Gulf Branch Stream Resilience Project

Location

3608 North Military Rd, Arlington, VA 22207  View Map

38.919137, -77.120764

3608 North Military Rd , Arlington, VA 22207

3608 North Military Rd , Arlington, VA 22207

Gulf Branch Stream Resilience Project

Status

Construction

Location

Stream sections near Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N Military Rd.

View Map(JPG, 322KB)

July 2026 Gulf Branch Stream Project Update

The Gulf Branch Stream Resilience Project began construction in early 2026 and is expected to last through early 2027. To receive monthly construction updates about trail closures, detours, and project progress, please sign up through this online form.

• In July, the project team continues to advance the stream work, directly addressing the ongoing erosion by reshaping the channel and installing stone and log structures to be in balance with the watershed and resilient even in heavy storms.
• Reach 2 (dry stream channel that extends from N 37 St to the trail crossing) is currently under active construction. The work in the trail crossing area has completed and continues to progress upslope. A future closure of the Reach 2 trail crossing will allow the team to install a new boardwalk on the trail; stay tuned for details on timing. 
• Reach 1 near the Old Glebe Park tennis courts: Work will continue. See below for information about closures of the pedestrian bridge in that area. 
• Broyhill Park stream sections: The gully near the slope (adjacent to the stair location) near Broyhill Park has been stabilized. Work in that area is on hold until a new outfall endwall is manufactured and delivered, anticipated to arrive in August.
• The stormwater management practice in the meadow area that will capture, filter, and slow down 36,500 gallons of runoff is nearly complete. Soil was replaced with a special soil filter bed mix and seeding will be added. 
• As the work in each section is complete, the soil will also be stabilized and seeded. Once the stream work is complete, the robust, dense, and diverse replanting plan will include native canopy trees, understory trees, shrubs, and native plants tailored to site-specific locations within the stream corridor and park.
• The deck matting and underlying mulch on the access paths help protect roots of nearby trees. Some of the logs are being saved for use as in-stream habitat logs. There were also several trees that were able to be harvested for wood milling, as part of a wood reuse initiative in line with the recommendations of the Natural Resource Conservation Plan. 

Trail Closures and Crossings

Visitors to Gulf Branch Park will see construction fence limiting access to project areas throughout the park. There are temporary openings at the trail crossing at the base of Reach 2 and the pedestrian bridge behind the Old Glebe Park tennis courts. These can be seen on the map below. 

• As work on Reach 1 approaches the pedestrian bridge behind the Old Glebe Park tennis courts, the pedestrian bridge will close intermittently. The team plans to reopen it after hours if it is safe to do so, but there may be a few days when that is not possible. Please stay attentive and plan accordingly. 
• Gulf Branch Nature Center, the driveway from Military Road, and most trails continue to be open. You can also access park areas from Old Glebe Park, Madison Community Center, and the N Dittmar Road area.
• Please exercise caution when you are in the park near the construction areas. For everyone's safety, please do not walk on the deck matting construction path or enter fenced off areas. Please note that during work hours the construction entrance gates may be opened for deliveries (not pedestrians). Please heed the signage that instructs community members to remain outside construction areas. 
• Thank you to trail users for your patience and flexibility. 

There are a few key locations where trails cross the project area. See below for a map.

• Trail crossing A (open except during active construction): This trail section at the base of Reach 2 connects the Nature Center to the northern and western sections of the park. This crossing will be open unless there is active construction in the immediate area. 
• Trail crossing B (open except during active construction): This is the small pedestrian bridge that connects the interior of the park to the Old Glebe tennis courts. The bridge will be open unless there is active construction in the immediate area. 
• Trail location C (closed until complete): This trail section connects 37th Street N (small street off of Military Road) to the interior of the park. This section will remain closed until the stream work in this area is complete. 
• Broyhill Park (closed until complete): The Broyhill Park access will remain closed until the stream work in that area is complete.  

Gulf Branch Nature Center and the driveway from Military Road continue to be open. You can also access park areas from Old Glebe Park, Madison Community Center, and the N Dittmar Road area.

Please exercise caution when you are in the park near the construction areas. For everyone's safety, please do not enter fenced off areas. 

Click for larger image

What's Included in the Final Design?

• Stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) that can capture, filter and slow down 36,500 gallons of runoff upstream of the stream project area.
• Targeted scope focusing on areas with the highest risks of inaction and severe active erosion. Lower impact methods will be used to address areas that are beginning to erode. 
• Robust, dense and diverse native replanting plan tailored to site-specific details, covering more than 150% of replanting requirements.
• Trail closure plan to keep trail users safe through construction.
• Maintenance and monitoring plan: Invasive plant management, ensuring stream structure stability and monitoring

Learn More

• Watch the summer 2025 project update video to learn how community input has shaped the project plans and other key project components. 
• Four new Green Street rain gardens were installed in spring 2025 in the Gulf Branch watershed. The rain garden soil and native plants act as a natural filter and sponge, capturing runoff from 3.41 acres total drainage area. They treat 1.43 acres of impervious area and over 23,000 gallons of stormwater runoff. Through an innovative grant-funded partnership with the Center for Watershed Protection, the rain garden soil media includes biochar, a pulverized charcoal substance, to increase soil porosity, water holding capacity, infiltration rates and carbon capture.
• Watch the virtual stream walk video.
• Learn about Arlington stream resilience.

Exposed sanitary pipes in Gulf Branch like the one in the photo above will be re-buried under the bed of the stream, improving long-term stream safety and health.

About the Project

As part of Arlington County’s efforts to protect our local streams, Gulf Branch was identified as a high priority for a stream repair and resiliency project because of active erosion, infrastructure concerns and habitat degradation. Funding for design was allocated through the Capital Improvement Plan in 2018.

Stream projects are a key strategy identified and adopted as part of the Stormwater Master Plan. Project goals include: 

• Create a stable stream channel to accommodate storm flows, address active erosion and create overall resiliency to climate change
• Repair and protect vulnerable exposed infrastructure and prevent sewage releases to the stream and repeat emergency repairs
• Reduce excess sediment and nutrients being transported downstream to help protect Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay and meet regulatory requirements
• Enhance habitat and reduce impact to existing high-quality habitat
• Increase public safety and access to stream for recreational purposes (also supports biophilic goals)

Meeting Materials 

Please contact us to receive notification of upcoming meeting dates.

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