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Watershed Management in Fairfax County

This document provides an overview of watershed management in Fairfax County, including its history, STW management, monitoring, resource protection, and future concerns. It also highlights the watershed planning process and goals for improving water quality, habitat, and hydrology.

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Watershed Management in Fairfax County

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  1. Watershed Management in Fairfax County MWCOG Regional Monitoring Subcommittee Meeting October 29, 2008

  2. Overview Watersheds in Fairfax Brief history: STW Management Monitoring Resource Protection Watershed Planning Other Initiatives Budget & Costs Future Concerns

  3. Fairfax County Watersheds

  4. History • Pre 1941 • Agricultural uses - dairy & tobacco • STW was ditches • Population = 50,000 • 1941 - 1972 • Suburban population explosion • Reservoirs built for municipal water supplies • STW became pavement & pipes • PL-566 facilities begin construction • Population = 500,000

  5. History • 1972 - 1979 • Clean Water Act regulations (point sources) • Initial county watershed studies conducted: • Environmental Baselines • Master Drainage Plans • Volume control regulations enacted • 1979 -1982 • Water Quality BMPs in Occoquan watershed • Structural: 50% Phosphorus reduction for facilities • Non-structural: downzoned 41,000 acres to 5 acre lots

  6. History • 1993 • Chesapeake Bay Ordinance • BMPs for rest of County (40% Phosphorus reduction) • Establishment of Resource Protection Areas (RPAs) • First NPDES permit issued to County for MS-4 • Population = 900,000

  7. History • 1998 - 2001 • Stormwater Planning Division created • Initiation of Stream Protection Strategy (SPS) Baseline Study • Identified physical, chemical and biological conditions of streams countywide • Evaluated Impervious cover and Land Use data • Created management categories • Establish broad list of strategies & recommendations • Create a ongoing monitoring program • Policy evaluation/changes • Increased public outreach • Complete SPA study • Update Watershed Master Plans

  8. History • 2002-2006 • Stream Physical Assessment (SPA) conducted on >800 miles of streams • Chesapeake Bay Ordinance Updated & RPAs expanded to includePerennialwater bodies • County developed field protocol for classification • Surveyed & mapped all perennial streams in county

  9. New 2003 RPAs Perennial Streams Miles: Old (not shorelines) 520 New 330 Total 850 Increase 63% RPAs (incl.water): Miles2 Old 55.3 New 17 Total 72.3 Increase 31%

  10. History • 2002-2006 (cont’d) • Partnered with USGS on Accotink Creek fecal coliform study – to determine sources for upcoming TMDL • Received funding increase (1¢ on $100 of prop. tax) • LID designs added to Public Facilities Manual • Population > 1,000,000 • Initiated process for development of first round Watershed Master Plans (approx 50% of county)

  11. Watershed Planning

  12. The Watershed Planning Process Evaluatedata to determine the state of the watersheds Identifyissuesthat the plan will address Establish avisionfor the watershed and goals that improve, enhance and protect watersheds Develop specificactionsto achieve the goals Create a framework and timeframeforimplementation

  13. Watershed Planning Goals and Objectives (Countywide) Goals • Improve and maintain watershed functions in Fairfax County, including water quality, habitat, and hydrology. • Protect human health, safety, and property by reducing stormwater impacts. • Involve stakeholders in the protection, maintenance and restoration of county watersheds. Objectives • Hydrology • Habitat • Stream Water Quality • Drinking Water Quality • Stewardship

  14. The Watershed Planning Process • Compile & synthesize all previous data and reports • Characterize the watershed(s) • Create smaller management units • Classify impervious cover, current & future land use, STW infrastructure/controls • Field recon to verify/augment existing data • Hydraulic and Hydrologic modeling to determine problem areas for flooding, WQ, etc. • Rank sub-watersheds based on multiple stressors • Begin public involvement phase • Initial public forum to solicit input • Form the Watershed Advisory Group • Develop restoration/preservation strategies • Selection, evaluation and prioritization of candidate projects

  15. The Watershed Planning Process • Project types: • Riparian plantings/restorations • Building STW management facilities • Retrofitting existing STW mgmt. facilities • LID facilities – rain gardens, bio-retention, infiltration • Public involvement, education, outreach materials • Flooding abatement (i.e. culvert replacements) • Stream stabilizations and restorations • Watershed specific initiatives (i.e. mitigation bank) • Recommendations for policy/regulation changes • Draft Plan • Public forum & review period • Final Plan

  16. Costs/Funding • WS Plan Development - $20M over 7 years • Plan implementation costs - $800M • 2009 Stormwater Management Budget - $22.8M • $1.6M for all monitoring activities (14%)

  17. FY2009 Budget for SWM Watershed Planning Project (0%) Implementation, $4.7M (21%) Operations, 8.7M (38%) Dam Safety, $2.7M (12%) Regulatory Infrastructure Compliance, $3M (13%) Reinvestment, $3.7M (16%)

  18. Future Concerns • >200 years to implement CIP & watershed plans based on current input levels • Regulatory implications • Impaired water bodies • TMDLs • Compliance/non-compliance with permit • Continued degradation of systems & response time lag (?) • Quantify effectiveness of newer technologies, older controls & future implementation efforts (?)

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