Huntley Meadows Park Wetlands Restoration Begins April 17

The Fairfax County Park Authority will begin restoring the wetlands at Huntley Meadows Park on April 17, after more than 20 years of site monitoring and project planning.

The $3 million reconstruction project is funded by the Fairfax County Park bond and some grants, said Park Manager Kevin Munroe. The hemi-marsh consists of 50 percent open water and 50 percent vegetated water. During the 1980s, silt and debris that got into the park due to redevelopment projects in the area reduced the water depth and wildlife, Munroe explained.

“It caused us to lose some of the biodiversity that lived in the hemi-marsh,” Munroe said. “We want to bring back that unique community of wildlife.”

If it were left alone, the wetland would eventually become a forest or meadow. Because the wetland is the largest non-tidal wetland in Northern Virginia, it is especially important to preserve it, Munroe said.

The $3 million reconstruction project is funded by the park bond and some grants, Fairfax County Park Authority Public Information Officer Judy Pedersen said. The project consists of two crucial steps to manage fluctuating water levels and expand the wetland’s central pool from 23 acres to 46 acres.

The earthen bern has a vinyl sheet pulling center which will blend into the wetland. The water control system will help maintain water levels and fluctuate them.

“The key to a healthy hemi-marsh is fluctuating water levels,” Munroe explained. The water will be high in the fall and winter months, and it will be lowered during the spring and summer in order to allow plants and wildlife to grow and thrive.

Construction equipment will be visible in parts of the park's natural areas. As a result, there will be temporary trail closings and limited but necessary tree clearing. The project will begin on April 17 and end some time in December. Some cleanup tasks may last until March 2014.

According to Pedersen, park staff and volunteers will help move wildlife in the way of construction vehicles and equipment. Munroe said the beavers in the park will not be removed or harassed. 

“The beavers are an essential and central part of our management plan,” Munroe said.

Munroe will be leading monthly tours of the wetlands open to the public to describe the process. The tours will take place on the third Saturday of the month and visitors may call the park to confirm the date.

For more information about the wetlands restoration project, visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley-meadows-park/restorationproject.htm.