Lake Accotink is a beloved resource for many residents of Fairfax County and the region. When it became apparent in 2016 that the lake would need to be dredged in order to maintain an open, boatable resource, there were many unknowns and a different economy resulting in a cost estimate ($30 million) which was too low and the idea was put forward that we could process spoils in the powerline easements in Wakefield Park to minimize project impacts. Analysis since 2021 has revealed that it would cost about $95 million to conduct a base dredge, and an additional $300 million over the first twenty years of maintenance dredging. Additionally, analysis has yielded that 43% more sediment would need to be removed resulting in 50,000 truck trips through neighborhood and area roads and seven acres of forested wetlands would need to be removed from Wakefield Park for spoils processing. More information about the project and detailed analysis can be learned at The Future of Lake Accotink Park (arcgis.com)

Based on analysis, county staff recommend that Lake Accotink not be dredged due to these significant community and environmental impacts and excessive costs. Instead, county staff recommend that Lake Accotink Park master planning process resume in 2023 in order to create and implement an economically and environmentally sustainable vision for this valuable public space that provides enriching recreational, educational and quality of life opportunities for residents, allows for proactive management of the landscape over time, and improves the ecosystem and wildlife habitat. The purpose of this survey is to gain invaluable insight from the community and visitors about their vision for Lake Accotink Park.