Urban Stream Restoration on Tributaries of Accotink Creek

To mitigate the effects of urban development on tributaries of Accotink Creek within the City of Fairfax, Virginia, the City began a program to stabilize and restore the eroding stream channels. The design methods used in the stream restoration incorporate the design philosophies of bioengineering and stream morphology. In addition to providing stability to the stream, restoration created stream habitat, added to the riffle/pool complexity, expanded the riparian buffers, improved meander patterns, reduced sediment loads, and improved temperature conditions in the streams. The City has successfully completed restoration of 3.9 miles of stream channel.