Stafford Drive Stream Restoration

Share Stafford Drive Stream Restoration on Facebook Share Stafford Drive Stream Restoration on Twitter Share Stafford Drive Stream Restoration on Linkedin Email Stafford Drive Stream Restoration link

The north fork of Accotink Creek between Plantation Parkway and Ranger Road Park, known locally as the Stafford Drive stream, is in bad shape. Over the years, fast-flowing stormwater has scoured the stream bed away and incised the streambanks, creating steep cliffs that prevent water from reaching the floodplain. Healthy, mature trees are collapsing into the stream due to severe erosion, and sediment washed downstream is burying aquatic habitat.

Many common questions about stream restoration are answered in our FAQ(External link).

This project will restore nearly a half mile of the Stafford Drive stream. Natural Channel Design principles will be used to stabilize the stream to prevent further erosion and reconnect the stream to the floodplain. Natural materials incorporated in the design, such as rocks and logs, will slow down rushing stormwater. A natural meander, a feature of stable streams, will be created throughout the stream valley.

A preliminary design has been completed and we have developed a design that saves as many trees as possible within the project area.

Background

The Stafford Drive stream was identified as a high priority for restoration in the 2007 Accotink Creek Stream Stability Assessment. The $2.3 million project was approved in the FY21 budget and included in the FY2022-26 Capital Improvement Program. The design is 60% complete. A Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) grant application was submitted in October 2021 to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The city received notification in January 2022 that this project had been selected for SLAF grant funding, and $1,175,000 in matching state funding has been authorized for this project. The grant funds will cover half of the project’s estimated costs.

The city’s Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) action plan is designed to reduce excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and total suspended solids (loose sediment caused by erosion). Stormwater management projects like the Stafford Drive stream restoration help achieve these reduction targets.

Stream restoration projects repair years of unintentional abuse, restore ecological functions in the stream valley, create wildlife habitat, and improve water quality.

Supporting documents are available on this page.

  1. View the presentation from the Dec. 12, 2023, city council work session(External link). (Start at 2:28:55.)
  2. View the presentation from the May 11, 2023, meeting.
  3. The Stream Restoration Design Alternatives Memoincludes:
    1. Pros/cons of design options. Design option 1 was selected following discussion with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. This option was viewed as a balance between saving trees and the impacts to hydraulics, construction costs, and future maintenance costs.
    2. Appendix B (pages 13-16) shows the trees saved by the three design alternatives that were considered. Design option 1 saves 42 trees.
    3. Appendix D (pages 33-48) provides the tree inventory, identification of existing dead/dying/diseased trees, and a table with the species/size/condition of each tree.
  4. View NVRC's stream restoration handout to learn how and why municipalities restore streams.

The north fork of Accotink Creek between Plantation Parkway and Ranger Road Park, known locally as the Stafford Drive stream, is in bad shape. Over the years, fast-flowing stormwater has scoured the stream bed away and incised the streambanks, creating steep cliffs that prevent water from reaching the floodplain. Healthy, mature trees are collapsing into the stream due to severe erosion, and sediment washed downstream is burying aquatic habitat.

Many common questions about stream restoration are answered in our FAQ(External link).

This project will restore nearly a half mile of the Stafford Drive stream. Natural Channel Design principles will be used to stabilize the stream to prevent further erosion and reconnect the stream to the floodplain. Natural materials incorporated in the design, such as rocks and logs, will slow down rushing stormwater. A natural meander, a feature of stable streams, will be created throughout the stream valley.

A preliminary design has been completed and we have developed a design that saves as many trees as possible within the project area.

Background

The Stafford Drive stream was identified as a high priority for restoration in the 2007 Accotink Creek Stream Stability Assessment. The $2.3 million project was approved in the FY21 budget and included in the FY2022-26 Capital Improvement Program. The design is 60% complete. A Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) grant application was submitted in October 2021 to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The city received notification in January 2022 that this project had been selected for SLAF grant funding, and $1,175,000 in matching state funding has been authorized for this project. The grant funds will cover half of the project’s estimated costs.

The city’s Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) action plan is designed to reduce excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and total suspended solids (loose sediment caused by erosion). Stormwater management projects like the Stafford Drive stream restoration help achieve these reduction targets.

Stream restoration projects repair years of unintentional abuse, restore ecological functions in the stream valley, create wildlife habitat, and improve water quality.

Supporting documents are available on this page.

  1. View the presentation from the Dec. 12, 2023, city council work session(External link). (Start at 2:28:55.)
  2. View the presentation from the May 11, 2023, meeting.
  3. The Stream Restoration Design Alternatives Memoincludes:
    1. Pros/cons of design options. Design option 1 was selected following discussion with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. This option was viewed as a balance between saving trees and the impacts to hydraulics, construction costs, and future maintenance costs.
    2. Appendix B (pages 13-16) shows the trees saved by the three design alternatives that were considered. Design option 1 saves 42 trees.
    3. Appendix D (pages 33-48) provides the tree inventory, identification of existing dead/dying/diseased trees, and a table with the species/size/condition of each tree.
  4. View NVRC's stream restoration handout to learn how and why municipalities restore streams.

Comments

Introduction message
You need to be signed in to comment in this Guest Book. Click here to Sign In or Register to get involved

Thank you for your question. Lake Accotink is fed by many tributaries, some of which have been restored or are planned for restoration by Fairfax County. The city’s project will ensure our tributary, located at the headwaters of the Accotink Creek Watershed, is not a major contributor of excess silt and nutrients for downstream communities. The direction of the Lake Accotink project will not have an impact on the city's projects because we are located upstream.

City of Fairfax over 1 year ago

As one of the receiving bodies listed is Lake Accotink, what is the impact of potential County action to not dredge but to allow the lake to revert to wetland rather than open water?

Dc8 over 1 year ago

Removed by moderator.

S.john almost 2 years ago

We received your letter about the Stafford Dr. Stream Restoration. While we do not live in Mosby Woods now, we do still have our home on Confederate Ln. My question is about the condition of the North Fork of Accotink Creek on the other side of Plantation Parkway. Is that portion also having problems with creek bed erosion as well?

What is the state of Daniels Run that is on the other side of Old Lee Hwy? Embassy Ln dead ends at Daniel Run Park.

Will the City send our email updates to the projects?

Karen Ketts
kketts@gmail.com(External link)

Thank you for the opportunity to ask these questions.

kk over 2 years ago
Page last updated: 31 Oct 2024, 09:00 AM