Friends of Little Rocky Run - Virtual Tour of Watershed, Page 10, The Deepwood Farms Tributary

This photo shows the outlet pipes of the stormwater pond that collects the drainage from the Deepwood Farms area.  The drainage area actually extends all the way under Battle Rock Drive to Union Mill Road. The berm shown here was actually constructed twice.  The first attempt apparently was not up to code and had to be completely re-done in the summer of 2000. The pipes are tall enough for an adult to almost stand up in and are frequently visited by neighborhood children.  There are signs that people use them as a place to discretely drink alcoholic beverages as well.

This photo is taken from the top of the berm (above) looking east and upstream. The water collection area is what Fairfax County designates as a "dry regional pond" and is not mowed.  The vegetation that grows has pollutant-removal and nutrient loading capabilities due to the filtering effects and nutrient uptake by the vegetation. This spot is also a popular place to sleigh ride.  It is also a collection point for trash which flows from upstream and from a storm drain that is visible coming in from the upper right side of the photo. This section ends at another stormwater pond on South Springs Drive.

A second stormwater pond is on the east side of South Springs drive, less than a half mile from the one shown above.  This area is frequently used by kids to play football, soccer, etc. and is also  a "Do Not Mow" area. In the woods just above this pond, in the winter of 1861-'62, there was a Confederate encampment.

These two sycamore trees are in the approximate area of what was once the Confederate camp.  The stream was fairly dry on the day this photo was taken in November 2002, but the exposed roots indicate that water at least occasionally flows through here in a raging torrent.  This is not surprising because almost every available square inch of this part of the watershed has been developed.

Photos on this page shot in November 2002.

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