Bay Streams “Showcased” for Cleanup

Several weeks ago, Bay Daily talked about Chesapeake Bay “backwater” issues and the need to reduce pollution in the hundreds of headwater streams far, far away from the Bay itself.

“To clean up the Bay, we must clean up the Potomac River. To clean up the Potomac, we must clean up the Shenandoah River. And to clean up the Shenandoah, we must clean up the scores of small creeks, streams, and runs that snake through the Shenandoah Valley’s famously productive farmland,” we reported.

Last week, one of those Shenandoah Valley creeks was highlighted for special attention from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Smith Creek, which flows through Rockingham and Shenandoah counties in Virginia, was one of three streams in the six-state Bay region to be designated a “Chesapeake Bay Showcase Watershed.” Similar designations also were made for the Upper Chester River in Maryland and Conewago Creek in Pennsylvania.

What does this mean?

“The Showcase Watershed is a central element in USDA’s strategy to comply with the (Obama) Administration’s Executive Order for Restoring and Improving Water Quality in the Chesapeake Bay,” the federal farm agency says. “These watersheds are small enough to allow for outreach to 100 percent of the (farm) producers. Our goal is to show measureable results in discrete watersheds that are impacted by pollution from agricultural operations. U.S. Geological Survey has agreed to provide water quality monitoring in the Showcase Watersheds to help us evaluate the environmental benefits of these intensive efforts. The selected watersheds also have active and engaged partners and the potential for measureable improvements in the coming years.”

One of those active and engaged partners trying to clean up Smith Creek is the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). For years, CBF Virginia Restoration Scientist Libby Norris has been working with Shenandoah Valley farmers and landowners, providing one-on-one technical assistance on soil and water conservation practices that protect water quality in farm streams.

Currently, CBF is a partner in an $800,000 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) grant project aimed at directing increased federal Farm Bill conservation dollars toward Virginia farmers, specifically toward farmers in the Smith Creek watershed. The creek’s 67,000-acre drainage area contains many dairy, beef cattle, and poultry farms. It also is listed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s “dirty waters list” because of bacteria and other pollution problems.

CBF’s role in the NFWF grant project is to work with as many farmers as possible to fence all livestock from Smith Creek. While allowing livestock to wander into farm streams is an easy and traditional way many farmers have used to water their herds, it also guarantees erosion and animal waste washing downstream. The key to changing behaviors and cleaner streams typically involves snaring sufficient government cost-share dollars to help farmers pay to fence their animals out of the stream and install alternative watering systems, among other practices.  

“One of the biggest reasons people say they can’t do it is the cost,” Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Matt Lohr told the Daily News-Record newspaper during the showcase announcement. The announcement was made at Valley Pike Farm, which is owned by Lohr’s family.

Lohr acknowledged that using soil and water conservation practices to protect farm streams improves not only water quality but the farm as well. “It benefits you in the long run,” he said.

The goal of the NFWF partnership project is to return Smith Creek to “swimmable-fishable” status and remove it from EPA’s dirty waters list. Of course, setting goals and reaching goals are two different things.

But with Smith Creek’s new designation as a Showcase Watershed, cleaning up the creek is now also the official goal of the Obama administration. And with this new federal spotlight and the additional resources brought to bear on Smith Creek – increased cost-share dollars, more partners, expanded outreach to farmers, additional on-the-ground assistance, and consistent stream monitoring to measure results – everyone expects this “backwater” project to be a success.

“President Obama is smart to showcase work in the Shenandoah Valley and Smith Creek specifically,” says Ann Jennings, CBF’s Virginia executive director (in photo at left, speaking at  the Showcase Watershed event). “CBF has had the privilege to work closely with many talented partners, and together we’re making a difference on the ground. We plan to be back on the Lohr farm in the near future to celebrate a restored Smith Creek and a vibrant farm economy.”
 
By Chuck Epes

Comments

[Doug Valentine]

I don't understand the whole "Showcase Watershed" proposal. Looks like more of the same old, same old as we/NRCS did back in the 80's with the Rural Clear Water Program (RCWP). You want a useful tool: In order for agriculture to maintain their agland preferential property tax break; they should at least have performed the Inventory - Assessment & Planning Tool I have developed and submitted to EPA, CBF, CBP and about 2 dozen others. It would document the environmental conditions on the farms, how serious they are and an estimate of cost to correct. Why should farmers enjoy this property tax break and continue to pollute our waterways. Agriculture wants credit for all of the conservation they have installed over over the past 75 years, lets start with a database of what's out there; what condition is it in and what needs to be done to bring ALL farms up to a minimum of "baseline" conservation comliance. Throwing money at this problem without having high quality conservation plans (including a detailed inventory and assessment) in place is a total waste of our taxpayer's dollars.

[installing irrigation systems]

Rivers clean is a necessity today - good to hear that the government is investing time and money for this purpose. Today there is growing awareness for that, this kind of news are joyful