Endangered River

One of America’s most storied rivers, the peaceful Shenandoah is facing an onslaught of overdevelopment that threatens the tranquility and clean water that have attracted people to the river for centuries. County governments along the Shenandoah have a rapidly-closing window to get a handle on runaway development before it changes the character of the river and valley forever.

Endangered River

Runaway Development As population in the valley soars and development replaces agricultural land, the river faces increased polluted runoff and over-burdened sewage treatment and water supplies. More than 1,300 miles of waterways in the Shenandoah watershed fail federal clean water tests because of excess nutrients, sediment, and other pollutants.

Act now to protect the Shenandoah River!

The River: The Shenandoah River is vital to the culture, economy, and health of the residents of Virginia and West Virginia, and an important local and regional drinking water source. (Nearly 90 percent of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region depends on the Potomac and its major tributary, the Shenandoah, for clean drinking water.) A thriving agricultural area, the Shenandoah Valley is also home to a rich history, as a vital corridor for the pioneer movement and host to a number of significant Civil War battles. The Shenandoah’s rich heritage, in addition to the river’s excellent boating and fishing opportunities, draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

Why It’s Endangered: The Shenandoah River is at a high risk of becoming a victim of its own popularity. As the population of the Shenandoah Valley soars and agricultural land is replaced by urban and suburban development, the river is under siege from increased polluted runoff.

More than 1,300 miles of rivers and streams in the Shenandoah watershed fail to meet federal clean water standards because of excess nutrients, sediment, and other pollutants. A major and growing cause of these problems is overdevelopment. Rapid growth leads to more roads, parking lots, and roofs. These hard surfaces prevent rain from soaking into the ground naturally and result in significant increases in runoff tainted by automobile oil, lawn fertilizer, pesticides, and other pollutants into nearby streams that feed into the river.

According to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 80 percent of the Shenandoah South Fork’s adult smallmouth bass and red breasted sunfish populations died in 2005, one year after a similar fish kill in the Shenandoah’s North Fork. Just last month, another smaller fish kill occurred in both forks. Although the cause of these kills remains unclear, polluted water is the prime suspect, underscoring the degradation of this river.

What You Can Do: Send comments to the Frederick County Board of Supervisors urging them to adopt river friendly plans for the County. County Supervisors have the opportunity to adopt Rural Area and Urban Area plans that allow growth while also protecting the Shenandoah and the streams that flow into it. Urge the Frederick Supervisors to plan wisely to protect the Shenandoah. Click here to take action.