HC Stream Restoration Plan Presentation to the DRB on November 16th, 7-9PM

RA's Design Review Board (DRB) will hear the WSSI presentation on the HC stream restoration project and replacement bridge at the next monthly meeting, November 16th 7-9PM.

Note From SCCI:

Frank (WSSI) will give the presentation, but please encourage HCA members to sign up to speak so DRB has an opportunity to hear the thoughts from the community.

Stream Restoration Proposal
Apologies for the quality of some of the slides.

Follow up: DRB Meeting Summary by Fred S.

Tuesday evening the DRB voted to approve the preliminary design for the stream restoration, including the bridge proposal. WSSI will come back to DRB for information updates as the plans move forward, and final approval of detailed design including bridge details. No significant issues were raised and there was not much discussion by the DRB members. One new piece of information is that the adjacent Vantage Hill stream looks as if it will not go forward due to lack of cooperation from VDOT which is reluctant to accept an easement along Baron Cameron Ave. ("in case they ever need to widen the avenue").

Friday Night Panel Discussion on the Future of the Town Center: Tonight!

Tonight! (& apologies for the late notice.)
Friday night, November 5, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM is the final panel discussion on the future and vision of the Reston Town Center – Visions for the Future (2010-2030) with the coming of Metro.

The Town Center subcommittee co-chairs Robert Goudie and Pete Otteni will be presenting their PowerPoint presentation and draft report to the Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force.

This panel will provide Reston citizens an opportunity for interactive an Q&A session on the subcommittee recommendations to the main Task Force.

Location: Reston Community Center at Lake Anne Village Center
Date and Time: Friday Night, November 5, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Topic and Format: Future development options of the Reston Town Center with the coming of Metro and recommendations to amend revision of Fairfax County’s Comprehensive Plan.

Loren Bruce
Phone: 703-408-2931
EMail: lcbruce@verizon.net

Stream Restoration: New Bridge Design Options

Thanks to everyone who turned out for the WSSI stream restoration presentation and Hickory Cluster walk and to WSSI for their comprehensive presentation and informational walk. 

WSSI Slides from October 16th Presentation

As part of the stream restoration, WSSI will replace the failing HC bridge (at the duck pond).  HC residents have presented two options that are quite different and there was discussion at yesterday's meeting about the options.  The HC board will further discuss these two options at the monthy meeting this Wednesday (10/20/10) 7:30PM at TWC offices.  If any residents are interested in the discussion, please attend this meeting.  Two Important Notes:  1. Any bridge design that HC chooses will still have to be approved by the RA Design Review Board.  2. The existing bridge design can not be replicated as it does not meet existing FX Cty code.

Option #1: A wooden planked footbed bridge with metal railings that are the same as the new HC railings found throughout HC.  This option will make a bold statement and announce that this is not simply another Reston bridge but Hickory Cluster specifically. 

Option #2:  A wood bridge that will blend in with the wooded surroundings and have detail elements that echo existing details on other HC elements such as the Goodman designed swingsets along the path.

HC Stream Restoration Information Meeting Scheduled, Sat. Oct 16th, 10:30am @ RCC-LA

WSSI has sent out an information packet to all HC residents explaining the proposed stream restoration project and announcing the information meeting on Sat. Oct. 16 at 10:30am, in Room C of the Lake Anne Community Center. Click to view the documents one and two.

Informational Meeting and HC Stream Walk:
10:30 on Sat. Oct. 16, in Room C of the Lake Anne Community Center.
Coffee and pastries provided.

There will be a presentation by WSSI and a question and answer session, followed by a guided walk through the restoration area to discuss the details, including trees to be removed, how the stream will be modified, etc.

To: Hickory Cluster Homeowners

From: Bob Anderson, Block II

The Stream Restoration Information Meeting is scheduled for this Saturday, October 16th (Lake Anne Community Center, Room C at 10:30 AM). This is a very important meeting for all Cluster homeowners. Without getting into any detail on the project, I just want to say a few things at this time. This is a huge project and it will result in a major improvement in the natural area running along the stream between Blocks I and Blocks II. When it is completed it will do more than restore the stream to its original beauty, in my view; it will be a very substantial enhancement. In addition to providing an attractive space that we should all like to visit from time to time it will add to the value of the Hickory Cluster Property. During the time that the work is being done there will some pain from noise, the disappearance of trees, and the unsightliness of earth moving equipment, but if all goes according to plan it should be accomplished within 2 to 3 months. I almost forgot a not insignificant point is that this change for the better will be at no cost to Hickory Cluster homeowners.

Now with this major change for the better about to get underway perhaps it is time for us to take stock of our own immediate surroundings – i.e. our own privately owned homes and property. What might we each do to maintain our own homes and property better?  Hickory Cluster is a class act, its houses created by an award-winning architect – Charles Goodman. Isn’t it time for us to make a special effort to ensure the future of this very special place by looking toward our own self-interest and the common interest, too, by re-committing ourselves to keeping our homes properly maintained and the areas around them spruced up? Don’t we owe it to ourselves to make the effort?

Please come to the meeting on Saturday, if you possibly can. It’s your future.

Fairway Apartment Re-developement Decision Moved to November 3

Planning commission will decide whether to move forward on high-density changes.
Full Article here. 

Background: Reston Connection, Jan 2010

Nature Walk: Hickory Cluster Stream Restoration Project, Oct 2 at 1pm

Nature Walk
Saturday, Oct 2
1:00 pm

Stream Restoration Exhibit and Walk. Meet at the Reston Museum, 1639 Washington Plaza, in Lake Anne Village Center to examine the current exhibit on Reston stream restoration with Kelly Petrey and Nathan Staley of Wetland Studies and Solutions Inc.

Learn about their work on streams in South Reston, and plans to begin restoration work in the Colvin Run watershed of North Reston. Following the briefing, join WSSI on a walk to a nearby stream to see the erosion damage for yourself, and hear about plans for restoration. The walk will follow a path along the stream running south toward Lake Anne from North Shore Drive between Lake Anne Park and the covered bridge on the West and Northgate Square and Inlet Court on the East.

Cluster Clean-Up Saturday 9/18/10 9am-1pm with Cook Out at 5pm

R4 Collection Day at Reston Town Center: September 15, 1-4pm

Not the best hours but here's the next local opportunity to shred documents and get rid of old computers, used up compact fluorescent light bulbs, electronics, bicycles, hearing aids, etc...

Reston Town Center presents the fifth R4 Collection Day: Reduce. Re-use. Recycle. Reston! on Wednesday, September 15 from 1 pm until 4 pm. In an effort to provide awareness and options for disposal of items that can be diverted from landfill, specific items listed here will be accepted for collection at the Reston Town Center Pavilion, 11900 Market Street, Reston, VA 20190.

More information on what's accepted here.

Reston Multicultural Festival 9/25/10

All are invited to come

Discover the World in Reston!

Enjoy and experience multicultural entertainment, cultural displays, children's and adults' activities, children's passports, food, arts and crafts, and cultural demonstrations. Come dressed in your own native attire and share your culture with your neighbors.

Saturday, September 25, 2010 11am-5pm

Lake Anne Village Center

For All Ages

Free

RELAC Rate Increase Will Stand

The Hearing Examiner's Report can be seen here and the following is a summary by Steve Sinclair from Fairfax County

The Hearing Examiner's report came out [August 4th]. The hearing examiner granted the rate increase agreed to in the stipulation (between the SCC and the company).

The Hearing Examiner also recommends directing RELAC to implement certain quality of service measurements. We think that is progress, but not strong enough and we may submit comments to that affect.

Excerpted below are several Findings and Recommendations of interest.

(16) In accordance with the Stipulation, RELAC should continue to provide written information to assist customers in properly maintaining their own equipment;

(17) RELAC should be directed to train its personnel to record accurately and consistently, information already required by its plant record forrns, especially as to supply and return temperatures and pressures, and outside temperatures;

(18) RELAC should be directed to record supply temperatures and pressures, and outside temperatures when the Company makes inspections or answers service complaint calls at customer premises;

(19) RELAC should be directed to document quality of service complaint calls, including whether the cooling issues customers reported resulted from problems in the system or inadequate maintenance/operation of internal units or other factors in the home;

(20) RELAC should be directed to establish a web page on the Aqua America website to provide customers with preventive maintenance information and with contact information; and

(21) RELAC should be directed to continue its discussions with neighborhood cluster presidents, with Staff and Fairfax County given an opportunity to participate in such discussions.

Any additional questions, please let me know. By the way, only formal parties to the case (and there are only 3) may file comments on the Hearing Examiner's report. However, if customers want to forward their comments to us, we will consider including them, if appropriate.

Thanks,
Steve Sinclair

DC Asian Festival: Brown's Chapel on July 31 & August 1, 2010

WEBSITE

Fairway Apartments Redevelopment: FX Cty Approval Moved to September

This image simulates what the Fairway Apartments redevelopment would look like if you were hovering above Whole Foods.   More information on the county vote delay here.

Stream Restoration Exhibit, Walk, and Talk

Stream Restoration Exhibit, Walk, and Talk
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Noon–3:30 p.m.
Location: Starts at Reston Museum, Lake Anne Plaza

Join Mike Rolband of Wetland Studies and Solutions Inc (WSSI), for a walk and talk focusing on the next phase of the stream restoration program in Reston. The Reston Museum exhibit will show the importance and benefits of restoring streams in Reston and the progress of how streams are being restored. In addition, the exhibit will feature models representing an impaired urban stream and a restored urban stream.
At 1 p.m. visitors can join WSSI staff for a stream walk to view Reston streams pre- restoration near Hickory Cluster and post-restoration at 2 p.m. near The Glade Fire Ring.

For more information, contact Bethany Bezak at bbezak@wetlandstudies.com or call 703-679-5646.

Please share this notice with your neighbors!
Thanks,
Nicki Foremsky
Watershed Supervisor
Reston Association
703-435-6560
Nicki@reston.org

Hickory Cluster Proposed Stream Restoration

At Saturday's Hickory Cluster Annual Meeting, Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. made a presentation specific to our portion of the planned stream restoration project.

The proposed stream restoration will be paid by the Friends of Reston Fund administered by RA and thusly offers many free benefits for HC.

• Stream erosion problem will be corrected.
• Exposed sewer manhole will no longer be exposed.
• Exotic invasive plants in project area will be removed.
• Duck pond will be dredged. (Stream restoration may help restore the pond from a stagnant pool to a healthy ecosystem.)
• A new foot bridge will be built.
• New plantings of all native species will replace vegetation and trees removed. (see presentation pdf below for plant list.)

Hickory Cluster Easements Required
Two special HC easements will be needed for work to start on the restoration project. Both easements require a 60% of total residents "yes" vote.

Trees
On hand at the meeting was a 10 page handout of a draft Hickory Cluster Tree Inventory. Wetland Studies completed their tree inventory over the last few months (silver tags signify trees included in the survey.) Of the 517 trees included in the inventory, the project would require the removal of 114 most of which are sapling-small trees (97). 15 medium trees (18"-29") and two large trees (30"+). Wetlands Studies will replant trees and other vegetation with native species when work is complete.

The HC board will schedule walk-through(s) with Wetlands Studies folks for those interested in seeing what would be restored and which trees would be removed.

PDF of the Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. 5/22/10 presentation.

RELAC Rate Increase Hearing 5/3/10

The Fairfax County hearing addressing the proposed RELAC/Aqua Virginia rate hike occurred on May 3rd, 2010. Thank you to those who were able to attend the meeting and share comments & concerns with the State Corporation Commission.

If you did attend the meeting, you are encouraged to comment to this post (all others welcome too, of course). Below is a link to the HC president's comments presented at the hearing.

Comments of HC president Fred Schwartzendruber presented at the hearing.

Happy Spring 2010

Thanks to Robert Anderson for sharing a few Spring shots taken around HC as Spring sprung.

HC Annual Meeting at RCC/LA: May 22, 2010 at 9am

RELAC Start Time 2010

Note From Aqua Virginia...

With the steamy forecast for the weekend, we have the opportunity to utilize the changesyou have suggested for starting the system. I wanted to let you know that we have started circulating chilled water. From what I have heard, Vantage Hill is currently not receiving chilled water, they have been doing maintenance to their system and plan to turn their valves on Monday. We have been checking the mains and bleeding air from the system but there may still be some work to do. We would expect that by day end (5/1) that all areas should be receiving chilled water. Any customers who are having issues can call our customer service at 877-987-2782 to set up an appointment with a technician.

Gregory Odell
Chief Operating Officer
Aqua Virginia, Inc.

RELAC Meeting Notes

Notes on RELAC meeting at RA, March 22, 2010

The Reston Association hosted a public meeting on Monday evening, March 22nd 2010, to give RELAC customers an opportunity to meet with staff of the Fairfax County department which deals with utilities and cable companies to discuss the proposed RELAC rate increase. The county staff participating in the meeting are attorneys and utility specialists with considerable experience (though not experienced on district A/C, which is highly unusual) and their names and contact information have been posted on this blog. Please feel free to contact them direct to express any views you have regarding the RELAC rate increase.

As you know, several months ago Aqua Virginia filed a rate increase proposal with the State Corporation Commission in Richmond, which regulates utilities in Virginia. The average increase Aqua is asking for RELAC customers is about 56% over existing tariffs, which have not been changed since Aqua bought the company. The documents filed with the SCC indicate that RELAC is steadily losing money and a significant increase is needed to keep RELAC solvent. We were aware of their intent to file for an increase, as the General Manager of Aqua VA, Greg O'Dell, had met several times with a group of affected cluster presidents during the past year and mentioned that they were planning to request a “long overdue” rate increase.

At last Monday’s meeting, County staff explained that they were asked to become engaged in this case in response to concerns expressed by residents on the RELAC system. They have reviewed the materials provided by Aqua as part of the filing, and will be going to Richmond to participate in the April 20 hearing in front of an SCC examiner, and will present the County's views on the requested increase. The County has also arranged with the SCC to hold a second hearing in northern Virginia for the convenience of residents unable to go to Richmond. That meeting will be on the evening of May 3 at 7pm in the Fairfax Count Govt. Center. The Commissioners will review the transcripts of the two hearings prior to making their decision: in other words, the Richmond meeting is not “more important” than the Fairfax meeting and no decision will be made until after both have taken place and all oral and written comments have been reviewed. Aqua's management will only be present at the Richmond hearing, so anyone who is anxious to hear them in person would need to travel to Richmond. Speakers at the Richmond meeting will be under oath, and the County attorney will have the ability to cross-examine Aqua’s team in Richmond.

Based on their analysis of the RELAC accounts, the County staff feel that a slightly lower increase would be justified, since there were a couple of items included by Aqua in the rate calculation which the staff believe should not be included. However, the difference is actually quite small, and the bottom line is that County staff currently believe that RELAC will not be financially viable without a significant increase in revenues. Their analysis does not address the question why Aqua didn't apply for smaller increases before they got into such a deep hole, but simply arises from analysis of operating costs and revenues reported by Aqua.

A number of points were raised after the County staff had completed their explanation, on topics such as the future viability of RELAC, the possiblity of conversion to geothermal cooling, Aqua’s stated desire to sell RELAC in order to get out of the A/C business, asking RA to allow pilot projects to test alternatives, whether shortcomings in RELAC service are inherent in the nature of the system or due to poor maintenance by homeowners, etc. On most of these the County staff had no answers, but urged citizens to express their concerns on the record so that the SCC commissioners have a clear picture of the views of consumers before they rule on a rate increase. Dick Kennedy of Waterview Cluster asked whether service standards could be better defined and enforced, since much of the debate about RELAC is between people satisfied with present cooling service and others who are not, without much data available to inform the debate. The tariff as presently worded is not very clear on the definition of acceptable service (whether water temperature is measured at the plant or at the home, how much flow is required in order to provide adequate cooling, etc.). The County staff answered that this would be an important topic to raise for the commissioners.

In my view, this is probably the most important point coming out of Monday’s meeting: We can’t expect the SCC to engage on topics such as geothermal alternatives or to help Aqua look for a potential buyer. But we could reasonably request them to sharpen the definition of “acceptable service,” and to direct Aqua to introduce a monitoring program which establishes whether this regulated utility is meeting its legal obligation as a precondition for any rate increases.
-Fred Schwartzendruber

Trail Safety News & Information

NEWS FROM RA COMMUNICATIONS DEPT.
Two announcements addressing the recent safety concerns and Reston trail scare.

Reston Trail Safety 3/17/10 Incident Report
Fairfax County Announcement

Voluteers Needed for Watershed Project

Reston Association has a program to mark storm drains with tags indicating which watershed they drain to and asking people not to dump there. This is a chance for young people to earn community service credits for school and contributes to our environmental awareness.

Please contact:

Nicki Foremsky

Watershed Supervisor

Reston Association

703-435-6560

Nicki@reston.org

RELAC Rate Increase Meeting with Fairfax County Staff on 3/22/10

RELAC customers met with Fairfax county staff at Reston Association headquarters on Monday evening March, 22, 2010.

RELAC Rate Case no. PUE-2009-00129
SCC home Page

The RELAC case has not been heard yet but an interim rate increase was granted by VA to effect customers beginning with the 2010 season. Notification was sent to all customers in January detailing the rate increase. Should RELAC lose their case, they will be required to reimburse customers for the rate increase.

Fairfax County staff working on the case:
Marilyn McHugh, Assistant County Attorney

Steve Sinclair, Chief, Public Utilities Branch, Department of Cable and Consumer Services, 703-324-5955

Susan Hafeli, Utilities Analyst, Public Utilities Branch, Department of Cable and Consumer Services

Important dates coming up...
April 8
RELAC rebuttal deadline to answer concerns already addressed to them by Fairfax County.

April 13
Deadline for all written comments to be submitted. Online Submission Link Case #PUE-2009-00129

April 20
Initial hearing in Richmond, VA. RELAC will be make statements and be cross examined... Public statements welcome.

May 3
Public hearing at Fairfax County Government Center, Conference rooms 2 & 3 at 7pm. Public statements welcome.

REMINDER: Stream Restoration Meeting, Saturday, 3/27/10 9:30am-Noon @ Lake Anne Elementary

Hope to see a good Hickory Cluster turn out at the stream restoration meeting Saturday. Please take a moment and read HC Board president, Fred Swartzendruber's comments on what's at stake for HC. This and meeting details below. If you have concerns about how the stream restoration will effect the HC woods, duck pond and paths, this meeting is a must.

Thanks, Sara
==========================
In our situation in Hickory Cluster (shown on the Wetlands project map as part of the Colvin Run Watershed project), the erosion is also very advanced and is now threatening a sanitary (sewer) line which runs alongside the stream. Because of the threat to the sewer line, not doing anything is really not an option, therefore the issue is how to optimize a solution which

i) preserves our natural area,
(ii) stops the erosion process, and
(iii) costs the cluster as little as possible.

RA and the Wetland Studies & Solutions people are aware of our concerns and have promised to work with us to ensure the best possible outcome which satisfies their technical requirements as well as our commitment to retaining the wooded areas in Hickory. Since the Wetlands project would also finance replacement of our bridge and repair of the paths along the stream, this is a great opportunity for us provided we can find a workable compromise on the tree removal issue. In my view, if we decline to participate in the RA/Wetlands restoration project (by not voting to approve the required environmental easement) we will forego the 100% financing of their project but will eventually be forced into a less-sophisticated repair scheme because of the sewer issue, with unknown costs to the cluster and no guarantee as to the aesthetic outcome (since many trees are now undercut and in danger of falling, and realignment of the sewer line will inevitably also require major earth moving work).

The Virginia Tech letter illustrates that this is a complex issue, but the technical approach RA and Wetlands are using is considered leading-edge in the field. The letter does not mention the mitigation bank which would finance the project, which is a unique opportunity for the cluster to tackle some long-standing issues at no cost to ourselves. A conventional utility engineering solution forced on us by Fairfax Water might be much less attractive, so I urge all of you to read the materials we have posted and come prepared when the next outreach meeting takes place.

Thanks, Fred

HC Cluster Board President
==========================
Stream Restoration/Improvement Meeting
Colvin Run Watershed

Saturday, March 27, 2010
9:30 a.m. - Noon
Lake Anne Elementary School Cafeteria
11510 North Shore Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Lunch will be provided

You are invited to hear about Reston’s Stream Restoration Project in the Colvin Run watershed which is east of Reston Parkway and north of the Dulles Toll Road.

Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. will be presenting information about the history and purpose of the stream restoration project and the plans for this watershed. Time will be provided for questions and answers.

Please pass this information along to your neighbors!

For more information, contact Nicki Foremsky, RA’s Watershed
Supervisor at 703-435-6560 or Nicki@reston.org or visit the stream
restoration project website at http://reston.wetlandstudies.com or
www.reston.org.
=====

RELAC Rate Increase Mtg 3/22/10

Letter concerning the discussion & scheduled meeting re: RELAC rate hike:

Dear All,
I have had several conversations with Mr. Steve Sinclair, Chief – Public Utilities Branch (Fairfax County Department of Cable Communications & Consumer Protection), about the plans for Fairfax County to intervene in the proposed rate increase for RELAC as requested by Aqua Virginia. Attorneys from the County attorney’s Office and Mr. Sinclair have asked for RA’s assistance in arranging an initial information gathering session with users of the RELAC System. The session has been scheduled for Monday, 22 March @7:00 p.m. in RA’s Main Conference Room.

It is my understanding that Mr. Sinclair and others would like to hear your concerns and issues regarding the proposed rate increase, as well as your service related issues with the RELAC System. Additionally, they plan to explain the County’s role in the rate case; outline how the State Corporation Commission procedures are set up for the case; and walk you through the public witness process, which allows customers to provide comments at the public hearing on the rate case.

Mr. Sinclair and the others from the County are looking forward to meeting with as many of the RELAC users who can attend the session. Please reach out to others and inform them of the session.

Milton W. Matthews
Chief Executive Officer
Reston Association
703-437-9580
www.reston.org
RA Vision: Leading the model community where all can live, work, and play.

Stream Restoration Info Mtg: Lake Anne Elementary 3/27/10

There is another stream restoration community meeting schedules for March 27th.
They will be giving the same presentation as the January 30th meeting.

Stream Restoration/Improvement Meeting Colvin Run Watershed
Saturday, March 27, 2010 9:30 a.m. - Noon
Lake Anne Elementary School Cafeteria
11510 North Shore Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Lunch will be provided
You are invited to hear about Reston’s Stream Restoration Project in the Colvin Run watershed which is east of Reston Parkway and north of the Dulles Toll Road. Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. will be presenting information about the history and purpose of the stream restoration project and the plans for this watershed. Time will be provided for a questions and answers. Please pass this information along to your neighbors!

For more information, contact Nicki Foremsky, RA’s Watershed Supervisor at 703-435-6560 or Nicki@reston.org or visit the stream restoration project website at http://reston.wetlandstudies.com/ or http://www.reston.org/.

Reston Master Plan Mtg: 2/27/10 at 9am

COMMUNICATIONS DEPT. NOTICE

Reston Master Plan Special Study Public Meeting

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 at 9 a.m.

Langston Hughes Middle School Cafeteria

11401 Ridge Heights Road

The County has appointed a 25-member Task Force to oversee the Reston Master Plan Special Study (plus 25 alternates). The purpose of the study is to develop recommendations to amend the Reston Master Plan section of the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan. The first phase of the study is focusing on the three transit station areas in Reston: Herndon-Monroe, Wiehle Avenue, and Reston Parkway.The focus of the February 27 meeting will be to provide information about conditions in the Herndon Monroe Transit Station area and to receive public input. There will be subsequent meetings on conditions in the Wiehle Avenue and Reston Parkway station areas. Reston Association has set up a special section of our Web site, which provides updated information, links to the Fairfax County Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force Web site and a blog by RA Director Paul Thomas. He is RA's representative to the task force. He encourages your comment through his blog, Planning for the Future.

Reston Master Planning Special Study

Planning for the Future

Wetlands Studies Information & VT Letter

Unfortunately none of the HC Board members made it to the Jan. 30 information meeting. The Board is in touch with Nicki Foremski about the next opportunity. Meanwhile here are some materials for people to access. The Virginia Tech letter arises from concerns raised about the loss of trees in the Snakeden site, and though rather technical, Dr. Wynn makes it clear this is cutting-edgework which offers a chance of preventing long-term erosion which is already well advanced (also true for Lake Anne, unfortunately). VT will use this case study in an upcoming graduate course on stream restoration design.
Wetland Studies & Solutions, Inc Presentation from 1-30-10
Wetland Studies & Solutions, Inc Stream Restoration Brochure
Virginia Tech Letter

In our situation in Hickory Cluster (shown on the Wetlands project map as part of the Colvin Run Watershed project), the erosion is also very advanced and is now threatening a sanitary (sewer) line which runs alongside the stream. Because of the threat to the sewer line, not doing anything is really not an option, therefore the issue is how to optimize a solution which

(i) preserves our natural area,

(ii) stops the erosion process, and

(iii) costs the cluster as little as possible.

RA and the Wetland Studies & Solutions people are aware of our concerns and have promised to work with us to ensure the best possible outcome which satisfies their technical requirements as well as our commitment to retaining the wooded areas in Hickory. Since the Wetlands project would also finance replacement of our bridge and repair of the paths along the stream, this is a great opportunity for us provided we can find a workable compromise on the tree removal issue. In my view, if we decline to participate in the RA/Wetlands restoration project (by not voting to approve the required environmental easement) we will forego the 100% financing of their project but will eventually be forced into a less-sophisticated repair scheme because of the sewer issue, with unknown costs to the cluster and no guarantee as to the aesthetic outcome (since many trees are now undercut and in danger of falling, and realignment of the sewer line will inevitably also require major earth moving work).

The Virginia Tech letter illustrates that this is a complex issue, but the technical approach RA and Wetlands are using is considered leading-edge in the field. The letter does not mention the mitigation bank which would finance the project, which is a unique opportunity for the cluster to tackle some long-standing issues at no cost to ourselves. A conventional utility engineering solution forced on us by Fairfax Water might be much less attractive, so I urge all of you to read the materials we have posted and come prepared when the next outreach meeting takes place.

Thanks, Fred

HC Cluster Board President

Hickory Cluster Stream Restoration

Email note from Wetland Studies & Solutions, Inc sent in response to an inquiry from Jim Livingood in Block 1:

We are currently preparing the preliminary stream restoration plan for Hickory Cluster. The restoration in Hickory Cluster is complicated by two factors: 1) The stream pattern is currently instable with several sharp curves. This places increased stress on the stream banks, furthering erosion. 2) There are several sanitary sewer lines located within or crossing the stream. The stream has even eroded enough to expose manholes. Because of these two factors, restoration in Hickory Cluster will involve smoothing the curves to create a stable stream pattern and pulling the stream away from exposed utilities as best as possible with a minimum of tree impacts. At this point, we do not know the number of trees that will be cut or which trees specifically will be removed. This information will be calculated once we finish the first version of the preliminary plan. Then we will arrange a public meeting with the Cluster to discuss the alternatives that are possible, including any specific tree impacts. We expect to be able to have an interactive discussion(s) on the design and these types of potential impacts. As soon as we are close to asking for a meeting - the project Reach engineer, Russ Dudley, will make sure that you are copied on the request so that we are sure to have you included in the process.

Mike Rolband, Wetland Studies & Solutions, Inc

Blizzard of 2010

Hickory Cluster digs out from under another blizzard!

Thank you to all who pitched in to help each other clear the roads, cars and walkways. Great community effort!

If you need assistance removing snow, there are several teens who are out of school for the next few days and available to help. Many residents are available to help get to grocery stores, etc... Comment here or contact me or someone from the HC Board if you need assistance.

Also, if you have uploaded photos of the blizzard and you would like to share them, please send the url link to me and I'll publish here.

Sara & Isabel's photos

-Sara

This item was picked up by the Restonian & then via the Restonian on WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi radio show (approx. 25 minutes in).

Stream Restoration Meeting: Jan 30, 2010

Stream Restoration Meeting
Saturday, January 30, 2010: 9am-noon at Forest Edge Elementary.
Flyer for the Stream Restoration Meeting


Arlene Whittick
Neighborhood Outreach Specialist
Reston Association
1930 Isaac Newton Square
Reston, VA 20190-5093
Phone: 703-435-6503
Fax: 703-673-2040
Email: Arlene@reston.org

Fairway Apartments Expansion Plan

The owner of Fairway Apartments has been planning a major expansion/revitalization for that property for some time. There have been amendments to the plan as a result of meetings with the DRB and others. Whether you this is news to you or you have heard about this before, you will find the latest plans (below) of interest.

Fairway Expansion plans as of January 5, 2010.

Comments by David Edwards

UCP Expansion Landscaping Plan

Ralph Youngren and Greg Gallardo of our HC Board met with the UCP (United Christian Parish) folks, their landscape architect, and a Fairfax County arborist yesterday about their plans for plants to screen headlights.

Thank you to Ralph and Greg for attending this meeting!

From Greg:
The plan, shown on graphic, calls for native evergreen trees and shrubs (listed on the plan) to be planted along the edge of the parking lot. The county arborist would assist them in actual placement of the plants to optimize screening. He also suggested that the church have people attending night meetings to park facing the church, including backing into the parking spaces adjacent to Hickory Cluster. Neither the landscaper nor the arborist thought that planters would be a good solution as they'd require too much maintenance. They said that they'd consider planting a sample of the screening plants at some time, but couldn't think of any current example of such a planting that we could visit now.