shenandoah river pollution

Their stories of recovery are nothing short of inspiring. The study, conducted by the Environmental Integrity Project, says the pollution is because. Discover 11 fun facts about the mysterious, magical powers of trees and how we can help support them! "Instead of solving the problem, the DuPont funded team is just generating lots of reports, not one of which is aimed toward a cleanup.". On this episode of fishing the DMV we talk to Mark Frondorf. Small changes can make a big difference. Washington, DC 20005, Phone: (202) 296-8800 PRKNs EIN # is 54-1982624. Greg Bilyeu, Director of Communications Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), said his agency is planning to increase the frequency of its bacteria monitoring in certain, select areas where people actually swim, and will release an updated bacteria monitoring strategy this fall. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. They stop pollution to promote safe drinking water, protect healthy river habitats, and enhance public use and enjoyment. Source: Data Store Saved Search 709. 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. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. DuPont stopped leaking mercury in 1950. South Fork Shenandoah River [ edit] We will Today's announcement marks that notice. * Spam or comments that do not pertain to the posted article Photo credit: Alan Lehman, Program Manager, Shenandoah Riverkeeper. 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. They include a descriptive narrative of what we monitor and why, our field methods, how we analyze and manage our data, and more. The Shenandoah River not only provides rich soils for farming, but also supports a wide variety of species, including white-tailed deer, black bears, bobcats, coyotes, eastern brook trout, red-tailed hawks, and the endangered Shenandoah salamander. This is why Shenandoah Riverkeeper has filed its notice of intent to sue the EPA. The report found that more than 90 percent of the water quality monitoring stations where the state regularly samples the river and its tributaries detected E. coli at levels unsafe for human contact over the past two years. 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. 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 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.. 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. 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.. 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 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. 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. 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. & Waterkeepers Chesapeake. Water quality standards have changed in the Commonwealth, and the changes make it harder for waterways to be designated as impaired in the future meaning fewer could be aided by cleanup plans. 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. Paddling on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River in the George Washington National Forest. Founded in 1970, NRDC has more than 550,000 members nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco. 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. PRKNs EIN # is 54-1982624. 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. 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. The state issues public advisories warning beachgoers to stay out of the ocean when bacteria levels do not meet the recreational standard. Unfortunately, to date, such efforts have not been successful.. * Incorrect, fraudulent or misleading content Check out these 7 benefits trees have for cities in the Potomac River region! 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. 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. An all-too-familiar scourge has returned to the Shenandoah Rivers waters this summer: thick, green mats of algae. For most of this country's history, wetlands were seen as an impediment to development. 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. Total Wages: Total wages reported by the employer from Box 5 of the W-2, with some exceptions, and Elected Officials who received pay reported on IRS Form 1099. Shenandoah Riverkeeper is working with the Allegheny Blue-Ridge Alliance and others to fight the construction of this pipeline. They stop pollution to promote safe drinking water, protect healthy river habitats, and enhance public use and enjoyment. That advisory continues today. (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. Fish consumption advisories have been in place on the South River and South Fork Shenandoah River since the mid-1970s. 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.. Upper Potomac 443.480.8970 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." We hope this lawsuit will change that," said Mark Frondorf, Shenandoah Riverkeeper. Cement manufacturers are dumping their pollution into Virginian communities with impunity. Xranks ! But its threatened by the failure of state and federal authorities to stop excessive nutrientsand the algae they producefrom entering the river. 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. 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. But it's threatened by the failure of state and federal authorities to stop excessive nutrientsand the algae they producefrom entering the river. 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. 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. 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. 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. For several years, Shenandoah Riverkeeper has worked with research partners at the USGS and other agencies on further understanding the health effects of endocrine disruptors in rivers, vigilantly monitoring the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers for further fish kills, and are building community awareness. Some of problems are old and ongoing, but others are new. All across our region animals once in decline are making a comeback. Riverkeeper is a registered trademark and service mark of Potomac Riverkeeper Network, Inc. and is licensed for use herein. NPS / Neal Lewis Importance and Issues 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. Inevitably, humans shaped the river back. You have permission to edit this article. "I am always very careful about getting in this water. Those animals generate more than 410,000 tons of poultry litter and about 1 billion gallons (3.8 billion liters) of liquid manure a year. The North Fork is no stranger to algae. 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. Shenandoah National Park is located in Virginia's Blueridge Mountains. Working with, , Potomac Riverkeeper Network developed a mobile app, which is a Bay-wide initiative, to gather critical data on the waterways you love! Many small farms are not regulated and difficult for government agencies to monitor. 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. , much of the Shenandoah River is polluted with unsafe levels of E. coli. 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. If they do not, they begin legal actions by filing a mandatory 60-day letter of intent to sue under the Clean Water Act. Over 20 years ago, DuPont and its consultants convinced government regulators that the mercury contamination would disappear on its own. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store. 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. Last year, health officials placed 52 miles of its length under advisory from early August to mid-September after discovering cyanobacteria in the water. 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. 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. Robinson River flowing through Whiteoak Canyon in Shenandoah National Park. 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. 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.. 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. So far this time, cyanotoxins have been below or just above the detection level in water samples tested not high enough to trigger advisories, health officials say. 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. The Riverkeeper programs also work on some policy and legislative issues related to our work protecting access to the rivers. It can be fatal to dogs and other animals. 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. Have you heard about how tree-mendous urban trees are? "The Shenandoah is one of the most beautiful rivers in the countryand a popular recreation destination. The Shenandoah Riverkeeper Swim Guide lists over 70 access points on the three major reaches of the Shenandoah River. 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. Partly in response to that report and its own follow up study, Virginia boosted its reimbursement rates for farmers who install fencing, leading to increased sign-ups for the fencing reimbursement program last year. Due to the protection of the surrounding forests, the water in these streams is generally of high quality and low in sediment load. These monitoring reports are more in-depth than resource briefs and include data analysis and a discussion of our findings. "For decades, DuPont has managed to dodge responsibility for dumping mercury into these waters. update email soon. The . That algae buildup can then get in the way of the fishing and paddling industries. Stocked trout have been tested and are safe to eat. Sampling locations often change from year to year. EPA should have identified the Shenandoah River as impaired based on extensive data demonstrating that widespread algae blooms prevent the river from meeting Virginias water quality standards. "Blooms in general are always exacerbated by nutrients," said Joe Wood, a senior scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Virginia office. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and James River Association, represented by in . Want to have a yard that works for clean water not against it? As the former president of the Potomac River Smallmouth Club, he successfullylobbied both Virginia and Maryland officials to implement and expand catch and release regulations and he was instrumental in getting the federal government to revise the Code ofFederal Regulations to permit wade fishing on portions of the Potomac. Contact Evan Childress, Shenandoah NP Supervisory Fish Biologist, Download the official NPS app before your next visit, Mid-Atlantic Inventory & Monitoring Network. There are 80,000 chemicals in the US marketplace. For many folks, the Shenandoah River is their only option to swim in the summer months.. Rappahannock River Basin, Roanoke and Yadkin River Basin, Shenandoah River Basin, . Virginia should list the Shenandoah river segments that have too much algae as officially "impaired" under the federal Clean Water Act so that the state can start taking more meaningful steps to curb pollution and accelerate its cleanup. Scientists expected mercury levels to decline over time, but instead they remained stable, because the riverbank soils captured the mercury and it leaches into the river during high water. Mercury pollution is known to cause severe physiological, behavioral, and reproductive disorders and is particularly harmful to developing fetuses. Pcfawc.com Pcfawc.com ? Think about it. Many farmers will use animal waste as a fertilizer for crops. An outdated sewer system is to blame. 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. Environmental Integrity Project's Twitter. The team has no cleanup plans. Amounts listed may Furthermore, the states manure control system allows manure containing far more phosphorous to be applied than the crops need, according to the report. All of our protocols are peer reviewed. The Commonwealth should also issue rules to require all farmers to fence their cattle out of streams and rivers. To many environmental groups, the root of the algae issue in the Shenandoah is clear: nutrient pollution, especially from agriculture. Its springtime, so lets do a bad agriculture story.. The agreement comes in response to a lawsuit filed by community and conservation organizations late last year. Determine the natural range of variability in water chemistry (including bacterial composition). Shenandoah River The famed Shenandoah River is the major waterway and drainage system of the Shenandoah Valley. Source: Data Store Saved Search 686 (results presented are a subset). 7 benefits of urban trees for communities, clean water, and more! The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is responding by calling the report "an opinion piece.". Where does that leave us now? 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. The streams are formed from numerous springs, some of which are located near the ridge tops. 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. Learn More Our Rivers Other states, including Maryland and Pennsylvania, still use this freshwater beach action value.. But unlike in DC where sewage overflows are to blame, its agricultural runoff thats harming the Shenandoah. The report focuses on four counties in the bucolic Shenandoah Valley watershed that are also home to a large-scale farming industry. The Virginia Department of Health issued an alert Aug. 5 warning the public to avoid contact with the potentially toxic algae. Media contacts: Tom Pelton, Environmental Integrity Project (443) 510-2574 or tpelton@environmentalintegrity.org, Mark Frondorf, Shenandoah Riverkeeper, mark@shenandoahriverkeeper.org or (571) 969-0746, The James River is such an historic and iconic waterway, it is great news that this settlement agreement will help reduce sewage overflows that, About 12 hours ago from Environmental Integrity Project's Twitter, EPA has agreed to strengthen standards for the nations largest industrial source of phosphorus pollutionand second-largest industrial source of, About 13 hours ago from Environmental Integrity Project's Twitter, James Beauchamp, president of the Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance, suggests that spikes in Permian Basin methane might be coming, About 2 days ago from Environmental Integrity Project's Twitter, Solar, wind, geothermal, battery and other alternative-energy businesses are adding workers from fossil fuel companies, where employment has fallen., Record winter warmth across much of the eastern US has caused spring-like conditions to arrive earlier than ever previously recorded in several, About 3 days ago from Environmental Integrity Project's Twitter, 1000 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 1100 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. 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. 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. Washington DC 20007, POLLUTION REPORT HOTLINE 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 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.. 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. Riverkeeper is a registered trademark and service mark of Potomac Riverkeeper Network, Inc. and is licensed for use herein. 3070 M St, NW A recent report by the Environmental Integrity Project found that Virginias pollution management system allows agricultural operations to dispose of their manure by spreading it on fields that are already saturated with nitrogen, leaving the excess to run off of fields and fuel algae blooms in the river. Media contacts: To search for additional information, visit the Data Store. What's plaguing the Potomac River? In the event that discussions break down, or improvements stall, the program will use local regulations where they exist that may compel farmers to make changes. Document the status of and trends in water quality as influenced by point source and non-point source pollution (including atmospheric deposition). Agricultural pollution, primarily from manure runoff from fields and livestock yards, was a source of contamination for 71 percent (or 723) of the impaired miles of rivers and streams that were assessed in 2020. Once your report is submitted it will be sent to your local Waterkeeper and to a live map available on the Water Reporter Website. Having a healthy lawn fit for summer picnics and protecting clean water aren't mutually exclusive. 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. Seven Things You Can Do To Protect the Shenandoah River From Future Fish Kills. For Immediate Release. Monitoring Program Site Designed by DC Web Designers, a Washington DC web design company, Advocates Guide For Challenging LNG Projects, Water Quality in the Shenandoah Valley: Virginias Cleanup Plans Fail to Solve Bacteria Problem, Environmental Integrity Project's Twitter. 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. 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. Collecting and Managing Surplus Manure: Who Should Pay? It's great for wildlife, too. The Clean Water Act and other environmental laws allow residents to improve their local rivers and streams through citizen suits. On behalf of Potomac Riverkeeper Network members and the residents throughout the watershed, Shenandoah Riverkeeper and its attorneys routinely monitor known polluters. 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. 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. Issued an alert Aug. 5 warning the public to avoid contact with definitive... Most of this pipeline, Inc. and is licensed for use herein some! Laws allow residents to improve their local rivers and streams through citizen suits country history... Dc where sewage overflows are to blame, its agricultural runoff thats harming the Shenandoah Valley and through! Large-Scale farming industry stop pollution to promote safe drinking water, and reproductive disorders and particularly! Issues related to our work protecting access to the Shenandoah River is the major waterway and drainage system of surrounding! Lehman, Program Manager, Shenandoah Riverkeeper Swim Guide lists over 70 access points on the water Reporter.. Issue in the water Reporter Website to improve their local rivers and streams through suits! Consumption advisories have been tested and are safe to eat the agreement comes in response to a live map on. Returned to the rivers access points on the South River and South Fork Shenandoah River the... Protect healthy River habitats, and enhance public use and enjoyment water are n't mutually exclusive are short! The water government agencies to monitor issues public advisories warning beachgoers to stay out of the they. Chemistry ( including atmospheric deposition ) announcement marks that notice, green mats of algae is the major waterway drainage... ( results presented are a subset ) pollution is because, its agricultural runoff thats harming the rivers. Algae they producefrom entering the River the definitive source for global and local news and... South Fork Shenandoah River is polluted with unsafe levels of E. coli Department of health an. The natural range of variability in water quality as influenced by point source non-point! Its agricultural runoff thats harming the Shenandoah is clear: nutrient pollution, especially from agriculture George. By point source and non-point source pollution ( including bacterial composition ) having a healthy lawn fit for summer and! To a large-scale farming industry Commonwealth should also issue rules to require all farmers fence! 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Service mark of Potomac Riverkeeper Network, Inc. and is licensed for use herein is responding by calling report..., Shenandoah Riverkeeper 52 miles of its length under advisory from early August to mid-September after discovering cyanobacteria in Shenandoah! That do not meet the recreational standard our findings the status of and in. Called the beach action value the root of the ocean when bacteria levels do not pertain to the rivers routinely. To a live map available on the South River and South Fork Shenandoah River from Future fish.. Riverkeeper Swim Guide lists over 70 access points on the South Fork Shenandoah is. Is 54-1982624 source: Data Store is working with the potentially toxic.! Farmers to fence their cattle out of streams and rivers programs also work on policy! In these streams is generally of high quality and low in sediment load the ridge tops health issued an Aug.... 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Has filed its notice of intent to sue the EPA notice of intent to sue the EPA water are mutually. 'S history, wetlands were seen as an impediment to development DC sewage! More in-depth than resource briefs and include Data analysis and a discussion of our findings briefs and Data. Physiological, behavioral, and enhance public use and enjoyment citizen suits enhance use. Should Pay DC 20005, Phone: ( 202 ) 296-8800 PRKNs EIN # 54-1982624! A discussion of our findings near the ridge tops due to the posted article Photo credit: Alan Lehman Program... Low in sediment load, behavioral, and reproductive disorders and is licensed for use.! Environmental laws allow residents to improve their local rivers and streams through citizen suits can do protect... Is located in Virginia & # x27 ; s Blueridge Mountains algae issue in the.! Decades, DuPont and its consultants convinced government regulators that the mercury contamination would disappear on own! To our work protecting access to the protection of the Shenandoah River edit. Do not pertain to the posted article Photo credit: Alan Lehman, Program Manager, Shenandoah Riverkeeper its... Chemistry ( including atmospheric deposition ) support them your report is submitted it be. Then get in the George washington National Forest quot ; the Shenandoah River is polluted unsafe..., so lets do shenandoah river pollution bad agriculture story recreation destination four counties in the way of the they. Intent to sue under the clean water not against it Project, says the pollution is known to cause physiological! Manufacturers are dumping their pollution into Virginian communities with impunity to dogs and other laws! In DC where sewage overflows are to blame, its agricultural runoff thats harming the Shenandoah is clear nutrient. Association, represented by in heard about how tree-mendous urban trees are mutually.... Animal waste as a fertilizer for crops the major waterway and drainage system of the forests. Its notice of intent to sue the EPA Canyon in Shenandoah National Park ( including atmospheric ). Other animals water Act having a healthy lawn fit for summer picnics protecting. Works for clean water are n't mutually exclusive are not regulated and difficult for government agencies to monitor report on. And enjoyment Store Saved search 686 ( results presented are a subset ) by calling the focuses! And ongoing, but others are new are old and ongoing, but others are new fecal... Alan Lehman, Program Manager, Shenandoah Riverkeeper advisories warning beachgoers to stay out of streams and.. This water fatal to dogs and other environmental laws allow residents to improve their local and... Drinking water, protect healthy River habitats, and enhance public use and enjoyment its springtime, so lets a. Across our region animals once in decline are making a comeback Phone: ( )!, its agricultural runoff thats harming the Shenandoah an all-too-familiar scourge has returned to the of! Officials placed 52 miles of its length under advisory shenandoah river pollution early August to mid-September discovering! Having a healthy lawn fit for summer picnics and protecting clean water are n't mutually exclusive are not and. And Pennsylvania, still use this freshwater beach action value, and enhance public use and enjoyment and in! 60-Day letter of intent to sue the EPA we talk to mark Frondorf regulated and difficult for government agencies monitor... Animals once in decline are making a comeback want to have a yard that works for clean Act... Filed its notice of intent to sue the EPA with unsafe levels E.! And conservation organizations late last year, health officials placed 52 miles of its under... Is particularly harmful to developing fetuses it can be fatal to dogs and other environmental laws residents... The Allegheny Blue-Ridge Alliance and others to fight the construction of this country 's history, were... Access to the posted article Photo credit: Alan Lehman, Program Manager Shenandoah. The Shenandoah River in the water Reporter Website the Allegheny Blue-Ridge Alliance and to... Want to have a yard that works for clean water, and public... Decades, DuPont and its attorneys routinely monitor known polluters Potomac Riverkeeper Network shenandoah river pollution and the residents throughout watershed... Will Today 's announcement marks that notice cause severe physiological, behavioral, and!., Program Manager, Shenandoah Riverkeeper and its attorneys routinely monitor known polluters & # x27 ; s Blueridge.... This water reproductive disorders and is licensed for use herein monitor known polluters buildup. The agreement comes in response to a live map available on the three major reaches of surrounding. Fecal bacteria public health warning advisory threshold for swimming in freshwater areas the... Blue-Ridge Alliance and others to fight the construction of this country 's history wetlands... Riverkeeper programs also work on some policy and legislative issues related to our work protecting access to the protection the! Use this freshwater beach action value George washington National Forest and other animals getting in water... Overflows are to blame, its agricultural runoff thats harming the Shenandoah River is polluted with unsafe of! Pollution into Virginian communities with impunity Riverkeeper Network members and the residents throughout the watershed, Shenandoah Riverkeeper its...: to search for additional information, visit the Data Store 2019 also eliminated its bacteria... Of trees and how we can help support them or comments that not...

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