Army Corps, Council of Governments to host open house on Northern Virginia coastal storm study

Published Sept. 5, 2019
Updated: Sept. 5, 2019

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments are holding an open house Sept. 11, 2019, to provide information and seek input on a coastal storm risk management study for Northern Virginia.

“After this summer’s historic flash floods affected communities throughout our region, flood risk is fresh on our minds,” said Steve Walz, COG Environmental Programs director. “This study will help inform efforts by our area governments as we work together to build a more resilient region.”

This $3.5 million study, cost shared evenly between the Corps and COG, will focus on coastal flooding issues and potential solutions for sites in Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, northern Prince William County, and at Reagan National Airport.

“The goal is to reduce coastal flood risk to people, properties, critical infrastructure, and important services and resources in the study area, all while considering future climate and sea level change,” said Col. John Litz, Army Corps, Baltimore District commander. “We want to provide our Northern Virginia partners with the most suitable and effective recommendations to improve coastal storm resiliency, and reduce life safety risks, economic damages and other disruptions from flooding.”

The study team will assess the implementation of structural, non-structural and nature-based coastal flood risk management solutions at different locations. Potential measures include deployable floodwalls and levees; building retrofits and enhanced evacuation planning; and drainage improvements and living shorelines.  

WHAT

Open house for the Northern Virginia Coastal Storm Risk Management Study

WHEN

Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.*

*The meeting is an open house format, so people can come and go any time during the timeframe; however, an optional, brief presentation on the study will be provided at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE

Martha Washington Branch Library

Meeting Rooms 104A & B

6614 Fort Hunt Road

Alexandria, VA 22307

WHY

The metropolitan Washington, D.C., region, including Northern Virginia, was identified as a high-risk area in the Army Corps’ North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study. This study was commissioned by Congress as a part of the Hurricane Sandy recovery effort and was completed in 2015.

Vulnerable critical infrastructure within flood zones in the Northern Virginia study area includes the Capital Beltway, George Washington Memorial Parkway, and other roads, highways and bridges; Metrorail and stations; passenger and freight railroad services; wastewater treatment plants; water supply systems; stormwater systems; Reagan National Airport; and national security infrastructure.

In addition to the meeting, members of the public are encouraged to share any information related to flooding or flood risk management that may be relevant to the study, including reports, photos or other digital data, as well as climate change impact analyses or studies, via an email to MetroDCCoastalStudy@usace.army.mil

 


Contact
Steve Kania
202-962-3249
skania@mwcog.org
or
Sarah Lazo
410-962-9015
sarah.d.lazo@usace.army.mil

Release no. 19-017