Community invited to meeting on county’s plan to save Lake Accotink
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| Lake Accotink is shrinking, as it fills up with sediment |
The public is invited to a community meeting Sept. 19 to
learn about the latest plans to save Lake Accotink.
learn about the latest plans to save Lake Accotink.
The meeting, at Cardinal Forest Elementary School, 8600 Forrester Blvd., Springfield, will be hosted by supervisors John Cook (Braddock) and Jeff McKay
(Lee). There will be an open house at 6:30 p.m. and a formal presentation at 7.
(Lee). There will be an open house at 6:30 p.m. and a formal presentation at 7.
There have been discussions for the past few years about
the best way to save Lake Accotink – and whether it should be saved at all. If
nothing is done, the lake will fill up with sedimentation and eventually
disappear. Costly, comprehensive dredging operations every few years are no
longer considered financially sustainable.
Responses to a survey distributed by the Park Authority last
spring found the community is strongly in favor of saving the lake. Thousands
of people signed a petition put out by a group called Save Lake Accotink.
spring found the community is strongly in favor of saving the lake. Thousands
of people signed a petition put out by a group called Save Lake Accotink.
The Board of Supervisors, in its FY 2020 budget markup, directed
the county executive, Park Authority, Stormwater Management Division, and Department of Management and Budget to refine the options, timeline, and
appropriate funding for improving Lake Accotink and present options to the
board this fall.
the county executive, Park Authority, Stormwater Management Division, and Department of Management and Budget to refine the options, timeline, and
appropriate funding for improving Lake Accotink and present options to the
board this fall.
The Park Authority has developed a plan to save the lake
through regular wet dredging, with sediment pumped to a drying field north of
Braddock Road with disposal outside the county.
through regular wet dredging, with sediment pumped to a drying field north of
Braddock Road with disposal outside the county.
That plan and other options and considerations – wet dredging
vs. dry dredging, disposal sites, and costs – will be presented at the Sept. 19
community meeting. The Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on a plan in
late October.
vs. dry dredging, disposal sites, and costs – will be presented at the Sept. 19
community meeting. The Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on a plan in
late October.
