The story of how Beaverdam Reservoir came to be starts in 1959 when drinking water wells on which the city of Fairfax had relied for 30 years were failing.
With no lakes or large streams within the city to draw from, city leaders looked to the west and obtained permission to dam part of Goose Creek as a water supply.
The dam was built at a spot just across Belmont Ridge Road from today’s Belmont Greene neighborhood. Treated water from the new Goose Creek Reservoir began flowing to Fairfax via a pipeline along the W&OD Railroad as far as Hunter Mill Road, then through Oakton to the city.
By 1971, the Goose Creek Reservoir was no longer providing enough water, so Fairfax city received approval to build a second reservoir on Beaverdam Creek — a small stream that intersected with Goose Creek at a spot just south of today’s Dulles Greenway.
Water could be released from the new Beaverdam Reservoir into Goose Creek as needed during times of high water use in the city or drought.
To find out how the Beaverdam Reservoir grew and how the plans for a large park with paths, kayaks and canoes, and other amenities came to be — and where the park construction stands currently — click here and read the rest of the article on the Ashburn Magazine website.
(Image at top: Loudoun Water)