Wakefield Park Section
June 2010
Wakefield Park Section: Main Stem 3
Little River Turnpike to Braddock Rd.
7.7.2010 95 degrees F
This section covers approximately two miles of Accotink creek watershed from the underpass of Little River Turnpike downstream to Braddock Rd. One can expect to encounter a mix of frequently used foot and bike trails, public land, power & gas line cuts, gravel maintenance roads, and private property.
A Large ball field marks the northernmost point of this section, just before Little River Turnpike.
The creek meanders on south westerly through a small residential zone for 0.2 miles and then through
parkland for 1.8 miles.
The creek is often in proximity to hotspots of recreation and industry throughout this two-mile section. Heavy trail use seems to be encouraged in this area and the impact on the surrounding area is easily noticed. That being said, efforts have been made during the planning of some trails to minimize erosion in the area. Old chunks of sidewalk have been appropriated to fortify stretches of bike trail, for example, curbing some of the erosion caused by recreation hotspots as well as giving the bikers an interesting surface to ride on.
A power easement parallels the creek for the entire two miles. The clear-cutting underneath the power lines undoubtedly takes away from the protective function of the buffer zone. On the plus side, most maintenance roads near the creek and easement are not impervious surface such as asphalt or cement, but rather gravel, thus retaining some ability to absorb water during a storm surge.
A Friends of Accotink Creek Invasive Management Area (IMA) site is along the creek in the residential zone just downstream from Little River Turnpike. Volunteers are working to control winged burning bush, privet and other non-native shrubs below a moderately dense canopy. Multiflora rose, mile-a-minute, and Japanese stilt grass also being targeted.
Wakefield Park is home to a large RECenter as well as widespread system of fields and maintained trails. The grounds are maintained fairly well considering the multiple land uses taking place in such a condensed area. Trash debris was often sparse walking up the creek but never too hard to spot.
The considerable degree of erosion that is common in other sections of the Accotink creek watershed is also present here. There are steeply eroded creek walls throughout. Overhanging bank material has slumped into the creek in many areas. Tributaries line the main stem in a dendritic fashion, carved deeply in areas by storm surges.
The Cross Country Trail (CCT) follows the creek from start to finish in this section. The CCT is part of a larger network that runs north 40 miles from the Occoquan River to the Potomac River. The soil and vegetative growth between the main stem and established trails in this section was often ample enough to afford the creek protection from foot & bike traffic. Other areas of heavily used trail run through tributaries, eroding away the walls and leaving the buffer scarce of vegetative growth.
Overall, this section of watershed is significantly eroded. In addition, native plants battle with invasive species and trail networks for growing space. Efforts to restore and sustain watershed health in this section will have to tackle how to make a more robust buffer zone given the heavy use the area currently receives.
