But many farms still lack livestock fencing. 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. The . The Sierra Club, founded over a century ago, is a national non-profit organization of over 700,000 members dedicated to exploring, enjoying, and protecting the wild places of the earth; to practicing and promoting the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educating and enlisting humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to using all lawful means to carry out these objectives. Proposed standards are due before the end of 2023. They notify government oversight agencies, contact the polluter, and if needed, take legal action if other actions do not result in improvements. The report by the Environmental Integrity Project, "Water Pollution from Livestock in the Shenandoah Valley," relies on state records to document that more than 90 percent of the water quality monitoring stations where the state regularly samples the Shenandoah River and its tributaries detected fecal bacteria (E. coli) at levels unsafe for . What's plaguing the Potomac River? When the fish arent there, fishermen stay away too, and Finch said hes seen tourism-related businesses shut down. Furthermore, the states manure control system allows manure containing far more phosphorous to be applied than the crops need, according to the report. Amounts listed may Unfortunately, much of it is making its way into our rivers, causing serious threats to wildlife and public health, a new study found. For years, Shenandoah Riverkeeper has been pressing Virginias Department of Environmental Quality to designate the river as impaired because of the algae blooms. But the public has the right to know when that water isnt safe to enjoy, said Eric Schaeffer, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project. Discover 11 fun facts about the mysterious, magical powers of trees and how we can help support them! member of Waterkeepers Alliance 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 Virginia eliminated its state freshwater beach action value in October 2019 and changed its impairment value. The Environmental Integrity Projects report makes the following recommendations: The Virginia General Assembly and VDEQ need to invest enough in staffing and resources to create cleanup and implementation plans for the nearly half of impaired waterway miles in the Shenandoah Valley that lack one or the other of them today. If constructed, this pipeline will traverse the South River, one of two rivers that join up down by Waynesboro to form the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. Because of the sensitivity of the streams to acidification, long-term monitoring of stream water chemistry and hydrogeochemical processes is a major component of the Inventory and Monitoring Program. WASHINGTON, D.C. In a victory for clean water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced its intent to publish updated water pollution control standards for slaughterhouses and animal rendering facilities by August 2025, following a lawsuit filed by community and conservation organizations late last year. You can reach him at jcox@bayjournal.com. Network Headquarters Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the federal statute under which the two groups are planning to bring suit, a notice of intent must be served 90 days in advance of filing a lawsuit. * Misrepresentation of your identity or affiliation Algal blooms occur throughout the Chesapeake Bay system. A recent report found that 90 percent of the water quality monitoring stations along the Shenandoah River and its tributaries detected fecal bacteria (E. coli) at levels unsafe for human contact between 2014-2016. Henrico County and environmental groups involved in a lawsuit over pollution from a local sewage treatment facility reached a settlement requiring the county to notify the public of overflows, ramp up system improvements and invest $1 million in environmental work. Document the status of and trends in water quality as influenced by point source and non-point source pollution (including atmospheric deposition). Cement manufacturers are dumping their pollution into Virginian communities with impunity. Additional bacteria sampling data is available from Friends of the Shenandoah River. Rising salt levels in the Potomac River threaten wildlife, drinking water. This is an opinion piece that tries to paint agriculture in a bad light, said Stoneman, who has been the federations point person on water quality and environmental issues for 22 years. Mark Frondorf, Shenandoah Riverkeeper, said: Virginia has failed to implement plans already on the books that would actually result in improved water quality in the Shenandoah Valley. On October 21, 2019, Virginia changed its standards for the amount of bacteria that is acceptable for water-contact recreation, such as the swimming, tubing, and kayaking that are popular in the summer in the Shenandoah Valley. Water sampling data from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, for sites that were sampled at least twice in the last six years. The Orange County Water District estimated earlier this year that treatment could cost the average home in a local district with PFAS $4 to $5 more monthly but could reach as high as $20 per . If youre out and about and see debris flowing from a construction site, cows in your stream, or a pipe discharging questionable water, use the app to report it. The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is responding by calling the report "an opinion piece.". Shenandoah Riverkeeper works to protect the publics right to clean water in our rivers and streams. I make sure not to get it in my eyes, God forbid I drink any of it. Virginias monitoring of water quality is inadequate. Experts say that they usually are a symptom of an ecosystem out of balance. Under federal and state clean water laws, impaired waterways (to use the term in the Clean Water Act for waters that are so polluted they cant be safely used for swimming, drinking, fishing, or other purposes) are supposed to have cleanup plans and implementation plans. Having a healthy lawn fit for summer picnics and protecting clean water aren't mutually exclusive. You'll receive your first NRDC action alert and 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. The river in this county flows not just over the Shenandoah Valley bedrock, not just through our fields and forests and over limestone karst; it flows through our citizens veins, and our hearts. Unfortunately, to date, such efforts have not been successful.. Fish consumption advisories have been in place on the South River and South Fork Shenandoah River since the mid-1970s. Schaeffer was formerly the director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys office of civil enforcement. Virginia needs to start notifying the public that the Shenandoah Valleys waterways are unsafe for swimming and tubing or, better yet, the state should solve this manure overload problem, said Eric Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Environmental Integrity Project and former Director of Civil Enforcement at EPA. Waste-water treatment, residential runoff and wildlife also impact water quality, he said. 72 Percent of Sampling Locations in Valley Had E Coli Bacteria Above EPA Safe Swimming Recommendations in 2020. For more data and information on bacteria testing in the Shenandoah Valley, visit EIPs web page on water quality in the Valley. The North Fork of the Shenandoah River is approximately 95 miles long, while the South Fork runs about 150 miles. The Environmental Integrity Project analyzed hundreds of state records for the report released Wednesday. Source: Data Store Saved Search 699 (results presented are a subset). The North Fork is no stranger to algae. * Insults, verbal attacks or degrading statements keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports. 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 . Some of problems are old and ongoing, but others are new. Resource briefs are short PDFs summarizing our monitoring programs or results. For more than 20 years, DuPont leaked mercury from the textile plant into the South River, eventually ending up in the Shenandoah River. Ninety-two percent of every dollardonated goes directly to efforts to reduce illegal pollution. Shenandoah National Park consists of nearly 200,000 acres of protected land in Northern Virginia and boasts over 500 miles of hiking trails, the 105 mile Skyline Drive with beautiful views, and thousands of living creatures, including the endangered Shenandoah Salamander that is only found in the park. It could be your lawn. "In the Shenandoah River basin, animal manure is the major source of E. coli bacteria either from cattle wandering directly into rivers and streams or manure being spread onto crops and pastures as fertilizer, which runs off into waterways, according to a 2017 Environmental Integrity Project report, 'Water Pollution from Livestock in the . Hear from a lawn care professional on how to harness natures power and take steps to ensure your lawn, big or small, is river friendly! 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. They stop pollution to promote safe drinking water, protect healthy river habitats, and enhance public use and enjoyment. DuPont plans to remediate and restore the riverbanks starting in Constitution Park down in Waynesboro, Virginia. Fax: (202) 296-8822, 1206 San Antonio Street But it's threatened by the failure of state and federal authorities to stop excessive nutrientsand the algae they producefrom entering the river. The Riverkeeper programs also work on some policy and legislative issues related to our work protecting access to the rivers. 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. Some fish in the two rivers currently have mercury levels more than eight times the level at which the state issues health advisories. Document the status of and long-term trends in water flow. A corrected version of the story is below: Report: Cows, chickens taint Shenandoah River with E. coli, The bucolic Shenandoah River is sending some not-so-lovely material downstream, according to a new report that finds Virginia is failing to adequately manage waste from millions of chickens and cows. Until Virginias waters are cleaned up, Schaeffer said, the Commonwealth should raise no swimming advisory signs in parts of the Shenandoah that are often used for swimming and tubing but that have unsafe levels of fecal bacteria. Using state records, it was found that more than 90 percent of the water quality monitoring stations where the state regularly samples the Shenandoah River found fecal bacteria (also known as E. coli) at levels unsafe for human contact. Find out how. Frondorf, the Shenandoah Riverkeeper, said it is not fair that the state has a swimming advisory standard and monitoring program for Ocean beaches, like in Virginia Beach, but not in freshwater areas like the Shenandoah River. 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. Pcfawc.com Pcfawc.com ? The warning signs could include a website or hotline that people could use to get the most recent bacteria monitoring information. Shenandoah RIVERKEEPERMark Frondorf joined Potomac RIVERKEEPERNetwork in 2015. (For specifics, see Appendix C). 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. In October 2019, Virginia revoked its beach action value for E. coli in freshwater areas, a trigger value that EPA recommends for issuing short-term no swimming advisories in waterways that have more than 235 counts of E. coli/100 ml of water. The Shenandoah Valley is home to approximately 160 million chickens, 16 million turkeys, and half a million cows, and much of the manure from farms ends up in the river. Cattle stand on the banks of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River in Rockingham County, VA, where a harmful algal bloom recently closed more than 52.5 miles of the waterway to recreational uses. 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. But in the past 15 years or so, he began to see fish die-offs and excessive algae growth. If they do not, they begin legal actions by filing a mandatory 60-day letter of intent to sue under the Clean Water Act. The lawsuit says EPA did not fulfill its duty under the Clean Water Act when it approved Virginias decision not to identify the Shenandoah Rivers algae impairment on the states list of quality-impaired rivers and streams. Document changes in stream channel characteristics at sampling sites. Due to the protection of the surrounding forests, the water in these streams is generally of high quality and low in sediment load. Shenandoah 571.969.0746 SEATTLE (AP) A company that operates a century-old hydroelectric dam near Mount Rainier National Park and its chief operating officer each pleaded guilty to a single criminal count Monday in connection with a spill of synthetic field turf and the tiny rubber particles used to make it into the Puyallup River in 2020.. Proposed standards are due before the end of 2023. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy The Potomac River has been shaping its physical surroundings for over 3 million years when it was first formedand for thousands of years, it has played a critical role in the lives of the communities that settled along its banks. Other states, including Maryland and Pennsylvania, still use this freshwater beach action value.. The Shenandoah Riverkeeper Swim Guide lists over 70 access points on the three major reaches of the Shenandoah River. Today's announcement marks that notice. Margaret Smigo, Waterborne Hazards Program Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), said that her agency does not have funding or staff to conduct adequate testing in freshwater swimming areas of the state, like campgrounds along the Shenandoah River. Almost of half of the impaired waters in the Shenandoah Valley lack either the cleanup plans or implementation plans required by federal and state law. Shenandoah National Park is located in Virginia's Blueridge Mountains. Robinson River flowing through Whiteoak Canyon in Shenandoah National Park. Four local environmental groups are suing the EPA over pollution levels in Virginias Shenandoah River, a major tributary to the Potomac. It is ideal for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and observing nature. Please use language that is accurate and respectful. Current Shenandoah Riverkeeper actions. The Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) report is based on an examination of state records and water quality monitoring data, and includes the following findings: EIPs report also examines how the regulatory landscape is shifting in Virginia. Since 2010, Shenandoah Riverkeeper has collected hundreds of complaints from river users and submitted most of them to the Virginia government in hopes it would recognize the problem and take direct corrective action. We hope this lawsuit will change that, said Mark Frondorf, Shenandoah Riverkeeper. Here are a few of the most common and most effective changes we ask farmers to make: The program begins by initiating dialogue with the farmers to build trust and understanding about the way their farming practices may be damaging our water supply. 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. The study, conducted by the Environmental Integrity Project, says the pollution is because of animal waste runoff. "I am always very careful about getting in this water. The Shenandoah River is a very popular river for canoeing, river tubing, and white-water recreation such as rafting and kayaking (class I-III in season, II-III+ during the spring run-off), and several commercial outfitters offer a variety of guided trips and rentals. Local groups challenge EPAs approval of Virginias decision to not list the Shenandoah as impaired, despite excessive algae blooms and nutrient pollution. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. An outdated sewer system is to blame. Paddling on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River in the George Washington National Forest. Last year, pollution credit trading allowed the Strasburg Sewage Treatment Plant to release 2,942 pounds of phosphorus into the North Fork of the Shenandoah, according to the new Environmental . Shenandoah Riverkeeper uses information from monitoring and community activity and takes actions to create positive change. PRKNs EIN # is 54-1982624. 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