Lakes and Watersheds Overview

Lakes

Reston's four man-made lakes (Lake Anne, Lake Thoreau, Lake Audubon and Lake Newport) cover 125 acres and provide recreation and storm-water management for the community. While swimming and ice skating are not permitted, fishing, boating, wildlife watching and lakeside picnicking are available to all RA members and their guests. Many sections of pathway are near the lakes, and simply walking near or around the lakes is a popular pursuit.

Swimming is prohibited in Reston's lakes and ponds. The bodies of water include lakes Anne, Audubon, Thoreau and Newport, as well as Butler and Bright ponds. Reston has ample opportunities for swimming, with 14 outdoor pools available during the summer. The lakes are designed for stormwater management and are not maintained or monitored for swimming. There are no lifeguards and often few people around during the daytime. Parents are reminded to discuss the hazards of lake swimming with their children.

Algae Blooms

Algae blooms can occur on our lakes when warm water and nutrients combine to create conditions favorable for algae growth. Most algae species are harmless. However, some species may produce harmful compounds or toxins. Avoid discolored water or scums that are green or blueish-green because they are more likely to contain toxins. Please report algae blooms to Reston Association by emailing watershed@reston.org with location, time, date, and photos of a suspected bloom. If you suspect you experienced health-related effects following exposure to a bloom, contact the Virginia Harmful Algal Bloom Hotline at 1-888-238-6154.

Shoreline Stabilization

Each year requests are submitted to the Design Review Board for shoreline stabilization projects including installation of bulkhead and riprap.

Over the years, Reston Association has received numerous calls for advice on shoreline stabilization. Many of these calls pertain to problems with existing bulkheads that have been improperly constructed and/or maintained or have simply deteriorated with age. Living shorelines are a low-cost, low-maintenance way of providing shoreline protection, without incurring expensive maintenance or replacement costs down the road. Additionally, cost-share opportunities are available for their implementation. Contact Watershed@reston.org if you think you might benefit from a living shoreline project.

Watersheds

A Watershed is an area of land that drains into a specific body of water. For instance, all water in Reston drains into creeks and streams that eventually flow to the Potomac River and from there to the Chesapeake Bay. When we think of ourselves as residents of watersheds, we can see how the changes we make on our properties can impact the bodies of water we rely on for drinking water, recreation, and food.

Reston is situated in three major sub-watersheds­ of the Potomac River— Difficult Run, 5,600 acres approximately all east of Reston Parkway; Sugarland Run, 2.200 acres, west of Reston Parkway; and Horsepen Creek, 136 acres, in the most southwestern corners of Reston.

All of Reston’s lakes are situated in the Difficult Run watershed and are impoundments of Colvin Run, Snakeden Branch, and their tributaries. This means that the actions residents in those watersheds take on their properties directly impact the health of the lakes.

Be a Good Lake Neighbor

Using the map below, you can locate if you are in the watershed of one or more of Reston’s lakes. Just because your house or neighborhood might not sit on a lake does not mean you do not have the privileges and responsibilities of a lake neighbor.

If you don’t live in a lake watershed, runoff from your property still ends up in local streams and the Potomac River. Practicing watershed friendly behaviors is a win for everyone.

Here are some ways you can enjoy Reston’s lakes as well as protect them for years to come.

• Enjoying Reston’s Lakes

  • Take a kayak, canoe, or SUP out on the lakes.

  • Go fishing from anywhere on Reston property.

  • Picnic next to a lake.

  • Birdwatching for Green Herons, Belted Kingfishers, Bald Eagles, and more.

• Protecting Reston’s Lakes and Streams

  • Limit fertilizer use to appropriate times of year and appropriate formulation for your soil’s needs.

  • Prevent erosion by covering bare soil with vegetation, wood chips, or mulch.

  • Modify landscaping to hold stormwater on your property and plant native plants that can use and filter that water efficiently.

  • Preserve native trees and shrubs that absorb water and hold soil in place.

  • Always dispose of litter in a trash can, and help clean it up when you see it.

  • Never dump or blow any debris into the street or a storm drain—if you live in a lake watershed, that will all end up in the lake.

  • Read up on local resources from the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District for more ways to protect our lakes and local waterways.