What the County is doing:

Fairfax County is currently focused on studying and planning long‑term sediment‑management solutions for Lake Accotink, rather than dredging immediately. The county has launched multi‑year technical studies and partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey to measure silt coming into the lake.

The county is running a multi-year Smaller Lake Accotink Preservation Feasibility Study, begun in April 2025, to evaluate how to preserve a viable lake while managing the heavy sediment inflow from Accotink Creek. The study models sediment movement, settling, and bedload trapping to determine which interventions could keep the lake sustainable. It includes a dam assessment, the sedimentation analysis, and an evaluation of upstream sediment‑control measures.

‍ ‍What the county is not doing right now:

The county is not currently dredging the lake and there is currently no plan to dredge. Earlier Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) staff recommendations suggested abandoning dredging entirely. Save Lake Accotink believes that dredging needs to start as soon as possible as continued delays could make costs rise and possibly lead to the end of the lake.

Fairfax County’s current approach centers on data‑driven planning and technical studies to determine the most sustainable long‑term solution for Lake Accotink. While many residents want faster action, the county maintains that gathering accurate sediment and engineering data is essential before committing to major interventions like dredging.