Tag: environment
Don’t flush wipes in the toilet
Fairfax County urges residents not to flush wipes in the toilet, including those labeled “flushable.” A major regional sewer line that carries wastewater from Fairfax County is currently undergoing emergency repairs. During maintenance work, wipes clogged several pumps along the line, reducing capacity and contributing to a wastewater overflow, the county states. Crews are working … Continued
The Greening the Greenway initiative is growing
By James Albright The Greening the Greenway initiative is expanding its efforts to bring native plantings to Annandale. The project started last November with plantings in front of the ACCA Child Development Center on Columbia Pike. The organizers are now identifying new locations along Columbia Pike for a spring planting project. The goal of Greening … Continued
New native garden graces Columbia Pike
Volunteers spent hours this past weekend creating a native plant garden on Columbia Pike in front of the ACCA Child Development Center. The garden is the first project in the “Greening the Greenway” pilot program, which is aimed at enhancing the Annandale Greenway, a five-mile trail between Annandale Community Park and Green Spring Gardens. On … Continued
Viewpoint: Green Spring Gardens should focus on conservation
By Kathryn Cooper As a long-time resident of Mason District and dedicated volunteer at Green Spring Gardens, I urge the Fairfax County Park Authority to hire someone with conservation expertise as the new site manager at GSG. Mason District has fewer green spaces than almost any other district in the county, so GSG is a rare and … Continued
Greening the Greenway: Native plant pilot combats the heat island effect
By James Albright A new initiative to incorporate native plantings in downtown Annandale kicks off this fall with a pilot patch along Columbia Pike. The “Greening the Greenway” pilot is named for the still-developing Annandale Greenway community trail. The central part of the Greenway travels through the urban core of Annandale along Columbia Pike. The … Continued
Fairfax County presents an environmental award to a Culmore tap water project
The Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination is presenting an Environmental Excellence Award to the Friends of Holmes Run and Hispanics Against Child Abuse and Neglect (HACAN) for promoting the use of tap water in Culmore. The groups encouraged residents to use refillable water bottles for tap water instead of buying disposable water … Continued
School news roundup
The following news items are from FCPS and individual schools Environmental education – Westlawn Elementary School was recognized as a Year 3 Virginia Naturally School by the state’s Department of Wildlife Resources. The program recognizes the work done by Westlawn staff to increase students’ environmental literacy. “Helping students become socially and environmentally conscious is woven … Continued
Viewpoint: In defense of natural resource conservation at Green Spring Gardens
By Kathryn Cooper I and many others in the community are opposed to the planned “education pavilion” at Green Spring Gardens. The nonprofit Friends of Green Spring Gardens (FROGS) has donated $250,000 for the project. We raised the following concerns at community meetings in February and July and on the Park Authority’s website: I … Continued
Invasive spotted lanternflies are spreading all over the county
By Shane Gomez Spotted lanternflies are booming this summer throughout the D.C. region, including Fairfax County. The species is native to East Asia, but is invasive here and is growing in number and range. Since the nymphs started maturing into adults in July, residents are spotting more of them. A prolific appetite, lack of enough … Continued
Toxic algae mats appear in Lake Accotink
Don’t wade or swim in Lake Accotink and don’t let your children or dog play in the water, the Virginia Department of Health warns That’s because there’s a toxic blue-green algae bloom in the lake. “Exposure to algal toxins may cause illness,” states a notice posted by VDH at the marina. “Call your doctor or … Continued
Free trees available for community groups
Fairfax County’s Urban and Community Forestry Division is offering free trees to community-based organizations. The program, offered in partnership with Casey Trees, is aimed at helping volunteer groups, civic associations, and faith-based organizations obtain high-quality, professionally grown trees suitable for planting. “This opportunity focuses on increasing tree cover in economically disadvantaged communities, which typically do … Continued
A fix for Lake Accotink is years away
Three studies are underway on Lake Accotink, but it’s going to be years before any action is taken to preserve the lake at a smaller size. The Smaller Lake Accotink Preservation Study was launched in April by Arcadis under contract to the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. A sedimentation study and … Continued
Culmore kids promote tap water
By Shane Gomez A local program is teaching students and residents in the Culmore area of Bailey’s Crossroads about the benefits of drinking tap water and the harm of single-use plastic. Friends of Holmes Run and Hispanics Against Child Abuse and Neglect (HACAN) are partnering on programming to discourage residents skeptical of tap water from … Continued
Annandale celebrates Earth Day
While children painted birdhouses and pinecones at the Earth Day festival in Annandale on April 19, the adults learned about volunteer opportunities with local organizations dedicated to protecting the environment. The Earth Day event, at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space on Columbia Pike, was organized by the Community Revitalization Section in Fairfax County’s Department of … Continued
Lake Barcroft group supports sustainable habitats
As we approach Earth Day on April 22, it’s a good time to recognize the local residents who are working all year to improve their community’s natural environment. Lake Barcroft residents formed a group called SEED to support sustainable habitats for pollinators and other wildlife. SEED (Service, Education, Ecology, Discovery) is sponsored by Lake Barcroft’s … Continued