7 quick points on floodplain impact from Rt. 7/690 Interchange ramps

In the three minutes allotted to each speaker in the citizen comment portion of the June 27 Purcellville Town Council meeting, Catoctin Meadows resident Ron Rise Sr. offered some quick points, which serve to clarify controversial issues between the town and Loudoun County. They address the planned Rt. 7/690 Interchange and its impact on a fragile floodplain.

First, Rise Sr. noted, in April 2018 Loudoun County published a public hearing brochure that stated the 7/690 Interchange would have potential impacts on the 100-year floodplain. “That same brochure stated that no stream work is proposed in the South Fork of the Catoctin Creek.” 

“Also in 2018, VDOT published a Value Engineering Study stating that the interchange’s eastbound and westbound ramps are not warranted for the opening year of 2020 or future 2040 years.”

“VDOT predicted that only 130 vehicles in the morning and 70 vehicles in the p.m. hours were predicted to use the eastbound off-ramp.”

“Loudoun County identified Catoctin Creek as a major floodplain as far back as 2013,” said Rise Sr. “The county floodplain study,” he pointed out, “says the 100-year floodplain flow rates have jumped about twofold, from 3,617 cubic feet per second to 7,447 cubic feet per second, or about the weight of a single modern locomotive every second.”

According to the county, Rise Sr. went on, “the Rt. 7/690 Interchange will not change the floodplain or at least the fill needed to construct the eastbound ramp, or the new Rt. 7 main line east – and westbound six lane bridges (total) that will be installed across Catoctin Creek east and west of 690” – not shown in the map.”

“Additionally, the county has identified 24 properties affected by this new 100-year floodplain study with 21 of those located in Purcellville, including two town owned properties.”

“Last,” he said, “movement of the Dominion Power utility poles and lines located in the wetlands and floodplain areas have not been addressed by the county to date. Movement of these poles and lines will most likely cause off-easement land disturbance and tree removal required by the construction of this interchange just by itself.”