A federal investigation will fall short of finding solutions to the worst of Fairfax County’s flooding, and officials say a closer study is needed to ensure the Cameron Run disaster does not repeat itself.
The Army Corps of Engineers plans to mount a $210,000, nine-month study into the recent storms that tore through parts of the county and caused millions in damage to public and private property. Only $25,000 of the investigation goes toward the Huntington area, which was crippled by a wall of water from Cameron Run that swept through the neighborhood in late June.
“I think that because of the flooding in Huntington, there probably needs to be a broader look,” said Mason District Supervisor Penelope Gross.
Residents are now demanding that officials not only root out the cause of the disaster, but also prevent it from happening again. At this point, however, the corps has not been asked to expand the investigation to examine solutions to the Cameron Run flooding, said Stacey Underwood, study leader for the corps.
Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerald Hyland, whose district encompasses the community, said the county will devote a “considerable amount of money” toward a more in-depth analysis of the stream.
Investigation details
» Fairfax County signed an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers Monday to conduct a study of the Belle Haven Watershed and Cameron Run flooding. The initiative is funded almost entirely by the county.
» The corps anticipates a six-month investigation into the Cameron Run portion, and a nine-month completion for the entire study.
