City Hall Detention Pond Improvements

Feb. 23 UPDATE: The majority of the construction work on the City Hall pond retrofit project is complete. The sediment that had accumulated over the years in the pond has been removed and the new sediment forebay has been constructed. The only remaining work is cleanup and landscaping, both of which will be completed in mid-March when weather is favorable for plantings. Over the next few weeks, vegetation will start to establish across the pond and we expect that grass will be well-established by late-spring.

Starting around Jan. 30, 2023, the Public Works Department will begin a project to improve the environmental services of the detention pond located between George Mason Boulevard and University Drive, across the street from City Hall.

The project is expected to take two to three months to complete. Construction activity will be almost exclusively earthwork, so impacts to neighboring residents are expected to be minimal. Excavators and dump trucks will be working in the area. Concrete saws and jackhammers will be used on a very limited basis.

The on-street parking spaces adjacent to the pond along University Drive will be closed when construction starts, but parking will remain available on the opposite side of University Drive and to the south of the project area. Work hours will remain within the city’s noise ordinance; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Work will not take place on weekends, public holidays, or at night.

When stormwater flows into a detention pond, pollutants such as sediment, trash, and other debris are captured before they reach streams. Stormwater is stored and released at a controlled rate to reduce potential flooding and erosion downstream.

The City Hall pond was installed in 2010 when George Mason Boulevard was constructed, and periodic maintenance is required to remove sediment and debris from the pond. The city is using this opportunity to enhance the stormwater pollutant removal capabilities of the pond. These improvements will count toward the city’s community’s pollution reduction requirements for the Chesapeake Bay and Accotink Creek.

Improvements

• Constructing a forebay to capture sediment
• Increasing the pond’s treatment volume
• Planting additional vegetation in and around the pond area

We appreciate your patience while we work to improve this stormwater management facility.