TRAIL AND TRAILHEAD PARKING AREAS PROJECT PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

FOR THE MEADOWOOD SPECIAL RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREA

Log # ES920-06-01 

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

Based on the analysis of potential environmental impacts contained in the attached environmental 

assessment, I have determined that impacts are not expected to be significant. Therefore, the preparation 

of an environmental impact statement is not required. 

DECISION RECORD

It is my decision to approve the proposed action from the Trail and Trailhead Parking Areas Project Plan 

and Environmental Assessment for The Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). The 

proposed action includes measures to protect the environment, and reduce any potential impacts to less 

than significant levels. Therefore, no further mitigation measures are necessary. 

RATIONALE

Approval of the proposed action would provide for the safe and enjoyable public use of Meadowood 

SRMA. It would also provide for protection of natural and cultural resources in accordance with Federal, 

State, and local laws. 

APPROVAL

 /S/ August 4, 2006 

________________________________ ______________ 

Jeff McCusker Date

Acting Field Station Manager 

Eastern States-Lower Potomac Field Station 

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INTRODUCTION

This Environmental Assessment and Project Plan for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 

Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) analyzes the potential impacts of constructing 

new trails, trailhead parking areas, and a universally accessible fishing dock. Some of these developments 

were outlined in the Meadowood Farm Proposed Planning Analysis Environmental Assessment, 

November 2002 (PA/EA) and subsequent Integrated Activity Management Plan/Environmental 

Assessment, September 2004 (IAMP). Although these documents provided a general comparison and 

analysis of the management direction the BLM has taken with management and development of the 

property, analysis of detailed site-specific impacts was deferred to later, more detailed project plans. This 

document is the first of those project plans. The proposed facilities would improve access to the general 

public for hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, nature observation, and control line airplane flying. 

PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION

The proposed action would provide on-the-ground implementation of IAMP decisions made by the BLM 

to allow for public recreation and enjoyment of the natural resources of the property. Specifically, this 

document addresses the provision of access to the general public for fishing, nature observation, and trailbased activities. 

CONFORMANCE WITH EXISTING PLANS

The proposed action is designed to conform to the PA/EA. 

DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES

Proposed Action. This alternative would implement the decisions made in the November 2002 PA/EA 

Decision Record by managing the site for non-motorized recreation, and maximizing opportunities for 

visitors to appreciate and enjoy the natural and cultural resources at Meadowood. This alternative would 

focus on keeping development as much as possible within the disturbance already created by existing 

roads, trails, and informal parking areas. 

To accommodate these uses, BLM identifies the following (see Map 1 for Location): 

Map ID 1 Construction of an equestrian trailhead parking area at the Mustang trailhead on Harley 

Road. This parking lot would be surfaced with gravel, and have an area of 80 ft x 150 ft to 

accommodate four vehicles with horse trailers (45 ft allowed each) and eight cars; 

Map ID 2 Construction of a four-car parking lot at the existing driveway entrance to Meadowood 

West parcel on Belmont Boulevard. This parking lot would also be surfaced with gravel, 

and would make use of an existing asphalt driveway at the site. The total dimensions of

this lot would be 27 ft x 71ft including the existing 22 ft x 25 ft asphalt pad; 

Map ID 3 Construction of a four-car trailhead parking lot at the existing driveway entrance to the 

Meadowood West parcel control line fields at 10207 Old Colchester Road. This parking lot 

would also be surfaced with gravel and would make use of the existing driveway at the site. 

The total dimensions of this lot would be 27 ft x 70 ft. 

Map ID 4 Construction of a two-car trailhead parking lot at the existing asphalt driveway on Old 

Colchester Road. This parking lot would also be surfaced with gravel and would make use 

of an existing 22 ft x 25 ft asphalt driveway at the site. The total dimensions of this lot 

would be 27 ft x 45 ft. 

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Map ID 5 Construction of a wayside information kiosk on Gunston Road immediately south of the 

Gunston Elementary school. This kiosk would serve as the portal for all the agencies on 

Mason Neck and would have parking for 10 passenger vehicles and two RV/trailer spaces, 

including one van-accessible space. The site would be lighted and would feature an 

unstaffed information kiosk approximately 10 ft in diameter. It would also serve as a 

trailhead for a new trail to be constructed to access the Meadowood West parcel. A 

landscaped “rain garden” storm water retention basin installed at the wayside kiosk site 

would capture and hold storm water runoff on the site to slow infiltration and trap 

sediments and incidental petroleum products from parked vehicles. To avoid disrupting 

reproductive activities of wildlife at the Gunston Road Multiagency kiosk site, habitat 

modification due to clearing, grubbing, and earthmoving at the multiagency kiosk 

construction site would take place between July 16 and April 30, unless onsite surveys 

reveal no disturbance of nesting or breeding activity would take place. 

Map ID 6 Construction of a bicycle/pedestrian trail 5 ft wide and approximately 3500 ft long with 

natural/crushed stone aggregate material surface. The trail would run from the wayside 

kiosk, roughly parallel to South Branch Creek, to the main east-west trail that passes 

through Meadowood West. This trail would also include an environmental education loop 

trail approximately 500 to 800 ft long, to be planned and developed in conjunction with the 

Gunston Elementary school. 

Map ID 7 Construction of an equestrian/pedestrian trail 5 ft wide and approximately 3700 ft long with 

a natural/aggregate material surface. This trail would run from the Wood Thrush Trail to 

Belmont Boulevard through the narrow portion of the property, effectively connecting the 

East and West parcels. 

Map ID 8 Construction of a pedestrian/bicycle trail 5 ft wide and approximately 3400 ft long along 

the ridge just west of South Branch Creek, to the confluence with Giles Run, then back to 

the trail planned to circle the west meadows. 

Map ID 9 Construction of a pedestrian trail 3 ft wide and approximately 1700 ft long from the west 

meadows access roughly parallel to Giles Run. 

Map ID 10 Construction of a 6 ft wide compacted stonedust wheelchair-accessible trail from the 

parking lot at the environmental education center building at 10705 Belmont Blvd to the 

nearby fishing pond. 

Map ID 11 Construction of an 8 ft x 40 ft fishing dock supported by driven pilings extending along the 

southwest corner of the pond described above. 

The proposed action incorporates the following practices and guidelines. 

1. BLM would plant replacement trees and shrubs as part of the landscaping. BLM would reseed the 

edges of trails and parking lots using native grasses, forbs, shrubs, and woody plants. 

2. A qualified natural resource specialist / biologist would inspect parking and trailhead sites prior to

clearing, grubbing, and earthmoving construction activities to identify any active or critical wildlife

nesting or den sites. 

3. BLM would protect all disturbed areas with a layer of straw, and reseed promptly. To control the 

invasive species on the property, BLM would aggressively carry out early detection, mechanical 

control, replacement, and monitoring at every site of surface disturbance. BLM would create 

additional landscaping at the kiosk site using native grasses, forbs, shrubs, and woody plants. 

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4. BLM would plan trails so that no healthy trees larger than 10 inches in diameter would be 

removed, no trail grades exceed 15%, and all trails are out sloped 2-3%. BLM would take all 

vegetation removed from trails and either mulch it or distribute it evenly on the forest floor at least 

10 feet from the edge of the cleared trail corridor.

5. As stated in the Meadowood Activity Plan, all potential ground-disturbing activities (undertakings) 

would be considered under the authorities of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 

of 1966, as amended (NHPA). As such, field surveys, site evaluations, and mitigating potential 

Adverse Effects to historic properties and sites would be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Within the context of this EA, the BLM-Eastern States Cultural Heritage Program would review 

the results of archaeological surveys and determine if the use and maintenance of the trail corridors 

could have an adverse impact on known or suspected historic properties. If the BLM archaeologist

determines, after studying the survey data, that there is a potential for adverse impacts, then BLM 

would reroute trails so as not to adversely affect other resources, while maintaining trail standards. 

If this is not possible, then an archaeologist would do evaluations to determine the significance of 

the sites located within trail corridors, and BLM would consult with the Virginia Department of 

Historic Resources (DHR) to seek their concurrence of the agency's opinion regarding the potential 

for effects, prior to initiating ground-disturbing activities. 

6. The BLM would construct these facilities during the next four years using contractors, BLM 

personnel, volunteers, and partners as funds and staffing allow. Construction in Northern Virginia 

can take place throughout the year, but precipitation and temperature patterns can cause delays and 

setbacks, with freeze-thaw cycles in December - March creating the biggest constraints. Because 

of fairly even precipitation throughout the year, all construction activities must incorporate erosion 

control measures to protect surface water quality at all times of the year. For parking areas, 

workers would use construction equipment such as tractors, graders, and rollers to remove all 

organic materials from parking lot and trail surfaces to a minimum depth of four inches; however,

workers might need to grade more earth to achieve slopes of 1% to 5% to allow for proper 

drainage. BLM would use the removed material as fill in other locations within this project plan to 

achieve proper drainage. The construction of the accessible fishing pier in the Belmont pond 

would require the use of a tracked excavator to clear, grade, and grub approximately 1200 square 

feet of land, including 60 linear feet of pond shoreline for installation of the fishing dock. It would 

also require a pile driver to set supporting piers for the dock. 

7. BLM would use the vegetation cleared at project sites either as onsite mulch for use in landscaping 

or for spreading onto forest floors to decompose. BLM would make every effort to remove 

invasive weeds from construction sites during this process. For trail construction, workers would 

use a combination of small mechanical equipment, such as mini-excavators, trail dozers, compact 

tractors, and hand labor. 

8. All parking areas would be surfaced with aggregate to allow water to filter into the ground. BLM 

would use sediment traps and fences made of filter fabric during construction of the parking and 

wayside kiosk areas to minimize or eliminate any offsite impacts from disturbed soils eroding and 

being carried into waterways. Workers would apply straw to disturbed areas, to protect bare soils 

and allow for seeds to germinate. The amount of disturbance during construction would be the 

minimum necessary to accomplish objectives. BLM would grade disturbed areas and then reseed 

promptly upon completion of the grading. 

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9. The BLM planning team would locate all proposed new trails to avoid proximity to streams, and 

plot new trail sections to stay at least 50 feet from stream channels. Further, the planning team

would design all stream crossings to minimize impacts to stream banks through construction of 

bridges, installation of culverts, placement of rip rap boulders, geotextile, and hardening 

approaches to stream banks. BLM does not expect any significant sediment from trail construction 

or use to enter stream channels, because dense vegetation between the proposed disturbances and 

the receiving waters acts to slow any surface runoff, allowing sediments to dissipate and surface 

runoff to filter into the soil before it enters receiving streams. 

10. Each parking area would be identified with standard BLM signs similar to those already found at 

Meadowood, and sized for visibility on the road which the site is located, not to exceed 4 feet high 

by 8 feet wide. There would also be a wood oak board fence similar to those existing at 

Meadowood around each parking area to act as a vehicle barrier, and guide visitors to trails, and an 

information board with information about the site and events, visitor use rules, contact information, 

and information about not disturbing cultural resources. 

No Action Alternative. This would be a continuation of current management, and provides a baseline to 

which other alternatives can be compared. The Meadowood SRMA would continue operations without 

developed trailheads and parking areas for access; use and benefits to the public would be limited. 

Maintenance such as grading, pruning, and culvert cleaning on existing trails would continue, to minimize 

erosion of trail surfaces, provide for safe use, and protect water quality. Visitors would continue to park 

on State-owned rights-of-way to access facilities and the trails in the Meadowood East parcel. The West 

parcel would be accessed from the driveway at 10207 Old Colchester Road; however, no formal parking 

area would be established. 

Other Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis. The BLM considered developing 

a parking lot on Gunston Road at the entrance to the pond. This element was dropped from the proposed 

action because of concerns voiced by the public about overdevelopment of the site, the amount of high 

speed traffic on Gunston Road, disturbance of bird and insect populations near the pond, and the proximity 

of the proposed parking lot at the Mustang trail. 

AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

The affected environment for this proposal was more fully described in the PA/EA document. BLM 

determined that the following critical elements were not present or present and not affected by either 

alternative: Air Quality, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, Prime or Unique Farmlands, T&E 

Species, Hazardous or Solid Waste, Wilderness, Environmental Justice, Native American Religious 

Concerns, and Coastal Zone.

The following critical elements are present within the area affected by the alternatives and could 

potentially be affected: Wetlands/Riparian Zones, Water Quality, and Noxious and Invasive Weeds. 

Vegetation

The affected environment for the Meadowood Parking lots can be described as mostly open field and 

weedy areas dominated by tall fescue and other grasses planted to cover open or disturbed areas next to 

Harley Rd., Gunston Rd., Belmont Rd. and Old Colchester Rd. 

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The kiosk area is presently covered with sweet gum, white oak, American holly, Virginia pine, and beech 

trees. The proposed trails would run almost entirely through the forest interior, which contain the species 

above, as well as Virginia pine, black locust, honey locust, mountain laurel, various species of maple, and 

other hardwoods common to Northern Virginia forests. Forest traversed by the new trails is in early-to-mid 

seral stages of development. The vegetation condition indicates a history of intensive logging and soil 

compaction in sites so that natural regrowth to mixed hardwood forest is often incomplete, resulting in 

more long-term pockets of short stature trees and shrubs or pockets of Virginia pine. Wet sites in 

particular are prone to invasion and coverage by Japanese stilt grass and Japanese honeysuckle. Sunlit 

sites are also covered by patches of Chinese lespedeza and Japanese honeysuckle, along with native plants 

typical of early stages of old field succession recovery. The natural trend of the vegetation, if left

undisturbed, is to proceed toward a mature mixed hardwood forest. However, previous human activities, 

including logging, introduction of non-native species, and other vegetation or soil manipulations has set 

back or altered the progression of succession in both small and large patches all over the Western parcel. 

Left unmanaged, even the grassy areas proposed for parking lots would return to some level of the mixed 

hardwood forest. On the other hand, long-term management as a hayfield or a grass/shrub right-of-way 

maintains the sites as weedy early seral stage sites.

Wildlife

Deer, small mammals, amphibians, and birds are abundant within the Meadowood SRMA. Deer 

populations have grown considerably since BLM acquired the property. The Meadowood subpopulation 

of deer residing on Mason Neck are part of a population that is more than three times that of the objective 

deer population for the area. The objective (15 deer per square mile) is largely to help minimize vehicle / 

deer collisions and to protect habitat for other wildlife from over-consumption by deer. Observations of 

twinning and the overall health of individual deer indicate that the population as a whole is healthy, but the 

actual trend is unknown. 

Because diversity (up to more than 30 species) and numbers of songbirds have increased since BLM 

acquired the property, BLM assumes that the diversity of species of neotropical migratory land birds is 

increasing at Meadowood. However, as a small fraction of the species’ populations in the Mason Neck / 

Northern Virginia Area, their use of Meadowood is not statistically significant enough to provide insight 

into the health or trends or these populations. 

Cultural Resources

Beginning in 2004, the BLM entered into a cooperative agreement with the Fairfax County Park Authority 

- Archaeology Program, to complete a comprehensive, Phase I, archaeological survey across the 800-acre 

BLM tract. The intensive field methods employed by the County Archaeology Program met or exceeded 

those prescribed by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the Secretary of the Interior. The 

proactive surveys identified several archaeological, historical, and cultural resources, and the survey team

has filed all sites, forms, and data with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

The Eastern States Cultural Heritage Program Archaeological Program conducted surveys of the Mustang 

trailhead site and the Gunston Road Wayside kiosk site. These surveys identified no new or previously 

recorded archaeological or historic properties at either of these sites. BLM-Eastern States provided an 

opinion that undertaking the construction of Mustang Trailhead and Wayside Kiosk would result in No 

Historic Properties Affected, as per 36 CFR 800.11(d). The Virginia Department of Historic Resources 

concurred with the agency opinion. 

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Noxious and Invasive Weeds

The BLM has identified the following invasive species within the areas of the proposed action: Japanese 

stiltgrass, Japanese honeysuckle, Tree-of-Heaven, Chinese lespedeza, Russian olive, Johnson grass (Statelisted noxious weed), and barnyard grass. Although there are other invasive exotic plants on the property, 

these species have the greatest potential for increasing from disturbance in the project areas. 

Water Quality

The perennial streams on the Meadowood SRMA fall within the Mill Branch watershed and the Kane 

Creek watershed. These watersheds are two of only three watersheds in the County that are designated for 

“Watershed Protection” - a designation given to only the healthiest watersheds which are found in areas 

with low development density and contain streams with healthy biological communities. No systematic 

water quality monitoring program is yet in place for any streams at Meadowood. 

The Western parcel, which is located within the southern portion of the Mill Branch watershed, is bordered 

to the southeast by Giles Run before its confluence with Massey Creek. Giles Run receives drainage from

the Lorton landfill, new construction, Route 1, and Interstate 95. As a result, Giles Run is greatly 

impacted by a heavy sediment load. 

South Branch runs through the Western parcel. It is currently impacted at its headwaters by storm water 

surface runoff from Gunston Road and an adjacent paved elementary school parking lot, as well as the 

upstream landfill and a water treatment facility associated with the school. The remainder of South 

Branch flows within forested valleys and lowlands and receives little drainage from disturbed areas. 

Unauthorized ATV use in this area has caused increased erosion and siltation, resulting in poorer water 

quality. 

The watershed divide or topographic high point between the Mill Branch and Kane Creek watersheds 

roughly follows Belmont Boulevard, which also divides the Western and Eastern Meadowood parcels. 

Thompson Creek, on the Eastern parcel, lies within the Kane Creek watershed. The primary stream in the 

Eastern parcel, Thompson Creek drains through forests and wetlands into Belmont Bay. 

Visual Resources

The entire Meadowood SRMA is designated as a Visual Resource Management Class III area, which 

means that BLM should plan development to partially retain the existing character of the landscape. The 

level of change to the characteristic landscape should be moderate. The landscape within and surrounding 

the Meadowood SRMA consists of tree-lined residential and rural roads, hardwood forest, and open fields. 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 

This section provides the evaluation of direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of the 

proposed action. Impacts might be to society, the economy, or the biological or physical environment. 

Any issues or concerns raised by BLM staff, other agencies, or the public are discussed below. This 

section also discusses any measures to mitigate the environmental impacts that resulted from those 

concerns. Finally, this section identifies any residual impacts to the environment, despite application of

mitigation measures. 

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Vegetation

Proposed Action 

Impacts 

New trail development would clear mostly understory vegetation (including small trees and shrubs) from

approximately two acres of forest. Parking lot development would remove approximately one acre of 

shrubs and grasses from the project site. All new parking area and trail development would require the 

removal of small trees, ground cover vegetation including grasses and shrubs, and associated soils. 

The Gunston Road kiosk site would require clearing approximately 1.7 acres of deciduous forest along 

Gunston Road (approximately 70 - 80 trees over ten inches in diameter) at this location to make room for 

the construction of the parking lot and kiosk. The removal of vegetation in this area would not change the 

visual character of the setting, as a forest of the same composition would remain as a backdrop for the site. 

Loss of forest canopy and hardening of the forest floor with the parking area would result in water draining 

from these areas in large storm events where it had infiltrated the forest before construction. The 

stormwater management measures described in the proposed action would capture this increased water 

flow. 

No Action Alternative 

Impacts 

BLM would endeavor to keep Meadowood in its current state. BLM would continue to maintain trails by 

hand-pruning vegetation to trail edges, and clearing saplings as they emerge along trail shoulders. BLM 

would continue to maintain pond vegetation to eliminate woody vegetation on dams and fishing access 

areas, and remove invasive species on pond shorelines. 

Wildlife

Proposed Action 

Impacts 

The construction of the parking areas and trails might cause temporary displacement (during daylight 

hours when construction takes place, generally over a period of several weeks at each site) of wildlife in 

the immediate vicinity of project sites. At this time, there are no projected significant impacts to wildlife 

by construction or increased human use. BLM and partners would monitor the displacement of wildlife

due to construction and subsequent visitor use. 

No Action Alternative 

Impacts 

Current impacts to the affected environment and mitigation measures are identified in the Meadowood 

PA/EA November 2002 under the proposed action alternative (alternative 3). Existing trails and parking 

areas identified in the plan would have a similar temporary displacement of wildlife due to human use, 

however not due to the construction activities proposed here. There would be no significant impacts.

Cultural Resources

Proposed Action 

Impacts 

There would be a possibility of damaging subsurface cultural resources during trail and parking area 

construction, based on the location of cultural sites identified by Fairfax county archaeologists working for 

the BLM. There would also be a possibility that visitors might find and disturb cultural artifacts on the 

ground along trails. Illegal artifact hunters might use metal detectors and excavate historic sites in order to 

find and steal artifacts. Because of the presence of BLM staff and the public onsite, and the difficulty of 

locating and excavating these artifacts, these impacts would not be significant. 

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No Action Alternative 

Impacts 

Current impacts to cultural resources and mitigation measures are identified in the Meadowood PA/EA 

November 2002 under the proposed action alternative (alternative 3). They would be essentially the same

as for the proposed action, although on fewer trails. Over the past three years that BLM has managed the 

property, there have been no cases or evidence of visitors disturbing cultural resources. 

Invasive Exotic Species

Proposed Action 

Impacts 

Trail and trailhead development would create disturbances and openings for invasive species recruitment, 

if reseeding is not carried out promptly. Invasive exotic species covering the disturbed soil would crowd 

out native plants and native plant diversity, and provide poor quality food and cover for wildlife. 

Mitigation 

 Should there be a need to use other means to control invasive exotic species (beyond that identified in the 

proposed action), that method of control would require a separate environmental assessment and pesticide 

use permit. 

No Action Alternative 

Current impacts to the affected environment and mitigation measures for Invasive Exotic Species are 

identified in the Meadowood PA/EA November 2002 under the proposed action alternative (alternative 3). 

Visual Resources

No elements of the proposed action would result in more than minor changes in the existing landscape 

character, and no contrast rating worksheets are required. 

Cumulative Impacts

Proposed Action 

The zone of influence of this proposal is defined as the two watersheds covered by Meadowood. 

Surrounding land use is not expected to change from its rural/residential character because of current 

zoning, based on a lack of sewage treatment in the area, and the limited effectiveness of septic systems. 

The PA/EA calls for maintaining roughly the same developmental “footprint” at Meadowood in terms of

vegetative cover, except for five acres of forest clearing needed for new trails and parking areas. Future 

plans call for developing a 10 to15 vehicle parking area at the Belmont Blvd Environmental Education 

Center, which would remove an additional one-half to one acre of forest, and several more trails in the 

West parcel for bicycle and pedestrian use. There are also plans for a riding arena and horse adoption 

facility in the existing fields in the eastern part of Meadowood, and, if constructed, they are planned for 

already cleared areas. BLM expects no significant cumulative impacts from the proposed action. The 

residual impacts of carrying out the proposed action are the loss of approximately 3.7 acres of forest cover 

of the 640 acres present at Meadowood, in combination with the potential of 1 acre lost due to future 

parking area development at Meadowood. This would not be significant. 

The potential for the most significant cumulative impact would be on water quality, if poor construction or 

lack of maintenance of the trails and parking areas in the future leads to soil erosion. BLM would 

construct and maintain all trails to BLM standards to prevent this from occurring. 

No Action Alternative 

Current impacts to the affected environment and mitigation measures are identified in the Meadowood 

PA/EA November 2002 under the proposed action (Alternative 3). There would be no residual impact 

from the loss of 3.7 acres of forest cover due to implementation of this plan, nor any cumulative impacts. 

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COORDINATION AND CONSULTATION

Below is a list of consultation and coordination activities carried out by BLM Lower Potomac Field 

Station (LPFS) staff: 

January - February 2006: Jeff McCusker met with seven residents who live directly adjacent to the 

proposed parking areas to discuss the proposal and gather any concerns. Most residents had no concerns, 

although one was concerned about a loss of privacy due to trail users near her property boundary, and 

another due to development of a parking area across the road from their house. 

February 7, 2006: Jeff McCusker and Theresa Jefferson, Environmental Education Specialist, met with 

teachers and staff at the Gunston elementary school to discuss the possibilities for an environmental 

education trail on BLM property, and other elements of the proposed action. The school staff is very 

supportive of an environmental education loop trail. 

February 14, 2006: Jeff McCusker and Jinx Fox held a tour with engineers and planners from the Fairfax 

Storm Water Management Agency and Fairfax County Public Schools to look at stream conditions in 

South Branch, and storm water management issues at the proposed kiosk site near Gunston Elementary 

School. Issues centered on the control of runoff at the kiosk site by the installation of a “rain garden” to 

capture and hold precipitation as well as remediation of existing erosion from the school parking area 

runoff. 

February 14, 2006: The scope of the proposed action was introduced at a Friends of Meadowood (FOM) 

meeting at the LPFS office on February 14, 2006, attended by twelve FOM members. They raised 

concerns about a parking lot proposed on Gunston Road near the fishing pond. 

March 14, 2006: Jeff McCusker met with Asad Rouhi, environmental engineer for the Northern Virginia 

Soil and Water Conservation District, to plan storm water management features for the proposed kiosk 

project. 

March 15, 2006: A public scoping meeting held at the LPFS office was attended by 19 people, including 

members of the FOM, the Mason Neck Horse Coalition, the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia, the 

Northern Virginia Control Line (NVCL), boarders, and interested members of the public. Issues raised 

included opposition to the proposed location of parking next to the pond on Gunston Road. Several 

individuals stated that parking along Gunston Road currently creates a hazard, and that the proposed 

parking area would have adverse impacts to the pond environment. Alternative locations were discussed 

including using the proposed parking on Harley Road. Additional topics of discussion included the results 

of a breeding bird survey conducted in Meadowood West by William & Mary University to identify 

potential impacts from control line flying and location of proposed trails and parking.

LIST OF PREPARERS

Jeff McCusker, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern States Lower Potomac 

Field Station 

Jinx Fox, Natural Resources Specialist, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern States Lower Potomac Field 

Station 

Geoffrey Walsh, Wildlife Management Biologist, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern States 

Troy Ferone, Archaeologist, Bureau of Land Management Milwaukee Field Office 

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