To whom it may concern,
 
I used to spend a lot of time fishing and canoeing Virginia rivers, particularly the upper branches of the Potomac.  Lately though not so much.  They aren’t what they used to be.  Virginia officials need to do all they can to improve the water quality of these rivers.  Closing the loop holes on the handling of chicken manure would be a good start.  Many years ago I returned to one of my favorite Virginia rivers, the South Fork of the South Branch.  Where waters once had run clear, the stream was now clogged with a thick, viscous, green water-weed that grew 50 or 60 feet long and undulated in the current.  Chicken farming had come to the river’s headwaters!  Farmers do not have the right to kill rivers.  Plus the Bay is dying because of pollution.  Please, make chicken farmers  dispose of waste in a responsible manner.
 
Sincerely,
John Mathwin
13515 Crispin Way
Rockville, MD
20853
301-871-7658