Beaverdam Reservoir Looks Trashed
Fairfax City's man-made lake in Ashburn could stand a good clean-up
Beaverdam Creek Reservoir sits nestled between Evergreen Mills Road and Belmont Ridge Road. But while the site boasts hiking trails for those wishing to explore its nature, the view currently leaves something to be desired.
The 350-acre man-made lake is owned by the City of Fairfax, housing a backup water supply from which they can replenish their primary reservoir on Goose Creek in Leesburg.
As a semi-avid hiker always desirous of new places to walk in the woods but unable of late to travel to the mountains, I was recently lured to the reservoir after seeing it mentioned on numerous sites as a suitable place to hike. From the eastern access point off Mt. Hope Road—tucked behind the Mt. Hope Baptist Church—a trail stretches one mile to the south and 1.3 miles to the north.
The trail, which in some older posts on singletracks.com is described as a moderately strenuous and appealing trip through the woods for bikers and hikers alike, puportedly leads to the dam.
In addition, the reservoir is also mentioned on many fishing sites. I am not a fisherman, so I leave such analysis to the Ashburn Outdoorsman columnist Sean Farrell, but I've heard the reservoir mentioned favorably for those who enjoy bass fishing. While there isn't direct vehicle access, small boats and kayaks are allowed on the water.
Despite the Web recommendations, unfortunately, Beaverdam Creek Reservoir is a mess.
Venturing there from the western access point on Reservoir Road, which is off Evergreen Mills, my first taste of the place found me surrounded by trash, broken beer bottles and discarded prophylactics. I took a quick journey to the water's edge and took some photos, but frankly was too grossed out by what I'd seen on the shore to linger.
The next time out I wanted to hike, so I drove into the eastern parking lot and immediately proceeded up the trail—a trail not merely imagined but marked and signed—towards the dam. Before heading up, though, I took a picture of a trash can overflowing with garbage and made note of the rather ample debris lying near the shore.
Going farther up the trail, I was disappointed to find dumping areas and trash sites at frequent intervals, many of them full of faded beer cans indicating they'd been there a long time. Several abandoned heaps looked like makeshift campsites. Even worse, the trail turned out to be completely impassable. Trees, obviously uprooted by 2010's epic snow storms, blocked the path and made venturing as far as the dam a complete impossibility.
Beaverdam Creek Reservoir was created for a specific municipal purpose. I don't know that the City of Fairfax should necessarily allow it to be used or not, but I wonder about the public health implications of such a site. It is offered up as a potential area for recreation, but it doesn't seem anybody is maintaining it as such.
That potentially creates safety and public health concerns, since the City of Fairfax and many eastern Loudoun residents get their water from a reservoir surrounded by garbage. The indications that some individuals may be camping in the woods, as well, could indicate hazards for lone hikers and others using the lake for recreation.
In the past, Loudoun County has battled with Fairfax City about whether zoning policies were being violated on the property.
I have heard reports the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has indicated it may take control of the property. I think they should. The property would make an excellent park and the Park Authority has the resources to maintain it.
The City of Fairfax, I expect, hardly has the money or inclination to support a recreational area miles to its west that residents will likely not visit. I do harbor sincere hopes, though, that when spring rolls around the trails will be clear, the trash cans empty and the property suitable for an enjoyable hike along its banks.
Dusty Smith
10:06 am on Monday, January 17, 2011
Has anyone else visited recently? Thoughts about the reservoir?
Sara Pellegrini
7:20 am on Tuesday, January 18, 2011
I completely agree. My kids and I go there on a semi-regular basis. It's a family favorite, but it definitely could use some TLC from the entity responsible for its maintenance.
Jack
11:53 am on Tuesday, January 18, 2011
I stopped going there after my dogs sliced their paws open on broken glass. Seriously, shards of broken glass is EVERYWHERE. Along the shore, in the water, on the trails. And a lot of the pools of water has oil/chemical residue. Sad.
Dusty Smith
5:17 pm on Tuesday, January 18, 2011
I couldn't help but notice that the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries points out that "crappie fishing is good in spring." Crappie, of course, is a type of fish, but a great play on words:
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=17
Jj
1:14 pm on Saturday, June 4, 2011
how deep is the reservoir? any chance you can water ski there in the future? just asking.......
Dusty Smith
12:46 pm on Tuesday, June 7, 2011
No boat landing, so really only small boats and kayaks can access it.
Dave
11:54 am on Monday, July 18, 2011
My girlfriend and I stumbled onto the reservoir yesterday. I am always out looking for new fishing holes and when I saw the street name, we turned down to check it out. The first site we entered was off of Reservoir Rd. It was trashed. There were garbage cans overflowing, broken bottles and beer cans littering the shore. There were a number of people swimming and having a bbq, as well as come people fishing up the shorline. I wouldn't recommend getting in the water there without tennis shoes on...and honestly, I don't think i would get in the water at all. It was just kind of nasty. From the shore we could see across to what appeared to be a boat launch. So, we headed over to see if we could find it. The access road is next to a small Baptist church off of Belmont Ridge Rd. This side was much cleaner, much nicer and didn't feel as "seedy" as the other side. You could launch a small jon boat (trolling motor only though), kayak, or canoe from this side too. Being a fisherman, this is the side I would fish. Lots of grass beds and feeding grounds for bass as well as trails that lead to other areas where you can access the shore. The kids we talked to on this side said there was another trail to access in the neighborhood up the street. We found the trail and walked to the backside of the reservoir (at the dam). This spot looks great to fish and I will definitely be fishing it soon.
Dusty Smith
1:15 pm on Monday, July 18, 2011
Thanks for the comments, update and tips. Great info.
Sean Farrell
1:59 pm on Monday, July 18, 2011
Hi Dave,thanks for the update and fishing scouting report. If you're interested in other local fishing info, check out my column the "Ashburn Outdoorsman," which runs every other week on this site. Here's a link to one column from earlier this year that highlights some local fishing hotspots. http://patch.com/A-gxDR
GOT2Row
10:48 pm on Tuesday, July 26, 2011
I have rowed on the reservoir for 6 year since moving from Philadelphia. This is a great body of water and I can't understand why people can't pick up after themselves. I coached a local high school rowing program this past spring and the team has improved the area. I hope others can work with us to make the reservoir a prime recreation area for Loudoun County, Take you trash home with you mom is not here to police after you!
Byron
5:00 pm on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Anyone know if a group wanted to work on the mountain bike (single track) trails to make this more mountain bike rideable, would we need to get any permission to do some work/clean up or can we just head out and start cleaning?
Dusty Smith
8:21 pm on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
I'd suggest at least trying to contact Fairfax City about it. I doubt they would object, but still probably best to ask.
DC Pattie
8:18 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
I tried to run around the lake this May (2011). It was impossible. The trail is in poor shape with very little signage. As Loudoun Co. citizens, we need to organize and make this a hiking and MTN biking paradise. I'm sure if we can get some of the local running/triathlon/cycling clubs involve we can make this happen.
RussH
2:12 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
@DC Pattie
Check with Potomac Appalachian Trail Club to see if members will volunteer to help with trail maintenance; they have the tools and experience to do it right. I know there are plenty of members that live in the area and most of us are always willing to help clean up and restore trails whether they fall under our jurisdiction or not.
WS6Roars
8:56 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
I tried mountain biking through there twice this fall, I was dragging my bike over/under trees as much as I was riding it. Lost the trail several times...
TD
4:26 pm on Thursday, March 22, 2012
I was just out there and the amount of wind fallen trees is insane. It's dirty, but I would say only moderately so. A concerted effort over a few weekends could remedy that. Impossible to stay on the trail, though, for all of the trees.
Dusty Smith
3:43 pm on Thursday, April 5, 2012
I understand the Boy Scouts will be doing a clean up April 27. We'll provide more info as we get it.
thewrightgirl
2:51 pm on Friday, October 12, 2012
Do they allow paddleboarding on the lake?
Marcus Meyer
3:46 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
I'd be willing to come out on a weekend for a group cleanup effort, and I'm sure others would too. We can wait on local government to do something (which will probably linger longer than our interest) or we can do something about it ourselves. Anyone willing to coordinate and market?
DC Pattie
8:18 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
The kids associated with the local HS rowing clubs have already started cleaning up the area. I think its fantastic to have this kids rowing on the Reservoir. I would say the best organization to contact to coordinate a group effort would be the folks at "Loudoun Rowing".
rob
8:16 am on Wednesday, April 24, 2013
is trapping legal on the reservoir?
B3_Ashburn
8:25 pm on Sunday, May 12, 2013
Went kayaking on the reservoir today; we launched from the access area off Mt Hope road. It seemed that the place was better taken care of than what it was when this article was wrote. We kayaked across the reservoir to the access area off of Reservoir Road and saw the same. I hope that it stays this way...
DC Pattie
6:48 am on Monday, May 13, 2013
I think we can owe much of the improvement to the local rowing teams that have made a concerted effort to clean up the surrounding area.