Efforts to stave off erosion of Town Branch stream met with resistance

Several residents spoke at the Leesburg Town Council meeting Sept. 24 stating they would like to see less intensive measures taken in their neighborhood to stabilize Town Branch stream.

In 2019, homeowners started noticing stream bank erosion of the creek channel at Mosby Drive between Catoctin Circle and Morven Park Road. The erosion was impacting backyard retaining walls and fencing. A number of tree roots were being exposed when soil was washed away underneath the trees, causing them to fall or be in imminent danger of falling.

The Town came up with a plan to stabilize the stream channel. Similar to the recently completed project on Tuscarora Creek, the stream restoration project is expected to result in a more attractive stream corridor with improved wildlife habitat and reduced erosion, according to Town staff. The work required for the project will necessitate substantial regrading on either side of the stream, resulting in the loss of most of the existing trees within or near the project area.

At a Council work session Sept. 23, Doug Wagner, assistant director of Capital Projects, said, "The main concern is loss of trees. Many of the large trees 50 years or older will require removal, decreasing shading, screening and privacy. Residents want us to identify and try to save a couple of trees that we saw as we were walking along the creek bed."

Wagner said smaller trees and some vegetation would also be removed.

"One property owner stated our current proposal 'destroys the character of our neighborhood,'" Wagner said.

Others asked why "spot fixes" couldn't be done at areas that need stabilization rather than altering the entire channel bed.

There have been six recent walk throughs with residents and some members of Town Council to see the approach Town staff is taking and garner input. Town staff said they are in the initial stages of design and will incorporate resident feedback into future modified designs.

The Town has a no net loss tree policy for capital projects so the project will plant as many new trees as possible, where appropriate, Town staff said. New foliage planted as part of the project is expected to mature quickly like it has on the Tuscarora Creek project, they added.

Michael Craigmile, a homeowner on Newhall Place SW, said, "The proposed removal of the trees alongside Town Branch [stream] are going to reduce the value of my home, plainly spoken, and it's also going to impact the privacy that my family enjoys. These trees are both a natural view shed and sound insulating barrier as well as a habitat for wildlife in their existing state today. "

Craigmile further stated the loss of trees would permanently alter the landscape and disrupt the ecosystem. He said he feels the project is an "overreach" and "waste of public money" - both grant money and taxpayer money. The project is estimated to cost $4.3 million. In 2021, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality awarded $1 million in Stormwater Local Assistance Funds for the project.

Stephen Seaman also spoke against the project. "My wife, Julie, and I have lived on Mosby Drive for 27 years. We are very opposed to the project. The stream itself in reality is dry or nearly dry." Seaman said the trees and fencing in question that needs to be stabilized should be done without the entire length of the stream being affected. "The Town should work with those individual property owners."

He further stated the trees the Town is intending to remove are not owned by the Town and that, "The private property damage caused by this project will be far larger than natural erosion" because the project scope would remove approximately 1,000 trees.

Seaman said he finds the project misleading because the pictures of trees shown to be removed are large trees with significant erosion already, but smaller trees and vegetation will also be removed.

Estimated completion date is Spring 2029.