A Natural Alternative for Fairfax's George Snyder Trail

Make Use of the Tree-Free Wastewater Line and Preserve More Trees

Connecting the Region, Naturally

Getting around in parts of Fairfax City will be much more pleasant in a few years, once the proposed George Snyder Trail becomes a reality.

Aiming to improve local and regional connectivity, Fairfax City planners recenty shared their ideas for an exciting "context-sensitive" shared-use trail project that includes:

  • welcoming nature overlooks,
  • native plant installations,
  • environmental education elements, and
  • green infrastructure features for stormwater management.

Image credit: https://www.fairfaxva.gov/home/showdocument?id=16572

Maximize the Trail's Value

The George Snyder Trail will provide many benefits to Fairfax City residents and visitors. City planners can maximize the trail's value and minimize its total economic and environmental cost by considering a few changes to their laudible current plan.

Specifically, they could reroute some parts of the trail as it is currently proposed, and instead align it with the existing wastewater right-of-way. Such a move would preserve trees, save future taxpayer dollars, and serve as a best-practices model for cities considering similar trail projects in the future.

33 Years and Counting: A Proud Tree City USA Honoree

Fairfax has been honored with "Tree City USA" designation for the last 33 years. Taking advantage of the nearby, tree-free wastewater right-of-way to develop some sections of the new George Snyder Trail will preserve even more of the valuable tree canopy that remains a source of pride for Fairfax residents.

Trailblazing Not Required

  • This inviting, tree-free path through the forest already beckons visitors to come in, take a stroll, and enjoy nature near sections of the proposed George Snyder Trail; this path through the forest was already cleared to make way for the wastewater pipes that are hidden underground.

What's the value of the benefits Fairfax City will enjoy with the preservation of more trees?

The pictured 40"-diameter white oak tree in Fairfax provides $336 in benefits every year, including the interception of 19,742 gallons of stormwater and 2,020 lbs. of atmospheric carbon annually**.

The number of trees that will be removed with the current George Snyder Trail proposal is not known at this time, but it is estimated that between 300 to 500 trees may need to be felled to make way for the 20'-wide path.

Tens of Thousands of Dollars in Benefits Every Year

Choosing to develop the George Snyder Trail along the existing, tree-free wastewater right-of-way (and preserving more of the forest) will allow Fairfax residents to continue enjoying the economic and envioronmental benefits worth tens of thousands of dollars annually that the forest trees currently provide **.

In contrast, removal of hundreds of forest trees may cost Fairfax residents hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost economic and environmental benefits that can never be recovered.

  • **The National Tree Benefit Calculator provides a dollar-amount estimate of the economic and environmental benefits provided by any particular tree, including stormwater management, carbon sequestration, increased property value, and more. Learn more at  http://www.treebenefits.com/calculator/ .

Image credit: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/58341337

Scroll down for a map tour of the Accotink Creek stream valley to see some locations where the existing wastewater line may be the better choice for the George Snyder Trail.

1

The sunlight highlights the better alternative for development of the George Snyder Trail; a cleared path already exists.

2

Manhole covers rise like mile markers along the path.

3

The infrastructure of the wastewater line invites the infrastructure of the George Snyder Trail to follow.

4

Walkers in the existing cleared right-of-way enjoy dappled sunlight on their journey.

5

The green carpet has already been rolled out to welcome future trail users.

6

The grassy path of the wastewater line beckons visitors (and trail developers) to follow.

7

This forest trail is a clear path forward.

8

The blue sky peeks through the canopy where previous tree removal made way for the wastewater line.

Widening this existing path will be less economically and environmentally costly than slashing a second, 20'-wide path through the mature forest parkland nearby.

9

Urge the Fairfax City Council to choose the wastewater right-of-way for sections of the George Snyder Trail to preserve valuable forest trees.

_______________________________________

Contact Councilmember Miller:

Contact Councilmember Lim

Contact Councilmember Ross

Contact Councilmember Stehle.

Contact Councilmember

10

The trail has already been blazed.

The George Snyder Trail can follow this existing path already cleared for the wastewater line, reducing the environmental and financial burden of the proposed project and preserving the benefits of the forest.

11

In Ranger Road Park, two walkers enjoy the trail along the path of the wastewater line.

Coming to the end of this story map tour is the beginning of your journey towards a better alternative for the George Snyder Trail.

12

Why not continue what already works?

The Ranger Road Park trail already follows the path of the wastewater line at this point, where it would merge with the George Snyder Trail.

13

The proposed route of the George Snyder Trail already follows the path of the wastewater line at this point on its eastern end.

Urge the Fairfax City Council to ask planners to use the wastewater right-of-way for sections of the George Snyder Trail to preserve valuable forest trees,

For more information:

Visit the:

Contact:

 Councilmember Sang H. Yi Contact Mayor Meyers at

Contact Councilmember Joseph Harmon at J oseph.Harmon.fairfaxva.gov .

Councilmember Harmon:

Photos by Renee Grebe, ANS