Stormwater Capital Improvement Projects

The Department of Environmental Engineering is responsible for the overall implementation of the county’s stormwater permit. The permit authorizes the county to discharge stormwater from the storm sewer system and requires the implementation of programs, such as the Capital Improvement Program, to manage stormwater and reduce pollutants discharged to local streams, creeks and lakes. The projects are selected based on a cost-benefit analysis and assist the county in meeting the permit requirements.

spill way photo

Regional Stormwater Facility LTC 20/25 - LABYRINTH SPILLWAY 

  1. Falling Creek Reservoir Restoration
  2. Pocoshock Creek Restoration


falling creek project area map


Control Measure: BMP Retrofit

Status: Plan Development

Completion: 2021

Coordinates: 37.458460/-77.485063       

Receiving Stream: Falling Creek

Funding Year: 2017


Description

The Falling Creek Reservoir Restoration Project is the largest planned component of the county’s long-term Chesapeake Bay TMDL strategy. The Reservoir has a watershed drainage area of about 34,000 acres, and two major tributaries, Falling Creek and Pocoshock Creek, enter the upstream end of the reservoir.  The reservoir is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and water released through the dam drains to the James River, which is located about 2.5 miles east of the reservoir.  Although the reservoir was originally constructed in 1951 for water supply storage, it has not been used for this purpose since 1985. It is estimated that about 84 million gallons (MG), or 28% of the original storage volume has been lost due to sedimentation. Continued sedimentation at the average historical rate of about 1.5MG per year contributes to additional degradation and reduces future potential pollutant reduction of the reservoir.

The drainage area into Falling Creek Reservoir was mostly developed before any stormwater management requirements were established. The reservoir restoration project is to enhance the reservoir’s efficiency for removal of nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended solids in order to improve water quality, downstream and in the Chesapeake Bay.

Updates

The project consists of a physical restoration of the reservoir with the construction of a forebay and berm and the removal of 120,000 cubic yards of sediment. Construction is planned to initiate in the fall of 2019 and continue for approximately 2 years.

View a PDF of the Project Site Plan

View the Falling Creek Reservoir Restoration Open House Presentation