Success Stories

Lake Hening at Henrico County Admin Campus

Problem:

Lake Hening plays a key role in the Henrico County Government Center campus environment, and was in need of a significant buffer refurbishing.

Solution:

Henrico’s Environmental Action Resource Team (HEART), along with over 45 volunteers and the Virginia Department of Forestry, amended the soil, planted 180 seedlings, and applied several tons of mulch.

Outcome:

A growing, healthy buffer that enhances the campus and slows and absorbs water runoff and pollutants. The result is cleaner water in the lake and its outflows into stream and river and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay – and an example that is inspiring other sites in the county.

In 2022, the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) and Henrico County began to work on establishing a new urban riparian buffer around Lake Hening, a retention pond on the Henrico County Administration Complex campus.

The project was broken into two parts: soil decompaction, amending soil that had become packed and hardened over time; and planting. For the decompaction, an auger was used to dig holes in the buffer area. DOF provided compost and biochar, a carbon-rich material, which Henrico staff then applied.

Once the soil had been treated, Henrico hosted a volunteer event to install the seedlings on Dec. 9, 2023. This was the first project for Henrico’s Environmental Action Resource Team (HEART), which worked along with community volunteers and DOF staff to plant 180 trees and shrubs. DOF provided seedlings, stakes, plant shelters and tools. The finishing touches included the application of 200 yards of mulch, and informational signs created and installed by HEART.

On March 18, 2026, team members met again for a followup maintenance day, and to enjoy seeing a thriving buffer begin to take hold. Already, the project was helping to provide clean water and air, a habitat for native flora and fauna, and a beautiful and peaceful spot for employees and visitors.

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The riparian buffer planting at Lake Hening has been incredibly successful in a variety of ways, including a 95% survival rate. [It] supports our environmental goals of improved air and water quality, increased wildlife habitat, increased greenspace access for the public, decreased urban heat island effect, and sequestered carbon to mitigate climate change.

Every one of the 180 seedling gets TLC.

Henrico’s Environmental Action Resource Team (HEART), the Virginia Department of Forestry, and many volunteers made a formidable team.

About the Project

Location: Henrico County, VA

Year Installed: 2022

Land Type: Government

Area of Riparian Buffer: .2 acres and 445 linear feet

Plantings: 180 seedlings

Improvements: A combination of one yard of biochar and three yards of compost applied with top dressing of 200 yards of mulch

Programs Used: State Water Quality Improvement Fund Program; USDA Wood Innovations Grant; Henrico’s Environmental Action Resource Team (HEART); James River Buffer Program with funding from the Virginia Environmental Endowment

Key Partners: Virginia Department of Forestry, Henrico’s Environmental Action Resource Team (HEART)

Installed by: Over 45 volunteers, including participants from DOF and county staff