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. The Environmental Integrity Project and Shenandoah Riverkeeper released a report in 2019 that used aerial photography to document that only about 20 percent of livestock farms in Virginias biggest agricultural counties, Rockingham and Augusta counties in the Shenandoah Valley, had fenced their cattle out of streams and rivers. But its threatened by the failure of state and federal authorities to stop excessive nutrientsand the algae they producefrom entering the river. The Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club has over 16,000 members. He founded the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Integrity Project, which advocates for effective enforcement of environmental laws. DuPont's textile operations discharged tens of thousands of pounds of mercury into the South River from 1929 to 1950. The Virginia Department of Health issued an alert Aug. 5 warning the public to avoid contact with the potentially toxic algae. (Virginia.org) By Mark Frondorf For years, herds of cattle wading and defecating in our rivers caused pollution and rendered the waters disgusting and, in some cases, dangerous for contact by those seeking recreation and drinking water. Shenandoah Riverkeeper uses information from monitoring and community activity and takes actions to create positive change. However, Virginia posted no signs warning rafters, kayakers, or swimmers about health threats as it does regularly with swimming advisories on ocean beaches and in saltwater areas. 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. 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. We wish to see our river returned to the condition it once was, a fishable, swimmable waterway, and enjoyable experience, unencumbered by the thick, extensive mats of algae we see today.. DuPont stopped leaking mercury in 1950. 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. Other states, including Maryland and Pennsylvania, still use this freshwater beach action value.. 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. As a last resort, we will take a polluter to court to stop the pollution. 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. Snows certainly not been a stanger this winter! EIP Study Demands Stronger Regulation of Livestock Pollution and Health Advisories for Waterways Contaminated with Bacteria. 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. 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. 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. 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. Shenandoah features waterfalls, quiet woods, wildflower fields, rocky hiking trails, and so much more. 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. follow these guidelines. 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. 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. CAPTION: A Symbol Of Pollution Is No More Cameras rolling, onlookers view the demolition of the 30-story smokestack of the the former Avtex Fibers plant, a Superfund site on Virginia's. Want to have a yard that works for clean water not against it? Mark Frondorf, the Shenandoah Riverkeeper, said: The river and its users cannot afford the sleight-of-hand technique employed by authorities on water quality standards. The solution is not to lower the standards so that the public is misled into thinking the river is safe for contact, but rather to enhance the standards and then act to resolve the impairment., MONITORING FOR E. COLI BACTERIA IN SHENANDOAH WATERWAYS, Number of Sites Where Bacteria Exceeded EPAs Swimming Advisory Value, Percent of Sites Over EPA Swimming Advisory Value. For more than 20 years, DuPont leaked mercury from the textile plant into the South River, eventually ending up in the Shenandoah River. All of our protocols are peer reviewed. We reserve the right to edit or decline comments that do An all-too-familiar scourge has returned to the Shenandoah Rivers waters this summer: thick, green mats of algae. Since mid-June, the North Fork of the Shenandoah already a shallow waterway compared with others of its size was below its 96-year average depth, according to a river gauge at Strasburg. The Potomac Riverkeeper Network is a If they do not, they begin legal actions by filing a mandatory 60-day letter of intent to sue under the Clean Water Act. But unlike in DC where sewage overflows are to blame, its agricultural runoff thats harming the Shenandoah. 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. 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 state should take action to implement the cleanup plans it creates, so that TMDLs are more meaningful. Last year unsafe levels of E.coli bacteria caused the cancellation of the Nations Triathlon swim portion. (For specifics, see Appendix C). There are sections where its just completely unproductive to go fish anymore because the algae is taking up all the oxygen and the fish just cant survive, he said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters. 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. Wilmer Stoneman, director of commodities and marketing for the Farm Bureau Federation, said farmers face stringent regulations and are doing more than ever to improve conservation overall. When it comes to E. coli, Virginia should do a better job of issuing public advisories about the elevated levels, the report advises. 2023 Environmental Integrity Project. But those 2012 EPA criteria recommended that states continue using a trigger value for issuing short-term advisories to swimmers in freshwater areas called the beach action value of 235 counts of E. coli/100 ml water. Small changes can make a big difference. Reports will go to your local Waterkeeper. 66 years have passed, and we are still dealing with a serious environmental and public health problem at the very headwaters of the Shenandoah River. All Rights Reserved. The report by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), Water Quality in the Shenandoah Valley: Virginias Cleanup Plans Fail to Solve Bacteria Problem, urges Virginia to take strong steps to protect people swimming in waterways contaminated with fecal bacteria, including by issuing health advisories and posting warning signs and by cracking down on manure runoff from livestock operations. Most of that is spread on surrounding farmland, the report found. Waste-water treatment, residential runoff and wildlife also impact water quality, he said. The . Furthermore, the states manure control system allows manure containing far more phosphorous to be applied than the crops need, according to the report. Using salt can keep our roads safe, but it has dangerous consequences for the Potomac River. Comments may not include: Site Designed by DC Web Designers, a Washington DC web design company, Advocates Guide For Challenging LNG Projects. Rappahannock River Basin, Roanoke and Yadkin River Basin, Shenandoah River Basin, . 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. 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 . They include a descriptive narrative of what we monitor and why, our field methods, how we analyze and manage our data, and more. Additional bacteria sampling data is available from Friends of the Shenandoah River. 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. You can reach him at jcox@bayjournal.com. 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. * Incorrect, fraudulent or misleading content 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. 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. 7 local animals making a comeback thanks to clean water, 7 tree-mendous facts: How trees support the Potomac River, us, and each other, Study finds the Potomac is getting saltier, threatening drinking water and wildlife. Staff and legal interns also provide legal research on pollution permit compliance. You have permission to edit this article. While we acknowledge DuPonts commitment to the community, and agreeing to stabilize the riverbank by employing a impermeable barrier and covering that with additional clay, soil and native plants, it has been 66 years thats right 66 years since the active leaking stopped. We hope this lawsuit will change that," said Mark Frondorf, Shenandoah Riverkeeper. E. coli pollution is also an issue for the Potomac River. * Explicit or vulgar language The Environmental Integrity Project analyzed hundreds of state records for the report released Wednesday. Network Headquarters 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. 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. Interactive map of the South River Science Team showing the fish consumption advisories: http://southriverscienceteam.org/map/, Purpose and roles of the SRST: http://southriverscienceteam.org/what-is-srst/, SRST Mercury Fact Sheet: http://southriverscienceteam.org/news/fact-sheets/SR_No2.pdf, SRST newsletter going into great detail as to how they are going to perform the remediation: http://southriverscienceteam.org/news/newsletters/2016/UPDATE_2016_First%20Half_final.pdf, Potomac Riverkeeper For most of this country's history, wetlands were seen as an impediment to development. Despite its popularity, the river is often unsafe for swimming. 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. There are 80,000 chemicals in the US marketplace. Its website can be found at www.sierraclub.org. 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. On this episode of fishing the DMV we talk to Mark Frondorf. These Combined Sewer Overflows release pollutants like fecal coliform bacteria and e. coli into the waterway that can sicken animals, fish, and humans, and deplete oxygen levels causing harmful algal blooms. The warning signs could include a website or hotline that people could use to get the most recent bacteria monitoring information. Guest Article by Jeff "Yakfish" Little. But the state provides no such notice when the Shenandoah Valley and other rivers and streams are contaminated, even when E. coli levels are more than 100 times the recreational limit, it says. By contrast, she said, EPA provides grants for state water quality testing along ocean beaches and in saltwater areas, like Virginia Beach, and to the state provides regular testing and raises swimming advisory signs in these saltwater areas. But now we understand how paving over wetlands means destroying incalculable ecological services - and some of the Potomac River regions most magical travel destinations. Potomac 336.809.6041. As a result of high air pollution levels, atmospheric deposition is the greatest threat to protected mountain streams. We hope this lawsuit will change that, said Mark Frondorf, Shenandoah Riverkeeper. Founded in 1970, NRDC has more than 550,000 members nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Mark joined Potomac Riverkeeper Network in 2015 as the official Shenandoah Riverkeeper. Contact Evan Childress, Shenandoah NP Supervisory Fish Biologist, Download the official NPS app before your next visit, Mid-Atlantic Inventory & Monitoring Network. They also harm native grasses and affect aquatic life. Austin, TX 78701. Working with, , Potomac Riverkeeper Network developed a mobile app, which is a Bay-wide initiative, to gather critical data on the waterways you love! Resource briefs are short PDFs summarizing our monitoring programs or results. The agreement comes in response to a lawsuit filed by community and conservation organizations late last year. That advisory continues today. Ninety-two percent of every dollardonated goes directly to efforts to reduce illegal pollution. Shenandoah Riverkeeper Mark Frondorf, after a float patrol, stops at the boat launch ramp under Harry Byrd Highway (Va. 7) east of Berryville Thursday. 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. Its almost a five-hour drive for people living in the Shenandoah Valley to drive to a Virginia beach and they should not be treated like second-class citizens due to their lack of proximity to a saltwater beach, said Frondorf. Think about it. The report focuses on four counties in the bucolic Shenandoah Valley watershed that are also home to a large-scale farming industry. Network Headquarters 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. Upper Potomac 443.480.8970 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. Listing would have triggered specific government plans to combat algae pollution on the Shenandoah. While Virginia has taken account of similar evidence in prior decisions to list other water bodies as impaired, it has refused to list the Shenandoah as impaired despite the ample evidence submitted in this case. The members of our local chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America stand shoulder to shoulder with our local Riverkeepers and others to ensure this river is restored, and remains the national treasure we know it to be.. You can read through the full report and see what the Environmental Integrity Project recommends to solve these problems, Report: Shenandoah River polluted with unsafe levels of E. coli, Dog found dead under suspicious circumstances, SCSO says, ACSO looking for suspicious man in the Weyers Cave area, Pilot identified in fatal plane crash near Hillsville, Impacts the end of the COVID public health emergency will have, FDA advisers give green light for RSV vaccine approval; why this is important for older adults, Eastern Mennonite boys basketball defeats Walsingham 69-56, advances to VISAA DIII semifinals, Charlie Obaugh RV & Outdoor Student Athlete of the Week, Water Pollution from Livestock in the Shenandoah Valley.pdf. Source: Data Store Saved Search 709. When the fish arent there, fishermen stay away too, and Finch said hes seen tourism-related businesses shut down. For many folks, the Shenandoah River is their only option to swim in the summer months.. 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. * Insults, verbal attacks or degrading statements Each of these rivers eventually flows into the Chesapeake Bay. State Disclosures, Nancy Marks, NRDC, 212-727-4414; Michael Town, Sierra Club, 804-225-9113; 804-319-6083. 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. Every year they host RiverPalooza, a series of paddling events. 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. 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. All across our region animals once in decline are making a comeback. Potomac 336.809.6041. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store. 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. 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. This is not a day for ribbon cutting and balloons; this is a day a long-time in coming. The low buffering capacity of a large percentage of soils in the park provides limited protection from acid deposition. 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. Washington, D.C. A new report finds that Virginias efforts to restore the health of the scenic Shenandoah River are failing because of toothless and absent cleanup plans, a lack of regulations on the livestock industry, and inadequate monitoring. Federal, state, and local governments are mandated to provide basic services like safe, clean drinking 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. Once your report is submitted it will be sent to your local Waterkeeper and to a live map available on the Water Reporter Website. There are 18 local Waterkeepers in the Chesapeake Bay region waiting for your reports. For more data and information on bacteria testing in the Shenandoah Valley, visit EIPs web page on water quality in the Valley. It has never issued public health advisories or posted signs in freshwater areas like the Shenandoah River, even though rafting and swimming are common in the scenic waterway. 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. 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. 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. , much of the Shenandoah River is polluted with unsafe levels of E. coli. Shenandoah Riverkeeper, Potomac Riverkeeper Network, the Warren County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, and the Potomac River Smallmouth Club filed the suit and are represented by Earthjustice. 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." Unfortunately, to date, such efforts have not been successful.. The North Fork is no stranger to algae. Virginia is required by the Act to consider all information about stream impairments when updating its list. Due to the protection of the surrounding forests, the water in these streams is generally of high quality and low in sediment load. Shenandoah RIVERKEEPERMark Frondorf joined Potomac RIVERKEEPERNetwork in 2015. According to a new study , much of the Shenandoah River is polluted with unsafe levels of E. coli. 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 & Waterkeepers Chesapeake. The lawsuit, filed by Shenandoah Riverkeeper, Potomac Riverkeeper Network, the Warren County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, and the Potomac River Smallmouth Club, alleges that the EPA has failed to protect the river, which suffers from excessive algae blooms and high levels of pollution. Washington, D.C. Almost three quarters of water quality monitoring sites in Virginias scenic Shenandoah Valley had levels of fecal bacteria last year that were so high that EPA would consider them unsafe for swimming. Thanks for signing up. 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 Shenandoah is one of the most beautiful rivers in the countryand a popular recreation destination. For years, Shenandoah Riverkeeper has been pressing Virginias Department of Environmental Quality to designate the river as impaired because of the algae blooms. 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. However, those numbers could soon fall not because the waters are any cleaner, but because Virginia recently revised its water quality standards to tolerate higher concentrations of fecal bacteria, according to EIPs report. visit EIPs web page on water quality in the Valley. Today's announcement marks that notice. Amounts listed may Virginia should significantly expand its water quality monitoring program statewide, especially in freshwater areas, so that the nearly 80 percent of waterway miles that lack enough data can be evaluated for impairment decisions and cleanup plans. 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. The department continues to conduct water column tests to determine if the bacteria cells are present in higher concentrations. With all the progress made since the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972, it may still surprise you to learn there are plenty of ways you can still legally pollute the Potomac River. Check out these 7 benefits trees have for cities in the Potomac River region! The government only tests water for 1 out of every 400. The Riverkeeper programs also work on some policy and legislative issues related to our work protecting access to the rivers. Trees do so much for our climate and clean water, but what do they do for our health? VDEQ intends to complete the bacteria pilot study in 2021 and will share the results with the public., VDEQ in October 2019 also modified the standard that the state uses to determine if waterways are impaired for recreation, a determination that triggers requirements for long-term clean-up plans under the federal Clean Water Act. Unfortunately, much of it is making its way into our rivers, causing serious threats to wildlife and public health, a new study found. The algae blooms, caused by agricultural runoff in the Shenandoah Valley, interfere with recreational uses of the river, such as swimming, kayaking and fishing. The Southern Environmental Law Center will be assisting in the case. "For decades, DuPont has managed to dodge responsibility for dumping mercury into these waters. 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. The team has no cleanup plans. 5 *completely legal* ways to pollute the Potomac, 6 local wetlands to quench your wanderlust. That has not occurred according to the most recent data collected by the Commonwealth. Lives are lost every year from this pollution, and our economy is forced to bear the burden of . 7 benefits of urban trees for communities, clean water, and more! We aim to provide a forum for fair and open dialogue. The streams are formed from numerous springs, some of which are located near the ridge tops. 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 . 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Using salt can keep our roads safe, but what do they do for Health. Contact with the potentially toxic algae could include a website or hotline that people could to. Forests, the water Reporter website in coming a series of paddling events, 804-225-9113 ; 804-319-6083 burden of by. Directly to efforts to reduce illegal pollution burden of permit compliance levels, atmospheric deposition is the threat... The bucolic Shenandoah Valley, visit the data Store the Potomac River Regulation of Livestock pollution and Health for! Of urban trees for communities, clean drinking water forced to bear the burden of,... Consequences for the Potomac River pollute the Potomac River to implement the cleanup plans it creates, that. Released Wednesday and legal interns also provide legal research on pollution permit compliance, he said as impaired because the... Visit EIPs web page on water quality in the Valley still use this freshwater beach value. He founded the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Integrity Project, which advocates effective! Quality in the bucolic Shenandoah Valley, visit the data Store ; 804-319-6083 requests!