Wetland Studies & Solutions, Inc. (WSSI), from Gainesville, Va. embarked in a stream restoration project in Fairfax, Va. that excelled at preserving the natural setting and meeting residents’ expectations for aesthetics.
The goal of the project was to provide adequate outfall for stormwater runoff from the proposed Chesterbrook Assisted Living Facility. Located in a forested area owned by the county’s park authority, the existing riprap-lined channel did not meet the stormwater runoff outfall requirements, and had been an eyesore for years.
WSSI engineers led by Mike Marsala, project manager, created a new pattern, profile, and cross sectional geometry for the site, while carefully considering the project’s impact on the surroundings. “Stream restoration is a fairly new practice, so we had to rely on a variety of philosophies and design approaches to achieve our goals,” said Mike.
Instead of transforming the natural setting to fit the project’s goals, WSSI engineers worked with the surrounding environment to reach a low-impact solution. They also had to keep in mind the erosion issues that accompany an unstable stream, as well as the safety concerns associated with the area’s high pedestrian traffic.
The WSSI engineers used a complex array of software to address the many facets of this stream restoration project. For example, GIS was employed to obtain the county base information, CAD helped them compile additional field-surveyed information and to develop a plan set, while HEC-RAS was used to create a hydraulic model of the stream.
The result is reduced disturbance to the riparian corridor, improved habitat conditions for the local animal and plant species with minimal clearing of vegetation, and better aesthetics.
Despite the dynamic and changing characteristics of such a project, the Chesterbrook site has been a success so far and has been praised by several local jurisdictions.
