Parties discuss Aquia Creek

By Uriah A. Kiser

Published: April 9, 2008

AQUIA — Aquia Harbour officials and Augustine Homes are in the process of discussing a financial agreement that would address the clay, silt and sediment deposits that have built up over time and clogged Aquia Creek.

Augustine Homes, co-developer of the new Hills of Aquia housing expansion, and the Aquia Harbour housing development, have been discussing for months who is responsible for the runoff deposits that have seeped into the waterway.

According to Chuck Halt, general manager of Aquia Harbour, all of North Stafford’s storm drainage empties into Aquia Creek, and ultimately into the Harbour. The drainage includes soil sediment and runoff from the Hills of Aquia development, prompting Aquia Harbour residents to point the finger of blame at Augustine Homes.

“Clearly we’ve had some impact from the sediment that comes from our site. A recent study that my company commissioned said that we are at least 2 percent responsible for the sediment, but ultimately I can’t say how much sediment in the water came from our site,” said Bob Kauffman of Augustine Homes.

The report cost Augustine Homes $8,000 to have completed, according to Kauffman. A similar study commissioned last year by Stafford County cost $50,000. The results of that study came back “inconclusive,” putting no blame on either the Hills of Aquia or Aquia Harbour.

To solve the problem, Aquia Harbour wants to dredge the waterway for the second time in six years. The project would cost upwards of $250,000 according to county officials, and could involve taxpayer money to complete.

To offset some of the dredging costs, Augustine Homes has proposed an immediate solution that Aquia Harbour officials are considering.

Under the proposed agreement, new Hills of Aquia residents would be able to use some of the Aquia Harbour’s many amenities, such as the country club, swimming pools and golf courses, in exchange for a fee. The money collected would go into Aquia Harbour’s general fund, which then could be used to pay for the dredging, according to Halt.

“We have the available capacity at our golf course…and Stafford is lacking in recreational facilities,” said Halt. “We have soccer fields in the county, but you practically have to fight to use them.”

Halt would not say how much Aquia Harbour would benefit financially from the agreement because the terms of the contract are still under discussion.

Augustine has erected buffers designed to catch most of the runoff from their home sites, but the Hills development is large and a lot of ground has been disturbed to build the houses, according to Halt.

Kauffman said he wants to “be a good neighbor” by admitting his company’s faults outlined in his study. But he said signing over a check to pay for a portion of the dredging will not solve the entire problem.

“If our Hills of Aquia site was in any other part of the county, we would be getting awards for the environmental precautions that we have taken,” said Kauffman. “The creek is in a flood plain that is designed to catch sediment and fill up, and it’s doing a great job of that. I think we need to find a common solution that does not require dredging the harbor every few years.”

Halt said Aquia Harbour would hold a town hall meeting on April 27 to discuss among other things the dredging options, and the proposed agreement. Representatives from Augustine Homes are also scheduled to attend.