Posted on April 2, 2025
While Fairfax County continues studying what to do with Lake Accotink, another local manmade body of water is gearing up for a dredging.
A contractor will begin operations in Reston next Monday (April 7) to dredge up and dispose of accumulated sediment from the canal at the northwest corner of Lake Anne, Reston Association announced in a newsletter on Friday (March 28).
The process, which is expected to take approximately two weeks, will require some closures and detours on the Green Trail along the canal between the North Shore swimming pool, the Van Gogh Bridge and the North Shore Tennis Courts.
“Please follow detour signs,” RA said. “… During this time, there will be heavy machinery traffic and the potential for spilling dirt/materials onto the trail.”
Constructed in 1962 to handle increased runoff from new development, Lake Anne was the first of Reston’s four artificial lakes to take shape, with lakes Thoreau, Audubon and Newport following suit over the next two decades. The lakes collectively cover 125 acres.
Without regular dredging, the lakes would fill up with sediment that could also create issues downstream, RA says. The lakes are designed to capture and filter stormwater, though they’re also popular spots for boating, fishing and other recreation.
Lake Anne is typically dredged every five years, according to RA communications director Cara O’Donnell
The upcoming canal dredging is anticipated to remove 1,200 cubic yards of sediment that will be transported by dump truck to a state-approved dump site “outside of the area,” RA says.
More on the dredging process from RA:
Mobilization:
The contractor will establish work zones by setting up temporary safety fencing and warning signs to secure the work site. The contractor will prune any necessary branches to accommodate mechanical equipment and minimize damage to existing trees during dredging operations. Wooden piles will be driven into the canal to support the existing bulkhead, allowing the long-reach excavator to operate safely at the canal’s edge. Crane mats will be placed on the bank to create a work pedestal between the bulkhead wall and the pathway. To protect the pathway from truck damage, the contractor will install a layer of mulch grindings and cover it with forestry mats to create a buffer for heavy machinery.
Dredging:
The contractor anticipates that 1,200 cubic yards of sediment will be removed mechanically using a long-reach excavator to return the canal to its as-built design grade. This volume is based on a bathymetric survey completed in 2024 and a visual inspection by staff and the contractor. They will operate within 5 feet of the far-side channel dock structure. Sediment will be placed in sealed-gate dump trucks by the canal and hauled to an approved dump site.
Demobilization:
Following the dredging, bulkhead supports, site materials and dredging equipment will be removed. The work site will be restored to its pre-dredging condition, and security fencing will be taken down.
