Ashby Pond
Ashby Pond is a public pond in the city that underwent a significant dredging and retrofit project.
A construction contract worth $1,695,000 was awarded to Sager's Construction Corporation for the dredging and retrofit, as recorded in the consent agenda approved in October 2024. The project was partially funded by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and is intended to advance the city's Chesapeake Bay and Accotink Creek pollutant reduction goals under TMDL action plans. As of a March 2026 presentation, both the Ashby Pond dredging and retrofit and the Stafford Drive stream restoration were reported as substantially completed in February 2026.
The completed project was celebrated with a ribbon cutting and Fishing Derby on April 11, 2026, which was confirmed as having taken place by the May 2026 PRAB meeting report. The pond is noted as the city's only public pond and had previously been dredged approximately 10 years prior, suggesting a roughly decennial maintenance cycle due to ongoing siltation from stormwater runoff.
What members have said
- Unattributed speaker (2025-05-06 transcript)
During a May 2025 discussion following a bus tour of city facilities, this speaker noted that Ashby Pond is significantly affected by runoff-driven siltation and that dredging appears to occur on roughly a 10-year schedule, flagging the cost as 'not insignificant.'
- Unattributed speaker (2026-02-03 transcript)
In February 2026, this speaker cited the Ashby Pond dredging and retrofit — alongside two outfall restorations — as substantially reducing the city's pollutant-of-concern load against TMDL action plans, and expressed strong interest in continuing to track progress with staff and council ahead of the 2028 Phase 3 Chesapeake Bay watershed implementation plan deadline.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
councilcommissionMinutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting, Oct 22, 2024 onward.
History
Filled dots are actions on this topic; open dots are mentions.
- Mar 12, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 8aParks and Recreation Department Report – Upcoming Events and Programs
Ashby Pond ribbon cutting and Fishing Derby is scheduled for April 11th.
- Parks and Recreation Department Report – Upcoming Events and Programs
The Ashby Pond ribbon cutting and Fishing Derby is scheduled for April 11th.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.