Dear APWA Mid- Atlantic Chapter members and colleagues: 

I hope everyone had a safe holiday and winter weather season.  I am sure we are all back in high gear again serving our communities in a variety of ways.

President-elect Jeff Wilkerson and the conference planning committee have been meeting regularly to make our Mid- Atlantic Chapter conference the best conference ever.  The group plans to schedule an on-site visit of our hotel and other facilities in March.  New for this year, we plan to offer the Winter Maintenance Certificate for Supervisors and Operators as a part of the conference.  We hope this certificate will provide additional value to members and attract some people that have never attended a chapter conference.  Conference registration is open so please get signed up.

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter Board of Directors held a half day strategic planning meeting on November 13, 2025 in Lynchburg, VA. We had a good discussion about what we are doing well and what we can improve as a Chapter to provide value to our members.

Finally, my heart goes out to those still in recovery due to Hurricane Helene in Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. I am thinking of the countless hours Public Works professionals spend helping their communities recover from horrible disasters, responding to snow and ice emergencies, and working to keep other critical services and infrastructure safe and functioning. Thanks to all of our Public Works first responders, public and private, that often work countless hours without recognition.

I look forward to seeing you in Ocean City, Maryland, in April/May 2025.     

#LitterFreePWC 

Deborah K. Campbell, PWC Solid Waste Division

In 2023, the Prince William County Solid Waste Division began managing the Litter Crew, a team of county employees tasked with roadside clean-ups on a schedule that covers the county's main roads on average, every 30 days. 

With this new responsibility, the Division is excited to raise awareness of its litter abatement efforts. Working closely with the Prince William County Communications Department, a brash but funny “Trashy” the Racoon was conceived. In June 2024, the first “Trashy” the Racoon video was presented via County social media, newsletter, and at various community outreach events. Trashy was developed to make residents aware and take control of their actions that may contribute to litter. Trashy uses being a raccoon as his excuse to litter but poses the question, “What is your excuse?” to viewers. #LitterFreePWC

View the Video Trashy the Raccoon the Trashy Driver - Litter PSA Here

The APWA Mid-Atlantic 2025 WRX will be held in Ocean City, MD, from

April 29-May 2, 2025, at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. This exciting event will include three days of educational sessions, vendor exhibits, networking, an equipment ROADEO, golf social, awards, and the 65th APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter WRX Conference and Trade Show. Lodging will be at the Hilton Suites Oceanfront in Ocean City. Hotel reservations need to be made by April 8, 2025, to receive the reduced group rate of $160 per night. You can call the hotel directly (1-401-289-6444) and use the group code APWA Mid Atlantic to receive the reduced rate. 

For the first time at WRX, we will be hosting the following two Winter Maintenance Workshops:

April 29, 2025 

The Supervisor Certificate Program is to help foremen, supervisors, and managers of winter maintenance operations understand how to develop and maintain an effective winter maintenance program, resulting in more effective, efficient, equitable and environmentally friendly snow and ice control. 

April 30, 2025 

The Operator Certificate Program is for staff performing winter operations, including operators, crew leaders, and foremen. The program focuses on snow and ice control materials and how they work, equipment, and operations. 

Light breakfast, coffee, and lunch will be provided on both days. Please note that registration for these workshops is separate from the Conference registration. 

The annual golf tournament will be held on April 30th in Salisbury, MD, about 20 minutes west of Ocean City. The equipment ROADEO will also be held on April 30th at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. The Chapter will be hosting a YP/PWI social on Wednesday, April 30th. The Chapter social will be held on Thursday evening, May1st at Seacrets Restaurant and Distillery. The opening session and business meeting will be May 1st at 8:15am with the awards ceremony starting afterwards at 10:15am. The educational sessions will start on May 1st at 12:30pm and will continue Friday, May 2nd at 8:00am with the WRX closing ceremony at 12:00pm. 

Please visit our website for more detailed information and registration for all these exciting events. Vendors and exhibitors can also find more information on our website for exhibit hours and registration information. 

2025 Chapter Sponsorships are still available - click here for more information.

The Belmont Bridge Replacement project is one of the most complicated and high-profile projects the City of Charlottesville has delivered. The previous Belmont Bridge was vehicle-focused, without proper, fair, and safe connections for pedestrians, disconnected neighborhoods. After more than 40 years, the bridge had fallen into significant disrepair.

In 2016, the City of Charlottesville selected Kimley-Horn to provide professional design and engineering services for an urban design plan to replace both the City’s Belmont Bridge and its approaches. The project addressed a series of perplexing challenges—a bridge in need of replacement, limited corridor rights-of-way, aspirations for a more complete street, and opportunities for enhanced placemaking—all in a heavily traveled corridor leading into the historic downtown.

One of the factors that made this project a success was Kimley-Horn’s transparent engagement process. The entire approach required truly unique and innovative applications for the project to be successful. Instead of coming into the project with a preconceived vision of how the bridge would look and function, the Kimley-Horn team started with input from the public, and the project was built from that input. It took time to build a trusting relationship with the City, the public, and stakeholders, and to do this, the engagement process had to be completely transparent. Plans, computations, all meeting notes, road construction information, and any public information about the project was posted on the project’s website and social media pages so the public would be informed every step of the way. Within the 12-month-long public engagement process, Kimley-Horn earned the trust of the community and accomplished the following:

• Completed 22 public (small-format) meetings

• Collected 1,250+ written comments

• Created 3,500+ touch points

• Observed 30,500+ individual data points

• Received 8,053 unique page views on the project website, belmontbridge.org



From public input it was apparent that the community wanted and needed a more pedestrian-friendly bridge. The aesthetic design of the Belmont Bridge replacement came out through public engagement, and it was important to showcase a design that showed a connected city. In the bridge’s original condition, there was only one pedestrian connection to the amphitheater and downtown mall. This created an unsafe experience as pedestrians had to traverse dangerously close to vehicular traffic with no barriers and walk a circuitous route around 9th Street to Water Street, where the Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) bus station is located and buses often line down the street unloading and loading passengers. To enhance the pedestrian experience and improve access and balance safety between vehicles and pedestrians, the Kimley-Horn team designed an innovative structure, affectionately referred to as a knuckle connection. The knuckle connection essentially created a plaza structure that was connected to the main Belmont Bridge to better circulate pedestrians between the Ting Pavilion, 9th Street, and Water Street. The final knuckle connection creates an inviting and accessible plaza space.

The knuckle connection also serves as a design tool so that the bridge separates pedestrians, bicycle lanes, and vehicular traffic. The new bridge includes an unprecedented 40 feet of bike and pedestrian width compared to 22 feet of vehicular lanes—all while preserving the City’s famous mountain views. In addition to the bike and pedestrian features, the bridge now links neighborhoods and notably has two equitable pedestrian connections to get to the downtown mall. The north street side of the bridge now has a walkable mezzanine as well as a main pedestrian connection for all residential areas to the south of the bridge.

Through innovative solutions, such as designs for pedestrian use in a small multimodal urban environment and unique maintenance of traffic techniques to keep the Belmont Bridge—a main thoroughfare in Charlottesville—open at all times during construction, Kimley-Horn successfully completed the Belmont Bridge replacement. The Belmont Bridge Replacement project now serves as the standard procedure for the City for future large infrastructure projects. The city and its citizens received a beautiful bridge that blends with the uniqueness of Charlottesville, provides safe pedestrian connections to downtown, helps the city with their goal of reducing their carbon footprint, and sets a pattern for redevelopment to continue establishing missing connections throughout the City while providing continued growth for generations to come.

Today, the Belmont Bridge replacement is a centerpiece of transportation infrastructure in downtown Charlottesville, providing equitable connections to neighborhoods and the downtown mall. The momentous completion of the new Belmont Bridge was celebrated on June 28, 2024, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and has been recognized as a 2025 ACEC Virginia Grand Award Winner.

The APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter is pleased to announce the launch of its scholarship program for the Fall 2025 term. The scholarships are aimed at students and professionals that are passionate about Public Works and want to contribute to their community.

There are three $2,500 student scholarships that are awarded to members or members’ dependents of the Mid-Atlantic chapter who are enrolled or intend to enroll in a full-time undergraduate or graduate degree program at an accredited college or university. Students applying for scholarships must primarily reside in the Mid-Atlantic chapter.

There are two $1,000 professional development scholarships that are awarded to members of the Mid-Atlantic chapter who work in the Mid-Atlantic region and are enrolled or intend to enroll in a part or full-time undergraduate or graduate degree program at an accredited community college, college or university. Preference is given to those pursuing coursework affiliated with the support of Public Works agencies (i.e., Engineering, Architecture, Interior Design, Construction Management, Graphic Arts, Business, Public Administration, Finance, etc.). Applicants must work in the Mid-Atlantic region of Virginia, DC, Maryland or West Virginia.

Applicants must complete an application on the website which includes a brief essay on how they see their education relating to a career in Public Works and what they hope to accomplish in a Public Works career.

Applications are due March 21, 2025. The winners will be announced in April.



Click Here to learn more about the APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter.

Wilkinson Road is an important road in Henrico County, Virginia, that connects the eastern part of the county with the western portion. In fact, Wilkinson Road is the only roadway where residents in Henrico can drive between the eastern and western portion without driving into either the City of Richmond or Hanover County. Other than a beautiful natural area, Wilkinson Road also has numerous neighborhoods, Three Lakes Nature Park, Richmond International Raceway, and major employers such as Amazon are in the immediate vicinity.

Wilkinson Road crosses over a major creek named Upham Brook, which is surrounded by wetlands, and consisted of one triple-barrel metal pipe culvert and four double-barrel reinforced concrete ancillary culverts. The original triple-barrel culvert structure at Upham Brook was built in 1954 and underwent emergency repairs during 2008 in which the three 114” corrugated metal culverts were grouted in-place under the structure. This emergency repair helped to extend the life of the culverts but long-term plans for replacement were necessary.

Wilkinson Road would also frequently flood during 10-year and 25-year storm events which prevented safe travel of motor vehicles and emergency vehicles along the roadway. Additionally, the culverts frequently became clogged due to flood debris and driftwood from the adjacent wetland area during intense storm events.

To address these issues, Henrico County initiated a project to replace the existing triple-barrel culvert with a 70-foot-long single span bridge and two of the existing double-barrel culverts were replaced with 40-foot-long single span bridges. The remaining two double-barrel culverts were abandoned in place using a flowable fill. A widened paved shoulder was also implemented throughout the project limits enhancing bicycle and pedestrian amenities along Wilkinson Road.

To speed up the project timeline, a decision was made to construct the bridges with a full detour. This detour required a lot of public engagement and coordination. Construction of the project was timed directly after a NASCAR race at the Richmond International Raceway to limit how many races were impacted by the project. However, the timeline of the project required the closure for two race weekends.

The Wilkinson Road Bridge Replacement project started in Fall 2023 and is anticipated to be opened ahead of schedule in Spring 2025. The county received numerous inquiries about the timeline of the project since many residents did not realize how many culverts they drove over. In response, the county produced a project update video (Wilkinson Road Culvert Replacement Update - Spring 2024) which was very effective at informing residents of the project. County staff also provided updates at multiple community meetings to keep the public informed.

Once complete, this project provides “A More Resilient Henrico” by addressing critical flooding hazards present during heavy storm events, eliminating costly maintenance efforts in removing accumulated flood debris, and replacing existing bridge structures that were structurally deficient ensuring continued motorist and pedestrian safety along Wilkinson Road.

Photo Top: Wilkinson Road Bridge Replacement project location map; Photo Left: Looking north on Wilkinson Road. Bridges B1, B2, and B3; Photo right: Wilkinson Road Bridge B1

State and local officials and community leaders cut the ribbon on the Etting Street Green Space project in November 2024.

Over the years, a block in the Druid Heights neighborhood in West Baltimore had become a dumping ground for old mattresses, broken appliances, and rubble.

But now, the site is transformed. Where heaps of trash had once covered enough surface that they increased flood risk to the area, there’s now a green space, with native trees, flood mitigation, and a place for the community to come together.

Read more HERE

The community celebrated the roughly $16 million project with a ribbon-cutting event on December 19, 2024. The new road is a common thoroughfare for motorists but also acts as the dividing line between the Fairfield and Varina districts. This is truly a project that bridges both communities. The project broke ground in March 2023, and finished ahead of its initial scheduled completion in 2025. Creighton Road is now a four-lane divided roadway between Sandy Lane and North Laburnum Avenue, allowing safer travel by motorists between the two roads. The newly aligned road with curb and gutter and storm sewer also features new six 10-foot by 4-foot box culverts to prevent flooding, which had occurred regularly on the old stretch of Creighton Road.

Dabbs House Road has also been realigned and now intersects with Creighton Road about 500 feet west of its previous location. With this intersection now farther from the busy intersection with North Laburnum, motorists have a safer turn onto Creighton Road as well as eliminating difficult to navigate curves.

But motorists aren’t the only ones to benefit. With new sidewalks and other pedestrian accommodations along Creighton Road and Dabbs House Road, pedestrians can safely travel the area in a way that previously wasn’t possible. We’re not just focused on fixing roads — we’re focused on saving lives and ensuring that our community’s infrastructure works for everyone, whether they’re in a car, on a bike or on foot. These types of projects have been shown to benefit the surrounding communities. By enhancing the infrastructure here, we are ensuring that every resident, no matter where they live or how they get around, has the same opportunities to move freely and safely in our county.

This project provides “A more resilient Henrico” by providing much needed improvements, including reduction of flood risk to enhance the community and provide safer navigation for both motorists and pedestrians.

November 7^th through 9^th of last year, I made my way to the American Public Works Association Headquarters in Kansas City to participate in Class XVIII of the Emerging Leaders Academy. My first experience with the ELA was in 2014 as a student member of Class VIII. I credit the Emerging Leaders Academy with giving me a laser focus on what I expected of myself as a leader and for empowering me to return to the APWA as an instructor. This is the second class with the new panel of instructors which includes me (Chad O!) Vic Bianes, Margaret Medellin, Julie Hunt, and Laura Kroeger (ELA Class I), a team with a diverse background, experiences, and talent.

This class welcomed new 30 students, led by the 5 instructors, a few special guests, and two spectacular staff members from the APWA.

(Photo credit: Nicole Brockwell)



As always, when we stay at Hotel Kansas City, a garish portrait of Bertha Goodwin welcomed us to our rooms. We learned about Bertha’s history during Class XVII the previous year. The portrait of Bertha graces the walls in every guestroom and suite in Hotel Kansas City. Bertha Goodwin was the first woman who attempted to join what was then the all-men’s Kansas City Club back in the early 1920’s. Unfortunately, she was never successful in her efforts, but the hotel continues to honor her vivacious spirit in Hotel Kansas City today by placing her in every guestroom! One of the groups from the class claimed the spirit of Bertha Goodman and adopted the team name “Bertha’s Public Workers”. From the 1920’s to the 2020’s, I think Bertha’s spirit lives in within the hearts of Public Works. I’d like to think that if she had a chance 100 years later, she would have been a Public Works professional and worked tirelessly to create a safe and equitable environment for the citizens she would have served.

Retreat weekends are always a whirlwind that kicks off with a welcome dinner and ice breaker Thursday evening. I won’t share with you what the ice breaker activities are because I enjoy observing the class's reaction to them. I will say this, I am usually an ice breaker denier. In Kansas City, I get to lead an ice breaker that I very much enjoy. APWA President-Elect Vic Bianes leads the other ice breaker and his is even better than mine! We try to get the blood flowing, conversations started and somewhat intentionally set a tone of friendly competition.

As always, when there is free food, there is work to do. Thursday night includes our Leadership and Challenges Roundtable where we discuss challenges that the new students face. That night, the instructors collaborate to align topics in the retreat with those challenges, the APWA Leadership and Management Committee’s Leadership Framework and/or the 7 Habits of Highly Dysfunctional Leaders.

And there’s homework, too! Everyone is sent out for the night with an INSIGHT Inventory® Personality and Behavioural Style Assessment meant to give each student some insight into their personal and personalities. The INISGHT Inventory serves to kick off Friday morning’s discussion and distracts the class from the great entertainment in the downstairs lounge or throughout a thriving Kansas City.

Friday morning starts with coffee and breakfast then goes right into discussing how our personalities impact our leadership led by APWA staff Deanne Cross and Corinne Watts. This is a perennially popular topic. Deanne and Corrine take us on a deep dive into our different personality types and how, no matter where a person is on the personality spectrum, there is someone on the other end of the spectrum who may be wholly different from us and how their personality traits complement and support our own.

Read the full article HERE

APWA Mid-Atlantic: Strengthening Connections Through Social Media

The APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter is thrilled to reintroduce our socials and elevate our community engagement! With the support of our social media team, we’re excited to leverage platforms like X (x.com/APWAMidAtlantic) and Facebook (facebook.com/APWAMidAtlantic) to share updates and connect more closely with the communities our public works professionals serve every day. Plus, we recently created a chapter page on LinkedIn! Look us up and connect! 

Spring is Coming...But the Mosquitoes Don’t Have To!

Wes Robertson, Henrico County Vector Surveillance & Control, Environmental & Vector Management Specialist III

Certified Medical Entomologist

As winter rages, mosquito management and waterway clean-up efforts tend to pause for the season. Wintertime clean-ups are an opportunity to proactively reduce mosquito populations and increase the efficiency of waterway clean-up efforts. 

(Photo left: Vector Surveillance and Control Staff cleaning up and getting rid of trash and habitats from Hungry Creek in 2024 as part of our mosquito control programming.)

Cleaning up waterways can effectively suppress localized mosquito populations as there are several characteristics shared by multiple mosquito species that align them with waterway habitats. Female mosquitoes of all species will consistently seek out egg-laying habitats that are directly associated with permanent, temporary, and/or flood areas. Once located, mosquitoes will deposit eggs either in, on, or around water sources within these habitats. Mosquitoes will utilize either natural stagnant water pockets or water-filled containers, and, on occasion, both within these areas. No matter where the eggs are deposited, mosquito larvae require submersion in water to grow and develop into adults.

A prominent subgroup of mosquitoes (Aedes, specifically Aedes albopictus) has adapted to solely use “man-made containers” as their egg-laying and developmental habitats. This means that containers, trash, and even some natural debris that often end up in waterways can create ideal mosquito nurseries in the spring. One of the more prominent places we find containers and trash is within the water pathways and riparian zones of creeks, channels, ditches, and streams.

 Extending clean-up events throughout the winter provides many benefits including raising awareness for “offseason” mosquito control, reducing litter, inspiring community pride, and reducing the availability of mosquito habitats for the subsequent mosquito season (April-October). By eliminating these larval and pupal development sites the need for insecticides is reduced. Additionally, waterways tend to be less obstructed by vegetation during winter months, making clean-ups more efficient.

Many of you, as members of various public works programs, already contribute in vital ways to the management of mosquito populations through your work. Facilitating and implementing waterway clean-ups in the “offseason” is another way in which you and/or your group can help mitigate the ever-present health and nuisance issues associated with mosquitoes.

Wes Robertson is an environmental and vector control specialist who has worked for Henrico County’s Department of Public Works Vector Surveillance and Control team for 11 years. He is a certified public health medical entomologist. 

Young Professionals Committee News!

We are seeking passionate individuals to lead our Young Professionals Committee. As a committee member, you will play a key role in organizing activities to foster professional development and relationship-building among our young professionals. You’ll get the chance to shape the program, empower future leaders, build connections, and develop your own leadership skills along the way.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please reach out to amy.linderman@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Advancing Resilience Across Virginia:

Energy, Environmental Justice and Community Adaptation

Jessica Steelman, Executive Director, Resilient Virginia

Resilient Virginia is driving critical initiatives that strengthen energy resilience, environmental justice, and climate adaptation across the Commonwealth. Through federal and locally supported projects, we are equipping historically underserved communities with the tools and resources needed to prepare for future challenges while ensuring their voices shape resilience planning and policy. Projects include:

• Virginia Energy Resilience Study - Funded by the Department of Energy (DOE), this initiative assesses vulnerabilities in Historically Economically Disadvantaged Communities (HEDCs) and develops solar-plus-storage feasibility studies to enhance energy security. Participating localities include Blacksburg, Alexandria, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Wise County, among others.

• Lynchburg Rising: Environmental Justice in Action - With Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) support, this initiative builds on the Lynchburg Rising project to engage Ward 2 residents in addressing environmental hazards such as flooding, extreme heat, and hazardous materials. Leadership development and resilience planning ensure the community remains a key driver in long-term solutions.

• Regional Resilience Planning Workshops - Supported by a NOAA Mid-Atlantic CAP Team Small Grant, Resilient Virginia is collaborating with multiple Planning District Commissions (PDCs) to host workshops that analyze climate impacts, facilitate discussions on resilience priorities, and develop a Rural Regional Resilience Roadmap to guide state-level policy and funding.

• EJ Data Project: Advancing Hazard Mitigation Planning - While not federally funded, this initiative demonstrates Resilient Virginia’s proactive impact. The project collects, analyzes, and compiles environmental justice data to inform hazard mitigation funding allocation for communities near critical infrastructure in the Richmond metropolitan area. By integrating insights from community members and environmental assessments, this data will guide mitigation strategies for local governments, infrastructure operators, and social service providers.

• Strengthening Virginia’s Resilience - From renewable energy solutions to climate justice and resilience planning, Resilient Virginia is ensuring that communities across the state have the resources and data necessary to prepare for environmental challenges. Continued investment and collaboration are essential to sustaining this progress and securing a stronger, more resilient future for all Virginians.

For more information or to collaborate on resilience initiatives, visit Resilient Virginia’s website. Support Resilient Virginia by becoming a sponsor. Learn more on our website, ResilientVirginia.org

APWA’s Newest Emergency Management Resources

• New APWA Guide Planning for Emergency Management Operations 

• Updated APWA Emergency Mangement Committee Chapter Resource 



• Updated Emergency Management Peer Resource Directory

Adapting for Tomorrow: Flood Mitigation in Virginia’s Coastal Cities

J.D. Hines, PE, ENV SP, VHB Virginia Water Resources Director

The Hampton Roads region is home to more than 1.8 million people across 17 localities. The region’s beaches, waterfront properties, military presence, rich history, and prosperous maritime industry make it an ideal place to live and play. Like many coastal communities, the Hampton Roads region is facing an acceleration of flooding—requiring infrastructure improvements and disaster management as population growth continues to increase. Two of the largest cities, Virginia Beach and Norfolk, as well as the City of Suffolk, are implementing changes to proactively plan for a more resilient future. Their strategies include scalable and context sensitive concepts to alleviate flooding in any community, regardless of location or size. These approaches create a strong foundation to adapt and recover, while keeping citizens safe along the way. (Photo above: Norfolk – Ohio Creek Watershed, A sustainable living shoreline, stormwater management improvements, and infrastructure upgrades were all incorporated to address flooding in the Chesterfield Heights and Grandy Village neighborhoods in Norfolk.)

Norfolk’s Ohio Creek Watershed

In Norfolk, the Ohio Creek Watershed project addressed persistent flooding issues in the historic Chesterfield Heights and Grandy Village neighborhoods, which are adjacent to the Elizabeth River. These areas frequently experienced coastal flooding due to sea level rise and heavy rainfall, disrupting daily life and economic activity. Additionally, the neighborhoods lacked public spaces and were separated from the rest of the city by the I-264 highway.

Funded by a $112 million resiliency grant through HUD’s National Disaster Resilience Competition, the project focused on four core improvement areas:

• Coastal Defense: A sustainable living shoreline with gradual slopes and coastal vegetation was created to prevent storm surge and high tides from infiltrating the stormwater system. Revetments, floodwalls, and berms further dissipate wave energy and protect the marsh fringe.

• Stormwater Management: Infrastructure improvements included two new pump stations, a tide gate, pervious pavers, bioswales, and rain gardens to manage and filter stormwater. These measures enhanced the system’s capacity to handle heavy rainfall.

• Transportation Infrastructure: Key corridors were raised and relocated to reduce flooding impacts on businesses and residents. Improved signal systems, crosswalks, and sidewalks also enhanced connectivity and safety under I-264.

• Community Amenities: Public spaces were upgraded with multiuse trails, fitness stations, playgrounds, and open fields engineered to serve as shallow stormwater retention areas after major flood events.

The Ohio Creek Watershed project exemplifies how layered, community-focused approaches can enhance resilience and ecological integrity while improving quality of life.

Virginia Beach’s SWMM Modeling for Project Compliance

Virginia Beach, the largest city in Virginia, faces its own set of challenges as it balances stormwater management with infrastructure development. At Landstown Road, a critical connector in the flood prone Southern Rivers Watershed, the city managed a project to widen the road while assessing the adequacy of existing stormwater management facilities. Using the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Stormwater Management Model (SWMM), engineers evaluated the impact of site-level improvements on the larger 2,500-acre drainage basin.

The modeling revealed current and future flooding increases, prompting the design of additional stormwater facilities, including a BMP Retrofit as a Level 2 Wet Pond, an expanded existing wet pond, and conveyance parallel above and below ground conveyance systems. This strategy provided additional capacity beyond the standard design for the project to reduce flooding in the future from more frequent and intense rain events. These facilities increased the watershed capacity to store more than 19 million gallons of stormwater, and improved water quality by removing pollutants of concern in Virginia (TSS, TN and TP). The project set a precedent for using SWMM modeling for project compliance and resilience for future generations. (Photo above right: Virginia Beach – Landstown Road, Stormwater modeling revealed an increase in flooding, prompting the design of additional stormwater facilities with the widening of Landstown Road.)

Pughsville Drainage Improvements in Suffolk

After the community of Pughsville experienced significant flooding damage during Hurricane Matthew in 2016, the City of Suffolk began to design and implement stormwater improvement projects. This roughly 400-acre community consists of mostly residential development, places of worship, parks, and densely wooded wetland areas, and was already prone to nuisance flooding during minor rainfall events. Hurricane Matthew caused much more substantial flooding, necessitating a State of Emergency.

A master drainage study of the watershed was conducted to identify options to remediate flooding without increasing downstream flows to the downstream City of Chesapeake. Through extensive analysis, including PC-SWWM modeling, areas of high flood risk were identified, factoring in tailwater conditions and increased rainfall depths for various design storm events. The selected improvements focused on creating infrastructure that reduced current flooding elevations, while also preparing for long-term resilience. The solutions included stormwater conveyance upgrades coupled with a major neighborhood scale BMP Retrofit into a Wet Pond. The proposed multi-faceted solution was tailored to the community’s unique landscape and culture, ensuring a safer future for Pughsville residents.

Future-Focused for Resilient Communities

The cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and the Pughsville community in Suffolk highlight the importance of proactive planning and innovative solutions in the face of climate change and population growth. By investing in resilient infrastructure and adaptive strategies, these communities are better equipped to recover from disruptions and protect their citizens, creating a more sustainable and secure future.

Photo right: Suffolk – Pughsville, Rainfall during a two-year storm event in the community of Pughsville, resulting in a master drainage study of the watershed to identify ways to remediate flooding.

J.D. Hines specializes in innovative and sustainable site development, transportation, and water resources engineering in Hampton Roads, Richmond, and the communities in between. As a licensed engineer in three states, J.D. brings knowledge in civil engineering, stormwater planning and engineering, and urban roadway projects.

Boosting Biodiversity with Pollinator Enhancement Areas

Wes Robertson, Henrico County Vector Surveillance & Control, Environmental & Vector Management Specialist III

Certified Medical Entomologist

Pollinators play a vital role in sustaining ecosystems and agricultural productivity. From bees and butterflies to birds and bats, these industrious creatures ensure the pollination of countless plants, supporting both natural habitats and human food systems. However, with habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change threatening their populations, creating spaces specifically designed to nurture pollinators is more important than ever. Enter pollinator enhancement areas—an initiative to safeguard and bolster these critical species.

What Are Pollinator Enhancement Areas?

Pollinator enhancement areas are specially designated spaces designed to provide essential resources such as food, shelter, and nesting sites for pollinators. These areas can range from urban gardens and roadside plantings to expansive fields on agricultural lands. By introducing a variety of native flowering plants, ensuring continuous blooming cycles, and reducing pesticide use, these areas create a haven for pollinators to thrive.



Key Benefits of Pollinator Enhancement Areas

1. Increased Biodiversity: Supporting pollinator populations benefits entire ecosystems by enhancing plant diversity, which, in turn, supports various wildlife species.
2. Improved Crop Yields: Agricultural areas near pollinator habitats often see higher yields and better-quality crops due to increased pollination activity.
3. Erosion Control and Soil Health: Many native plants used in pollinator habitats improve soil structure and prevent erosion, contributing to healthier landscapes.
4. Aesthetic Value: Beyond their ecological importance, pollinator gardens add vibrant beauty to landscapes, enriching community spaces and inspiring environmental stewardship.

Henrico County’s Commitment to Pollinators

The Henrico County Department of Public Works is acting to better serve the environment through a multi-year study of pollinator enhancement areas. These designated spaces are aimed at achieving a variety of goals:

• Reducing mowing costs
• Decreasing environmental emissions
• Reducing noise
• Increasing native plant life
• Supporting local wildlife
• Enhancing the attractiveness of county parcels

A major component of this initiative involves shifting away from traditional turf maintenance toward nurturing pollinator-friendly habitats. This not only conserves time and resources but also creates more sustainable and vibrant landscapes for the community.

Pilot Sites and Monitoring

Henrico County has identified five pilot sites for this initial study. These areas will be closely monitored for wildlife activity and plant growth, with a focus on managing non-native species and ensuring a thriving habitat for pollinators. This surveillance will provide valuable insights into the program’s impact and inform future expansion efforts.

Next Steps

Upon the completion of the pilot project, Henrico County plans to expand pollinator enhancement areas to additional lands within its rights-of-way and support facilities. This strategic growth will build on the insights gained from the pilot sites, ensuring proper establishment, monitoring, and maintenance of these habitats to maximize their ecological and community benefits.

Success Stories Around the Globe

Pollinator enhancement areas have already demonstrated remarkable success in various parts of the world. Cities like Chicago and Amsterdam have transformed underused spaces into thriving urban pollinator corridors, creating beautiful and functional ecosystems. Similarly, rural farmers have reported improved crop production after introducing pollinator-friendly hedgerows and buffer strips. By learning from these models, Henrico County is laying the groundwork for its own success, ensuring the establishment, monitoring, and upkeep of its enhancement areas.

Looking Ahead

By investing in pollinator enhancement areas, Henrico County is not only addressing local environmental challenges but also contributing to a global movement to protect these essential creatures.



Whether you’re a community member curious about these initiatives or someone inspired to create your own pollinator-friendly space, every effort counts. Together, we can build healthier ecosystems, support wildlife, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. Stay tuned for updates on Henrico County’s progress and consider joining in the effort by planting native flowers, reducing pesticide use, or simply spreading the word about the importance of pollinators in our world.

1149 New Market Rd, September

1149 New Market Rd, October

Intersection of N Parham & Chippenham, September

Intersection of N Parham & Chippenham, December

The Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED) and Department of Public Works (DPW) has partnered with the Chesapeake Water Environment Association (CWEA) to design and operate the YH2O+ Career Training Program (“YH2O+”) for individuals, ages 18 to 24-year-old, who have a high school diploma or GED, are unemployed or underemployed and, are not currently enrolled in a job training program or post-secondary education. Baltimore City is proud of the 158 young men and women who have successfully completed YH2O+ since its inception in 2015. More information is available HERE

Congratulations to the recent graduates! They are looking good and ready to work! Ross Technical Services and other local firms had the pleasure of interviewing these well-prepared candidates for entry level positions in Baltimore. Keep this program in mind! 

It’s not every day you see a helicopter flying over the Potomac River carrying a 14-ton drill rig and workers suspended midair to work on DC Water’s sewer lines. The typical equipment used on sewer lines includes vacuum trucks, backhoes, excavators, and trenchers, but when you’re working in the middle of a river only a helicopter will do.

Workers began drilling in the Potomac this week at Great Falls, to remove rock core samples as much as 50-feet deep at five different boring locations. It’s part of the planned rehabilitation of the Potomac Interceptor, a 54-mile sanitary sewer system that runs from the Dulles area in Virginia, across the river to Maryland, and down to DC Water’s advanced wastewater treatment plant.

At Great Falls, the sewer line cuts through the river, 3000-feet across and 78-inches in diameter and is beginning to show its age. It’s 60-years old and nearing the end of its useful life. The rock samples will provide valuable information to geologists and engineers on how best to rehab this section of pipe, which could include repairs to the existing line and building another pipe alongside for redundancy.

This video shows the operation in action. For more information visit our Potomac Interceptor Project.

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