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Shenandoah Valley Water Conference October 28, 2008 “TMDLs & the Local Community”

Shenandoah Valley Water Conference October 28, 2008 “TMDLs & the Local Community”. Page County, Virginia. WHAT IS A TMDL ?. TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD (TMDL) STUDY & PLAN REQUIRED BY LAW UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT DEADLINE OF 2010 for VA TMDL Studies 4 PHASES of a TMDL: STUDY (by VA-DEQ)

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Shenandoah Valley Water Conference October 28, 2008 “TMDLs & the Local Community”

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  1. Shenandoah Valley Water Conference October 28, 2008 “TMDLs & the Local Community”

  2. Page County, Virginia

  3. WHAT IS A TMDL ? • TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD (TMDL) • STUDY & PLAN REQUIRED BY LAW UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT • DEADLINE OF 2010 for VA TMDL Studies • 4 PHASES of a TMDL: • STUDY (by VA-DEQ) • IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (VA-DCR supported) • IMPLEMENTATION (State & Federal support) • MONITORING & ASSESSMENT (DEQ & DCR)

  4. SOLUTION COMPONENTS • PUBLIC PARTICIPATION • BROAD SPECTRUM OF CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS • SOUND SCIENCE • FULLY DEFINING THE PROBLEMS BEFORE TRYING TO SOLVE THEM • $$$$$$$$

  5. ADVANTAGES OF TMDLs • PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE IMPORTANT AND PAID FOR BY STATE AGENCIES • SCIENTIFIC STUDIES ARE PAID FOR • STREAMS WITH IMPLEMENTATION PLANS QUALIFY FOR BMP FUNDING • IMPLEMENTATION IS BASED ON ENCOURAGING VOLUNTARY EFFORTS

  6. TMDL IMPLEMENTATION • Federal & State cost-share funding • Encouraging landowner PARTICIPATION • Need both residential & agricultural BMPs • Improvements based on landowners’ VOLUNTARY EFFORTS • Improvements are measured by water quality MONITORING

  7. TMDL SUPPORT • Hawksbill & Mill Creeks (coliform bacteria) • Hawksbill Creek - 57,000 acres (90 square miles) • Mill Creek - 8,200 acres (13 square miles) • DEQ Studies completed in 2004 & 2005 • DCR Implementation Plan in 2007 • Implementation Funding just began in Summer 2008 • Bacteria comes from 4 main sources: • Wildlife • Livestock • Domestic animals (Pets) • Human Waste

  8. Page County WQAC History • ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN 1997 • 13 COMMITTEE MEMBERS APPOINTED TO REPRESENT DIVERSE VIEWPOINTS (County, 3 Towns, Industry, Agriculture, Citizen Groups, State Agencies, etc.) FOCUS ON USING SOUND SCIENCE AS BASIS FOR DECISIONS

  9. MISSION TO PROMOTE WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION, PRIORITIZE and ADDRESS WATER QUALITY ISSUES, and ENHANCE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS and COMMUNITIES IN PAGE COUNTY

  10. Page Watershed Planning • Develop watershed management plans to inform and guide land use decisions to protect water resources; first for Mill Creek, a priority watershed due to its designation as an impaired water and then all other watersheds in Page County. • Education and outreach for county residents of all ages to increase the understanding of our water resources and inspire increased stewardship. • Land use practices-both voluntary and required-to protect water resources and the rights of local property owners. • MANY LAND USE LINKS TO WATER QUALITY

  11. GROUND WATER Connections KARST (Limestone) GEOLOGY • Sink holes are direct paths to ground water • Much of Shenandoah Valley drinking water comes from ground water • Local Governments do not currently have enough information about local karst to adequately protect groundwater

  12. SUMMARY: Taking Care of the Water Requires Sound Science Local Officials Watershed Groups Citizens

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