You wrote, "The land is also considered critical to the county's environmental health. It drains into the Occoquan Reservoir, one of Northern Virginia's primary sources of drinking water. "

Urban myths about the Occoquan Reservoir die hard.

Fairfax County used water quality protection as a cover for transferring development rights from small landowners to big developers in the same Occoquan watershed. Upzoned areas in the Occoquan include Fair Lakes, Westfields, and developments around Centreville.

If Fair Lakes could safely be developed, so could most of the area that was downzoned.

The truth is actually even more interesting.

Half of the drinking water for a million people coming from the Occoquan Reservoir is nothing but sewage water that has been treated and discharged into the reservoir.

Read the story here:

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/su/waco/inpoware/inpoware_003.cfm

Or Google: "occoquan watershed" sewage treatment

You will find articles on how the old sewage treatment plants were the major polluters of the Occoquan in the past. One study in the late 60's found the, "Principal water quality problem identified to be discharges from 11 secondary sewage treatment plants in the watershed"

You will also find articles on the health hazards to the reservoir from the parasite cryptosporidium found in "horse and other animal wastes, failing septic drainfields and sewage treatment plants."

It is somewhat ironic that the horses that are encouraged by the mandated 5 acre lot minimum in the downzoned area are a source of pollution in the watershed.

Parks are great. But please don't perpetuate government sponsored myths.

It's disgusting that Fairfax County downzones the land and takes away the value and then brags about buying it for parks. They obviously did not pay what it should have been worth without the phony "protect the water quality" downzoning.
That makes the BOS and the Park Authority nothing but ....
Of course, some theft is legally protected. What a great country.
Enjoy drinking that recycled sewage water!