flooding | ALXnow

After NPS pump station denial, City Council advances alternate waterfront flood mitigation system

Published June 15, 2026 at 3:45PM

Sandbags outside a business on lower King Street (staff photo by James Cullum)

With minimal discussion on Saturday (June 13), Alexandria City Council voted to move forward with an “enhanced gravity storm sewer system” to combat flooding along the waterfront in Old Town.

The City Council action was taken four months after the National Park Service denied the city’s plan to build a pump station at Waterfront Park (1 Prince Street). The city’s previously approved proposal would have closed Waterfront Park and Point Lumley Park from the fall of 2026 until the fall of 2028 to rebuild segments of the sea wall and to install the pump station to recirculate water in flood-prone areas back to the Potomac River. The denial by NPS forced the city to make “significant modifications” to the plan, project manager Matt Landis told Council.

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City targets summer 2027 start date for flood mitigation project in northern Del Ray

By Emily Leayman

Published June 9, 2026 at 1:45PM

Illustration of a proposed culvert during future construction of the Commonwealth, Ashby, and Glebe Flood Mitigation Project (via City of Alexandria)

The city is getting ready for a potential 2027 start date on one of its biggest projects to address stormwater flooding in Lynhaven and the northern part of Del Ray.

The city held a meeting on the Commonwealth, Ashby, and Glebe Flood Mitigation Project last Thursday (June 4) at the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center. Since the last community meeting in 2025, the project has received final design plans, and the city is preparing to solicit a construction contractor. It is also coordinating with utility owners for utility relocation to accommodate new stormwater infrastructure. Summer 2027 is the tentative construction start date.

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New plan unveiled after National Park Service sinks pump station at Waterfront Park

By James Cullum

Published March 25, 2026 at 2:45PM

Flooding on lower King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council directed staff on Tuesday to pursue a new preferred option to combat flooding along the Alexandria waterfront — one that does not involve a pump station.

City staff presented the council with a number of options in the wake of the National Park Service’s denial last month of the city’s plan to build a pump station at Waterfront Park. The city’s preferred option, Option 3, is an enhanced gravity storm sewer system, with “automated back flow prevention devices.” Option 3 also means that infrastructure improvements to Point Lumley Park and the bulkhead would be deferred.

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DEVELOPING: National Park Service denies approval of pump station at Waterfront Park

By James Cullum

Published February 25, 2026 at 2:10PM

Rendering of the pump station at Waterfront Park in Old Town at night, seen here looking east down Prince Street (via City of Alexandria)

The National Park Service has denied approval to build a pump station at Waterfront Park, the City of Alexandria has confirmed today (Wednesday).

The Alexandria Times was the first outlet to confirm the news. NPS sent the city a letter on Feb. 20 “indicating a reversal of their previous position on the City’s Deed Modification request for the Waterfront Flood Mitigation Pump Station,” according to the city website.

Around Town

Crooked Beat Records will close Saturday as owner hopes to find new Del Ray spot

By James Cullum

Published January 26, 2026 at 10:30AM

Flooding at Crooked Beat Records at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (via Crooked Beats/Facebook)

After experiencing catastrophic flooding earlier this month, Crooked Beat Records will close its doors for good this Saturday.

The local vinyl haven plans to open for its last days at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Owner Bill Daly said the building’s management wants to do additional repair work, which would require him and his staff to remove all of Crooked Beat’s inventory and then move it back in.

Around Town

Flooded Del Ray record store raises over $5K in one day for recovery efforts

By Katie Taranto

Published January 14, 2026 at 9:15AM

Flooding at Crooked Beat Records (via Crooked Beat Records/Facebook)

Over $5,000 has been fundraised for Crooked Beat Records less than a day after the flooded Del Ray business published fundraisers on social media to support its restoration.

A GoFundMe and merchandise fundraiser have quickly garnered more than $5,300 for the vinyl shop, after a burst pipe incident flooded it with several inches of water over the weekend. As of yesterday (Tuesday), water had continued to enter the shop but crews were working to address damage, according to a Facebook video by owner Bill Daly.

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City hosting design meeting for Potomac West storm sewer improvement project

By James Cullum

Published January 13, 2026 at 10:30AM

The Clifford, Fulton and Manning Storm Sewer Project in Potomac West (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria will host a design update meeting for a storm sewer improvement project in Potomac West on Wednesday night.

The Clifford, Fulton and Manning Storm Sewer Project has been in the planning and design stages for nearly three years, with construction anticipated to start this May. The city will present final proposed drainage improvements and potential construction impacts at the meeting, which will be held from 7-8 p.m. at Mount Vernon Recreation Center (2701 Commonwealth Avenue). Attendees can also watch it on Zoom.

Around Town

Del Ray record store considers relocation after shutting down amid ‘catastrophic flooding’

By James Cullum

Published January 12, 2026 at 1:45PM

Flooding at Crooked Beat Records at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (via Crooked Beats/Facebook)

Following significant flooding after a water leak this past weekend, a vinyl record store in Del Ray has closed for the foreseeable future and is considering a move.

Crooked Beat Records owner Bill Daly told ALXnow today (Monday) that a pipe on the roof of the building burst, flooding the basement record shop at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue with several inches of water and ruining merchandise.

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Gravestone relocations planned at Douglass Memorial Cemetery ahead of stormwater project

By Katie Taranto

Published December 18, 2025 at 12:30PM

Douglass Memorial Cemetery following flood damages in 2021 (photo courtesy Michael Johnson)

About 250 gravestones at Douglass Memorial Cemetery will be temporarily relocated as a new stormwater improvement project gets underway next month.

Anticipated to begin Jan. 20, the project aims to replace hundreds of feet of aging stormwater pipes and regrade the historic Black cemetery’s drainage systems at 1421 Wilkes Street. Construction will prompt the temporary removal of about 250 gravestones, and will affect traffic along Wilkes Street, City Archaeologist Eleanor Breen told ALXnow.

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Alexandria opens applications for stormwater fee credit program

By Katie Taranto

Published December 1, 2025 at 1:45PM

Flooding in Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Applications for Alexandria’s Stormwater Utility (SWU) Fee Credit Program opened today (Monday).

Property owners can apply for credits electronically or with hard copies through Feb. 15, 2026, and may be eligible for up to a 50% reduction on SWU fees “by installing eligible practices,” according to a city announcement.

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New city assessment deems West End watersheds ‘vulnerable’ to flooding

By Katie Taranto

Published November 12, 2025 at 11:45AM

Holmes Run (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A new flooding assessment and map have identified watersheds in the West End as some of Alexandria’s most vulnerable flood zones.

Areas considered most at-risk of flooding include the Potomac waterfront, Four Mile Run and Hooffs Run — as well as new additions like Holmes Run, Cameron Run and Backlick Run, according to a map shared by Flood Resilience Plan (FRP) project leaders at a meeting Monday night.