WAKEFIELD RUN
A Stream Restoration in Progress
RESTORATION:
"The act of bringing back something that existed before - to an unimpaired or improved condition"
| The Wakefield Run Restoration got underway in late October, 2013 Work moved steadily downstream, returning the natural contours to channel and banks. Structural work was completed in March, 2014, followed by replanting and final dedication on May 17, 2014. The 5-year evaluation period by Friends of Accotink Creek was concluded in September, 2019. The George Washington Community School has formally adopted Wakefield Run for regular cleanups under the Adopt-A-Stream program.
Wakefield Run after the stream restoration project:
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What if the beleaguered streams of our community could be at least partly returned to their once-healthy condition? Many attempts to do just that are taking place around us. Here we will try to tell the story of one such attempt.
| See the lofty sentiments of the groundbreaking expressed here: And read about it in the Annandale Blog and Fairfax Times. |
Wakefield Run receives high rates of runoff from east of I-495 and is severely eroding. The restoration project aims to arrest erosion and stabilize the streambed west of I-495.
Project features:
- Plunge pool at I-495 culvert outlet to initially slow the flow from upstream
- Adding meanders while filling in part of the old channel
- Rock cross vanes (V's of stones) to help channel the flow in desired directions
- Single arm rock vanes (J's) to direct energy away from vulnerable outside curves
- Toe stabilization will protect the base of vulnerable banks with stone reinforcement
- Step pools will allow the stream to gradually descend to the level of Accotink Creek
- Stone wet crossing for Dominion Power vehicles and mountain bikes
The project will remove trees, but key specimens are being preserved, especially slower-growing species. Much of the restoration project will be in the existing Dominion Power easement, where no trees are present.
| See the rest of our Wakefield Run video playlist here: Nature, wildlife drama, & heavy machinery! |
Total cost is $440,000, or roughly $400-500 per linear foot. Seed funding came from the $75,000 the Park Authority was compensated for the I-495 Express lanes taking of park land in Wakefield Park. Fairfax County DPWES contributed $300,000. Dominion Power contributed $35,000. The Park Authority Foundation will solicit additional contributions from Fluor-Lane (the I-495 Express Lanes contractor), and from Washington Gas. Washington Gas benefits from the project because the gas line crossing Wakefield Run will be better protected, saving potential repair costs.
The cost of the project is comparable to the cost of trying to control the runoff from the 100 acres upstream, which would not have stabilized the streambed. Any future redevelopment projects upstream will reduce runoff in the future, due to regulations requiring enhanced stormwater controls.
Part of the project will require reworking the culvert outfall modifications poorly done during the I-495 Express Lanes construction, causing some taxpayer exasperation.
Fish habitat will improve after the project, and benthic invertebrate numbers are also expected to improve, although there is less data on invertebrates than on fish. Friends of Accotink Creek is undertaking ongoing before and after monitoring of the benthic invertebrate populations to assess the changes wrought. View the ongoing monitoring results data here
Read the story in the Park Authority blog here
View the presentation poster here
Come see Wakefield Run. Be inspired. Find it on the map here.
See it and other projects to benefit Accotink Creek in the vicinity of Wakefield Run here
See the list of Accotink Creek Watershed Plan projects underway or completed here
