The river is a popular recreation spot, and the excessive pollution levels pose a threat to local residents, wildlife, and underwater vegetation. update email soon. Shenandoah Riverkeeper isopposing the construction of the pipeline because it can be built without hurting the habitat of a number of endangered species, it endangers the George Washington National Forest, and sedimentation caused by construction could threaten the water quality. Sampling locations often change from year to year. All of our protocols are peer reviewed. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. But now we understand how paving over wetlands means destroying incalculable ecological services - and some of the Potomac River regions most magical travel destinations. Seven Things You Can Do To Protect the Shenandoah River From Future Fish Kills. Agricultural runoff, including manure from the Valley's many livestock operations and industrial scale poultry operations, is a source of contamination for 71 percent of the polluted river and stream miles in the Shenandoah Valley, according to state figures. The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, non-profit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Its springtime, so lets do a bad agriculture story.. Virginia in 2019 also eliminated its fecal bacteria public health warning advisory threshold for swimming in freshwater areas called the beach action value. The Virginia Department of Health continues to use a health warning and monitoring system for saltwater beaches in the state, but has never issued warnings or posted signs to protect people in freshwater areas like those along the Shenandoah River. Snows certainly not been a stanger this winter! Rising salt levels in the Potomac River threaten wildlife, drinking water. No more than two meals pound each or the size of your hand of fish per month should be eaten from the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. The Shenandoah is one of the most beautiful rivers in the countryand a popular recreation destination. Potentially toxic algae mats return to Shenandoah River, Outside in: Explore nature through the Great Indoors, Savor the history, grounds of Virginia's Windsor Castle Park, Warm, cozy stays await state park visitors in the Chesapeake region, For an escape from suburbia, Sandy Bottom Nature Park is tops. Learn more about listing the Shenandoah as impaired, Learn more about Shenandoah Algae Elimination Campaign, Community Science Water Quality Monitoring Program, Shenandoah Riverkeeper on WZRV 95.3 The River. The Environmental Integrity Project is a 19-year-old nonprofit organization, based in Washington, D.C., and Austin, Texas, dedicated to enforcing environmental laws and strengthening policy to protect public health and the environment. Mercury pollution is known to cause severe physiological, behavioral, and reproductive disorders and is particularly harmful to developing fetuses. The . His passion for the water,combined with his people and analytical skills, honed over 25 years as a think tank seniorpolicy analyst tackling some of the most vexing issues facing our nation, make him ideallysuited to defend the Shenandoah against pollution, protect our right to clean water, andpromote the recreational use of this beautiful river. The Environmental Integrity Project is a 19-year-old nonprofit organization, based in Washington D.C., that is dedicated to enforcing environmental laws and strengthening policy to protect public health. 2023 Environmental Integrity Project. Site Designed by DC Web Designers, a Washington DC web design company, Advocates Guide For Challenging LNG Projects. The main route of human exposure is through eating contaminated fish. The Shenandoah Riverkeeper Swim Guide lists over 70 access points on the three major reaches of the Shenandoah River. Where does that leave us now? Bill Hayden, a spokesman for the Department of Environmental Quality, said the state health department is responsible for deciding when and where to notify the public about water quality. Mercury is a neurotoxin and it is not to be trifled with. Potomac Riverkeeper Network undertakes a number of activities and projects that enhance the use and enjoyment of our rivers, with the ultimate goal of increasing public awareness of and participation in protection of the rivers. Ninety-two percent of every dollardonated goes directly to efforts to reduce illegal pollution. But pollution management plans, also called nutrient management plans, are only required for large livestock operations, which account for only 12.5 percent of the farmland in those counties, the report says. Together, farmers in Augusta, Page, Rockingham and Shenandoah counties raise more than 172 million chicken and turkeys a year and more than half a million dairy and beef cows, the report says. The government only tests water for 1 out of every 400. Document the status of and long-term trends in water flow. There are 80,000 chemicals in the US marketplace. EPA has failed to carry out a non-discretionary duty to either approve or disapprove of Virginias list of waters deemed impaired under the Clean Water Act, which was published in 2012 without an acknowledgment of the Shenandoahs algae problems. Source: Data Store Saved Search 699 (results presented are a subset). They offer links to cost share programs and other support for farmers who are willing to implement best management practices. (For specifics, see Appendix C). Only 21 percent of the rivers and streams miles in the Shenandoah Valley, and 22 percent statewide, have been assessed by the state to determine if they are impaired with pollutants. Last month, the DuPont Company announced its plan to stop mercury from contaminating the South River, which is one of the leading tributaries for the South Fork of the Shenandoah. RICHMOND, Va. (AP) In a story April 26 about a report on pollution in the Shenandoah River, The Associated Press reported erroneously that the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation has 3,500 farmer members. In this case, Virginia would be required to develop limits on the total amount of nitrogen and phosphorus being discharged into the Shenandoah that are protective enough to prevent algae blooms and improve water quality. RICHMOND, Virginia (October 20, 2003) -- Two environmental groups will sue DuPont to force a cleanup of mercury from the South River and the South Fork of the Shenandoah River because of health risks for people who eat fish from those waters. visit EIPs web page on water quality in the Valley. The North Fork is no stranger to algae. Financial statements can be provided upon request. The department continues to conduct water column tests to determine if the bacteria cells are present in higher concentrations. The pollution at Shenandoah National Park, which extends 80 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge in northern Virginia, not only obscures the striking panoramas once visible from cliff-hugging . Tom Pelton, Environmental Integrity Project, (443) 510-2574 or tpelton@environmentalintegrity.org The state adopted new regulations that tolerate higher concentrations of fecal bacteria (410 units of E. coli bacteria per 100 ml water, instead of 235 under the old standards.) Posted on April 23, 2008. In addition, they work with university law clinics, nonprofit legal groups and corporate law firms that provide pro bono legal services and conduct compliance reviews of pollution permits. Proposed standards are due before the end of 2023. Jeremy Cox is a Bay Journal staff writer based in Maryland. Unfortunately, much of it is making its way into our rivers, causing serious threats to wildlife and public health, a new study found. 3070 M St, NW Shenandoah Riverkeeper works to protect the public's right to clean water in our rivers and streams. There are 18 local Waterkeepers in the Chesapeake Bay region waiting for your reports. Washington, DC 20005, Phone: (202) 296-8800 The number of water monitoring sites in the Shenandoah Valley declined from an average of 70 per year from 2015 to 2018, to 30 per year in 2019 and 2020, with many of the excluded sites having the highest levels of bacteria. RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Excessive livestock manure from millions of turkeys, chickens and cows in Virginia is making its way into the Shenandoah River, polluting the scenic waterway with unsafe levels of E. coli, according to a new report from an environmental advocacy group. For many folks, the Shenandoah River is their only option to swim in the summer months.. These monitoring reports are more in-depth than resource briefs and include data analysis and a discussion of our findings. At any given time, the three Riverkeepers are working on roughly two dozen active enforcement and advocacy matters, including commenting on pollution permits when they are up for renewal, pushing government regulators to recognize major pollution problems and act on them, and filing lawsuits against polluters and government agencies that are allowing pollution to continue unchecked. Despite the years of growing evidence of impairment, EPA failed to take the action required by the Clean Water Act to limit the pollution causing these algae blooms,said Jennifer Chavez, the Earthjustice attorney representing the river groups. But she said the state General Assembly rejected those requests for additional funding and an expanded freshwater testing program. Acid precipitation, a type of atmospheric deposition that is primarily linked to fossil fuel combustion, is lowering water pH in some extremely sensitive streams both chronically and episodically. , much of the Shenandoah River is polluted with unsafe levels of E. coli. keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports. For more than 20 years, DuPont leaked mercury from the textile plant into the South River, eventually ending up in the Shenandoah River. The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, which has some 35,000 farmer members, pushed back against the report, calling it an opinion piece that aims to paint agriculture in a bad light. Resource briefs are short PDFs summarizing our monitoring programs or results. The Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club has over 16,000 members. * Explicit or vulgar language If they do not, they begin legal actions by filing a mandatory 60-day letter of intent to sue under the Clean Water Act. Rappahannock River Basin, Roanoke and Yadkin River Basin, Shenandoah River Basin, . Discharge Pipes (or any other apparent point source pollution) - Discharge pipes that are discolored, emitting a foul odor, a lot of foam, or some other detectable pollution fall under this . E. coli pollution is also an issue for the Potomac River. The agreement comes in response to a lawsuit filed by community and conservation organizations late last year. Stocked trout have been tested and are safe to eat. member of Waterkeepers Alliance Mark Frondorf, the Shenandoah Riverkeeper, said: Virginia should not implement a two-tiered system that protects saltwater beach goers at the expense of folks living, working and recreating in the Shenandoah watershed. It's just dangerous," said Herschel Finch, a fisherman in Front Royal. That manure can leak into groundwater or wash into surrounding streams when it rains, eventually making it to the Shenandoah, which joins the Potomac that empties into the Chesapeake Bay. The Commonwealth should also issue rules to require all farmers to fence their cattle out of streams and rivers. * Misrepresentation of your identity or affiliation "Instead of solving the problem, the DuPont funded team is just generating lots of reports, not one of which is aimed toward a cleanup.". Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. There was a problem saving your notification. But in the past 15 years or so, he began to see fish die-offs and excessive algae growth. Current Shenandoah Riverkeeper actions. Recent heavy flooding in the Shenandoah Valley from Hurricane Isabel heightens the groups' concerns of contamination, since much of the mercury from the plant is thought to remain in floodplain sediments, which are disturbed during high river flows. We aim to provide a forum for fair and open dialogue. 3070 M St, NW Among the causes: nutrient pollution from fertilizers and sewage, as well as increasing problems from climate change, such as extreme wet and dry spells and warmer water temperatures. South Fork Shenandoah River Project Title South River Mercury TMDL Number 2482-9RO95 Cooperating Agencies Virginia Department of Environmental Quality US EPA - Region III Project Chief Jack Eggleston jegglest@usgs.gov 804-261-2652 Cooperator Robert Brent mbrent@deq.virginia.gov 540-574-7848 Period of Project Jan. 2005 - Oct. 2008 I make sure not to get it in my eyes, God forbid I drink any of it. Environmental Integrity Project's Twitter. What's plaguing the Potomac River? Due to the interest and concerns expressed by public and nonprofit groups for improving the information available on inland beach water quality, VDH has made several attempts to secure funding as recently as 2018, for the 2019-2020 state fiscal budget year. Some fish in the two rivers currently have mercury levels more than eight times the level at which the state issues health advisories. When they find that a facility is violating its pollution permit, they consider factors, such as the impact of the violations on public health, and the size and scope of the violations, before taking action. DuPont plans to remediate and restore the riverbanks starting in Constitution Park down in Waynesboro, Virginia. The Potomac Riverkeeper Network is a The new standard tolerates higher concentrations of E. coli bacteria (410 counts of E coli bacteria per 100 ml of water, instead of 235 counts under the old standard) and requires more frequent testing to designate a waterway as impaired., VDEQ said they changed their standards in 2019 to follow updated recommended bacteria criteria published by EPA in 2012. Agricultural runoff, including manure from the Valleys many livestock operations and industrial scale poultry operations, is a source of contamination for 71 percent of the polluted river and stream miles in the Shenandoah Valley, according to state figures. 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