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Courtesy of The Washington Post, January 30, 2003
© 2003 The Washington Post Company
Occoquan Growth Presents Challenges
The increase in population of the area within the Occoquan watershed, especially Centreville and Chantilly, has created concerns about managing the quality of the water supply for the future.
Scientists worry that development leads to more storm water runoff from paved surfaces, which flows into streams and creeks in such volume and at such speed as to cause erosion and threaten aquatic life.
POPULATION
1970 -- 90,200
1980 -- 138,000
1990 -- 260,000
2000 -- 363,000
Population within the watershed includes parts of Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William counties.
Source: Northern Virginia Regional Commission.
Within the area where Fairfax officials limited development in 1982, the overall health of six of eight streams is rated "excellent." But outside that area, only five of 11 streams are rated "excellent" or "good." Three are rated "fair" and three are "poor." The worst:
• Flatlick Branch 1 (between Route 50, Route 645 [Stringfellow Road] and Route 657 [Walney Road])
• Flatlick Branch 2 (between Route 28 and Route 620 [Braddock Road])
• Cub Run 3 (between Route 29 and Interstate 66)
Source: New Millenium Occoquan Watershed Task Force