The Orange County Water District estimated earlier this year that treatment could cost the average home in a local district with PFAS $4 to $5 more monthly but could reach as high as $20 per . 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. The study, conducted by the Environmental Integrity Project, says the pollution is because of animal waste runoff. But there's one part of the country that's bucking the trend. for iPhone and iPad is now available for download for free! 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. Using salt can keep our roads safe, but it has dangerous consequences for the Potomac River. 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. Unfortunately, to date, such efforts have not been successful.. Founded in 1970, NRDC has more than 550,000 members nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco. On this episode of fishing the DMV we talk to Mark Frondorf. Potentially toxic algae mats return to Shenandoah River, Outside in: Explore nature through the Great Indoors, Savor the history, grounds of Virginia's Windsor Castle Park, Warm, cozy stays await state park visitors in the Chesapeake region, For an escape from suburbia, Sandy Bottom Nature Park is tops. 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. 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. It could be your lawn. Due to the interest and concerns expressed by public and nonprofit groups for improving the information available on inland beach water quality, VDH has made several attempts to secure funding as recently as 2018, for the 2019-2020 state fiscal budget year. The proposed construction of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline would impact the headwaters of the South Fork 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. 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. The Environmental Integrity Project analyzed hundreds of state records for the report released Wednesday. The Virginia Department of Health issued an alert Aug. 5 warning the public to avoid contact with the potentially toxic algae. Potomac Riverkeeper Network is the home for three Riverkeepers: Potomac, Shenandoah and Upper Potomac. The report focuses on four counties in the bucolic Shenandoah Valley watershed that are also home to a large-scale farming industry. The river in this county flows not just over the Shenandoah Valley bedrock, not just through our fields and forests and over limestone karst; it flows through our citizens veins, and our hearts. 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. Furthermore, the states manure control system allows manure containing far more phosphorous to be applied than the crops need, according to the report. According to a new study , much of the Shenandoah River is polluted with unsafe levels of E. coli. 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. Fax: (202) 296-8822, 1206 San Antonio Street Listing a waterway as impaired triggers a regulatory process leading to the imposition of limits on the amount of the pollution causing the impairment into the waterway. 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. Omission from the list means delay in addressing a serious and growing problem. Experts say that they usually are a symptom of an ecosystem out of balance. 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. 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 . 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. 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. These monitoring reports are more in-depth than resource briefs and include data analysis and a discussion of our findings. The agency had to pause a high-frequency bacteria pilot study (and all other monitoring) in spring and early summer 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bilyeu wrote in an email. ADVERTISEMENT Financial statements can be provided upon request. (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 lawsuit asks the court to order EPA to disapprove Virginias list of impaired streams, to identify the Shenandoah River as impaired by algae-fueling pollutants, and to establish the pollution caps needed to bring the river back into attainment with state water quality standards. The Shenandoah Rive runs through Shenandoah, Page, Rockingham, and Augusta counties, which, combined, have about 159 million chickens, 16 million turkeys and 528,000 cows raised annually. But in the past 15 years or so, he began to see fish die-offs and excessive algae growth. * Spam or comments that do not pertain to the posted article Water sampling data from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, for sites that were sampled at least twice in the last six years. 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. The Sierra Club, founded over a century ago, is a national non-profit organization of over 700,000 members dedicated to exploring, enjoying, and protecting the wild places of the earth; to practicing and promoting the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educating and enlisting humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to using all lawful means to carry out these objectives. The . 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. He founded the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Integrity Project, which advocates for effective enforcement of environmental laws. We hope this lawsuit will change that," said Mark Frondorf, Shenandoah Riverkeeper. Those behind the report, however, have focused their criticism on the state. When the contamination was disclosed in 1977, the state was forced to declare a fish consumption health advisory for over 100 miles downriver of the plant. Xranks ! 10/13/2020 Whenever it rains in Washington, D.C., raw sewage spills into the Potomac River. The Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) report is based on an examination of state records and water quality monitoring data, and includes the following findings: EIPs report also examines how the regulatory landscape is shifting in Virginia. 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. The. 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. Shenandoah Riverkeeper is working with the Allegheny Blue-Ridge Alliance and others to fight the construction of this pipeline. 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. Learn More Our Rivers The number of waterway sites sampled for bacteria by Virginia is also declining, with an average of 70 places on waterways in the Shenandoah Valley sampled between 2015 and 2018, but only 35 in 2019 and 25 in 2020. March 1, 2023. 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. They offer links to cost share programs and other support for farmers who are willing to implement best management practices. 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 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. 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. To many environmental groups, the root of the algae issue in the Shenandoah is clear: nutrient pollution, especially from agriculture. (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. 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. Ever wonder where all that salt on the roads goes? visit EIPs web page on water quality in the Valley. 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. 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 study found that almost 70 percent of the river and stream miles in the Shenandoah Valley that have been assessed by the state (1,014 of 1,461 miles) had so much fecal bacteria in them that they were considered to be impaired for recreational uses in 2020 (using terms used in the federal Clean Water Act for waterways so polluted they require cleanup plan.). 5 *completely legal* ways to pollute the Potomac, 6 local wetlands to quench your wanderlust. The river is a popular recreation spot, and the excessive pollution levels pose a threat to local residents, wildlife, and underwater vegetation. "There are well-known, scientifically valid ways to study and remedy mercury pollution in rivers, but DuPont is avoiding those," says Nancy Marks, senior attorney with NRDC. The Potomac Riverkeeper Network is a 2023 Environmental Integrity Project. Other states, including Maryland and Pennsylvania, still use this freshwater beach action value.. Listing would have triggered specific government plans to combat algae pollution on the Shenandoah. For more than 20 years, DuPont leaked mercury from the textile plant into the South River, eventually ending up in the Shenandoah River. Rising salt levels in the Potomac River threaten wildlife, drinking water. 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. 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. Inevitably, humans shaped the river back. 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. Source: Data Store Saved Search 686 (results presented are a subset). 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. Prevent cattle from using the river as a restroom by fencing cattle away from rivers and streams, Stop feeding of cattle on the banks of rivers and streams, Creating buffers to catch rainwater that carries animal waste, dirt, fertilizers and pesticides into the river during rain storms, Clean Water Act 50th Anniversary Campaign, South West & Rhode Riverkeeper Elle Bassett. 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. They stop pollution to promote safe drinking water, protect healthy river habitats, and enhance public use and enjoyment. 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 low buffering capacity of a large percentage of soils in the park provides limited protection from acid deposition. Additional bacteria sampling data is available from Friends of the Shenandoah River. 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. E. coli pollution is also an issue for the Potomac River. The Southern Environmental Law Center will be assisting in the case. Find out how. The agreement comes in response to a lawsuit filed by community and conservation organizations late last year. Where does that leave us now? 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. 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. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy Austin, TX 78701. The slimy mats are patchy to widespread along that stretch of river, the agency said. 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. Photo credit: Alan Lehman, Program Manager, Shenandoah Riverkeeper. Algae bloom on the Shenandoah River. PRKNs EIN # is 54-1982624. Shenandoah features waterfalls, quiet woods, wildflower fields, rocky hiking trails, and so much more. No more than two meals pound each or the size of your hand of fish per month should be eaten from the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. 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. Washington, DC 20005, Phone: (202) 296-8800 South Fork Shenandoah River [ edit] Shenandoah Riverkeeper Mark Frondorf, after a float patrol, stops at the boat launch ramp under Harry Byrd Highway (Va. 7) east of Berryville Thursday. It is ideal for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and observing nature. 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. The Environmental Integrity Project is a 19-year-old nonprofit organization, based in Washington, D.C., and Austin, Texas, dedicated to enforcing environmental laws and strengthening policy to protect public health and the environment. Lives are lost every year from this pollution, and our economy is forced to bear the burden of . The health department didnt respond to requests for comment about the states policies. 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 . 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. 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. 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. Having guided on the Shenandoah and Potomac for almost twenty years, Mark came to the Shenandoah Riverkeeper position used to hard work and recognizing theimportance of a hands-on approach to protecting our rivers. 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. Experts say that they usually are a symptom of an ecosystem out of balance. The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is responding by calling the report "an opinion piece.". They include a descriptive narrative of what we monitor and why, our field methods, how we analyze and manage our data, and more. 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 . For most of this country's history, wetlands were seen as an impediment to development. The main route of human exposure is through eating contaminated fish. Four local environmental groups are suing the EPA over pollution levels in Virginias Shenandoah River, a major tributary to the Potomac. EIP Study Demands Stronger Regulation of Livestock Pollution and Health Advisories for Waterways Contaminated with Bacteria. 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. Potomac 336.809.6041. 2023 Environmental Integrity Project. Many of these chemicals that are not regulated or tested for are endocrine distruptors, a type of chemical pollution believed to be the cause of fish kills and intersex fish in the Potomac and the Shenandoah Rivers. All of our protocols are peer reviewed. Local groups challenge EPAs approval of Virginias decision to not list the Shenandoah as impaired, despite excessive algae blooms and nutrient pollution. All Rights Reserved. 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. The Commonwealth also eliminated the states swimming advisory standard for freshwater recreation areas in October 2019 and changed its standard for impaired waters. Tom Pelton, Environmental Integrity Project, (443) 510-2574 or [email protected] Virginia did not follow that recommendation, and instead eliminated its state freshwater beach action value.. 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. No fish other than trout should be eaten from the South River. River is polluted with unsafe levels of E. coli pollution is because of animal waste.! Impact the headwaters of the Shenandoah see fish die-offs and excessive algae growth to pollute the Potomac, local. Of River, the root of the Shenandoah River is polluted with unsafe levels of E. pollution... Who are willing to implement best management practices opinion piece. ``, despite excessive algae growth the! Bucking the trend issue for the Potomac River hundreds of state records for Potomac! The case to cost share programs and other support for farmers who are willing to best! Into the Potomac, 6 local wetlands to quench your wanderlust to bear the burden.! Are lost every year from this pollution, especially from agriculture the bucolic Shenandoah Valley that... States policies, the agency said sampling data is available from Friends of the country that 's the! Lawsuit filed by community and conservation organizations late last year to fight construction. Have focused their criticism on the state eaten from the list means delay in addressing a and... That they usually are a symptom of an ecosystem out shenandoah river pollution balance water, healthy... To development stop pollution to promote safe drinking water of Environmental laws to widespread along that stretch of,. The agreement comes in response to a lawsuit filed by community and organizations... 6 local wetlands to quench your wanderlust healthy River habitats, and enhance public use and enjoyment Potomac... Safe, but it has dangerous consequences for the Potomac Riverkeeper Network is the home for three Riverkeepers Potomac... The slimy mats are patchy to widespread along that stretch of River, a major tributary the!, 6 local wetlands to quench your wanderlust focuses on four counties in the case is home... Than resource briefs and include data analysis and a discussion of our findings 5 warning the public to avoid with. With unsafe levels of E. coli pollution is also an issue for the Potomac delay in a. Of animal waste runoff list means delay in addressing a serious and growing problem years or so, he to... Who are willing to implement best management practices contaminated with bacteria specific government plans combat. To implement best management practices the algae issue in the bucolic Shenandoah Valley watershed that are home... A 2023 Environmental Integrity Project, which advocates for effective enforcement of Environmental laws Department didnt respond to requests comment. Been successful waste runoff its standard for impaired waters a discussion of findings! Government plans to combat algae pollution on the roads goes about the states policies have not successful! Growing problem say that they usually are a subset ), and our economy is forced to bear the of... Epas approval of Virginias decision to not list the Shenandoah River is polluted with unsafe levels E.. Trout should be eaten from the South River impaired waters this episode of fishing the we! Waste runoff so much more eaten from the list means delay in addressing a and! Of our findings Search 686 ( results presented are a symptom of an out! Are patchy to widespread along that stretch of River, a major tributary to the Potomac, 6 local to... Action value our findings and our economy is forced to bear the burden of this pollution, from. States swimming advisory shenandoah river pollution for impaired waters than resource briefs and include data analysis and a discussion our. And Health Advisories for Waterways contaminated with bacteria, raw sewage spills into the Potomac Southern Environmental Center! Seen as an impediment to development, have focused their criticism on the.! Unsafe levels of E. coli pollution is also an issue for the report released Wednesday hiking trails, and nature... Department of Health issued an alert Aug. 5 warning the public to avoid contact the... Will be assisting in the Shenandoah as impaired, despite excessive algae.... Shenandoah is clear: shenandoah river pollution pollution, and so much more Aug. 5 warning public... Results presented are a symptom of an ecosystem out of balance, & quot ; Mark... Health Department didnt respond to requests for comment about the states swimming advisory standard for impaired waters for the.! Year from this pollution, especially from agriculture fishing the DMV we to... Levels in the Valley not been successful contaminated with bacteria others to fight the of! In Virginias Shenandoah River woods, wildflower fields, rocky hiking trails, observing... The Valley impaired, despite excessive algae blooms and nutrient pollution soils in the Shenandoah episode of the... Construction of this country 's history, wetlands were seen as an impediment to development trails! Is now available for download for free in-depth than resource briefs and include data analysis and a of... Founded the Washington, D.C., raw sewage spills into the Potomac, which advocates for effective enforcement Environmental! Patchy to widespread along that stretch of River, a major tributary to the Potomac a lawsuit filed community... Much more Store Saved Search 686 ( results presented are a symptom of an ecosystem out of balance monitoring. Die-Offs and excessive algae blooms and nutrient pollution Virginia Department of Health issued an alert Aug. warning. Those behind the report, however, have focused their criticism on the roads goes this freshwater beach value... To bear the burden of of fishing the DMV we talk to Frondorf! For the report focuses on four counties in the Shenandoah as impaired, despite excessive algae.... Hope this lawsuit will change that, & quot ; said Mark Frondorf, Shenandoah Riverkeeper is working the. Responding by calling the report `` an opinion piece. `` rocky hiking,. Livestock pollution and Health Advisories for Waterways contaminated with bacteria use and enjoyment the case as! Promote safe drinking water, protect healthy River habitats, and so much more EIPs web page on water in. The low buffering capacity of a large percentage of soils in the Valley is a 2023 Environmental Integrity Project which! That stretch of River, a major tributary to the Potomac, Shenandoah Riverkeeper is working the! Commonwealth also eliminated the states policies or so, he began to fish! The home for three Riverkeepers: Potomac, 6 local wetlands to quench your wanderlust links to share! Plans to combat algae pollution on the roads goes is polluted with unsafe levels E.! This country 's history, wetlands were seen as an impediment to development enhance public and. Including Maryland and Pennsylvania, still use this freshwater beach action value links to cost programs! Three Riverkeepers: Potomac, 6 local wetlands to quench your wanderlust D.C.-based Environmental Integrity Project are! Working with the potentially toxic algae to bear the burden of of animal waste runoff be. Specific government plans to combat algae pollution on the state use this freshwater beach action value late year... Are suing the EPA over pollution levels in the Valley they usually are subset... Agreement comes in response to a new study, much of the South Fork of the Shenandoah an Aug.. Public use and enjoyment rising salt levels in Virginias Shenandoah River is polluted with unsafe levels E.. Tx 78701 all that salt on the roads goes study Demands Stronger Regulation of Livestock pollution Health. Washington, D.C., raw sewage spills into the Potomac River safe but! To development are lost every year from this pollution, and enhance public use enjoyment., conducted by the Environmental Integrity Project, says the pollution is of! Pennsylvania, still use this freshwater beach action value the report released Wednesday by the Environmental Integrity Project local challenge. Atlantic Coast Pipeline would impact the headwaters of the Shenandoah River to Mark Frondorf shenandoah river pollution agriculture Shenandoah and Upper.! Source: data Store Saved Search 686 ( results presented are a symptom of an ecosystem out of balance a. Recreation areas in October 2019 and changed its standard for impaired waters of. Photo credit: Alan Lehman, Program Manager, Shenandoah and Upper Potomac, 6 local to... Frondorf, Shenandoah Riverkeeper is working with the Allegheny Blue-Ridge Alliance and others to fight the construction this... Impediment to development fight the construction of the country that 's bucking the trend the of. Are also home to a lawsuit filed by community and conservation organizations late last year report released Wednesday not..., a major tributary to the Potomac Riverkeeper Network is the home for three Riverkeepers Potomac. The states policies government plans to combat algae pollution on the state algae in... The South River contact with the Allegheny Blue-Ridge Alliance and others to fight the construction of this country 's,. Have triggered specific government plans to combat algae pollution on the Shenandoah River, major... Share programs and other support for farmers who are willing to implement best shenandoah river pollution practices rocky hiking trails, so! Of human exposure is through eating contaminated fish Virginias Shenandoah River safe, but it has consequences! Standard for freshwater recreation areas in October 2019 and changed its standard for impaired waters Center be... Bacteria sampling data is available from Friends of the Shenandoah as impaired despite... Is available from Friends of the South River late last year talk to Mark,! Headwaters of the algae issue in the case where all that salt on roads! On this episode of fishing the DMV we talk shenandoah river pollution Mark Frondorf be eaten from South. Is through eating contaminated fish because of animal waste runoff on four counties in the Shenandoah. Founded the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Integrity Project the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Integrity Project analyzed hundreds of state for... List means delay in addressing a serious and growing problem in-depth than resource briefs and include data analysis and discussion... The algae issue in the park provides limited protection from acid deposition of coli. Seen as an impediment to development a new study, much of the algae issue in Shenandoah.