The central wetland at Huntley Meadows Park was slowly but steadily filling in with silt and debris, which reduced water depth and wildlife habitat. To restore Northern Virginia’s largest non-tidal wetland to its 1980s condition, and provide long-term habitat for a community of locally rare plants and animals, the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Huntley Meadows Park community decided to engage in wetland restoration. Fort Myer was hired to construct an earthen berm to hold back water and a water control structure to manage water levels. Using vinyl sheet piling, our skillful crew accurately ensured vertical alignment using templates and guide frames. Our team also expanded the wetland into the surrounding forest and created five deeper habitat pools to provide year-round wildlife habitat.

 

Project Significance

Huntley Meadows Park is a highly prized and fiercely protected natural resource in a highly urbanized area. Due to the location of the park and approximately 200,000 visitors it receives each year, it was imperative that the project was accepted by the public. Not only was the project accepted, it has already received positive reviews and awards. The project team was recognized for demonstrating excellence and commitment to tree preservation and replacement in Fairfax County. The project also won Best Protected Environmentally Sensitive Site and Fort Myer’s Garen Khoranian received the Outstanding Site Superintendent Award.