I live on a farm outside of the town of  Eastville on the Eastern Shore. Having moved here 15 years ago from another rural area across the Bay, I have observed local farmers using environmentally sound BMP's. The local agricultural community generally does have a true regard for their surrounding watershed and their neighbors with one large exception.

The Large Scale Agricultural Plasticulture Industry moved onto my neck about 8-10 years ago. I have watched the full scale deterioration of my creek (The Gulf) almost from year one. The runoff from these tomato farms flows directly into this marine estuary from at least three direct sources, without any buffers or retention ponds. Unfortunately, I am not aware of any regulation prohibiting this practice. Consequently, the Gulf has become a nitrogen choked algae pond in a matter of years.

These industrial plasticulture operations are generally owned by out of state operators. Most have operations in other states also and use migrant labor with local foremen. The Greenbriar Farm tract of which 200 acres was sold to a tomato farmer, looks like a nuclear fallout zone. The practice of growing on impermeable plastics with drip irrigation severely reduces the need for any overhead irrigation. As long as the irrigation pond has adaquate supply (which unfortunately could be pulling from our stressed groundwater aquifer) , no rain is optimal. Surface water must drain quickly and directly off of the fields or the equipment cannot work and the irrigation cannot be controlled. Overhead spraying of fungicides, insecticides and who knows what else, is done on a daily basis. All of these chemicals are washing directly into adjoining watersheds. What chemicals are they using? Nobody will tell me.

Strong regulations must be implemented on the Plasticulture Industry. Storm water conveyances, retention ponds and buffers need to be designed for each farm so that we can retain our water quality. The Eastern Shore has one of the healthiest aquaculture environments in the country. How long can these two co-exist?

The State of Virginia did not even know the amount of acreage in plasticulture until a few years ago. I hope the State Water Control Board will not let this industry fly under the radar in the future.

Regards,

                 Chip Dodson

                 Eastville