review Committee
Mr. Schwartz reported that the Technical Review Committee (TRC) met on October 17, 2023, to review one Agricultural Cost-Share Application, seven CAP-VCAP applications, and three CAP-VCAP reimbursements that are recommended for approval by the board. The details of these projects had been included in the TRC Report in the board package:
Agricultural BMP Cost-Share Application
- Lombardozzi Property – Fairfax Station
Total Estimated Cost - $21,075; Cost-Share - $14,770; Contractual Maintenance Period – 10
Years
A motion was made and seconded (Cameron-Koerner) to approve the agricultural BMP cost-share application as detailed above. Ms. Cross mentioned that the property owner would also receive a tax credit, which should be included in the approval.
A motion (Cameron-Koerner) to approve the agricultural BMP cost-share application as detailed above, amended to include the tax credit, passed by voice vote.
- Dossani Conservation Landscaping - Dranesville District, Difficult Run Watershed
Size – 475 ft2; Cost Estimate - $8,005.25; Cost-Share Request - $6,404.20
- Hoffman Conservation Landscaping– Franconia District, Cameron Run Watershed
Size – 600 ft2; Total Cost - $911.16; Cost-Share - $728.93
- Kang Conservation Landscaping – Mason District, Cameron Run Watershed
Size – 1,000 ft2; Cost - $12,309.16; Cost-Share Request - $7,000
- Chadds Ford Cluster Conservation Landscaping – Hunter Mill District, Difficult Run
- Watershed
Size – 106 ft2; Cost - $5,170; Cost-Share Request - $4,136
- Griswold Permeable Paving and Impervious Surface Removal – City of Alexandria, Four Mile
- Run Watershed
Size – 305 ft2 permeable paving, 170 ft2 impervious surface removal; Cost - $39,375; Cost-Share
Request - $5,120
- Taggart Permeable Paving – Springfield District, Cub Run Watershed
Size – 866 ft2; Cost - $17,050; Cost-Share Request - $12,124
- Pickering Conservation Landscaping – Dranesville District, Pimmit Run Watershed
Size – 2,240 ft2; Cost - $22,163.75; Cost-Share Request - $7,000
A motion (Cameron-Billger) to approve the seven CAP/VCAP applications as outlined above was approved by voice vote.
Reimbursements
- Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Conservation Landscaping – Dranesville District, Pimmit
- Run Watershed
Size 810 ft2; Cost - $7,819.96; Cost-share - $6,255.97
- Walden Cluster Conservation Landscaping, Hunter Mill District, Difficult Run Watershed
Size – 1,500 ft2; Cost - $16,885; Cost-Share - $7,000
- Warner Conservation Landscaping – City of Alexandria, Cameron Run Watershed
Size – 2,000 ft2; Cost - $8,875.84; Cost-Share Request - $7,000
A motion (Cameron-Koerner) to approve the three CAP/VCAP reimbursements as outlined above was approved by voice vote.
Mr. Schwartz reported that the Memorandum of Understanding with Arlington is progressing, and that Arlington County plans to offer VCAP to community-held properties, such as places of worship and HOAs. He noted that a CAP-Energy project was withdrawn this month. Mr. Peters asked whether there were other updates to VCAP, and Ms. Fraser reported that the state association is working on a possible direct pay to contractors option for cost share.
Next Meeting of the Technical Review Committee
The next meeting of the TRC will be held on Tuesday, November 21, 2023.
Legislative Committee Report
The legislative committee did not meet in October. Mr. Cameron provided highlights from his legislative report which had been distributed in advance of the meeting.
Authorization to Contract with eCommerce Provider MyRec.com
Due to technical difficulties and at Mr. Baron’s request, Ms. Shackley discussed the proposed selection of MyRec.com as the district’s new eCommerce provider to be used primarily for the district’s annual Native Plant Seedling Sale. Information on MyRec.com and the selection process was outlined in material distributed in advance of the meeting. Mr. Cameron asked if some of the cost of the new platform could be offset by increasing prices for the seedling sale. Ms. Shackley replied that that option could be explored. Mr. Peters asked if the county would approve of the contract and if other vendors and in-county options had been looked at; Ms. Shackley and Mr. Woode replied that other options had been extensively explored.
A motion (Cameron-Billger) to authorize the Executive Director to sign agreements with the eCommerce provider MyRec.com and its associated payment processor Priority Payment Systems passed by voice vote.
(Ms. Billger departed at 11:12 am.)
Green Breakfast
Ms. Palmer reported that the next Green Breakfast will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2023, with three speakers on the topic of deer management. The March Green Breakfast will be held Saturday March 9, 2024, with a speaker from Mt. Cuba Center. Information about the January 2024 Green Breakfast will be provided as soon as it is available.
Mr. Peters reported that the Tree Commission met on October 5, 2023. He reminded the board that the planting of the 50th sapling on the Government Center grounds celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Tree Commission will be Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 1:00 pm. Mr. Peters reported that Brian Keightly, Director of the Fairfax County Urban Forest Management Division presented to the commission on aerial surveys of tree canopy, including new information on the practice of mowing under trees. Mr. Peters suggested a “Trees Over Turf” campaign between the district and the Tree Commission to encourage people to naturalize the areas under trees.
Other Items—Directors, Associates, Consultants
Mr. Peters called for any other items from the district’s directors, associate directors, and consultants. Hearing none, he asked Mr. Woode for his report.
Executive Director’s Report and Staff Reports
Mr. Woode noted that staff reports had been included in the board package and highlighted several items from his report:
- Dr. Rice of Gallagher Associates, contracted to provide guidance for the district’s Board of Directors’ governance model, would like to schedule a time to speak to the board about his findings and will also update the new board after the election this November. Mr. Woode will email board members regarding a time to meet with Dr. Rice.
- Mr. Woode provided an update on the two seedling sale packages to be offered at the 2024 Seedling Sale and asked for approval to spend up to $5,000 to purchase the seedlings for the seedling sale this year.
A motion (Cameron-Koerner) to authorize Mr. Woode to spend up to $5,000 to purchase the seedlings for the seedling sale was approved by voice vote.
- The Potomac Watershed Roundtable (PWR) met on October 6, 2023, and recognized the achievements of roundtable chair Penny Gross, who will be retiring in December.
- Mr. Woode noted that district staff would benefit from professional development on appropriate safety regulations for volunteers working on district projects and events.
- Mr. Woode recently toured Area 2 Farms with Ms. Evers and invited Ms. Evers to speak to the board about the Area 2 farming system. Mr. Peters asked if Ms. Evers could arrange for representatives from Area 2 to give a presentation at the next board meeting; Mr. Woode suggested they invite Area 2 Farms to present to PWR to reach a broader audience.
- Mr. Woode recognized Heather Hunter-Nichols for her six months with the district.
Cooperating Agencies
Fairfax County Department of Public Works, Stormwater Planning Division
Ms. Barfield updated the board on outreach efforts in the Culmore community of Falls Church, where she recently attended a meeting with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and community leaders to coordinate ongoing outreach efforts in the area. She noted that Ms. Palmer and Ms. Hendriyadi were also in attendance at the meeting.
Fairfax County Health Department
Mr. Shannon was unable to participate in today’s meeting.
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Ms. Cross provided highlights from her report which had been included in the board package.
Natural Resources Conservation Service/USDA
Ms. Iames provided highlights from her report which had been included in the board package, including notice of a USDA Service Center Open House October 31, 2023, in Warrenton.
Virginia Department of Forestry
Mr. Zielinski was unable to participate in today’s meeting.
Mr. Peters had questions for Mr. Lacquement regarding the data centers workgroup; Mr. Schwartz about his slide presentation at the state SWCD meeting and his presentation to Tree Stewards, and Ms. Wood about Trapa composters, topics which were included in their respective reports to the board.
Staff Presentations, Reports and Announcements
- Mr. Schwartz announced that the teacher he nominated, Rachel Clausen, won the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation District’s (VASWCD) “Teacher of the Year Award. This award will be presented to Ms. Clausen at the VASWCD Annual Meeting in Norfolk in early December. Mr. Peters suggested that Ms. Clausen also be invited to a board meeting for recognition.
- Ms. Palmer presented highlights from her participation in the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute.
Adjournment
There being no other business and by consensus, the meeting was adjourned at 12:24 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Trish Feth, Communication Specialist
Christopher E. Koerner, Secretary-Treasurer
The next regular business meeting of the NVSWCD Board of Directors will be held on November 28, 2023 at 9:30 am
Approved November 21, 2023
A hybrid Meeting held in-person at the Park Authority Board Room - Suite 941 of the Herrity Building - and virtually via Microsoft Teams
October 2023 Technical Review Committee Meeting Summary
A hybrid Meeting held in-person at the Park Authority Board Room - Suite 921 of the Herrity Building - and virtually via Microsoft Teams October 17, 2023
Ms. Bordas called the meeting to order at 10:11 a.m. Those present included:
- Adria Bordas, Director & Committee Chair, NVSWCD
- Shannon Bell, DPWES-SWPD
- John Burke, FCPA*
- Scott Baron, NVSWCD
- Meghan Cunha, NVSWCD
- Judy Fraser, NVSWCD
- Denisa Hendriyati, NVSWCD
- Heather Hunter-Nickels, NVSWCD
- Don Lacquement, NVSWCD*
- Dan Schwartz, NVSWCD
- Willie Woode, NVSWCD Executive Director
- Austin Hope
- Jim McGlone
*Virtual attendance
MINUTES
The Committee reviewed the minutes of the September meeting. No needed revisions were noted. A motion to accept the minutes (Schwartz-Fraser) passed unanimously.
AGRICULTURAL BMP COST-SHARE PROJECT
On behalf of Ms. Hunter-Nickels, Mr. Woode presented an application for cost-share funding for a livestock stream crossing and stream exclusion fencing project at the Lombardozzi property in Fairfax Station. The crossing is for the property’s horses and is approximately 80 ft long x 10 ft wide. The exclusion fencing creates a 25-ft buffer on either side of the stream. Ms. Hunter-Nickels worked on the project and the designs were approved by the DCR engineering team. As a DCR-approved agricultural practice, RPA permits are not needed from the county. The project is eligible for 70% cost-share through the Virgina Agricultural Cost-Share program as well as a 25% state tax credit for the owner’s remaining out-of-pocket costs.
Mr. Woode presented design details of the project including grading and a cross section of the stream crossing showing the layers of geotextile and aggregate.
- Estimates: Total Cost - $21,075, Cost-Share - $14,770, Out-of-Pocket Cost - $6,330, State Tax Credit for Out-of-Pocket Costs – 25%, Contractual Maintenance Period – 10 years
A motion (Schwartz-Fraser) to recommend that the NVSWCD Board of Directors approve the Lombardozzi agricultural BMP cost-share application and tax credit was approved unanimously by the committee.
CAP-VCAP PROGRAM
Ms. Fraser and Ms. Cunha presented seven new CAP/VCAP applications and three CAP/VCAP reimbursement requests.
NEW APPLICATIONS
Dossani Conservation Landscaping – Dranesville District, Difficult Run Watershed
- Newer house built in 2019 with a drainage swale in the backyard directing water to a stormwater inlet.
- The swale remains soggy along its centerline and where it decants onto flatter land closer to the inlet.
- The plan calls for installing shrubs at the beginning and end of the swale and covering the middle with spreading groundcover.
- Mr. McGlone recommends swapping Baptisia tinctoria for B. australis.
- Mr. McGlone asks if the house uses a septic system, as the planting should not be placed near the drainfield. Ms. Fraser will confirm that they are either not on septic or that they are but the drainfield is a suitable distance from the project.
- Size – 475 ft2; Cost Estimate - $8,005.25; Cost-Share Request - $6,404.20
Hoffman Conservation Landscaping– Franconia District, Cameron Run Watershed
- DIY Conservation Landscaping project to address sogginess in the backyard. The homeowner will do installation and order materials from Earth Sangha to further reduce costs. She has already spread mulch and planted a few trees and shrubs to address the wetness.
- The simple planting plan calls for lines of little bluestem, golden rod, and mountain mint, with broomsedge scattered throughout.
- Size – 600 ft2; Total Cost - $911.16; Cost-Share - $728.93
Kang Conservation Landscaping – Mason District, Cameron Run Watershed
- This 1950s era home sits below a new townhouse development and receives drainage from that development’s dry pond. The townhome property was formerly a nursery.
- The swale that drains the pond through the Kang property has a high level of invasive species, and there is also a high level of invasive pressure from weeds growing along the edge of the townhome community.
- Ms. Kang wishes to hire a contractor to remove from the buffer around the drainageway the invasive species and replace them with native shrubs. Existing native species will be retained.
- Because the project is within an RPA, Ms. Kang submitted a WRPA plan to the county and is waiting for approval. Beyond that, the project is ready to commence.
- Size – 1,000 ft2; Cost - $12,309.16; Cost-Share Request - $7,000
Chadds Ford Cluster Conservation Landscaping – Hunter Mill District, Difficult Run Watershed
- A dry creek bed on the Chadds Ford property drains to a natural swale on the neighboring cluster’s property. There is minor erosion at the end of the dry creek bed on the neighboring cluster’s land.
- To reduce erosion, Chadds Ford proposes installing two vegetated coir logs across the swale to act as check dams, amend the soil above each check dam and plant densely with natives to slow down and soak up some of the runoff.
- The project is in an RPA. District staff has worked with the cluster to submit a Water Quality Impact Assessment to the county. The cluster will also seek approval from the Reston Design Review Board.
- Ms. Bell recommends using real logs instead of coir logs, or replacing the coir logs with real logs after they significantly degrade. Other committee members suggest the cluster consider planting some live stakes into or around the coir logs to add robustness to the project. These recommendations will be passed on to the applicants.
- Size – 106 ft2; Cost - $5,170; Cost-Share Request - $4,136
Griswold Permeable Paving and Impervious Surface Removal – City of Alexandria, Four Mile Run Watershed
- Ms. Griswold is building a garage and new driveway in the back of her house and removing her existing driveway from the front of the house.
- The new driveway will be permeable and take in runoff from the garage roof. The old driveway will be replaced with native landscaping.
- Given other construction at the property, the new driveway will not be installed till next fall. Ms. Griswold is aware and agrees that her cost-share cannot be received till after the old driveway is removed and planted.
- Size – 305 ft2 permeable paving, 170 ft2 impervious surface removal; Cost - $39,375; Cost-Share Request - $5,120
Taggart Permeable Paving – Springfield District, Cub Run Watershed
- The property’s flat impermeable driveway and walkway will be replaced with permeable paving.
- The project will have an underdrain. Ms. Hunter-Nickles asks where the outlet will be. Ms. Cunha will check to make sure the plans note where the underdrain will daylight since the property is very flat.
- Size – 866 ft2; Cost - $17,050; Cost-Share Request - $12,124
Pickering Conservation Landscaping – Dranesville District, Pimmit Run Watershed
- The property’s sloped front yard drains to the street and then to a curb inlet at the left corner of the property.
- Most of the front lawn is in good shape, but a portion of the yard under evergreen foliage is heavily shaded and the underlying soil is bare and muddy.
- The committee recommends replacing the Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) with another species since it is not likely to grow well in the site’s conditions. Clethra alnifolia is recommended as a possible substitution.
- Size – 2,240 ft2; Cost - $22,163.75; Cost-Share Request - $7,000
REIMBURSEMENTS
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Conservation Landscaping – Dranesville District, Pimmit Run Watershed
- The conservation landscaping project was designed to intercept and slow down runoff flowing from a neighboring commercial building and parking lot.
- The project utilizes straw wattles placed across the flow path to slow runoff. The wattles are beginning to biodegrade, but the slope is not steep so it shouldn’t negatively affect the project.
- Keeping invasives out will be a consistent maintenance task.
- Size 810 ft2; Cost - $7,819.96; Cost-share - $6,255.97.
Walden Cluster Conservation Landscaping, Hunter Mill District, Difficult Run Watershed
- The project addresses an eroding footpath between townhouse rows. In addition to the new plantings, the footpath was moved out of the pathway of runoff and mulched, and a downspout was repositioned so that it outlets further uphill, allowing the runoff to spread out and soak in before flowing to the gap between the townhouse rows.
- Size – 1,500 ft2; Cost - $16,885; Cost-Share - $7,000
Warner Conservation Landscaping – City of Alexandria, Cameron Run Watershed
- A large conversion of a backyard lawn to native plants.
- The design was contracted but the purchasing and installation was done by the homeowner and her daughter.
- Size – 2,000 ft2; Cost - $8,875.84; Cost-Share Request - $7,000
After discussion, a motion (Schwartz-Cunha) to recommend that the NVSWCD Board of Directors approve the CAP/VCAP applications and reimbursements passed unanimously. For the Kang project, the recommendation is contingent upon county approval of the applicant’s WRPA submission. For the Chadds Ford project, the recommendation is contingent upon county approval of the cluster’s WQIA application and Reston Design Review Board approval of the project as a whole.
WITHDRAWALS
Ms. Fraser announced that the Church of the Holy Comforter is withdrawing its CAP Energy application.
PRELIMINARY REVIEW
Ms. Fraser presented one Alexandria-area project for preliminary review. The homeowner’s have a fully shaded backyard due to dense mature tree canopy, but the understory is fairly bare and the steep slope is eroded. They wish to plant the understory with shrubs and smaller trees in a “woodland” style planting that has less density than a traditional conservation landscaping. They also wish to build an 18” tall terrace to flatten out the slope.
The committee generally approves of a lower density woodland-style planting but recommends altering the proposed planting plan to choose species more likely to thrive in high shade and low pH and altering the proposed terrace to something simpler and smaller that will entail less earthmoving and root disruption. The recommendations will be shared with the applicant and incorporated into the design should they decide to apply.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
The VCAP MOU with Arlington is progressing. The draft has been shared with Arlington staff for their review. VCAP in Arlington will be limited to HOAs, Places of Worship, and other institutional landowners. It will not be offered to individual homeowners.
ADJOURNMENT
Ms. Bordas adjourned the meeting at noon. The next Committee meeting will be on November 21st.