DEQ Watershed Program – September 2016 Update
In August, DEQ launched a webpage dedicated to “Water Quality Success Stories”.
This page expands on the stories available through EPA’s nonpoint source success story web page. The page presents success stemming from cooperation among partners, implementation of nonpoint source BMPs, and collaboration among agencies to change management of impoundment structures.
Coming soon…Hazel River bacteria success story as well as a story about significant reductions of PCBs on the Roanoke River.
The page can be found at:
http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/WaterQualityInformationTMDLs/WaterQualitySuccessStories.aspx
Current stories available on the page include:
Virginia's Nonpoint Source Success Stories
Waters that are partially or fully restored for all pollutants causing the impaired status:
§ Batie Creek (2008)
§ Lynnhaven Bay, Broad Bay, and Linkhorn Bay (2009)
§ Willis River (2010)
§ Middle Creek (2012)
§ Muddy Creek (2012)
§ Cub Creek (2014)
§ Upper Clinch River (2014)
§ Hall/Byers and Hutton Creeks (2015)
§ Little Sandy Creek (2015)
§ Blackwater River (2016)
Waters that show progress towards achieving water quality goals:
§ Middle Fork Holston River (2005)
§ Muddy Creek and Lower Dry River (2007)
§ Black Creek (2012)
§ Flat Creek (2013)
§ Carter Run (2013)
§ Big Chestnut Creek (2016)
Other Virginia Water Quality Success Stories
§ Jackson River – Nutrients
§ Roanoke River – Dissolved Oxygen
§ Stone Creek and Gin Creek – Total Dissolved Solids
Upper Robinson River Watershed
On June 17, DEQ submitted a draft success story for EPA review regarding water quality improvements in three segments of the Upper Robinson River watershed, Madison County. Implementation of agricultural and residential BMPs was administered by the Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District in conjunction with other federal, state and local agencies. Partners contacted landowners to encourage them to install agricultural and residential BMPs in the watershed. They conducted one-on-one meetings with individual farmers, residents and stakeholders and explained the benefits of water quality improvement on livestock health, in particular, and the watershed environment, in general. The outreach efforts have resulted in a variety of BMP installations.
DEQ Watershed Program Contacts
Regional TMDL Nonpoint Source Coordinators:
Valley Regional Office, Harrisonburg: , (540) 574-7850
Northern Regional Office, Woodbridge: , (703)583-3898
Blue Ridge Regional Office, Roanoke: , (540) 562-6738
Piedmont Regional Office, Glen Allen: , (804) 527-5058
Southwest Regional Office, Abingdon: , (276) 676-4803
Tidewater Regional Office, VA Beach: , (757) 518-2153
Central Office:
Liz McKercher, Watershed Program Manager: , (804) 698-4291
Nicole Sandberg, 319(h) Grant Manager: , (804) 698-4043
Lars Bolton, NPS Grant and Data Coordinator: , (804) 698-4006
Ram Gupta, TMDL Coordinator, , (804) 698-4184
Charlie Lunsford, TMDL Implementation Analyst, , (804) 698-4172 (until Oct 31)
Nonpoint Source Funding:
Roundtables
The 2017 Virginia Watershed Roundtable Support Request for Applications (PDF) was issued September 2, 2016 with a deadline for submission of October 24 2016 at 11:59 PM.
http://deq.state.va.us/Programs/Water/CleanWaterFinancingAssistance/NonpointSourceFunding.aspx
Water Quality Funding
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is in the process of issuing grants from the Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF) and the Clean Water Act 319(h) fund.
Water Quality Improvement Fund Projects
Project Sponsor / Project TitleCulpeper SWCD / Expanding Culpeper SWCD Residential On-Site Septic Cost Share Program
Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission / Middle Peninsula Septic Repair Program
Newport News (City) / Deep Creek Shoreline Restoration
Newport News (City) / Richneck Regional Water Quality Retrofit and Flood Control
Shenandoah Valley SWCD / Rockingham County Septic Assistance Program
Thomas Jefferson SWCD / Thomas Jefferson Regional Residential Septic System Management Program: Building on a Targeted Approach
Town of White Stone / Install Central Sewer to Replace Failing Drainfields
Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy / Elkins Branch Landslide Emergency
319(h) TMDL Implementation Projects
Contracts in Process
Applicant (DEQ Region) / TitleCulpeper SWCD (NRO) / Upper Rapidan River TMDL Implementation Project
New River SWCD (SWRO) / Chestnut Creek TMDL Implementation Project
Piedmont SWCD (PRO) / Spring Creek Et Al Watershed Residential Septic TMDL Implementation Project
Tazewell SWCD & Upper TN River Roundtable (SWRO) / Upper Clinch River
Thomas Jefferson SWCD (VRO) / Hardware River TMDL Implementation Project
Peter Francisco SWCD (CO) / Slate River and Rock Island Creek TMDL Implementation Project
Other Active Implementation Projects As of September 1, 2016
DEQ Region / Project Area / End DateBlue Ridge / 1-Lower Banister River
2- Stroubles Creek / 3/31/17
3/31/17
Northern / 1-Thumb and Carter Runs
2- Upper Hazel River
3- Upper York River
4- Upper Robinson & Little Dark Run / 12/31/16
12/31/16*
12/31/16*
12/31/17
Managed by Central Office / 1- Slate River and Rock Island Creek / 6/30/2017
Piedmont / 1-Greenvale, Paynes, and Beach Creeks
2- Chickahominy River
3- Flat and Nibbs Creek / 12/31/16
12/31/17
12/31/17
Southwest / 1- Upper Middle Fork Holston River / 3/31/2017
Tidewater / n/a
Valley / 1- Spout Run
2- Linville Creek
3- Middle River
4- Tye River / 3/31/17
12/31/17
12/31/17
12/31/17
*indicates those considering extension as part of latest RFP process