The Observer Newspapers

November 21 , 2008

Snakeden Branch Worthy of the Next Generation
To the editor:
I am a member of Trout Unlimited, Bass Masters and have been an avid fisherman my entire life. This passion began as a child, playing in a backyard stream collecting crayfish, frogs, and salamanders and tracking mud throughout the house to show my family. Over the years this passion grew to an infatuation that led me to leave a highly prestigious job to pursue.
I agree whole heartedly that a walk down Snakeden Branch looks dismal. There is a tremendous loss of trees and vegetation that does not look appealing in any way. I also agree that in our lifetime we will not see trees that were nearly as tall and mature as the ones that were once there. The main reason for this is that many of those trees were hundreds of years old, and I do not think I can wait around long enough to see that. But the trees recently planted will eventually become just as established and pretty and our kids will be grateful for the things Reston Association has done today.
This stream was in bad shape. Very bad shape. I have walked these footpaths many of times, and to see the steep embankments and lack of buffers worried me not only about the health of our stream but also that of the rivers and bay it contributes to. When streams form a gorge like this there is nothing to slow it down when the rain falls. Rain water from all of the surrounding impervious surfaces rushes through taking with it even more dirt, forming steeper walls, as it flows to the Potomac. As we all know from walking the paths, the only thing left is steep embankments that are an eyesore, dangerous for kids to play around and even more dangerous for the trees that use to hold the dirt in place. What is left downstream is water that has come straight from parking lots that has not been filtered or oxygenated by any plants or animals.
I do not think it is fair that we look at this project at its beginning phase and question how it looks. That would be like looking at a house 2 weeks into construction and complaining about it not having walls and having trucks outside working on it. There are still trucks there. There are trees being cut down. When this project is complete the trucks will be gone, there will be better quality water, and more vegetation than there is now. The trees will grow back. The water that flows downstream will be filtered and have much-needed oxygen, making it more hospitable for fish and other wildlife. Our kids will be able to play in a cleaner stream with more animal life.
I would ask the citizens of Reston not to listen to rumors about the restoration but rather do some research. See how Trout Unlimited has restored streams in order to bring back Cutthroat Salmon in Colorado, Steelhead Trout in New York, or countless other stream restoration projects. If this is a "pilot project" I hope streams around the area do follow in Reston's footsteps. Stream restorations work incredibly not only for bringing back the natural beauty of the stream but also the native plant and animal life. Call Nicki Foremsky, Watershed supervisor for Reston Association, and ask questions. I hope others will support this project.
Mike Bellezza
Reston

 

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