Tag: environment
Viewpoint: The county climate action plan
By Marie Reinsdorf The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is trying to get our attention. The panel tells us we have increased the earth’s atmospheric temperature by 1.1 degrees Celsius since the pre-industrial age. We must cap that increase at 1.5 C to avert climate disasters that will “become so extreme that people … Continued
At Lake Accotink, mud is a hazard
If Lake Accotink is not dredged and begins to fill in with sediment, some people have speculated that it will become an unhealthy, bug-infested swamp. Vanessa Robertson warns of another danger – quicksand. When Robertson, a military veteran who has undergone survival training, learned about Fairfax County’s plan to not dredge Lake Accotink, “I immediately … Continued
Dredging Lake Accotink is not financially or environmentally feasible
At a virtual community meeting Feb. 15, Fairfax County officials explained why the dredging project that had been proposed to save Lake Accotink is no longer feasible. County public works staff are recommending that “Lake Accotink not be dredged due to significant community and environmental impacts and excessive costs.” A new analysis found the project … Continued
Homeowners can apply for grants for stormwater projects
Interested in reducing stormwater runoff on your property? You might be able to get public funds for that under Virginia and Fairfax County conservation assistance programs (VCAP/CAP). These programs help property owners implement environmentally friendly best practices to reduce polluted stormwater runoff into local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. Community associations and HOAs can apply, … Continued
Help clean up Americana Drive
Volunteers are invited to join the next Americana Drive Cleanup event on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Participants should meet at the corner of Americana Drive and Patriot Drive in Annandale. Signing up in advance will help the organizers make sure there are enough supplies. Friends of Accotink Creek adopted Americana Drive through … Continued
BC7RC adopts Seven Corners roadways
The Bailey’s Crossroads/7 Corners Revitalization Corporation has had its Adopt-a-Highway permit renewed until July 2025. The permit covers two roadway sections in Seven Corners: Leesburg Pike between Sleepy Hollow Road and Nevius Street and Patrick Henry Drive between Leesburg Pike and Arlington Boulevard. Volunteers are invited to join a cleanup event on Saturday, Nov. 12. … Continued
Holmes Run is in ‘fair’ condition
Holmes Run, which flows through the Annandale area, is not in great condition, according to a report released Aug. 10 by the Audubon Naturalist Society. The report, The Story of the Streams, evaluates the health of three waterways in the D.C. region. It finds Holmes Run and the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River to … Continued
Plastic bag tax to generate $1.2 million
Fairfax County’s plastic bag tax has raised more than $500,000 for the county in the first quarter of 2022 and is on track to generate more than $1.2 million by the end of the year. That’s the estimate in a memo from the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination to the Board of Supervisors. The … Continued
Culmore kids explore the watershed
Friends of Holmes Run hosted 22 kids from the Culmore/Bailey’s Crossroads area last week for a watershed exploration at the Holmes Run Stream Valley Park east of Columbia Pike. The kids got a close-up view of the watershed and wildlife and carried out various science activities. They learned why Holmes Run is so important for … Continued
Annandale land sold at auction
The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust was unsuccessful in its attempt to acquire undeveloped land near Accotink Creek that was up for auction. The NVCT had bid on the seven tax-delinquent properties off Spicewood Court in an effort to prevent them from getting into the hands of developers. The properties are in a floodplain, and one … Continued
Discounts offered on energy assessments
Fairfax County encourages residents to take advantage of the Thermalize program, which offers discounted home energy assessments through June 30. Thermalize is administered by the Local Energy Alliance Program and is modeled on LEAP’s Solarize NOVA. Fairfax County residents who sign up by June 30 will receive a $50 discount on a home energy assessment … Continued
Environmental group hopes to prevent developers from buying Annandale land
Fairfax County has again put up for auction seven undeveloped properties in Annandale in a flood plain next to Accotink Creek. The land owner, the Al Root Memorial Foundation, hasn’t paid taxes in years, so according to state law, the county has to auction off the properties to the highest bidder. The auction ends Tuesday, … Continued
Community celebrates Earth Day on the Annandale Greenway
Dozens of people and public officials celebrated Earth Day April 23 at a cleanup event on the Annandale Greenway. Several local leaders spoke to the group at the future Annandale Civic Space as the event started, several local agencies and organizations hosted information tables. The Greenway is a four-mile pathway connecting existing park trails and … Continued
Discounts offered for solar energy
The annual Solarize NOVA program is underway, providing bulk discounts on solar systems for homes and businesses. The Solarize campaign is offered in partnership with the Local Energy Alliance Program and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. The campaign runs from April 1 through June 30. The program includes a free assessment of the property to … Continued
Volunteers get plenty of help at Americana Drive cleanup
The semi-annual cleanups along Americana Drive in Annandale are drawing more volunteers and more help from the county and other community partners. Forty-four volunteers turned out for the cleanup on Presidents’ Day. They filled 191 bags of trash and collected at least 19 tires and big piles of construction debris and furniture. The cleanup was … Continued