Department of Environmental Quality
State Water Control Board
Electronic Access
Meeting:
Technical Advisory Committee Meeting - Water Quality Study (TMDL) for the South Fork Rivanna River
| Meeting Details | |
|---|---|
| Date / Time | 12/9/2020 2:00 pm |
| Type | Electronic Only |
| Electronic Access | To register for this virtual meeting and to receive access information, sign up here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2154435171464681487 For technical assistance during the meeting call: 540-574-7872. |
| Link to Electronic Record | https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/4814247258119713282 |
| Board Website | http://www.deq.virginia.gov |
| Agenda document | agency has not posted |
| Minutes document |
Meeting minutes
12/29/2020
(118k)
FINAL
|
| Disability Friendly? Yes Deaf interpreter available upon request? Yes | |
| Purpose of the meeting Given the existing State of Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting will be held entirely virtually. A computer or a telephone are necessary to participate virtually. All meeting attendees are encouraged to access the meeting using a computer to view the meeting visuals. Attendees may also use a phone for audio and a computer for visual to avoid possible interruptions in computer audio. Although the use of a phone for audio only participation is possible, since the meeting will rely on visuals, audio only participation is discouraged. The URL to register for the virtual meeting is provided below. Once registered for the meeting, registrants will receive an email with the URL and telephone information to participate in the meeting. If meeting attendees experience any interruption in the meeting broadcast, they should call the technical support line that is also provided at the end of this notice. In the event that the Governor’s State of Emergency is lifted, the meeting will be held on the same date and time at: DEQ- Valley Regional Office, 4411 Early Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and its contractors, James Madison University and 3E Consulting will discuss a draft benthic stressor analysis that has been completed for the South Fork Rivanna River and its tributaries. The river is listed on the 303(d) TMDL Priority List and Report as impaired due to violations of Virginia’s water quality standards for Aquatic Life Use. This is an opportunity for local residents to learn about the pollutants that are likely impacting the aquatic community, and share information about potential sources of these pollutants in the watershed. Once complete, the stressor analysis will be used to guide TMDL development going forward, as water quality targets are developed for pollutants identified as likely stressors in the final report. A technical advisory committee meeting will be held to discuss the development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for a section of the South Fork Rivanna River and its tributaries. Discussions will include a review of land use data and results from a draft stressor analysis to identify probable stressors to the aquatic community. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and §62.1-44.19:7.C of the Code of Virginia requires DEQ to develop TMDLs for pollutants responsible for each impaired water contained in Virginia’s 303(d) TMDL Priority List and Report. The meeting will be open to the public and all are welcome. The South Fork Rivanna River and twelve of its tributaries in Albemarle County have been placed on Virginia’s impaired waters list for failing to support the benthic water quality standard. This standard is intended to protect the aquatic life designated use, which states that all of the Commonwealth’s waterways will support a diverse and abundant population of aquatic life. This water quality study will include a benthic stressor analysis to determine the most likely pollutant(s) responsible for the impairments, and it will report on the sources of these pollutant(s) and recommend reductions to meet a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the impaired stream segments. A TMDL is the total amount of a pollutant a water body can contain and still meet water quality standards. To restore water quality in the South Fork Rivanna River and its tributaries, pollutant levels will need to be reduced to the TMDL amount. Through this process, Virginia agencies will partner with a Technical Advisory Committee made up of local stakeholders to complete a benthic stressor analysis and identify pollutant(s) of concern in the watershed in addition to pollutant sources and the reductions needed from these sources to meet the TMDL. All are welcome to participate in this committee and meetings are open to the public. The impaired water bodies are: (i) Broad Axe Run, Headwaters to confluence with Mechums River (8.31 miles), initially listed 2004; (ii) Lickinghole Creek, Headwaters to confluence with Mechums River (8.93 miles), initially listed 2010; (iii) Mechums River, Confluence with Stockton to Lickinghole confluence (2.07 miles) and Headwaters to confluence with Stockton Creek (13.09 miles), initially listed 2004; (iv) Spring Creek, Headwaters to upper end of Lake Albemarle (3.48 miles), initially listed 2012; (v) Slabtown Branch, Headwaters to confluence with Lickinghole Creek (4.92 miles), initially listed 2010; (vi) Parrott Branch X-trib, Headwaters to confluence with Parrott Creek (1.15 miles), initially listed 2010; (vii) Fishing Creek, Headwaters to confluence with SF Rivanna River Reservoir (12.53 miles), initially listed 2012; (viii) Ivy Creek, 5 mile upper limit of PWS designation to confluence with SF Rivanna Reservoir (2.56 miles) and Little Ivy Creek confluence to 5 mile upper limit of PWS designation (4.02 miles), initially listed 2008; (ix) Ivy Creek , headwaters to confluence with Little Ivy Creek (5.49 miles), initially listed 010; (x) Little Ivy Creek X-trib, Headwaters to confluence with Ivy Creek (4.44 miles), initially listed 2016; (xi) Naked Creek, Headwaters to confluence with SF Rivanna River (9.82 miles), initially listed 2010; (xii) Powell Creek, Headwaters to confluence with SF Rivanna River (10.36 miles), initially listed 2010; (xiii) SF Rivanna, RWSA public water intake to confluence with Rivanna River (3.47 miles), initially listed 2010; and, (xiv) SF Rivanna X-trib, Headwaters to confluence with SF Rivanna River (3.2 miles), initially listed 2010. All meetings in support of TMDL development are open to the public and all interested parties are welcome. For more information, please contact the staff person listed below. | |
| Meeting Scope |
Public hearing to receive comment on a proposed stage
X
General business of the board
Discuss particular regulations / chapters
|
| Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Name / Title: | Nesha McRae |
| Address: |
DEQ - Valley Regional Office P.O. Box 3000 Harrisonburg, 22801 |
| Email Address: | nesha.mcrae@deq.virginia.gov |
| Telephone: | (540)574-7850 FAX: (540)574-7878 TDD: ()- |