Pond on the Custis

[Tim Kelley]

You should email trails@arlingtonva.us or call 703-228-6524 for the fastest response.

[Tim Kelley]

BTW–for anyone who might have missed it, the posts at the top of the page in the Road and Trail Conditions category section of the forum are handy for contact information for various jurisdictions.

[ShawnoftheDread]

I went through that puddle at a steady clip this morning and my nice BA socks are still mad at me for it. But it was much fun.

[rcannon100]

I reported it today as well. This is not the first time there has been standing water here. Begs the question of whet the drain is designed to clog. Why not just let the water chute down to the stream below??

[rcannon100]

From ARLCO

Thank you for reporting the standing water on the Custis Trail near emergency marker #8 and mile marker #3 between Calvert and Adams Streets. AS I understand it, this is a recurring issue. My crew will need assistance from our Water Sewer Streets Department (WSS) because we may not have the tools necessary to correct this issue. WSS is copied on this transmission. Arlington County staff will investigate soon.

Kevin Stalica
Park Service Area Manager / Trails Manager / CPSI
Arlington County Parks and Natural Resources

A 2700 S Taylor St, Arlington, VA 22206
T 703-228-7743
F 703-228-6507
E kstalica@arlingtonva.us
W http://www.arlingtonva.us
W http://www.bikearlington.com

[Drewdane]

@dasgeh 54659 wrote:

This was reported Friday, but it hasn’t been addressed: on the Custis just West of the Adams St bridge, there’s a 6″+ deep puddle. This is probably due to a clogged storm drain. There’s no going around it. Can ArlCo get someone out there to fix it? Please?

If this is where I think it is, it’s like this several times a year.

[jnva]

I like this puddle.

[video=youtube_share;V6Yioj8Fpa8]http://youtu.be/V6Yioj8Fpa8[/video]

[sjclaeys]

It was much deeper when I went through around 7:00 during a storm (at least it seemed to be). No evasive maneuver possible.

[bobco85]

@jnva 54750 wrote:

I like this puddle.

[video=youtube_share;V6Yioj8Fpa8]http://youtu.be/V6Yioj8Fpa8[/video]

There’s something about riding through a deep puddle or stream that brings out the little kid in us who loves to jump and splash around in rain puddles. Also, is it possible to ride through (or even watch someone ride through in this case) a deep puddle without saying or thinking, “Wheeee!”? (I think the answer is no)

[thucydides]

@bobco85 54772 wrote:

There’s something about riding through a deep puddle or stream that brings out the little kid in us who loves to jump and splash around in rain puddles. Also, is it possible to ride through (or even watch someone ride through in this case) a deep puddle without saying or thinking, “Wheeee!”? (I think the answer is no)

I definitely see the pond as feature not a bug. I hit it at top speed this morning. Got a bit wet. This weekend I did a trail race in Richmond while Andrea was still going on. There were dozens of deep puddles. Many of runners tried to rim around the puddles. Not me. I splashed right through every one of those babies. I guess I’m 50 going on 5.

[jnva]

Of course there is a “real” pond on the custis. The water looks almost good enough to drink. [ATTACH]3084[/ATTACH]

[dasgeh]

@jnva 54799 wrote:

Of course there is a “real” pond on the custis. The water looks almost good enough to drink.

Yeah, some of my neighbors want to stock that pond for fishing. Yuck!

[NickBull]

@thucydides 54776 wrote:

I definitely see the pond as feature not a bug. I hit it at top speed this morning. Got a bit wet. This weekend I did a trail race in Richmond while Andrea was still going on. There were dozens of deep puddles. Many of runners tried to rim around the puddles. Not me. I splashed right through every one of those babies. I guess I’m 50 going on 5.

You won’t feel like that if you hit a puddle that is hiding a deep pothole. Friends of mine hit a puddle like that and broke both rims on their tandem and had some serious road rash. If you know absolutely for sure that the puddle doesn’t hide a pothole, then by all means say “whee” and fly on through it.

But the Custis pond could just as easily be hiding the fact that the trail has collapsed and is itself causing the blockage. Remember the holes that developed under the trail just west of the S curve of death and that were covered with iron plates for quite a while? Until they clear the pond, you can’t know for sure what’s going on under it.

Nick

[Drewdane]

@NickBull 54802 wrote:

But the Custis pond could just as easily be hiding the fact that the trail has collapsed and is itself causing the blockage. Remember the holes that developed under the trail just west of the S curve of death and that were covered with iron plates for quite a while? Until they clear the pond, you can’t know for sure what’s going on under it.

Nick

Nope. This one is a known entity. It gets like that every year. I suppose the next time could be the time it finally lets loose, but I’ll take my chances.

I am cautious about sidewalk ponds I’ve not encountered, though.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Drewdane 54808 wrote:

Nope. This one is a known entity. It gets like that every year. I suppose the next time could be the time it finally lets loose, but I’ll take my chances.

I am cautious about sidewalk ponds I’ve not encountered, though.

Also, the water in Lake Custis was pretty clear, as I could see tire tracks in the mud at the bottom. I wouldn’t have minded riding through it, but I hate having wet feet and even my fenders couldn’t prevent the big spash as I pedaled.

[Author]

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