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Water is fundamental to the overall health and quality of life in Page County, a foundation for our community, economy and environment. A clean, abundant supply of water is a basic right for all of our residents and an essential resource for our children and their future. We are a group of citizens, farmers, local officials, planning commission members, and state and local organizations. We promote water pollution prevention, prioritize and address water quality issues and enhance environmental education in schools and communities in Page County. The Page County Water Quality Advisory Committee meets monthly in the Page County Courthouse located at 116 South Court Street, Luray at 7:00 p.m. Page County residents are encouraged to attend and get involved in understanding and taking care of one of our county's most vital natural resources, our water. Our mission statement: to promote water pollution prevention, prioritize and address water quality issues and enhance environmental education in schools and communities in Page County. For more information on the activities of the Committee or to be added to our email list please call Chris Anderson at (540)743-4808 or send an email to canderson@pagecounty.virginia.gov. ![]()
___________________________________________________________________________ Committee Members List Announcements: Do you live in the Mill or Hawksbill Creek watersheds? If so, you are eligible for a discount to have your septic tank pumped and you may be eligible for septic repairs. This discount is offered as part of the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan which was created to help decrease the amount of bacteria in Mill and Hawksbill Creeks. For more information, call 540-742-4634. Previous Events: Karst Education Day at Luray Caverns On Sunday, March 22, 2009 we held our second adult karst education day with a great line-up of speakers from the Department of Conservation & Recreation, Department of Environmental Quality, Chesapeake Stormwater Network & the Cave Conservancy of the Virginias. They presented information on what karst geology is, why it is sensitive and why it requires careful consideration in relation to land use issues. We also had a special geology tour of Luray Caverns. This workshop was sponsored by the Cave Conservancy of the Virginias and the Page County Water Quality Advisory Committee. MILL CREEK STREAM CORRIDOR ASSESSMENT Thank you to everyone who volunteered and to the landowners who granted us permission to be on their land for the Assessment. Students from the geographical information system (GIS) classes at Page County High School and Luray High School joined volunteers from the Water Quality Advisory Committee, landowners and other local citizens to conduct a stream corridor assessment (SCA) of the Mill Creek Watershed on Friday, May 1, 2009. A professional with the Izaak Walton League trained the volunteers on what to look for as they walked along Mill Creek including areas of erosion, pipe outfalls, condition of riparian buffers, in or near stream construction, channel alterations, stream crossings and other stream-related issues. The stream assessment allowed volunteers to rapidly assess the general physical condition of a stream system. The students gathered GPS location coordinates to accurately map all of the sites inventoried. The maps and other information gathered during the survey will support the future preparation of a watershed management plan for Mill Creek and guide subsequent restoration activities. Mill Creek is approximately eight miles long, from its headwaters in Stanley to its confluence with the South Fork of the Shenandoah River near Hamburg. Contact the Water Quality Advisory Committee/Watershed Management Planning Team at 743-4808 or canderson@pagecounty.virginia.gov about the our next meeting date and location. Guests are always welcome. Our History News & Information Forum Information Water Futures Report In 2007, the Advisory Committee published Managing Page�s Water � And Its Future, better known as the Water Futures report. This document outlines the steps needed to develop and implement a comprehensive watershed management plan for Page County. Click Here to download the Water Futures Report. The Page County Board of Supervisors in December 2007 endorsed a resolution in support of the Water Futures Report. Supervisor Hoke introduced the resolution, which passed unanimously. Click Here to download the resolution. Watershed Map Page County Water Resources Primer In 2006, the Water Quality Advisory Committee published the Page County Water Resources Primer, a 38-page guide to water sources, potential pollutants and local, state and federal water resource programs. The Primer has been widely distributed in the county, to current residents and to newcomers through the local Chamber of Commerce and real estate offices. Click Here to download the Primer. ___________________________________________________________________________ 'Water Matters' Articles 'Water Matters' is a series of articles published monthly in the Page News & Courier which address Page County's water resources. Click on the date to read the article. February 14, 2008 - Introduction to Water Quality.doc March 13, 2008 - Bacteria & Water Quality .doc April 17, 2008 - What is Karst?.doc May 15, 2008 - Agriculture Best Management Practices June 19, 2008 Watershed Planning July 17, 2008 - Benthic Impairments & the TMDL Process August 21, 2008 Watershed Cost Share Funds Available September 25, 2008 - Rapid Watershed Assessment for the S. Fork Shenandoah River ___________________________________________________________________________ Other Resources and Links Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources Virginia Department of Forestry Friends of the Shenandoah River River Network Virginia Save Our Streams Pure Water Forum Andy Guest State Park Shenandoah National Park George Washington National Forest
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