Last year, the City of Alexandria officially killed the Taylor Run and Strawberry Run projects. In a newsletter today, Mayor Justin Wilson laid out the path ahead to bringing Alexandria into compliance with the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay pollution restrictions.
Wilson said by 2023, Alexandria had to meet 40% of the EPA’s Total Maximum Daily Load limit — the calculation of how much amount of pollutants can enter a body of water. By 2028, Wilson said Alexandria must meet 100%.
“With the elimination of the Taylor Run and Strawberrry Run projects, the City was required to identify offsets to meet our obligations,” Wilson said. “Last month, Council voted to approve our Phase 3 Action Plan, the plan for the final 5-year permit cycle that will culminate in reaching our portion of the TMDL.”
The city has undertaken other projects to clean up its pollution — a stormwater retrofit for Lake Cook and Ben Brenman Pond, for example.
Wilson laid out the city’s strategy for reaching compliance:
To meet these obligations, we have planned several strategies including:
- Leveraging the stormwater `benefits of private development that will occur in the City, including Landmark Mall redevelopment and North Potomac Yard
- Lucky Run Stream Restoration
- Bi-Lateral Trading with Alexandria Renew Enterprises
Wilson said in the newsletter that while the City of Alexandria is on track to reach that 2028 goal, the city should eventually go above and beyond in its efforts to stop pollution.
“While the collective action undertaken so far has improved water quality in the Chesapeake Bay, it is clear that much more is required,” Wilson said. “While this Phase 3 Action Plan will meet our obligations for this TMDL, it is clear that more will be required in the future of those who live around and rely upon this important watershed.”
