Exposed Soapstone manhole, from the cover of the Soapstone Valley Park Sewer Rehabilitation Environmental Assessment
A deteriorating, 110-year-old sewer system runs through the Soapstone Valley. The National Park Service and DC Water have released the environmental assessment of DC Water’s preferred plan to rehabilitate the system. The federal and city agency will hold a public meeting on this subject June 26th at the Forest Hills of DC Assembly Hall (4901 Connecticut Avenue).
In the meantime, a group of community members are studying the Soapstone Valley sewer EA closely. The document was the primary focus of the ANC 3F Parks & Trails Committee June 10th meeting.
DC Water’s preferred plan of attack involves cleaning, lining and repairing 6,200 linear feet of sanitary sewer pipe – the type that carries human waste from homes and businesses. The work would eliminate as many exposed pipes and manholes as possible. And some stormwater outfalls would be repaired.
Alex Sanders is also the district manager of DC trails for the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.
The committee’s questions and concerns focused on four key areas of the project:
- Tree removal, primarily around four access points where heavy vehicles will be brought into the park on newly-constructed paths.
- Closure of the trails for up to two years during the construction phase, and parts of the park for up to four years.
- Rehabilitation of the park with particular concern about tree replanting.
- Rehabilitation of the Albemarle storm sewer.
Sanders reiterated more than once that given the construction or widening of trails to up to 20 feet in width, the regrading at Albemarle Street, the removal of 371 trees, and the work in the stream to protect the sewer line, the park would look very different.
Rutenberg raised the length of the project as a concern for those who depend on Soapstone for access to Rock Creek Park trails.
Committee members were also concerned about what the assessment doesn’t include. For example, the plans for stormwater management and erosion mitigation alongside Albemarle Street fall under DC Water’s, not the Park Service’s, purview. There was hope that DC Water could come to an ANC meeting to provide further details.
The staging of this project is also not discussed in the assessment. Sally Gresham brought up the issue of residents along Audubon Terrace having access to their homes. Sanders mentioned his concern about the construction spreading invasive plants. He plans to have a conversation with DC Water about its plans to prevent this from happening.
Sanders emphasized repeatedly that details such as these would not be in such a general document as the environmental assessment. Even so, such questions raised in the June 26th public meeting would be important in guiding DC Water in its design phase.
Everyone at the Parks & Trails meeting was given the assignment of preparing questions for the public meeting. Sanders, who deals with many community groups facing similar projects, said they were way ahead of most groups in their understanding of this project.
The community is invited to attend the next ANC 3F Parks & Trails Committee meeting Monday, July 8th at 7 p.m. They meet at Forest Hills of DC (4901 Connecticut Avenue). Sanders expects the committee will spend most, if not all, of the meeting on the Soapstone environmental assessment.
And again, don’t forget about the community meeting hosted by the National Park Service and DC Water on June 26th, 6 to 8 p.m., at the same location. Register your comments there, submit them online or send by mail by August 2nd.
Jane Thery says
Your comments were successfully submitted.
June 17, 2019 08:51 AM Mountain Time
Park: Rock Creek Park
Project: Rehabilitation of Sewer Infrastructure in Soapstone Valley Park
Document: Soapstone Valley Park Sewer Rehabilitation Environmental Assessment
Comments: I recommend looking into the link between a newly reconstructed Soapstone Trail and the Rock Creek walking trail system. Consider turning Broad Branch Road into a one-way street to reduce traffic, protect the stream and build in a bike/walking lane.
It is very dangerous to walk from the end of Soapstone Trail into Rock Creek Park proper as there is no room to get away from the car traffic.
The sewer/storm water upgrade plan needs to take into account the natural water flow as well as the outdoor recreation users of the trail. Storm water needs to be slowed down to avoid erosion and stripping the flora and fauna out of the stream and stream banks. Vegetation buffers and permeable surfaces will contribute to a more ecologically-sound system along Soapstone Valley, into Broad Branch and Rock Creeks. Engage the Rock Creek Conservancy as well as the National Park Service.
This is a great asset to our community which needs careful planning and community engagement.
Alex S. says
I agree that the stormwater runoff is the major problem in Soapstone Valley. Nearly all of the stormwater runoff originates from outside of the boundaries of the Park- in our neighborhoods from impervious surfaces such as roofs, streets, parking lots, driveways, and alleys. Vegetated buffers and permeable surfaces in the watershed is the answer and happily, DC has excellent and generous programs to support them. I hope all residents and business owners will sign up for a RiverSmart stormwater audit through the District Department of Energy and Environment and install green infrastructure on eligible private property. Every gallon of water that infiltrates into the ground through green infrastructure is one more that does not flood our streams and erode our parks.
Green Eyeshades says
The next meeting of the Parks & Trails committee of ANC 3F is tomorrow, Monday, July 8.
What information was provided by government agencies at the June 26 meeting?
How many comments have been submitted to NPS about the sewer rehab impact on wildlife?
Green Eyeshades says
I feel there is a gap in the Connection’s coverage of the Soapstone Ravine (valley) sewer rehabilitation project. An important community meeting was scheduled for June 26, and the ANC’s parks & trails committee was scheduled to hold a meeting on July 8. So far, I have not seen any reports about either meeting on the Connection.
On the new Northwest Courier website (nwc dot news), the June 18 meeting of ANC 3F is the most recent meeting covered by the Courier.
The following is the full text of the Courier’s report on the ANC’s June 18 discussion of the Soapstone Ravine sewer project:
“The commission highlighted an update on the Soapstone Valley Environmental Assessment, which includes a public hearing on Wednesday, June 26 at Forest Hills of DC from 6-8 p.m. Comment period for the assessment will close Friday, August 2. Commissioner Rutenberg mentioned that the Parks and Trails committee will be the formal communication vehicle for the assessment. On Thursday, June 4, the National Park Service released the interest in replacing the aging sanitary sewer pipes in Soapstone Valley. NPS announced impacts including the length of construction and park closure (18-24 months), removal of 300+ trees and trimming of additional trees, water modification, and path renovation to provide access for large construction vehicles. The next Parks and Trails Committee meeting, which will discuss a response to the interest of the NPS to begin construction, will take place Monday, July 8. Dickinson asked about the noise impact. Van Ness East Board will be hosting a meeting and discussing this topic as well. The engineer in charge of the project will attend the second of three meetings hosted by the NPS.”