Lake Barcroft Watershed Improvement District
Policy Statement Re: Removal of Trees from Lake Barcroft
Revised June 2026
Section 1. Trees that have fallen into the Lake.
The Lake Barcroft Watershed Improvement District (LBWID) acknowledges that it is the appropriate agency to remove trees that have fallen into Lake Barcroft. However, waterfront property owners may hire their own contractors if they choose. To clarify the extent of its involvement in removing fallen trees from the Lake, the LBWID has adopted the following statements of policy:
- The LBWID will remove the portion of a tree that extends from the shoreline into the water.
- Property owners are expected to remove the shoreward portion of their fallen trees.
- If it increases safety or simplifies the removal of the portion of the tree that is in the Lake, the LBWID reserves the right to remove the portion of the tree that is onshore (including branches or stump). This will be determined only by LBWID personnel when the tree/s is removed. The property owner will be billed for the disposal of the onshore portion of the tree (see disposal rates below).
- The LBWID shall be compensated by the property owner/s where the tree fell from for expenses incurred according to the following process and formula:
- A measurement in inches shall be taken of the circumference of the tree to be removed at the point where the trunk crosses the shoreline. A charge of $25 per inch circumference will be billed to the owner of the property from which the tree originated. Fifty percent of the estimated cost will be paid by the owner prior to the work beginning. (See Payment Instructions below).
- Disposal of the tree/s will be billed per truck load to the owner of the property from which the tree originated. The current rate as of July 2026 is $300 per truck load. If this cost increases, the LBWID will pass on the additional costs to the property owner.
- The LBWID reserves the right to bill the owner of the property from which the tree originated for contactor support if needed; contractor support could be as much as $500 per tree. The LBWID reserves the right to determine which contractor will provide support for the removal of the tree/s.
- Multiple trees will be measured independently; the total project cost will be based on the total number of circumference inches, disposal costs, and contractor support if warranted.
- No charge will be levied for any tree that falls from property belonging to the LBA.
- The LBWID may adjust its fee schedule from time to time to compensate for inflation or other significant factors. The Community will be notified before any rate changes are put into effect.
- The LBWID and its staff or representatives will be the sole judge of safety and procedures to be used in removing trees from the Lake except in cases where property owners contract directly with their own contractor to remove the fallen tree/s.
- The LBWID may employ its own staff and/or hire contractors to remove any tree(s).
- The LBWID will make every effort to provide timely tree removal upon request. However, recognizing schedule conflicts and limitations of available equipment and staff, immediate response will not always be possible. Considerable delay may occur in the case of very large or complex trees that require bringing specialized cutting or lift equipment into the Lake.
Example Tree Removal Invoice
Lake Barcroft WID
Tree Removal Invoice
Property Owner: ________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________
Number of trees/branches removed: ____________
Cost per inch per tree: $25 per inch of circumference ______
Total circumference inches: ________TBD_____________
Disposal Fee: $300.00 per truckload
# of truckloads: _____TBD__________________________
Contractor Fee: $500.00 (If required)
Total cost: TBD .
Minimum fee = $200.00 (Does / Does NOT apply in this situation)
Yes or No (Circle one).
This letter serves to inform you and act as a receipt for the following amount: $ TBD
Fifty Percent Due before project start: $ TBD
Please mail a check to:
LBWID (Tree Removal)
3650 Boat Dock Drive
Falls Church, VA 22041
If you have any questions regarding the project, please feel free to contact Timothy Cogswell (LBWID Operations Director) at 703-820-1300.
Section 2. Trees that are standing close to the shoreline and are in danger of falling into the Lake.
The Lake Barcroft Watershed Improvement District (LBWID) acknowledges that there are trees standing close to the shoreline of the Lake that may become jeopardized by health or storm events that should be cut down before they fall into the Lake. To encourage waterfront property owners to address these jeopardized trees before they fall into the Lake and potentially damage their seawalls, docks, or boats, the LBWID has adopted the following statements of policy:
- For properties that have steep backyards that are difficult for tree contractors to access or navigate, the LBWID can supply an industrial barge for transporting the resulting wood from the jeopardized tree being removed to either Beach 3 or Beach 5. This service can make it easier for tree contactors to remove the tree remnants from the property and potentially save the property owner money. Please note the following terms and conditions associated with this service from the LBWID:
- Requests for LBWID assistance must be submitted to the LBWID Operations Director at least 14 days prior to the expected date of the tree removal project.
- The LBWID will make every effort to provide this service in a timely manner upon request. However, recognizing schedule conflicts and limitations of available equipment and staff, immediate response will not always be possible and considerable delay may occur.
- The tree contactor that the property owner contracts with must provide LBWID with their certificate of insurance for liability and workman’s compensation. The LBWID will not schedule the barge service until it has received the required certificates of insurance.
- LBWID staff will use an LBWID push boat to deliver the barge to the project site and move the loaded barge to either beach 3 or Beach 5 for off-loading.
- LBWID staff will not assist with loading the wood onto the barge or off-loading the wood from the barge into the contractor’s truck/s.
- The wood that is transported to either Beach 3 or Beach 5 must be loaded directly into the tree contractor’s truck/s and be immediately hauled away. No wood can be stockpiled or left at Beach 3 or Beach 5.
- Barges will not be left overnight at the project site unless approved by the LBWID Operations Director
- The LBWID reserves the right to discontinue the use of the barge if LBWID staff believe the tree contractor is being abusive to the barge or loading or unloading it in a manner that is unsafe to LBWID staff or the staff members of the tree contractor, or during unsafe weather conditions.
- This service is provided at no cost to the property owner or the tree contractor.
- The LBWID accepts no responsibility for damages that the tree contractor makes to the property that the tree is being removed from.
- The LBWID reserves the right to evaluate the access challenge/s and determine if the tree removal project warrants the use of the LBWID barge.