All Rights Reserved. Where does that leave us now? On this episode of fishing the DMV we talk to Mark Frondorf. "I am always very careful about getting in this water. Each of these rivers eventually flows into the Chesapeake Bay. 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. * Incorrect, fraudulent or misleading content Those behind the report, however, have focused their criticism on the state. 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. Experts say that they usually are a symptom of an ecosystem out of balance. But now we understand how paving over wetlands means destroying incalculable ecological services - and some of the Potomac River regions most magical travel destinations. Virginia eliminated its state freshwater beach action value in October 2019 and changed its impairment value. You have permission to edit this article. 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. The Shenandoah Riverkeeper Swim Guide lists over 70 access points on the three major reaches of the Shenandoah River. The agency has refused, even as evidence of the impairment has grown. Comments may not include: I make sure not to get it in my eyes, God forbid I drink any of it. 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. There are 80,000 chemicals in the US marketplace. All of our protocols are peer reviewed. Despite its popularity, the river is often unsafe for swimming. Experts say that they usually are a symptom of an ecosystem out of balance. The Virginia Department of Health issued an alert Aug. 5 warning the public to avoid contact with the potentially toxic algae. The organization says it has approximately 35,000 farmer members. Shenandoah features waterfalls, quiet woods, wildflower fields, rocky hiking trails, and so much more. The team has no cleanup plans. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. "Instead of solving the problem, the DuPont funded team is just generating lots of reports, not one of which is aimed toward a cleanup.". The Shenandoah is one of the most beautiful rivers in the countryand a popular recreation destination. 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. "Blooms in general are always exacerbated by nutrients," said Joe Wood, a senior scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Virginia office. 3070 M St, NW Last year, health officials placed 52 miles of its length under advisory from early August to mid-September after discovering cyanobacteria in the water. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. All rights reserved. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports. Amounts listed may Paved, drained, dammed and polluted to the point where it is barely recognizable as a stream, the Santa Ana River has long been more a source of ridicule than recreation, more of a waste pit than . 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. Omission from the list means delay in addressing a serious and growing problem. There was a problem saving your notification. You can reach him at jcox@bayjournal.com. Its springtime, so lets do a bad agriculture story.. Financial statements can be provided upon request. As a result of high air pollution levels, atmospheric deposition is the greatest threat to protected mountain streams. The Shenandoah is such a beautiful and historic place and such a treasured spot for fishing, tubing, and recreation Virginia really needs to get more serious about protecting it, said Eric Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Environmental Integrity Project and former Director of Civil Enforcement at EPA.. Most of all, Virginia needs to regulate the growing livestock industry to stop the chronic overapplication of fertilizer to farm fields, and mandate livestock fencing along streams.. Lives are lost every year from this pollution, and our economy is forced to bear the burden of . 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. (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. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has also assessed a very low percentage of waters, leaving residents guessing whether it is safe to swim and recreate in the rivers and streams.. 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. Shenandoah Riverkeeper Mark Frondorf, after a float patrol, stops at the boat launch ramp under Harry Byrd Highway (Va. 7) east of Berryville Thursday. Paddling on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River in the George Washington National Forest. That type of blue-green algae can release toxins that, when touched or swallowed, can lead to rashes and gastrointestinal illness. Fish consumption advisories have been in place on the South River and South Fork Shenandoah River since the mid-1970s. 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. This is not a day for ribbon cutting and balloons; this is a day a long-time in coming. All across our region animals once in decline are making a comeback. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. No fish other than trout should be eaten from the South River. 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. * Information that violates a person's right to privacy 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. 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. Having a healthy lawn fit for summer picnics and protecting clean water aren't mutually exclusive. * Insults, verbal attacks or degrading statements The Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the earth - its people, DuPont's textile operations discharged tens of thousands of pounds of mercury into the South River from 1929 to 1950. DEQs refusal to even evaluate this evidence to make an impairment determination is unacceptableas is EPAs failure to step in and perform its oversight duties as the Clean Water Act requires it to do.. Virginias monitoring of water quality is inadequate. 72 Percent of Sampling Locations in Valley Had E Coli Bacteria Above EPA Safe Swimming Recommendations in 2020. Shenandoah Riverkeeper continues to receive complaints from river users about slimy green growths of algae, which cause bad odors, interfere with swimming, fishing, paddling and boating, and are contributing to a decline in the health of fish and aquatic ecosystems in the river. The proposed construction of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline would impact the headwaters of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. It can be fatal to dogs and other animals. 2023 Environmental Integrity Project. * Explicit or vulgar language Current Shenandoah Riverkeeper actions. Media contacts: When the fish arent there, fishermen stay away too, and Finch said hes seen tourism-related businesses shut down. Discover 11 fun facts about the mysterious, magical powers of trees and how we can help support them! Detect water quality measures that exceed threshold values and determine their compliance with state and federal water quality standards. We reserve the right to edit or decline comments that do Potomac Riverkeeper Network is the home for three Riverkeepers: Potomac, Shenandoah and Upper Potomac. The cleanup deadlines for four of the implementation plans in the Valley have passed, but the waterways in three of these four remain impaired by fecal bacteria. Working with, , Potomac Riverkeeper Network developed a mobile app, which is a Bay-wide initiative, to gather critical data on the waterways you love! * Spam or comments that do not pertain to the posted article The study, conducted by the Environmental Integrity Project, says the pollution is because. It is ideal for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and observing nature. 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 . Potomac Riverkeeper Network is dedicated to monitoring the condition of the rivers through regular on-the-water patrols, volunteers, and citizen reports through the website and the mobile phone app, the Water Reporter. Austin, TX 78701. Additional bacteria sampling data is available from Friends of the Shenandoah River. Washington DC 20007, POLLUTION REPORT HOTLINE Their stories of recovery are nothing short of inspiring. Source: Data Store Saved Search 699 (results presented are a subset). * Advertising or solicitations The company, Electron Hydro LLC, also will pay $1 million that mostly . RICHMOND, Va. 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