Reports and Codes Code of Shenandoah County Comprehensive Plan Water Resources Report

INTRODUCTION.The Water Resources Advisory Committee is chartered by and reports to the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors. Its purpose is to "study the water resources of the county and provide recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning these resources, including water quality and quantity." This is the 13th periodic report on the committee's activities.

WATER QUALITY.Water quality remains a paramount issue throughout the Shenandoah River watershed. In my most recent report I devoted considerable space to this subject. It is a long term problem that can only be solved with long term solutions. In April the American Rivers Association listed the Shenandoah River as the fifth most endangered river in the United States. Massive fish kills of small mouth bass and sunfish have occurred in various parts of the Shenandoah River in each of the last three years, further giving the river a bad name in a large segment of the mid-Atlantic populace. Portions of the North Fork plus Holmans Creek, Smith Creek, Mill Creek, Stony Creek, and Toms Brook are on DEQ's list of Impaired Streams, meaning that they are not suitable for swimming or eating the fish caught therein. The causes of decline in water quality throughout the watershed are numerous. They include point sources such as sewage treatment plants and industrial facilities, and non-point sources such as urban and rural run-off and failed septic systems. Because of our karst geology, much of our groundwater is under the influence of surface water, so when surface water is contaminated the associated groundwater is contaminated as well. Members of the Water Resources Advisory Committee are available to speak on the subject of water quality at your next district meeting with your constituents. Just ask us.

TMDLs.Total Maximum Daily Loads defines the total amount of specific pollutants that are allowed on a daily basis by DEQ for each stream that is on their impaired list. The project to reduce each stream to its TMDL limit is driven by the federal Clean Water Act as amended. Locally, Holmans Creek is well ahead of the other streams. It has a joint organization consisting of staff from the Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District Commission and a Holmans Creek Citizens Coordinating Committee. It is financed by state funds, and it is in the process of executing a state-approved implementation plan. Ray Brownfield, a member of the Water Resources Advisory Committee and an associate director of the LFSWCD commission, is the chairman of the joint committee overseeing the Holmans Creek TMDL program. The other streams - Mill Creek, Stony Creek, the North Fork, and Toms Brook - are still in the early stages. None has an approved implementation plan and none has a critical mass of individuals willing and able to conduct a TMDL program. To remedy this piecemeal approach, the Water Resources Advisory Committee and the Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District Commission have agreed to form a cadre organization that would include the Farm Bureau, the Friends of the North Fork, the Toms Brook/Maurertown Sanitary District, the towns of Mt. Jackson, Edinburg, and Woodstock, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. This cadre will be in place this summer. As a first order of business we need to convince DEQ to get on with the preparation of implementation plans and that we have the wherewithal to execute implementation plans once they have been approved.

HYDROLOGIC DROUGHT.A deficit of snow and rainfall during the winter months has created a lower water table in the region than we would like to see for this time of year. This is reflected in significantly lower stream flows of less than 50% of normal. Periodic rains will raise those levels momentarily, but after a few days the flows return to the low base flows. Base flows are fed by groundwater springs, and when groundwater levels are low the corresponding stream flows are low. USGS observation wells in Rockingham and Clarke counties bear this out. Their water levels are several feet below normal for this time of year. Historically they will continue to go down until the fall months. The high temperatures of summer mean much higher rates of evaporation from the soil and transpiration from trees and vegetation, so little if any rain will filter through to groundwater during these months. Recently an editorial on hydrologic drought was sent to all of the local newspapers, with the main message being that it is time for everyone to start cutting back on water usage.

OBSERVATION WELLS.As you know, we do not have any groundwater observation wells in Shenandoah County. We rely on USGS observation wells in Rockingham and Clarke counties. Now we are about to embark on an observation well program for Shenandoah County. It consists of five geographically dispersed abandoned or little used wells. We have acquired on consignment a measurement device based on sonar principles. The device has been demonstrated successfully and will be procured after the first of the fiscal year. The purchase price of $995.00 is included in the county's budget for FY2006-2007. Measurements of water levels in each well will be taken on a monthly basis. The Friends of the North Fork have agreed to provide the necessary personnel to take the measurements, record them, and create a data base over time. We envision making this data available on the county website.

REGIONAL WATER RESOURCES POLICY COMMITTEE.As alternate member for Shenandoah County, I have attended almost all of the Policy Committee's bi-monthly meetings. Bud Griswold and I are also members of the Technical Committee which conducts much of the business of the Policy Committee between its bi-monthly meetings. Two major study efforts are under way - the development of a strategic plan for the Shenandoah River watershed and a Water Supply Plan involving all of the cities, towns, and other jurisdictions which have water treatment plants. The latter was mandated by state legislation in 2005. These efforts are being conducted under contract with AMEC Inc. with substantial assistance from representatives of the counties in the region.

SEPTIC SYSTEM INITIATIVE.Failed septic systems are a known source of pollution of groundwater and surface water. In one of its publications, the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service lists malfunctioning septic systems as the number one cause of groundwater pollution in the state of Virginia. Locally, through subsidized pump out programs in Holmans Creek, Smith Creek, and Toms Brook, we have found that 20% of the pump outs have revealed failures that needed to be corrected. We recognize that it is unlikely that the county would support a mandatory pump out program or a subsidized program to repair failed systems. Short of that, however, we believe that it is reasonable to require a pump out at the time of sale of a property. Currently, all that is required is a "walk over" of the drainfield. Only in the most severe cases will this type of inspection reveal a failed system. An ordinance requiring the seller to pay for a pump out and any repairs that may be necessary would ensure that the buyer will acquire a functional system. All of this is in the best interest of the buyer, his or her immediate neighbors, and the county as a whole. The pump out would then become a standard procedure at the time of sale, much like the termite inspection and test for potable well water are today.

OTHER INITIATIVES.We have several other initiatives under way. One is to develop an Emergency Water Supply Plan which would identify accessible water sources in the event of an emergency drought condition, with particular emphasis on the agricultural community. A second is to establish a continuing dialogue with the towns on water and wastewater issues. The aforementioned Water Supply Planning process is a current example of such a dialogue.

"CHANGE OF COMMAND."Having served as chairman of the Water Resources Advisory Committee since its inception seven years ago, I believe it is time to step aside and afford others the opportunity to lead this important endeavor. Accordingly, I will step down at the August meeting of the committee and turn over the reins to two co-chairmen, Bernard (Bud) Griswold and Ray Brownfield. Both are eminently qualified, currently serve on the committee and have agreed to assume the leadership role. Nominations have been submitted to the Personnel Committee and will be taken up at its August meeting. For the benefit of the newer members of the Board of Supervisors, I have attached a summary of the more salient achievements of the Water Resources Advisory Committee over the years.

Respectfully submitted,

George Sylvester
Chairman

SHENANDOAH COUNTY
WATER RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE (WRAC)

Summary of Achievements, 1999-2006

• Conducted Source Water Assessment and Protection Program (SWAPP) for towns and sanitary districts that derive their water supply from wells. Project produced 5 volumes with fold-out maps and tables delineating recharge areas for each well and pinpointing potential sources of contamination within those recharge areas. Received annual EPA and Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District Commission awards (2001).

• Using published material from Virginia Water Resources Research Center (Virginia Tech) and other sources, prepared a pamphlet "Water in Shenandoah County - a Primer." Beginning in 2001, the pamphlet has been reprinted each year in 1000 copies and distributed to county citizens through the county government center, the county library, and the schools.

• Rewrote the Natural Resources chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. This chapter deals primarily with water issues. The Plan was adopted in 2005.

• In 1999 and again in 2002, prepared drought advisories which were subsequently issued by the county administrator. Participated in the Drought Management Task Force in 1999.

• Using grant money, conducted subsidized septic system pump outs and repairs in the Toms Brook area and along Smith Creek. These are in addition to the on-going pump out and repair program in the Holmans Creek area.

• Has been a major contributor to the work of the Regional Water Resources Policy Committee. The WRAC chairman is the alternate member of the Policy Committee for Shenandoah County. The primary member is an elected official. Two members of the WRAC serve on the Policy Committee's Technical Committee which conducts much of the business of the Policy Committee between its bi-monthly meetings.

• Using grant money and GPS technology, sponsored a study which located and mapped sinkholes in the recharge areas of public wells along the I-81 corridor in Shenandoah County. This information is now available to the county Emergency Coordinator in dealing with toxic spills along the interstate. To date Shenandoah County is the only county along I-81 to have done so.

• WRAC members Gentile, Brownfield, and Arner have been instrumental in establishing the TMDL program for Holmans Creek. The program has a fully functioning organization, is adequately funded by the state, and is currently executing the DEQ-approved implementation plan. Mr. Brownfield chairs the joint committee (Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District and the Holmans Creek Citizens Committee).

• Over the years has established Shenandoah County as a pioneer in water resources awareness and management. The WRAC, a first of its kind in Virginia, has been extolled by both governmental and non-governmental agencies as an example for other jurisdictions to emulate. We are a player in the state-wide network of organizations and agencies that deal with water resource issues.

• Responsible for the county ordinance which calls for the monitoring of land application of sludge from George's Chicken processing plant at Columbia Furnace.

• Participated in the classroom and research activity of the newly formed (2005) Governor's School program at Triplett Tech. The school specializes in environmental science.

• At the request of the Board of Supervisors, prepared a report on the water and wastewater treatment capacities and forecast demands for each of the towns and sanitary districts.

• Initiated an observation well program for the county. Heretofore we have been dependent on USGS observation wells in Rockingham and Clarke counties to monitor groundwater levels. Beginning in the summer of 2006 we will have five observation wells throughout the county that will be measured on a monthly basis. The Friends of the North Fork have agreed to provide the personnel to take the measurements, record the data, and create a permanent data base.