Final Council Vote on Nov. 14
City Council is poised to vote on Ordinance# 2016-217 at its regular meeting on Monday, November 14. Passage of this ordinance by a lame-duck Council would allow the city to accept grant money from DEQ and doom Crooked Branch Ravine Park, one of the most valuable green spaces in the city. The proposed project involves digging completely new channels for Reedy Creek and Crooked Branch, a tributary located in the middle of Crooked Branch Ravine Park. The plan calls for the complete deforestation of 7.4 acres of some of the best stream-side habitat in Richmond and would literally tear the heart out of a neighborhood treasure. 424 large trees would be destroyed as well as thousands of smaller trees and shrubs that have grown up naturally over the last several decades. This is a highly diverse forest that supports an array of wildlife and provides a remarkable, peaceful greenspace.
In addition to deforestation of public lands:
- The proposed relocation will NOT treat the causes of the eroding banks and poor water quality. Polluted runoff from upstream is the culprit.
- The proposed relocation is NOT part of any comprehensive plan to restore Reedy Creek. The proposed project is a prime example of poor planning, lack of public participation, and lack of transparency.
- The sites for relocation were selected for convenience because the city owns the property and does not have to get easements. The city’s own study (performed after the site was selected and the grant application submitted) shows that over 80% of the current banks have either low or very low erosion potential.
- The proposed project is high-risk because it is located immediately below a long concrete channel that carries massive volumes of polluted runoff. The city has touted a stream restoration on Snakeden Creek in Fairfax County as an example of a comparable and successful project. Members of the Reedy Creek Coalition visited the site and there is no concrete channel. In addition, there are many other factors (long-term planning, extensive data collection, citizen participation, working systematically from upstream to downstream) that make the Snakeden Creek project dramatically different from the proposed Reedy Creek project.
- At a taxpayer cost of $1.3 million (50% Richmond/50% state), the proposed project will have little benefit for the James River or Chesapeake Bay. It is not a cost-effective project if the goal is to improve water quality.
- The proposed project will actually degrade water quality in Reedy Creek and Crooked Branch for years. The loss of tree canopy will lower dissolved oxygen levels and encourage growth of nuisance algae.
- The city has a poor record of maintenance on related projects (dead trees and damaged banks along Albro Creek, no routine removal of polluted sediment from Forest Hill Lake as promised by City staff 7 years ago). Poor maintenance on a high risk project is courting disaster.
- Two new archeological sites were discovered recently in the proposed project area. Historical and cultural resources would be permanently destroyed and/or damaged. The historical review for the proposed project is still not complete because the Virginia Department of Historical Resources found the most recent report inadequate.
Here’s what you can do:
- City Council
- Write an email or letter to the City Councilor from your District stating your opposition to the project and why. Specifically ask your City Councilor to vote “NO” on Ordinance 2016-217. It would also be useful to “cc” your District Liaison, other City Council members, and newly elected City Councilors. (These and other email addresses are provided below.)
- Councilman Parker Agelasto who represents the 5th District where Crooked Branch Ravine Park is located has introduced a Resolution (Res 2016 – R077) requesting that the proposed Reedy Creek project be delayed until alternatives are investigated. In your emails, please request that your City Councilor vote “YES” on Res 2016-R077.
- Attend the City Council meeting on November 14 and speak against the project.
- Neighbors and Friends
- Inform your neighbors and friends and encourage them to take action to help stop this poorly selected project. Use social media to engage those that care about water quality and our dwindling natural resources.
- Sign the Petition against the proposed stream restoration project if you have not done so yet. Join approximately 1,000 people who have already expressed their opposition.
City Council, liasons, and newly elected members
Eli.Wong@Richmondgov.com
charles.samuels@richmondgov.com
craig.bieber@richmondgov.com
Chris.Hilbert@Richmondgov.com
Lisa.Townes@Richmondgov.com
Kathy.Graziano@RichmondGov.com
timothy.grimes@richmondgov.com
parker.agelasto@richmondgov.com
amy.robins@Richmondgov.com
ellen.robertson@richmondgov.com
kiya.stokes@richmondgov.com
Cynthia.Newbille@Richmondgov.com
Sam.Patterson@Richmondgov.com
Reva.Trammell@Richmondgov.com
richard.bishop@richmondgov.com
michelle.mosby@richmondgov.com
uzziah.harris@richmondgov.com
andreas@addisonforcouncil.com
KimGray4RVA@gmail.com
Knyelarson@gmail.com
Secretary of Natural Resources
MOLLY.WARD@GOVERNOR.VIRGINIA.GOV
Director, Department of Environmental Quality
U.S. Army Corps or Engineers
Silvia.B.Gazzera@usace.army.mil
Lynette.R.Rhodes@usace.army.mil
William.T.Walker@usace.army.mil
jason.e.kelly@usace.army.mil
Local news
news@timesdispatch.com
vkenney@foxrichmond.com
news@wric.com
newstips@wtvr.com
newsroom@nbc12.com
rdepompa@nbc12.com
ssquire@nbc12.com
dwalker@nbc12.com
amonfort@nbc12.com
sbloom@nbc12.com
cautry@nbc12.com
editor@rvahub.com.
jramsey@timesdispatch.com
crarrick@wtvr.com
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