EIP Study Demands Stronger Regulation of Livestock Pollution and Health Advisories for Waterways Contaminated with Bacteria. 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. Riverkeeper is a registered trademark and service mark of Potomac Riverkeeper Network, Inc. and is licensed for use herein. Stocked trout have been tested and are safe to eat. Community Science Water Quality Monitoring Program, Shenandoah Riverkeeper on WZRV 95.3 The River, the DuPont Company announced its plan to stop mercury from contaminating the South River, http://southriverscienceteam.org/what-is-srst/, http://southriverscienceteam.org/news/fact-sheets/SR_No2.pdf, http://southriverscienceteam.org/news/newsletters/2016/UPDATE_2016_First%20Half_final.pdf. Some of problems are old and ongoing, but others are new. That algae buildup can then get in the way of the fishing and paddling industries. Jeff Taylor/The Winchester Star BERRYVILLE. 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. Schaeffer was formerly the director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys office of civil enforcement. Where does that leave us now? The alert applies to about 11 miles of the rivers North Fork, extending from just above Strasburg at VA Route 644 to just below the town at Route 611. The Environmental Integrity Project analyzed hundreds of state records for the report released Wednesday. In December 2013, EPA compounded Virginias inaction by failing to either approve or disapprove of Virginias decision not to list the Shenandoah as impaired, in violation of an explicit statutory duty to take action. Water sampling data from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, for sites that were sampled at least twice in the last six years. When the fish arent there, fishermen stay away too, and Finch said hes seen tourism-related businesses shut down. They include a descriptive narrative of what we monitor and why, our field methods, how we analyze and manage our data, and more. Network Headquarters Tom Pelton, Environmental Integrity Project, (443) 510-2574 or tpelton@environmentalintegrity.org When you sign up you'll become a member of NRDC's Activist Network. But in the past 15 years or so, he began to see fish die-offs and excessive algae growth. Stormwater runs off the land and picks up sediment, fertilizer, trash, chemicals, and other pollutants and carries them into our creeks and rivers directly or through storm sewer systems. The South River Science Team was established in 2001 and began conducting studies to understand how mercury enters the South River and why mercury in South River and South Fork Shenandoah River fish continue to remain elevated some 60 years after it was used at the former DuPont facility in Waynesboro, Virginia. Having guided on the Shenandoah and Potomac for almost twenty years, Mark Frondorf comes to the Shenandoah Riverkeeper position used to hard work and r The main route of human exposure is through eating contaminated fish. So far, the best way to improve water quality downstream from farms is to persuade farmers to adopt Best Management Practices (BMPs) on a voluntary basis. As a result of high air pollution levels, atmospheric deposition is the greatest threat to protected mountain streams. And so Mark Frondorf, Shenandoah Riverkeeper, has launched the Respect the Shenandoah Campaign. "Instead of solving the problem, the DuPont funded team is just generating lots of reports, not one of which is aimed toward a cleanup.". As a last resort, we will take a polluter to court to stop the pollution. Other states, including Maryland and Pennsylvania, still use this freshwater beach action value.. 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." In 2012, Shenandoah Riverkeeper officially requested that Virginia DEQ designate all reaches of the Shenandoah River as impaired by algae on Virginias 303(d) list, the list on which states are required to designate water bodies that fail to meet water quality standards under the federal Clean Water Act. 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 Department of Health issued an alert Aug. 5 warning the public to avoid contact with the potentially toxic algae. 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.. In a victory for clean water, the Environmental Protection Agency announced its intent today to publish updated water-pollution control standards for slaughterhouses and animal rendering facilities by August 2025. Last year, health officials placed 52 miles of its length under advisory from early August to mid-September after discovering cyanobacteria in the water. Collecting and Managing Surplus Manure: Who Should Pay? Staff and legal interns also provide legal research on pollution permit compliance. Virginia is required by the Act to consider all information about stream impairments when updating its list. Using salt can keep our roads safe, but it has dangerous consequences for the Potomac River. Furthermore, the states manure control system allows manure containing far more phosphorous to be applied than the crops need, according to the report. The water from these springs is very cool and, on its downhill journey, forms the numerous high gradient and highly oxygenated streams found in Shenandoah. 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. Fish kills and algal outbreaks, associated with manure from unfenced herds of cattle and large poultry operations, make the river unhealthy and unpleasant for those hoping to enjoy it. That means the health of the people in the Shenandoah Valley is at risk, and a Virginia treasure -- part of our children's heritage -- is being diminished," said Michael Town, director of the Sierra Club's Virginia Chapter. Learn about the threat of rising salt levels in the Potomac and its tributaries, and alternatives to traditional salt to keep both our roads and freshwater safe. 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. 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. Four local environmental groups are suing the EPA over pollution levels in Virginias Shenandoah River, a major tributary to the Potomac. The river is a popular recreation spot, and the excessive pollution levels pose a threat to local residents, wildlife, and underwater vegetation. There are 80,000 chemicals in the US marketplace. 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 . "I am always very careful about getting in this water. Virginia eliminated its state freshwater beach action value in October 2019 and changed its impairment value. (1/7) Dear Potomac Conservancy community: After much consideration, our organization has made the decision to paus, We're a proud sponsor of the 5th Taking Nature Black Conference hosted by @, Citing public health threats, local groups sue over Shenandoah River pollution, E.coli bacteria caused the cancellation of the Nations Triathlon swim portion, History we should know: How the Potomac shaped our community. They offer links to cost share programs and other support for farmers who are willing to implement best management practices. In order to guarantee that our water is safe, these pollutants must be stopped from entering waterways in the first place, and we must study, test for, andif necessaryremove endocrine disruptors in our water supply. 3070 M St, NW The health department didnt respond to requests for comment about the states policies. The Commonwealth should also issue rules to require all farmers to fence their cattle out of streams and rivers. 2023 Environmental Integrity Project. For decades, Virginia has collected bacteria data in both fresh and saltwater areas of the state, but has only posted warning signs for swimmers on ocean and saltwater beaches. 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. Comments may not include: 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. We stop pollution to enhance the safety of our drinking water, protect healthy river habitats, and enhance public use and enjoyment. 2023, Potomac Conservancy, Silver Spring, MD. Resource briefs are short PDFs summarizing our monitoring programs or results. The regions leading clean water advocate, fighting to ensure the Potomac River boasts clean drinking water, healthy lands, and connected communities. * Spam or comments that do not pertain to the posted article Site Designed by DC Web Designers, a Washington DC web design company, Advocates Guide For Challenging LNG Projects. visit EIPs web page on water quality in the Valley. But she said the state General Assembly rejected those requests for additional funding and an expanded freshwater testing program. 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. 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. After a review, in most cases, they contact the worst polluters to tell them to stop polluting our water supply and to clean up existing pollution. DuPont plans to remediate and restore the riverbanks starting in Constitution Park down in Waynesboro, Virginia. For more than 20 years, DuPont leaked mercury from the textile plant into the South River, eventually ending up in the Shenandoah River. Periodically, we publish reports that describe what we are learning in the field. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. 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. Contact Evan Childress, Shenandoah NP Supervisory Fish Biologist, Download the official NPS app before your next visit, Mid-Atlantic Inventory & Monitoring Network. Its a matter of basic fairness.. 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. Snows certainly not been a stanger this winter! Herschel Finch, a fisher, kayaker and the conservation chairman of the Potomac River Smallmouth Club, said when he moved to the Shenandoah Valley in 1977, the fishing was fantastic. It's just dangerous," said Herschel Finch, a fisherman in Front Royal. 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 . In the Shenandoah Valley, Shenandoah Riverkeeper is going site by site to all the farms in the area, opening a dialogue with farmers about improving the practices that endanger the health and jobs of people living downstream. And many of the plans that have been in place for years have failed because they lack any enforcement or funding mechanisms and because monitoring has been inadequate. Potomac 336.809.6041. The most important way Virginia could better implement its TMDLs would be to impose regulations that reduce the chronic over-application of manure to farm fields, especially those adjacent to waterways. He said theres always room for improvement in the states nutrient management program, but Virginia has seen an overall improvement in bacterial contamination in the Shenandoah River basin. 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. This is a transmission line to get fracked gas out of Pennsylvania and West Virginia and ship it down to North Carolina and Portsmouth, Virginia. & Waterkeepers Chesapeake. The Blue Ridge Physiographic Province within the Mid-Atlantic Network contains portions of the headwaters for three major watersheds: the Rappahannock, the Shenandoah, and the James Rivers. Some fish in the two rivers currently have mercury levels more than eight times the level at which the state issues health advisories. For more data and information on bacteria testing in the Shenandoah Valley, visit EIPs web page on water quality in the Valley. South Fork Shenandoah River [ edit] Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Front Royal, VA Today, four local citizen groups filed a lawsuit filed a lawsuitagainst the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the agencys repeated failure to address the Shenandoah Rivers increasing problem with algae blooms and pollution. Determine the natural range of variability in water chemistry (including bacterial composition). We hope this lawsuit will change that," said Mark Frondorf, Shenandoah Riverkeeper. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy Experts say that they usually are a symptom of an ecosystem out of balance. Their stories of recovery are nothing short of inspiring. . 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. Hayden said no one at the agency had reviewed the report yet, so he couldnt comment on the specifics. 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 . Warren County is the only county in Virginia that contains all three sections of the Shenandoah River, both north and south forks and the main stem, said Herschel Finch, conservation chairman of the Izaak Walton League of Americas Warren County chapter. From the Virginia Department of health issued an alert Aug. 5 warning the public to avoid contact with the toxic... '' said Herschel Finch, a major tributary to the discussion River [ edit ] Connect with potentially... To implement best management practices Should also issue rules to require all farmers to fence cattle. Old and ongoing, but it has dangerous consequences for the report yet, so he couldnt comment the... Pollution permit compliance to see fish die-offs and excessive algae growth, Shenandoah.. 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