Occoquan Reservoir Shoreline Easement Policy

Fairfax Water owns and maintains the dam that forms the Occoquan Reservoir on the southern border of Fairfax County Virginia. The Occoquan Reservoir is a major drinking water source for Northern Virginia. The Reservoir consists of property and shoreline in both Fairfax and Prince William Counties. Fairfax Water has easements along the entire reservoir which provide a riparian buffer zone to protect the water and allow for future fluctuation of the water surface.

In order to assure a clean, safe supply of water in the Reservoir, Fairfax Water maintains the "Occoquan Reservoir Shoreline Easement Policy". The Policy regulates activity within the shoreline easement such as, but not limited to, vegetative cover, structures, storage facilities and piers/floats.

Any construction, additional structures, vegetation removal, and/or land disturbing activity within the easement requires prior permission of Fairfax Water.

Click here for application forms.  Please refer to the Fairfax Water’s Occoquan Reservoir Shoreline Easement Policy for complete information about the requirements.

Please contact Fairfax Water at 703.289.6060 or email us at shorelinepolicy@fairfaxwater.org with any questions about the policy.

Abandoned Watercraft on the Occoquan Reservoir

Abandoned watercraft are treated as abandoned vehicles by local jurisdictions. The reservoir is bordered by Fairfax County to the north and Prince William County to the south. Abandoned watercraft anchored on either shoreline should be reported to the appropriate jurisdiction. Below is contact information for each jurisdiction.

Prince William County

• Abandoned or inoperative vehicles on public property, call the Police Department non-emergency number at 703.792.6500.
• Violations occurring on private property, call the Police Department's Inoperable Vehicle Unit at 703-792-5213, to speak with the Inoperable Vehicle officer.

Fairfax County

• Inoperative vehicles on public property, call the police department non emergency number at 703.691.2131
• Inoperative vehicles on private property:
  • 5 vehicles or less, call the Police Department at 703.280.0716.
  • 5 vehicles or more, call the Zoning Enforcement Branch, Department of Planning and Zoning at 703.324.1300.