Leigh Meadow/Towlston Basin Stream Restoration and BMP Retrofits: A Tale of Constraints, Creativity, and Collaboration
Under a Stream Stabilization/Restoration, Environmental, Permitting & Ancillary Services Basic Ordering Agreement, Stantec was awarded a Task Order by the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) to provide Stream Restoration and Stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) Retrofit Design and Construction Administration services for the Leigh Meadow / Towlston Basin project in Fairfax County, Virginia.
This project proposed the restoration of approximately 1,663 linear feet (LF) of stream and the retrofit of two stormwater management basins to address stability concerns and improve water quality within a highly urbanized portion of Vienna, Virginia. One of the retrofits was a Regenerative Storm Conveyance (RSC) system, and the other was a sand filter – only the second one built for Fairfax County. Through proactive collaboration amongst DPWES, Stantec, Environmental Quality Resources, L.L.C. (EQR), two homeowner associations, Carroll County Maryland, and several other stakeholders, innovative, site-specific solutions were explored and implemented to achieve a feasible design which satisfied key project goals.
In this presentation, we will discuss the multi-year process of community interaction, project challenges and constraints, and the evolution of the design objectives. We will feature the collaborative process throughout the project, including application of alternative design and construction approaches influenced by lessons learned from previous projects in Carroll County, Maryland, and Fairfax County, Virginia, and summarize takeaways from the project following construction.