Department of Environmental Quality
Department of Environmental Quality
Meeting:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING AND PUBLIC COMMENT – CLEANUP STUDY- South Fork Rivanna River and tributaries in Albemarle County
| Meeting Details | |
|---|---|
| Date / Time | 1/29/2026 5:30 pm |
| Type | Physical Location Only |
| Location | Greenwood Community Center, 865 Greenwood Road, Crozet, VA 22932. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on February 5, 2026 at the same time and location. |
| Board Website | http://www.deq.virginia.gov |
| Agenda document |
Meeting Agenda
1/9/2026
(151k)
|
| Purpose of the meeting PURPOSE OF NOTICE: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) seeks public comment on the development of a cleanup study, also known as a Total Maximum Daily Load report (TMDL), for the South Fork Rivanna River and tributaries in Albemarle County. These streams are listed as impaired since monitoring data does not meet Virginia’s water quality standards for Aquatic Life (Benthic impairment). Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and §62.1-44.19:7.C of the State Water Control Law requires DEQ to develop cleanup studies to address pollutants responsible for causing waters to be on Virginia’s 303(d) list of impaired waters. A component of a cleanup study is the Waste Load Allocation (WLA); therefore, this notice is provided pursuant to §2.2-4006.A.14 of the Administrative Process Act for adoption of the WLA into the Water Quality Management Planning Regulation, 9VAC25-720 after completion of the study. The adoption of the WLA may require new or additional requirements for entities holding a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit in these watersheds. A study has been completed for the South Fork Rivanna River and tributaries to identify pollutant sources and recommend reductions needed from the sources to meet water quality standards. At the meeting, DEQ will present the results of the study and provide an overview of the draft report. Citizens are invited to provide comment on the study. CLEANUP STUDY LOCATION: The South Fork Rivanna River cleanup study addresses the impairments described below, all of which are located in Albemarle County, Virginia: • Broad Axe Run: Impaired from its headwaters downstream to its confluence with the Mechums River (8.32 miles, initially listed as impaired in 2004). • Fishing Creek: Impaired from its headwaters downstream to its confluence with the South Fork Rivanna River Reservoir (12.54 miles, initially listed as impaired in 2012). • Ivy Creek: Impaired from its headwaters to its confluence with the South Fork Rivanna River Reservoir (6.59 miles initially listed as impaired in 2008, 5.49 miles listed in 2010). • Lickinghole Creek: Impaired from its headwaters to its confluence with the Mechums River (8.94 miles, initially listed as impaired in 2010). • Little Ivy Creek X-Trib: Impaired from its headwaters downstream to its confluence with Little Ivy Creek (4.44 miles, initially listed as impaired in 2016). • Mechums River: Impaired from its headwaters downstream to the confluence of Stockton Creek (15.17 miles, initially listed as impaired in 2004). • Naked Creek: Impaired from its headwaters downstream to its confluence with the South Fork Rivanna River Reservoir (9.83 miles, initially listed as impaired in 2010). • Parrott Branch X-Trib: Impaired from its headwaters downstream to its confluence with Parrott Branch (1.15 miles, initially listed as impaired in 2010). • Powell Creek: Impaired from its headwaters downstream to its confluence with the South Fork Rivanna River (10.37 miles, initially listed as impaired in 2010) • Slabtown Branch: Impaired from its headwaters downstream to its confluence with Lickinghole Creek (4.92 miles, initially listed as impaired in 2010). • South Fork Rivanna River: Impaired from the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (RWSA) SF Rivanna River Public Water Intake downstream to its confluence with the Rivanna River (3.47 miles, initially listed as impaired in 2010). • South Fork Rivanna X-Trib: Impaired from its headwaters downstream to its confluence with the South Fork Rivanna River (3.21 miles, initially listed as impaired in 2010). TMDL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS: TMDL Community Engagement meetings to assist in development of this cleanup study were convened on December 9, 2020, February 23, 2021, September 23, 2025, and November 18, 2025. PUBLIC MEETING: The final public meeting on the development of the cleanup study will be held at the Greenwood Community Center, 865 Greenwood Road, Crozet, VA 22932, on January 29, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on February 5, 2026 at the same time and location stated above. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: January 29, 2026 to March 2, 2026. HOW TO COMMENT: DEQ accepts written comments by e-mail or postal mail. All comments must be received by DEQ during the comment period. Submittals must include the name, organization they represent (if any), mailing addresses and telephone numbers of the commenter/requester. CONTACT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, DOCUMENT REQUESTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Nesha McRae, Valley Regional Office, 4411 Early Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801; Phone: (540) 217-7173; E-mail: Nesha.mcrae@deq.virginia.gov. The public may review the cleanup study at the following website address: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/water-quality/tmdl-development/tmdls-under-development | |
| Meeting Scope |
Public hearing to receive comment on a proposed stage
X
General business of the board
Discuss particular regulations / chapters
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| Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Name / Title: | Nesha McRae |
| Address: |
Valley Regional Office 4411 Early Road Harrisonburg, 22801 |
| Email Address: | Nesha.mcrae@deq.virginia.gov |
| Telephone: | (540)217-7173 FAX: ()- TDD: ()- |
| Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, such as sign language interpreters and/or real-time captioning services, are available upon request. Please send accommodation requests to the meeting contact as early as possible but no later than seven business days before the date of the meeting. | |