Ashby Pond Dredging and Environmental Improvements

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Sept. 11, 2024, UPDATE: A 40-pound snapping turtle was relocated. Watch this short video.

July 22, 2024, UPDATE: Turtle relocation has concluded. Dr. Rimkus removed and relocated 55 turtles. Watch the video!

July 10, 2024, UPDATE: Turtle trapping will be postponed July 12-15 due to excessive heat. Trapping will resume July 16 at 10 a.m.

June 21, 2024, UPDATE: Some residents have asked what happens to the turtles when Ashby Pond is drained.

The city has contracted with Dr. Todd Rimkus from Marymount University to relocate turtles before the dredging and retrofit project starts this fall.

Dr. Rimkus has obtained a permit through the Department of Natural Resources to relocate turtles from Ashby Pond. Turtle traps are being tested now, and the relocation work will start in early-July and continue through the end of the month. [Jul 22. Turtle relocation has concluded.]

Turtle traps will be checked daily, and any captured turtles will be removed from the traps between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Residents are welcome to visit the pond during these times to see how trapping and relocation is performed. This is also a unique opportunity to observe the turtles more closely.

The DNR permit restricts handling of the turtles to the specific permittees, and the relocation work only requires a small group of people, so additional volunteers are not necessary to rescue the turtles.

You can learn more about Dr. Rimkus and the Hawksbill Hope nonprofit that he established for turtle conservation here: https://www.hawksbillhope.org/about/

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The City of Fairfax Department of Public Works is developing plans to dredge and upgrade Ashby Pond. Removing accumulated silt from the pond will increase the pond’s capacity to slow stormwater runoff and capture pollutants. The deeper pool will enhance water quality for local wildlife and improve the park’s aesthetics for visitors.

Satoshi Eto, public works program manager, explains the project to dredge and improve Ashby Pond.

A Pond with a Purpose

When it rains, stormwater runoff carrying sediment and debris flows downhill to Ashby Pond. The stormwater management pond receives runoff from about 135 acres, and much of the sediment is captured in the pond. Preventing pollutants from reaching Daniels Run improves the water quality in the Accotink Creek Watershed.

Dredging the pond is necessary about every 10 years to remove the silt that the pond captures over time. This restores the pond’s capacity to hold water capacity and its ability to continue to capture pollutants. The pond was last dredged in 2011; however, due to budgetary constraints, only a portion of the silt that had accumulated up to that point was removed.

Improving the Pond

In addition to dredging the pond, the department plans to retrofit the pond to meet current specifications. This work will increase the pond’s pollutant removal capabilities, make future maintenance easier and more economical, improve aesthetics, and provide the community with credits to help meet the city’s Chesapeake Bay pollutant reduction targets.

Environmental upgrades will include:

  • repairing erosion at the two channels that flow into the pond and making them more resistant to erosion
  • adding two sediment forebays that will trap sediment before it enters the main pond area
  • adding aquatic benching and plantings around the perimeter of the pond

The sediment forebays will be easier to dredge in the future and greatly extend the intervals between dredging of the main pond. The aquatic benches create shallow water habitats for plants and animals.

Estimated Cost and Funding

This project will be partially paid for by the city's stormwater utility fee. The city was awarded $588,000 in Stormwater Local Assistance grant funding from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality in 2021 to help pay for the $1.575M project.

In the months ahead the project team will continue to refine the design, seek and incorporate input from the community, and obtain necessary environmental permits. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2024 and take 9-12 months to complete.

Sept. 11, 2024, UPDATE: A 40-pound snapping turtle was relocated. Watch this short video.

July 22, 2024, UPDATE: Turtle relocation has concluded. Dr. Rimkus removed and relocated 55 turtles. Watch the video!

July 10, 2024, UPDATE: Turtle trapping will be postponed July 12-15 due to excessive heat. Trapping will resume July 16 at 10 a.m.

June 21, 2024, UPDATE: Some residents have asked what happens to the turtles when Ashby Pond is drained.

The city has contracted with Dr. Todd Rimkus from Marymount University to relocate turtles before the dredging and retrofit project starts this fall.

Dr. Rimkus has obtained a permit through the Department of Natural Resources to relocate turtles from Ashby Pond. Turtle traps are being tested now, and the relocation work will start in early-July and continue through the end of the month. [Jul 22. Turtle relocation has concluded.]

Turtle traps will be checked daily, and any captured turtles will be removed from the traps between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Residents are welcome to visit the pond during these times to see how trapping and relocation is performed. This is also a unique opportunity to observe the turtles more closely.

The DNR permit restricts handling of the turtles to the specific permittees, and the relocation work only requires a small group of people, so additional volunteers are not necessary to rescue the turtles.

You can learn more about Dr. Rimkus and the Hawksbill Hope nonprofit that he established for turtle conservation here: https://www.hawksbillhope.org/about/

---

The City of Fairfax Department of Public Works is developing plans to dredge and upgrade Ashby Pond. Removing accumulated silt from the pond will increase the pond’s capacity to slow stormwater runoff and capture pollutants. The deeper pool will enhance water quality for local wildlife and improve the park’s aesthetics for visitors.

Satoshi Eto, public works program manager, explains the project to dredge and improve Ashby Pond.

A Pond with a Purpose

When it rains, stormwater runoff carrying sediment and debris flows downhill to Ashby Pond. The stormwater management pond receives runoff from about 135 acres, and much of the sediment is captured in the pond. Preventing pollutants from reaching Daniels Run improves the water quality in the Accotink Creek Watershed.

Dredging the pond is necessary about every 10 years to remove the silt that the pond captures over time. This restores the pond’s capacity to hold water capacity and its ability to continue to capture pollutants. The pond was last dredged in 2011; however, due to budgetary constraints, only a portion of the silt that had accumulated up to that point was removed.

Improving the Pond

In addition to dredging the pond, the department plans to retrofit the pond to meet current specifications. This work will increase the pond’s pollutant removal capabilities, make future maintenance easier and more economical, improve aesthetics, and provide the community with credits to help meet the city’s Chesapeake Bay pollutant reduction targets.

Environmental upgrades will include:

  • repairing erosion at the two channels that flow into the pond and making them more resistant to erosion
  • adding two sediment forebays that will trap sediment before it enters the main pond area
  • adding aquatic benching and plantings around the perimeter of the pond

The sediment forebays will be easier to dredge in the future and greatly extend the intervals between dredging of the main pond. The aquatic benches create shallow water habitats for plants and animals.

Estimated Cost and Funding

This project will be partially paid for by the city's stormwater utility fee. The city was awarded $588,000 in Stormwater Local Assistance grant funding from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality in 2021 to help pay for the $1.575M project.

In the months ahead the project team will continue to refine the design, seek and incorporate input from the community, and obtain necessary environmental permits. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2024 and take 9-12 months to complete.

Questions

Questions about this project will be answered by the project team within two days. 

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  • Share What. Is the status of this project? Has dredging begun? If not; when will it? What does it look like? How can we watch the drudging? on Facebook Share What. Is the status of this project? Has dredging begun? If not; when will it? What does it look like? How can we watch the drudging? on Twitter Share What. Is the status of this project? Has dredging begun? If not; when will it? What does it look like? How can we watch the drudging? on Linkedin Email What. Is the status of this project? Has dredging begun? If not; when will it? What does it look like? How can we watch the drudging? link

    What. Is the status of this project? Has dredging begun? If not; when will it? What does it look like? How can we watch the drudging?

    Aurora asked 18 days ago

    Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2024 and take nine to12 months to complete. The park and trail will be closed during this time. Dredging requires draining the pond and removing the accumulated silt, which will be hauled away by trucks. 

  • Share Will turtles come back to Ashby Pond after drudging ends? on Facebook Share Will turtles come back to Ashby Pond after drudging ends? on Twitter Share Will turtles come back to Ashby Pond after drudging ends? on Linkedin Email Will turtles come back to Ashby Pond after drudging ends? link

    Will turtles come back to Ashby Pond after drudging ends?

    Aurora asked 18 days ago

    Turtles that were temporarily relocated to Manassas were tagged. They will be recaptured and returned to Ashby Pond after the project concludes.

  • Share My granddaughter would like to know to where the turtles will be relocated:) on Facebook Share My granddaughter would like to know to where the turtles will be relocated:) on Twitter Share My granddaughter would like to know to where the turtles will be relocated:) on Linkedin Email My granddaughter would like to know to where the turtles will be relocated:) link

    My granddaughter would like to know to where the turtles will be relocated:)

    Terri asked 5 months ago

    During the pre-trapping work over the next two weeks, Dr. Rimkus’s team will identify population densities of the various turtles in Ashby Pond. That information will be used to determine which of three ponds in the Manassas area are best suited for the turtles to be relocated to on each day. The goal will be to provide them with a habitat that will be a long-term home for them.

  • Share Hi, this is Anne Hurley. I’m just checking to find out what you’re doing about the turtles. Where are you placing them once they’re captured? Thanks on Facebook Share Hi, this is Anne Hurley. I’m just checking to find out what you’re doing about the turtles. Where are you placing them once they’re captured? Thanks on Twitter Share Hi, this is Anne Hurley. I’m just checking to find out what you’re doing about the turtles. Where are you placing them once they’re captured? Thanks on Linkedin Email Hi, this is Anne Hurley. I’m just checking to find out what you’re doing about the turtles. Where are you placing them once they’re captured? Thanks link

    Hi, this is Anne Hurley. I’m just checking to find out what you’re doing about the turtles. Where are you placing them once they’re captured? Thanks

    Anne Hurley asked 9 months ago

    The project team will coordinate with local wildlife rescue organizations to reduce impacts to wildlife within Ashby Pond prior to construction. We do not have specific details yet, but options we are exploring include active relocation and strategic pond dewatering to encourage self-relocation. We are sensitive to the community concerns for wildlife impacts and will rely on local experts to help determine the best strategies for relocation. We will share details on the selected strategies and timing once we have developed the plan.

  • Share The community meeting presentation fails to enlarge. Is there any way this can be corrected on the website, or otherwise rectified so that I may see the details of the presentation before attending the public meeting? on Facebook Share The community meeting presentation fails to enlarge. Is there any way this can be corrected on the website, or otherwise rectified so that I may see the details of the presentation before attending the public meeting? on Twitter Share The community meeting presentation fails to enlarge. Is there any way this can be corrected on the website, or otherwise rectified so that I may see the details of the presentation before attending the public meeting? on Linkedin Email The community meeting presentation fails to enlarge. Is there any way this can be corrected on the website, or otherwise rectified so that I may see the details of the presentation before attending the public meeting? link

    The community meeting presentation fails to enlarge. Is there any way this can be corrected on the website, or otherwise rectified so that I may see the details of the presentation before attending the public meeting?

    Douglas Willard asked over 1 year ago

    Thank you for pointing that out. The PDF of the presentation is now available on the right side of the page. 

Page last updated: 18 Nov 2024, 07:37 AM