Tag: environment | Page 6 | Annandale Today

Watch the Green Grow program encourages residents to protect the watershed

March 15, 2021

#environment, #gardening, #nature, #streams

A native garden in Annandale. Fairfax County residents who take actions to protect the watershed – by not using toxic chemicals on their lawn or replacing invasives with native plants, for example – can chart their efforts on an interactive map. The map is part of the Park Authority’s Watch the Green Grow program, which … Continued

Lumber not landfills: Use urban wood instead of throwing it away

March 9, 2021

#environment, #government services, #trees

A conference table in Harrisonburg is made from an ash tree reclaimed by the city government’s urban wood program. [WHSV] By Marie Reinsdorf “We envision a future where every tree has a use at the end of its life – a level of use that honors its existence.” – vision statement from the Virginia Urban … Continued

Fairfax County plans to install solar panels on government buildings

March 8, 2021

#environment, #government services, #infrastructure, #utilities

The Mason Government Center. Fairfax County is proposing a plan to install solar panels at 22 public buildings. The Board of Supervisors is holding a public hearing March 9 on a proposal to lease county-owned property to Sigora Solar LLC for the installation, operation, and maintenance of solar photovoltaic panels for electricity generation.

Residents encouraged to take surveys on Fairfax County’s Energy and Climate Action Plan

February 28, 2021

#environment, #transportation, #utilities

Solar panels, like the ones on this Annandale roof, are an increasingly common sight in Mason District. Fairfax County is asking residents to take three surveys to inform county staff on how they feel about climate change issues. The surveys will provide feedback as the county develops its first-ever Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan … Continued

Supervisors ban plastic bags for yard waste

February 24, 2021

#Board of Supervisors, #environment, #recycling, #trash

The correct way to put yard waste on the curb. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 9-1 Feb. 23 to ban the use of plastic bags for curbside yard waste pickup. Instead of plastic bags, county residents now must use paper bags or reusable bins. Another alternative, suggested Eric Forbes of the Fairfax County … Continued

Fairfax County supervisors to consider banning plastic bags for yard waste

February 17, 2021

#environment, #gardening, #recycling

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is holding a hearing Feb. 23, 4 p.m., on a proposed ordinance to ban the use of plastic bags for yard waste collections. The proposed change is aimed at reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in streams and soil, contaminating the environment.

Flowers for your vase: Go local

February 9, 2021

#environment, #gardening, #nature

Elegance Formula Sweet Pea Mix from Johnny’s Seeds catalog. By Marie Reinsdorf Spring is on the way, and Culpeper County flower grower Bob Wollam is starting his sweet peas in a hoop house. They go in now to beat the heat but must be undercover where the soil won’t freeze. Sweet peas have a heavenly … Continued

Plan to turn park space into parking lot angers residents

February 5, 2021

#environment, #infrastructure, #Justice High School, #parks, #schools

Local residents and environmental advocates are concerned about a plan to create a parking lot inside Justice Park as part of the upcoming expansion of Justice High School in Seven Corners. The park is on Peace Valley Lane across the street from the school. Under a plan under discussion by Fairfax County Public Schools and … Continued

Explore a Park: Ecological restoration and history at Fitzhugh Park in Annandale

December 22, 2020

#Annandale, #environment, #history, #nature, #parks, #Recreation

This article is part of the Annandale Blog’s Explore a Park series. Previous parks in the series include Manassas Gap Park and Luria Park in Annandale and Lillian Carey Park in Bailey’s Crossroads. Fitzhugh Park is a 10-acre park in Annandale between the Bristow Village condominium, the Ravensworth-Bristow neighborhood, and the beltway. Features: Playground, basketball … Continued

Salt on roads harms waterways

December 15, 2020

#environment, #streams, #water, #weather

With wintry weather predicted for Wednesday, it’s a good time to think about the ecological damage caused by using salt on icy roads and driveways. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will introduce a new a Salt Management Strategy Toolkit at a public meeting next month with resources and recommendations for best practices to reduce … Continued

Studies underway to prepare for Lake Accotink dredging project

December 14, 2020

#environment, #infrastructure, #Lake Accotink, #nature

Lake Accotink Planning and analysis for the Lake Accotink dredging project is well underway. Construction is not expected to start until March 2023, however, as key decisions need to be made about how the dredging will work. The project involves construction of a pipeline and a large clearing in Wakefield Park for drying out the … Continued

Stream restoration project to start soon in Wakefield Park

November 15, 2020

#environment, #infrastructure, #parks, #streams, #Wakefield Park

Erosion on Accotink Creek in Wakefield Park. Construction is expected to begin this month on a stream restoration project along the main branch of Accotink Creek and a secondary channel at Wakefield Park.  The project will restore 4,878 linear feet of Accotink Creek west of the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail north of Braddock Road. … Continued

Volunteers tackle trash along Americana Drive

November 13, 2020

#community events, #community organizations, #environment, #litter, #trash, #volunteers

Despite the rain, 15 volunteers put in two hours of work on Veterans’ Day to clean up trash and construction debris along Americana Drive in Annandale. The event was sponsored by Friends of Accotink Creek and the Fairfax County Restoration Project (FRCP). Conrad Mehan of the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services … Continued

Congressional candidates clash on climate change, racial justice, immigration and much more

September 25, 2020

#Beyer, #coronavirus, #elections, #environment, #health, #police, #politics, #taxes

Republican candidate Jeff Jordan (left) is running against Rep. Don Beyer (right). For Rep. Don Beyer, the Democrat who represents the 8th congressional district, the biggest existential threat facing the United States is climate change, while his Republican opponent, Jeff Jordan, says the biggest threat is socialism. The two candidates offered widely divergent views on … Continued

Document wildlife during Virginia BioBlitz

September 24, 2020

#community events, #environment, #nature, #wildlife

An Eastern box turtle [Virginia Academy of Science] Local residents of all ages are encouraged to help scientists document the biodiversity in parks and backyards by joining Virginia BioBlitz 2020. The program kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 26, with presentations on Zoom by the Virginia Academy of Science and its partners, including the Fairfax County … Continued