Article Text

Scott’s Run Nature Preserve will close Monday, Feb. 17, as crews tackle a critical wastewater pipe blockage that could take up to eight weeks to repair.

All trails and parking areas at the park, located at 7400 Georgetown Pike, will be closed to protect visitors and natural resources during the emergency work. No firm reopening date has been set because the schedule will depend on the severity of the blockage and weather conditions.

Contractors need access to wastewater vaults inside the preserve to clear the obstruction. The siphon system carries wastewater from McLean beneath the Potomac River to Maryland, where it connects with DC Water’s Potomac Interceptor.

Fairfax County officials said the repairs are necessary to maintain service and prevent a potential wastewater overflow into the river. Crews are expected to work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. when weather permits.

The project follows an operation that began last spring to remove an estimated 80 tons of sediment from county-owned siphon pipes running through Carderock National Park in Maryland.

An inspection found that two of the system’s three pipes were inoperable, creating a risk that sewage could reach the Potomac if the remaining pipe failed. That discovery prompted a temporary closure of Scott’s Run in March 2024.

The preserve reopened in late May ahead of Memorial Day, although officials warned that more work could be necessary.

Pipe cleaning resumed in December, and gate repairs were scheduled to begin Jan. 2 without affecting public access. The latest blockage, however, requires the entire preserve to close.

Officials said the public will be notified when Scott’s Run is ready to reopen.