Occoquan Reservoir
Occoquan Riverfront Park Moves Forward
Will Occoquan Riverfront Park finally become a reality? Things are looking good!
According to InsideNova: “Six years after being approved as part of Prince William County’s 2006 bond referendum, a small riverside park appears likely to be built in the near future.”
The Prince William County FY 2012-2017 Capital Improvement Plan calls for a radical revitalization. According to the document:
Occoquan Riverfront Park will be developed on a portion of two parcels of land owned by Fairfax County Water Authority and located at 415 Mill Street and 460 Mill Street in the Town of Occoquan. The site was previously utilized as a water treatment plant and has been decommissioned by Fairfax Water. Fairfax Water will assist in development of the site by selective demolition of existing facilities. The area will be developed into a small community park with a playground, a spray ground, a small amphitheater, and possibly some indoor space appropriate for community based programming.
Where is the money coming from? Debt financing approved by voters during the 2006 bond referendum provides $1,500,000 for this project. Construction of the park is scheduled for completion in 2013.
Stay tuned for demolition updates.
2011 Occoquan Chase Recap
Check out this video recap of the 2011 Occoquan Chase time trial competition held each fall along the Occoquan Reservoir…
Occoquan Reservoir: A Gem Worth Protecting
A worthy article about protecting and improving the Occoquan Reservoir:
Occoquan Reservoir: A Rare Gem Worth Protecting
The Occoquan Reservoir is a rare gem in our increasingly developed area. It is already an irreplaceable drinking water source for 1.7 million people.
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Sedimentation input results in knee-deep mud along the bottom of the reservoir that reduces water capacity and aquatic diversity, the clarity of the water is poor, aquatic grasses grow unchecked that inhibit fish stocks and diversity, and on and on.
Check out PWConserve.org for more information.
Potomac River Healthiest in 50 Years
Posted by Lou on September 12, 2010 in Boating News, Chesapeake Bay, Environmental News, Fishing News, Occoquan Reservoir, Occoquan River, Potomac River
According to the Washington Post, the Potomac River is now the healthiest that it has been since the 1950′s.
“The comeback has been closely tied to the Blue Plains treatment plant, which handles waste from the District and parts of Montgomery, Prince George’s, Fairfax, Loudoun and Arlington counties. Its outflow is a river in itself: about 300 million gallons a day of treated sewage, enough to fill RFK Stadium.”
“In the past decade, responding to mandates from federal regulators, the plant has added $1 billion in new efforts that allow bacteria to consume the algae-feeding pollutant nitrogen in sewage.”
Occoquan River Fishing Report
Anybody interested in fishing in Northern Virginia should definitely check out Charlie Taylor’s fishing report column in the News & Messenger. To whet your appetite, here is Taylor’s fishing report for the Occoquan River from April 8, 2010:
Spring fishing at it’s finest. Herring have invaded the river, bringing with them the white perch, hickory shad, and stripers. These, combined with the resident channel catfish, crappie and largemouth bass, are providing good action for anglers in the river. White perch anglers are filling coolers on bloodworms and nightcrawlers. Bass are taking plastic worms, jigs and crankbaits and crappie are being caught on small minnows and jigs. Catfish still like cut herring.
Occoquan Reservoir Best For Largemouth Bass
Hard to believe but each year biologists with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries shock the hell out of our lakes and rivers to determine where the best fishing is to be had.
The sampling with the powerful probes was conducted during day hours. The biologists targeted largemouth bass, primarily those of 15 inches or more since those are the kind of bass most anglers prefer.
The 2,100-acre Occoquan Reservoir has the most largemouth bass. It had the highest CPE-P (catch per effort of preferred fish) and the highest relative stock density. In other words, check it out. This lake is very good for fishing.
On a final note, the largemouth bass pictured above (16lbs. 4oz.) is the largest ever caught in the commonwealth of Virginia. It was hooked by Richard Tate on May 20, 1985 at Connor Lake. Click here to see all record fish caught in Virginia.
Amazing River Rescue
Check out this CNN iReport video that recounts the dramatic river rescue that occurred just above the Occoquan Resevoir Dam on Monday, June 1st.
Sucks for those dudes that their boat was destroyed but let’s hear a big round of applause for the Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department!