Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Lake Barcroft, VA

At a virtual community meeting Feb. 15, Fairfax County officials explained why the dredging project that had been proposed to save Lake Accotink is no longer feasible.

County public works staff are recommending that “Lake Accotink not be dredged due to significant community and environmental impacts and excessive costs.”

A new analysis found the project would cost $395 million, a huge increase over the $30 million price tag projected earlier. That cost includes maintenance dredging every five years, as well as an initial dredge.

An in-person meeting covering the same information will be held this evening, at 7 p.m., at Kings Glen Elementary School in Springfield.

A final decision on the future of Lake Accotink will be made by the Board of Supervisors. The new recommendation, along with input from the public, will be presented to the BoS this spring after the public comment period ends on April 1.

Comments can be emailed to F515@Publicinput.com. A survey will be posted Friday on the project website.

A big disappointment

“We’re very disappointed. We’ve been working on this project for a lot of years,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Jeffrey McKay.

“There are folks angry about what they’ve heard. I’m angry, too,” said Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw. “We can’t sugarcoat it. The prognosis for this project is not good. The amount of sediment and cost is not a matter of opinion.”

Walkinshaw addressed a rumor that the county will sell the lake to a developer. “That is not going to happen. We don’t sell parkland to developers.”

Chris Herrington, director of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), said he’s heard about “the deep connection people have had with Lake Accotink.”

The latest recommendation “will be extremely disappointing to you,” Herrington said. But “we cannot proceed with a full dredging of Lake Accotink.”

To fund the nearly $400 million cost of dredging, the county would have to raise taxes, he said. And there won’t be money for other more effective projects elsewhere to reduce flooding and retain stormwater.

The project would not be in line with policies adopted by the BoS on greenhouse gases, sustainability, efficient government, safety, and the environment, he said. The dredging project would require 50,000 greenhouse gas-emitting truckloads of sediment removed from the lake.

A future wetlands park

In lieu of dredging, county staff recommends the Park Authority carry out a new Master Plan development process for Lake Accotink Park.

The property will remain a park, said Charles Smith, the branch chief for stormwater planning at DPWES.

The lake will remain for the foreseeable future, but vegetation will gradually take over the margins and the lake will transform into wetlands, Smith said. He wouldn’t speculate on how soon that would happen, as it would depend on the severity of storms in future years.

A wetlands would dramatically increase the wildlife diversity and abundance in the park, Smith said. The lake currently has poor water quality and is not a good environment for fish.

Related story: Lake Accotink dredging project not likely to happen, due to increased cost

Both the original and updated studies looked at solutions to increase the depth of the lake to eight feet to ensure its viability for recreational uses. The depth currently ranges from one to four feet.

The dredging project called for building a pipeline to transfer the dredged material to a dewatering site and transporting the dried sediment by truck to an offsite location, explained environmental engineer Amanda Kohler of Arcadis, the consulting company that carried out both studies for the county.

A new analysis

Several community members at the meeting questioned how the cost estimate could have soared from $30 million to nearly $400 million.

“Some of the critical assumptions have changed,” said Herrington. “The initial analysis included low-cost disposal options and underestimated the amount of sediment.”

The latest study found 500,000 cubic yards of sediment would have to be removed during the initial dredging. The initial estimate was 360,000 cubic yards. Another 150,000 cubic yards would have to be removed every five years.

Among the two sites identified as the best options for dewatering, use of the maintenance facility in Wakefield Park would require clearing seven acres, Kohler said. That’s much larger than originally estimated. The other site, on Southern Drive, would require 190 trucks a day through neighborhood streets carrying sediment out of the area.

No good alternatives

Arkadis reconsidered one of the other initial options for saving the lake – creating a new offline smaller lake in the park.

According to county staff, that is “not a suitable alternative for lake management due to significant community and environmental impacts, unreasonable risk for long-term safety and maintenance, and high project costs.”

Creating a new smaller lake – about half the size of Lake Accotink – would require dredging 825,000 cubic yards of sediment from the existing lake, importing 340 cubic yards of fill dirt to construct an earthen berm, rechanneling Accotink Creek, removing part of the existing dam, and building a new dam. Kohler said.

That would cost about $192 million, not including maintenance, and might not be sustainable over the long term.

Without the dredging project, Smith said the county will still carry out stream restoration projects throughout the Accotink watershed.

The county would not be fined by the Environmental Protection Agency for sending more sediment to the Chesapeake Bay, he said. “Fairfax County is not compelled to maintain Lake Accotink.”

The vast majority of sediment is flushed out into flood plains in the system, he said. “We are not seeing a tremendous impact from sediment on downstream estuaries.”

“Given what we know now, managing this lake is extremely difficult and expensive,” he said. “It’s like digging a hole on the beach with water constantly coming in and filling it up.”

A Fairfax County task force created to examine the future of Lake Accotink will break into subcommittees to do more in-depth studies.

Patch Staff

|Updated Fri, Jul 28, 2023 at 1:08 pm ET

SPRINGFIELD, VA — A Fairfax County task force created to examine the future of Lake Accotink will break into subcommittees to do more in-depth studies on the future of the lake, including the value of preserving Lake Accotink and how a managed wetland approach would work.

The Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink held its third meeting on Monday at the Fairfax County Government Center. Task Force Chair Sharon Bulova, who previously served as Fairfax County Board chair and Braddock District supervisor, announced that three subcommittees would be created. Lake Accotink is located in Fairfax County's Braddock District.

At Monday's meeting, the task force also discussed questions they would like a consultant to explore, including what a managed wetland or smaller lake option could include, look like, require in terms of maintenance, and cost.

The task force meetings are open to the public and interested community members are welcome to attend to observe the task force's work or watch the meeting on Channel 16.

The creation of the task force was approved unanimously by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on May 23 at the request of Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw.

The 55-acre Lake Accotink is a man-made reservoir built by the U.S. Army. The lake, located in the middle of a densely developed 30-square-mile watershed, has been dredged three times — the first time in the 1960s, again in the 1980s, and most recently in 2018 — in order to remove sediment and prevent it from returning to its natural state.

Since 2014, Fairfax County has been exploring ways to address increased sedimentation and preserve Lake Accotink. Fairfax County staff has recommended that Lake Accotink not be dredged and, instead, turned into a wetland due to the cost of dredging.

Dredging Lake Accotink is projected to cost $95 million, and the total cost to dredge and maintain Lake Accotink over the next 25 years would cost $395 million, according to county staff.

At Monday's meeting, Gail Nittle, president of the Springfield Civic Association, asked about the potential impacts of the planned improvements to Braddock Road by the Virginia Department of Transportation on sediment filling Lake Accotink.

"Braddock Road, as it exists right now, has almost no stormwater management," Walkinshaw said at Monday's meeting in response to Nittle's question.

Part of the community's focus with regard to VDOT's Braddock Road Multimodal Improvements Project will be stormwater management. "Right now, Braddock Road is a disaster from an Accotink perspective, and we're trying to improve that," Walkinshaw said.

The upgrades that get included in the Braddock Road project, including the building of modern stormwater facilities, could actually benefit the stormwater problems, he said.

The largest international swim school franchise opens newest facility in Falls Church, Virginia

FALLS CHURCH, Va., April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Aqua-Tots Swim Schools, the largest international swim school franchise, is announcing the opening of their 132nd worldwide location in Falls Church, Virginia. Located in the Barcroft Shopping Plaza at 6345 Columbia Pike , Aqua-Tots Barcroft Plaza officially opened their doors ahead of the busy summer swim season on Monday, April 10, 2023.

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has been the leader in the swim instruction industry since 1991, offering year-round, indoor swim classes for children four months to 12 years old. The program includes the highly sought after Parent & Tot swim classes for tots 4-30 months old as well as convenient schedules and flexible make-up lessons.

This is the second Aqua-Tots Swim Schools location for Franchise Owner Mike Steele, who is partnering with long-time franchisees, Andrew George, Tommy Fisher and Jesse Rhodenbaugh. The trio also own locations in Georgia and North Carolina.

"We're passionate about providing the families in our communities a fun, safe and friendly place to learn water safety skills," said Steele. "In fact, the National Institutes of Health has found that participation in formal swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% for children under the age of four. With Aqua-Tots' proven curriculum, we've witnessed the joy and the peace of mind that quality swim instruction can have on young lives."

The brand-new 5,800 square foot state-of-the-art swim school is ready to serve the families of Falls Church, Annandale, Lincolnia, Alexandria and Lake Barcroft communities. Open seven days a week, Aqua-Tots Barcroft Plaza offers group (4:1 ratio), semi-private (2:1 ratio) or private (1:1 ratio) swim lessons. Additionally, the swim school features the Special Needs Aquatic Program (S.N.A.P.), Fast Track, Swim Club and adult lessons.

Families are encouraged to sign up early before the busy summer season. To learn more about Aqua-Tots Barcroft Plaza or to enroll in lessons, visit or call 703-719-4456.

Aqua-Tots Barcroft Plaza is now hiring swim instructors, front desk staff and an aquatics coordinator. Those interested can send resumes to .

About Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Founded in 1991 and headquartered in the area, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools is making waves as the largest international provider of year-round, indoor swim instruction, community outreach and drowning prevention education. Its trusted program is dedicated to children of all abilities from four months to 12 years old and features a proven curriculum used to teach more than five million swim lessons each year.

Recognized in Entrepreneur's Top 15 Children's Franchises of 2023, Entrepreneur's Franchise 500®, Inc. Magazine's Top 5000 and Franchise Times' Top 200, Aqua-Tots has more than 130 locations in 25 states across 14 countries and is rapidly expanding with 90 locations in development. To learn more about franchise opportunities, visit and for more information about Aqua-Tots or to sign up for lessons near you, visit and follow Aqua-Tots on and .

, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Franchise Headquarters, 480-621-3226,

You don’t have to wait until July 4 to see fireworks, as many Independence Day celebrations are starting early this year.

Here’s where to see them:

July 1 – Lake Fairfax Park, 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston. The Fairfax County Park Authority is hosting fireworks at 9:15. Ticketed entry to the park begins at noon, and the park will close to new arrivals at 8:45 p.m. Parking is $15 per vehicle in advance and $20 at the gate. Food trucks will be there 12-9 p.m. Live music starts at 4 p.m.

July 1 – Workhouse Arts Center, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton. Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Live music, DJ, food trucks. Reserved parking is $40 per vehicle. VIP admission – including a wine-tasting reception, VIP lounge, and premium reserved seating, is $120 per person.

July 2 – Falls Church Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks, Meridian High School, 121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church. Fireworks start at 9:20 p.m. Live music starts at 7 p.m. Parking is extremely limited.

July 2 – Fairfax High School Stadium, 3501 Lion Run, Fairfax. Evening show hosted by the City of Fairfax features live music and fireworks, 6:30-10-30 p.m. Fireworks start at 9:30. Independence Day Parade on July 4, 10 a.m.-noon in downtown Fairfax.

July 2 – Vienna Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks, Yeonas Park, 1319 Ross Drive SW, Vienna. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Kids activities 4-7 p.m. Live band at 7. Several food trucks and a concession stand.

July 2 – Langley High School, 6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean. Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m. Food trucks available at 6:30. Free parking and shuttles from nearby locations.

July 4 – Bready Park, Herndon, 814 Ferndale Ave., Herndon. Fireworks at 9:30. Live music and family games start at 6:30 p.m.

July 4 – National Mall, Washington, D.C. Fireworks start at 9:09 p.m. The Capitol Fourth concert starts at 8 at E. Capitol Street and First Street NW.

Other good spots to see the D.C. fireworks include the Kennedy Center Terrace, the Iwo Jima Memorial in Rosslyn, Hains Point at East Potomac Park, the U.S. Air Force Memorial, and Washington National Cathedral.

July 8 – The City of Alexandria’s Annual USA and City Birthday Celebration, Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., Alexandria. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Live music starts at 6 p.m.

Cohen grew up in the Lake Barcroft neighborhood and returns to town this weekend to accept an award from the Washington West Film Festival.

|Updated Thu, Oct 22, 2015 at 9:26 am ET

PHOTO: Film producer Bruce Cohen; photo courtesy of Washington West Film Festival

_______________

There must be something magical in the water at J.E.B. Stuart High School. The Falls Church-area school is where Oscar-winning producer Bruce Cohen, Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore and film director Tom Shadyac all went to school in the ‘70s.

Cohen’s career includes a Best Picture Oscar win for American Beauty, as well as Best Picture nominations for Milk and Silver Linings Playbook. Cohen also produced Big Fish, and was executive producer of the ABC series Pushing Daisies, which won a total of seven Emmys and received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Comedy.

On Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Bow Tie Cinemas Theater in Reston, Cohen will accept his award and highlight favorite clips and moments of his impressive career and give an insider’s look into the producing experience. (Check the film festival Web site for tickets; all proceeds go to charity.)

“We are proud to bestow Northern Virginia native and Oscar-Winning producer Bruce Cohen with our inaugural Metropolitan Award, given to a world class filmmaker from greater Washington DC whose exceptional artistry and influence is the pride of the metropolitan region,” said Brad Russell, founder and president of the festival.

‘I’ve been a political junkie since I was a kid’

Cohen’s dreams of a film career started at home, in his Lake Barcroft neighborhood in the Falls Church area. That’s where he grew up with his sister Julie (also a producer, in New York), and his parents, Phyllis and George Cohen, who still live in the neighborhood today.

“I loved growing up in Falls Church, it was very exciting for me to be so close to Washington, D.C.,” Cohen said. “I’ve been sort of a political junkie since I was a kid...I think a lot of it had to do with growing up there. I remember my mom let me stay home to watch the Watergate hearings in junior high school because I was so interested in it and she had a feeling that I would learn way more watching the hearings than I would that week at school. I think she was right about that.”

Seeing Star Wars in 1977

“One of my really vivid memories was when ‘Star Wars’ opened, I was a freshman at Stuart and I remember going to the State Theater in Falls Church that Friday night and seeing “Star Wars’ and thinking it was just the best thing ever,” said Cohen. “I think people had a sense that opening day, that it was going to change things in a lot of ways.”

The producer of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” debuting in December, is Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm. She and her husband Frank Marshall were the producers of “The Color Purple,” the first film that Cohen ever worked on. They became producing mentors of Cohen’s afterward.

“They were kind of the reason why I decided I wanted to be a producer and they’ve been my producing mentors for all these years,” he said. “I think back a lot now, when the new movie comes out, it’s going to set the world on fire. And it takes me back to 1977, when I first saw it, when I was just a kid.”

No fallback plan

When Cohen graduated from Yale in 1983 with a film degree, he wasn’t sure exactly what he wanted to do in the film industry. He moved to Los Angeles and spent the first 10 years of his career working as an assistant director.

Next up for Cohen: Richard Pryor film

Cohen isn’t resting on his laurels. He is currently working on bringing a film about legendary comedian Richard Pryor to life with filming likely beginning in the spring with Lee Daniels as director and Mike Epps in the title role. Others reported to have roles in the film are Kate Hudson, Oprah Winfrey and Eddie Murphy.

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