Reston has preserved all of its streams, so they should be fine. What gives?
Preservation and conservation are two very different concepts. Reston’s streams are in preserved corridors, but that doesn’t stop the excessive flows that run off lawns, streets, driveways, and roofs during rainstorms. Reston was built before the era of modern stormwater management and, as such, allows runoff to flow unchecked into reservoirs like Lake Newport and Lake Audubon. These flows are the cause of Reston’s stream degradation.
