Friends of Little Rocky Run

Sometimes it takes a while to figure out where trash is coming from.  However, we know that the tributary that flows from Clifton Road and joins the main channel below New Braddock Road is by far the dirtiest section of Little Rocky Run.  We also know that a stormwater outlet that flows into the wetland area about a quarter mile south of U. S. 29 is a major condut of trash into our watershed.  Food wrappers, bottles, cans, plastic bags, and thousands and thousands of cigarette butts are finding their way into Little Rocky Run via storm water drains located in the same general area. In fact, almost all of this trash is coming from the Union Mill Colonnade Shopping Center.  We are working with the property owners and are hopeful that a remedy is close at hand.

The stormwater pond at left is under siege from trash.  Every time it rains, much of the water from the shopping center winds up here.  It brings in trash that, for the most part, has been carelessly and thoughtlessly allowed to enter into storm drains by patrons of the stores in the nearby shopping center. The property owners are victims too and generally do a good job of keeping the parking lot clean.  But they can't keep up with the patrons who mindlessly toss their cigarette butts and trash down the nearest storm drain. Do these litterers have any idea that their trash winds up in the back yards of some very nice people who live less than 100 yards away?

A close up of some of the trash in the photo at left reveals scores of cigarette butts.  In fact, there are thousands of them in this stormwater pond.  Nicotine is a poison and dumping it into the Fairfax County water supply is simply outrageous. This parking lot also drains into the wetland area beside U. S. 29.  The same type of debris is found there too. There is a solution, and we hope that the property owners, who are good people, will come through for the Little Rocky Run community.

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