Ceremony Celebrates Restored Wetland at Huntley Meadows

After 22 years of planning, 60 public meetings and a cutting-edge construction project, the wetlands at Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria have been restored. The Fairfax County Park Authority hosted a grand opening at the park on Saturday, May 10. County officials joined people involved with the project and members of the local community to cut the ribbon on the completed $3 million wetland restoration project.

To restore the wetland to its 1980s condition and provide long-term habitat for a community of locally rare plants and animals, the Fairfax County Park Authority decided to engage in wetland restoration. Construction started in April 2013 and was completed last month. The project was funded by park bonds and grants and managed by Fairfax County Park Authority staff.

The five primary aspects of the project are:

1) An earthen berm to hold back and raise water
2) A water control structure to manage seasonally fluctuating water levels
3) Expansion of the wetland into the surrounding forest
4) Five deeper habitat pools to provide year-round aquatic wildlife habitat
5) Numerous brush shelters and basking logs to provide additional wildlife habitat.

Huntley Meadows Park is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd in Alexandria. Project details can be found at Wetland Restoration Project.