Erosion in Potomac Pond Branch, Fairfax County, Virginia, RPA Resource Protection Area stream 2025

Описание: a brief overview of erosion in an eastern-flowing stream in Fairfax County, VA. a tributary of the Potomac River section within Great Falls Park near historic Matildaville. the section of interest is in a natural valley cutting through the ridge above the Potomac Gorge, West of Old Dominion Drive (which is within Great Falls Park). The stream begins with intermittent but significant storm runoff from lot 0132 05 0004 (637 River Bend Road), lot 0132 05 0005 (633 River Bend Road) 0132 01 0029A (629 River Bend Road, and 0132 01 0025 (9029 Jackson Lane). The storm water converges onto lot 0132 01 0030 (no address, undeveloped lot). Here, a groundwater seep at the western side of lot 30 adds a slow but steady trickle to the stream. More stormwater enters the stream as it heads east toward Old Dominion Drive and the park. The stream contains many pieces of Piedmont metamorphic bedrock (mica schist and metagraywacke). The soil is loamy clay. There is erosion both within and outside of land designated a Resource-Protected area (RPA) by Fairfax, ostensibly to protect the Chesapeake Bay. The stream becomes RPA-designated on the Eastern side of lot 30 and continues as such through lot 0132 02020003 (541 Elizabeth Street) From there is straddles GFP (National Park Service) and lot 0132 01 0031 (9187 Old Dominion Dr.) before running under that road. There is no visible culvert at this juncture- it appears to filter through under the old electric railway bed. Most of the erosion is transpiring through lots 30 (me) and lot 02020003 (my next-door neighbor). We are both interested in repairing the erosion damage, stabilizing and slowing the stormwater, reducing sediment, and planting an earth-anchoring riparian flood shoulder to handle the intermittent heavy flow. We've read up extensively regarding how to do it right but could use some professional guidance, some help from the County if they are interested in protecting the River and Bay, and we guidance to secure the obligatory permits to work within the RPA areas, which we would like to do in partnership with Fairfax County, if possible.