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FOR MORE INFO You can find RASER on Reston Association’s website at www.reston.org in the Nature & Environmental Resources section.
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creating or modifying RA policies or otherwise taking an official position on an issue and thus would require board approval. Level 3 — These represent projects already being implemented by RA staff but that need to be accelerated or expanded and may need board approval for additional funding. Level 4 — These are projects currently being implemented by RA staff that will not cost additional money and would not need board approval to continue. Level 5 — These are actions that can be performed by volunteers but would need RA staff to help organize.
Based on the information collected in the RASER document, the EAC made 60 recommendations. RA staff have already implemented environmental management activities for 30 of those recommendations. Nine recommended activities require board approval.
TWO AREAS RASER HAS IDENTIFIED AS CRITICAL ARE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND STREAMS. “These areas have been labeled as red light (poor) resources and fall under Level 1. They are in fact very much threatened by redevelopment,” indicated Beffel.
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Reston does not have enough structures to mitigate the impact of stormwater, due in part to much of Reston being developed before most stormwater management regulations were adopted. Initially, Reston’s clustered neighborhoods created stream buffer zones, which today are being bypassed by underground stormwater pipes that collect and convey stormwater runoff directly to streams. During heavy rains, this current system negatively impacts the wildlife, contributes to stream erosion and increases sediment. Some developers do not need to comply with current stormwater management standards because in many cases those sites have been grandfathered. The developer may choose to comply with current codes, but it is not
required. As it stands today, RA needs cooperation from Fairfax County and its active membership to encourage developers to be involved in the solution, especially since RA has little control over the majority of redevelopment in Reston. Fairfax County’s current building codes do not allow underground stormwater detention in residential areas. Fairfax County is undergoing a code review process to have their outdated code follow best practices for re-developing suburban areas. “We try to keep the public informed that they need to be vigilant and go to Fairfax County planning meetings to speak up and push the issue that developers should be setting examples of good development practices, rather than trying to cut corners,”said Larry Butler. EAC encourages Reston