Tag: environment | Page 12 | Annandale Today

Virginia adopts Rapid Pass on-road vehicle emissions testing

January 16, 2016

#cars, #environment, #state government, #traffic, #transportation

The Rapid Pass system uses instruments in the green boxes on either side of the ramp to test vehicles’ emissions. A new automated vehicle emissions inspection system in place means you no longer have wait in line at a service station. Instead, you drive through an on-road portable Rapid Pass testing location and you don’t … Continued

Stream restoration projects under way in Wakefield Park

October 23, 2015

#environment, #infrastructure, #parks, #stormwater, #streams, #trails

Accotink Creek in Wakefield Park The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is carrying out two stream restoration projects at Wakefield Park in Annandale. Work along 3,700 feet in the Accotink Creek watershed area will include the installation of various in-stream structures, a pedestrian bridge crossing, and pipe culverts, as well as … Continued

Homeowner battling county over land disturbance violation

July 1, 2015

#courts, #environment, #housing, #land use, #water

The Laux backyard with the Calloway development behind the fence. Annandale resident David Laux is fighting a Fairfax County court injunction charging him with violating the building code and plans to take the case to the state Supreme Court. The county charged Laux and his wife Tara with failing to get a permit when they … Continued

Get free milkwood seeds at Hidden Oaks to help save monarch butterflies

June 2, 2015

#animals, #environment, #gardening, #nature, #wildlife

A monarch on milkweed. Have you seen a lot of monarch butterflies this spring? Probably not, because the monarch population is in serious decline. Milkweed plants, the only food monarch caterpillars eat, is fast disappearing due to loss of habitat as vacant land is developed. To help save monarchs, the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in … Continued

Volunteers needed for meadow project at Americana Park

March 27, 2015

#environment, #gardening, #parks, #stormwater, #volunteers

This grassy field at Americana Park will be transformed into a meadow. Annandale’s Americana Park is getting a facelift. A grassy field in the park that is subject to frequent flooding will be transformed into a meadow while invasive species will be replaced with native plants. Friends of Accotink Creek (FACC) is spearheading a planting … Continued

Beautify your yard with native plants

March 4, 2015

#environment, #gardening, #nature

Silky dogwood The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District is selling packs of seedlings in an effort to spread native plants throughout the region. Native plants use less water, attract wildlife, protect air and water quality, and bring beauty to your landscaping. They are also more disease resistant than imported plants. There are two … Continued

Improvements to Green Spring Gardens proposed

February 1, 2015

#environment, #gardening, #land use, #nature, #parks

Looking forward to spring at Green Spring. Several people who spoke at a meeting on improving Green Spring Gardens Jan. 29 urged the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) to keep the trees on a 2.5-acre piece of land that’s been added to the park. The meeting launched FCPA’s efforts to revise the Master Plan for … Continued

Plastic bag tax fails in Virginia General Assembly

January 22, 2015

#environment, #state government, #streams, #taxes

Plastic bags clog a stream feeding into the Chesapeake Bay. By Elizabeth Kirchner Despite widespread grassroots support and the possibility of about $20 million in annual revenue dedicated to Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts, a bill establishing a 5-cent “plastic bag tax” failed to get out of committee Jan 21. The bill, introduced in the Virginia … Continued

Public input sought on new plan for Green Spring Gardens

January 10, 2015

#environment, #nature, #parks

The new land is the green section on top. [Fairfax County Park Authority] The Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking public input as it begins a planning process to integrate a newly acquired piece of property into Green Spring Gardens Park. The public is invited to a meeting Jan. 29, 7 p.m., at Parklawn Elementary … Continued

Fish kill at Holmes Run

January 5, 2015

#environment, #streams, #water, #wildlife

A couple of people who regularly fish in Holmes Run reported a fish kill in recent days, but inspection teams from the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) did not find any dead fish. One person who went fishing at Holmes Run on Jan. 1 saw “a whole lot of fish … Continued

Gallows Road trees torn down to make way for assisted living facility

December 28, 2014

#aging, #environment, #housing, #redevelopment, #seniors

Six houses were demolished to make for an assisted living facility on Gallows Road. The developer of the Brightview assisted living facility under construction on Gallows Road was supposed to save a lot of trees, but the site looks mostly denuded. The property has been cleared to prepare for construction of a three-story 95-unit building … Continued

VDOT destroys native species recently planted along beltway

December 10, 2014

#beltway, #environment, #nature, #VDOT

Native plants mowed down along the beltway in Annandale..[FACC photo] Much of the native species planted along the beltway over the past few years were destroyed recently by a VDOT contractor apparently unaware that they should have been protected. Friends of Accotink Creek (FACC) sent a letter to state legislators, Fairfax County supervisors, and other … Continued

Volunteers form friends group for Long Branch Stream Valley

October 28, 2014

#environment, #nature, #neighborhood groups, #streams, #trails, #volunteers, #water

Volunteers collect trash along the Long Branch trail Oct. 18. [LBSV photos] Volunteers from several Annandale and Fairfax neighborhoods created a new group, the Friends of Long Branch Stream Valley, to maintain the trail and address erosion, water quality management, invasive species removal, and related environmental issues. The 2.75-mile Long Branch trail follows the stream … Continued

Congressional candidates share views on economy, guns, and climate change

September 12, 2014

#Connolly, #elections, #environment, #health, #taxes

Suzanne Scholte Residents of the 11th congressional district packed a meeting room at the Fairfax Regional Library Sept. 10 to hear from the three candidates challenging Rep. Gerry Connolly (D) in the November election. The participants were Republican Suzanne Scholte, Green Party candidate Joe Galdo, and Libertarian Marc Harrold. The session was hosted by the … Continued

Classes start next month at Green Spring for Master Gardener program

August 19, 2014

#environment, #gardening, #volunteers

Green Spring Gardens Do you want to become an expert gardener and educate the public about environmentally sound horticultural practices? The Master Gardener program might be for you. A training course at Green Spring Gardens starts Sept. 9. The application deadline has been extended to Aug. 22. Applicants also need to pass an interview process … Continued