PRINCE WILLIAM LIVING

Thanks to the efforts of Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (VA-7th), the FY2024 appropriations package that passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier today includes $920,000 in Community Project funding for the Town of Occoquan to address the deterioration of its antiquated primary stormwater management infrastructure.

Portions of Occoquan’s legacy stormwater arteries date back to a Civil Works Administration (CWA) project from the 1930s. Since at least the 1970s these arteries have been subjected to great stress, primarily due to inland flooding from stormwater originating outside of the town. Although in recent years significant steps have been taken to address the stormwater point sources beyond town boundaries, repairing the cumulative damage to the town’s aging stormwater arteries has long been far beyond the town’s means.

Now, thanks to the efforts of Congresswoman Spanberger, assuming the Senate and President approve the appropriations package Occoquan will have the opportunity to address this multi-generational damage, reduce the risk of continued inland flooding, and create a system that can be reasonably maintained.