Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Arlington County Board Approves Contract to Design Better “Beaver” Pond
Contact: Aileen Winquist 703-228-3610(voice) 703-228-4611(TTY)
- Re-engineering will improve water quality benefits, wetland, wildlife habitat
- $471,842 design contract to Rummell, Klepper & Kahl, LLP
- Firm chosen also working on Four-Mile Run restoration
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Board today approved a $471,842 contract with the engineering firm of Rummell, Klepper & Kahl, LLP to design a better Ballston “Beaver” Pond.
“This is an exciting, important project to bring this pond back to life,” said Board Chairman Jay Fisette. “The new pond will do a much better job of treating stormwater, provide much-needed wildlife habitat and be easier to access.”
Improving the pond to provide more water quality treatment will help the County comply with its stormwater permit and help restore the Chesapeake Bay.
Located at the corner of Fairfax Drive and I-66, the pond was designed and built when I-66 was constructed, to collect and slow down stormwater runoff from the highway. Its name comes from the beavers that sometimes live in the pond and built a dam there in the 1990s; the habitat cannot support them year-round.
The pond receives runoff from more than 300 acres of urban and suburban land. Over time, sediment built up, and much of the water simply flowed straight through, instead of taking a more circuitous route. The pond and surrounding area also have been plagued with invasive plants and trash. In the fall of 2000, the County drained the pond to survey its bottom and determine its remaining capacity. The data collected provided essential baseline information for its re-design.
New pond will hold more stormwater longer
A restored pond offers a rare opportunity to hold large quantities of stormwater in Arlington’s built environment. As much as possible, the re-engineering will restore the pond’s capacity to hold stormwater. In the new pond, sediment will settle in one area, instead of filling the whole pond. A new flow pattern will keep water in the pond, and in contact with the plants longer. This will allow the wetland plants to remove more nutrients and other pollutants from the water before it flows out of the pond.
The pond will be re-planted with a wider variety of plants, enhancing wildlife habitat. It also will be made more accessible to the public, and will include interpretive elements so that visitors understand what they are viewing.
The project area is six acres, and the design process is expected to take about 18 months. Public meetings will be held to explain the plan and seek comment from residents. For more information, visit the County website.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.
