<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=48T6aY_0vi7xqtd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=48T6aY_0vi7xqtd00" width="1100" height="733" ><figcaption>Town Branch flows through the heavily wooded backyards of homes along Mosby Drive and Newhall Place. Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now</figcaption></figure>A Leesburg government effort to address erosion concerns along a 1,500-foot section of Town Branch is meeting strong objections from neighbors who are pushing for a less disruptive approach. The town engineers began the study of the creek channel between Catoctin Circle and Morven Park Road after residents in 2019 told the Town Council of worries that streambank erosion was undermining backyard retaining walls and fencing. The town landed a $1 million stormwater assistance grant from the Department of Environmental Quality and in 2022 hired a consultant to begin design work.That consultant, WSP, is the same design team that won accolades for its work restoring a portion of Tuscarora Creek’s stream corridor near Brandon Park. However, the preliminary concept plans shared earlier this year with the 28 residents living along Mosby Drive and Newhall Place that has the stream in their backyards didn’t find much support.The neighbors objected to the scale of the streambed restoration effort, especially plans for the removal of trees that provide shade and privacy.According to the study, erosion has begun to undercut the banks and is threatening two stormwater outfalls. The town’s urban forester has identified at least 15 trees that have been undercut by the erosion and are at risk of falling. Many of the neighbors gathered in at Town Hall on Monday night as the Town Council was given an update on the project. Many are pushing for a smaller scale approach that would only address the critical areas of concern. One neighbor submitted alternate plans to instead create an artificial channel with piping to limit the need for land disturbance. Town staff members told the council that they’ll be going back to the drawing board to incorporate the neighborhood feedback into a new design—likely one of many redesigns that will take place before the project moves to construction in 2027. The current project estimate is $4.3 million.“We’ll go back and forth as long as we needed to,” Public Works Director Renée LaFollette said.Council members expressed hope that the effort could balance the requirements for stormwater management and water quality with the goals of improving the natural habitat and preserving trees. “This is not a final project. This is a starting point,” Mayor Kelly Burk said. However, she cautioned the residents that it was an important project that will move forward in some form. “We can’t ignore it. We can’t pretend it is not happening,” she said.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

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Residents Raise Concerns Over Town Branch Erosion Control Plan

A Leesburg government effort to address erosion concerns along a 1,500-foot section of Town Branch is meeting strong objections from neighbors who are pushing for a less disruptive approach. The town engineers began the study of the creek channel between Catoctin Circle and Morven Park Road after residents in 2019...