Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District

703-324-1460 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Parkway
Suite 905, Fairfax, VA 22035
Willie Woode
Executive Director

Department Resources

Virginia and Fairfax County Conservation Assistance Programs

The Conservation Assistance Programs help property owners address stormwater issues with environmentally-friendly practices. By reducing the amount of water runoff from our land, we reduce the pollutants going into our streams and the Chesapeake Bay. CAP funding is available for installing specific Best Management Practices. Learn more below!

Infiltration trench Rain garden Conservation landscaping

 

 

 

 

Eligibility requirements include:

  • Properties in Fairfax County, City of Alexandria and City of Fairfax that are experiencing detrimental impacts from stormwater.
  • Property is not addressing any stormwater management requirements imposed by the jurisdiction in which the property is located.
  • New construction has a waiting period before becoming eligible.
  • The owner will agree to maintain any installed practices for ten years.

 

We highly encourage property owners in the following areas or circumstances to apply:

Watersheds

  • Little Hunting Creek
  • Dogue Creek
  • Pimmit Run
  • Cameron Run
  • Pohick Creek
  • Accotink Creek

 

Communities

  • Hollin Hills
  • Pimmit Hills
  • Annandale Acres
  • Chesterbrook
  • City of Fairfax
  • City of Alexandria

 

 

Special Circumstances

  • Low Income Housing Communities
  • Neighbors that are working together to resolve shared drainage and erosion concerns
  • Located in an area within their neighborhood that sits at a higher elevation

Cost-share funding is available for certain types of practices. Select a tab to view project types:

 

  • Impervious surface removal
  • Conservation landscaping
  • Rain gardens
  • Dry wells
  • Bioretention
  • Infiltration

 

  • Constructed wetlands
  • Living shorelines
  • Green roofs
  • Rainwater harvesting
  • Permeable pavement*
  • Vegetated stormwater conveyances

 

  • French drain systems
  • Dry creek beds
  • Bulkhead or revetment projects
  • Stream restorations
  • Retaining walls
  • Landscaping that does not use Virginia native plants
  • Urban nutrient management plans
  • Dog waste stations

*Permeable pavement is only eligible for reimbursement when replacing existing impermeable surfaces.

For a complete description of eligible practices, please visit the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program webpage.

How it Works

Applicant process: get in touch with us by submitting a site visit request. We will review your request to determine whether your property may be eligible for CAP and then contact you to schedule a site visit, after which staff will inform you if you may apply for cost-share funds. Your application will be reviewed by the District Board and if it is approved you may begin installing. After your project is in the ground, we will inspect it and complete the reimbursement process.

Get Started

Submit a site visit request. Staff review all site visit request forms for eligibility. Site visit requests that qualify for the program will receive a site inspection to assess the issues identified in the submitted request form.

Site Visit Request

Still have questions?

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions section or reach out to NVSWCD.

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