Environmental Services
Donaldson Run Stream Restoration - Tributary A
Project Overview
The Donaldson Run Civic Association received Neighborhood Conservation Funding (NCP) in 2001 to study Donaldson Run and identify potential stream
improvements. Residents were concerned about erosion in the stream, which degrades water quality and in-stream habitat, and threatens nearby trees and trails.
Arlington County's Watershed Management Plan, adopted in 2001, recommends conducting stream restoration projects in County streams. Because of the amount of development in Arlington, our streams receive high levels of runoff when it rains. Stormwater runoff destroys habitat for stream organisms, erodes stream banks, and carries sediment and other pollutants downstream to the Potomac River.
A stream restoration project on Tributary A of Donaldson Run was completed in 2006. Find out more about the Tributary A project by viewing the video and photos below.
The Donaldson Run Civic Association received additional NCP funding to restore another tributary of the stream, Tributary B. This project is in the design stage. Find out more about Tributary B Project.
Tributary A Project
Tributary A Project Video
Public Process for Tributary A Project
Public Education about the Project
- Ran multiple articles in the Donaldson Run Civic Assocation (DRCA) newsletter throughout the project, and submitted these articles to the neighboring civic associations as well. Also ran articles in the Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment newsletter.
- Created a project web site and posted meeting notices, workshop presentations, and list of Frequently Asked Questions about the project.
- Attended multiple civic association meetings with presentations about the project.
- Created a flyer advertising the first public workshop for the project and mailed it to the entire civic association and posted on park kiosks.
- Did a press release about the Donaldson Run project. Release was picked up by WTOP, Channel 7 news, and Washington Post. Other press coverage inlcuded:
- Cover article – Washington Post magazine, Silent Streams, August 2005
- Arlington Connection – front page article August 17-23, 2005
- Citizen newsletter – half page article, May-June 2006
- Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment Article – Spring, 2006
- Posted four signs in the park with staff contact phone number for questions. These signs remained up for the duration of the project construction.
- Documented the stream restoration process with a videographer and created a 20 minute documentary
- Held a ribbon cutting event when the restoration project was completed with members of the community, staff and County Board members.
- Posted signs about the project with before and after pictures on the park kiosks.
Public Involvement
- Created an Advisory Group with members of the civic association and members of County Commissions (E2C2, Parks, Urban Forestry) to advise staff during the project. This group met about every one to two months.
- Organized a field tour of the Kingstowne stream restoration project, which had been completed about five years earlier, for the Advisory Group.
- Reviewed stream restoration designs and presentations with the Advisory group prior to the public meetings.
- Held several public workshops and a stream walk as the stream restoration project designs were developed to review them with the community, answer questions, and receive input.
Before and After pictures of Tributary A
These pictures show Donaldson Run in Zachary Taylor park before the restoration project. Erosion endangers trees along the stream, causing many of them to fall over, and exposes sanitary sewer lines. 
These pictures show some of the severe stream bank erosion, root exposure, and damage to trees along Donaldson Run. In the picture on the right, the sanitary sewer line (encased in concrete) is exposed. 
The picture on the left was taken during the ribbon cutting event in March of 2006. The picture on the right shows the stream restoration in April of 2006, a couple months after completion of construction. 
These pictures show some of the step pools and the new pedestrian bridge in April of 2006, a couple months after completion of construction. 
These pictures show the stream restoration in June of 2007, about on year after the project was completed. 
These pictures were taken during a rain event in April of 2008. The picture on the left shows some of the new meanders and the picture on the right shows some of the step pools. 
The picture above shows Zachary Taylor Park and tree canopy along Tributary A, after the stream restoration.
