DIRECTOR'S CORNER

Providing extra protection for Virginia’s exceptional waters

Renewed interest from citizen groups and the Department of Environmental Quality in Virginia’s Exceptional State Water program has lead to extra protection for more than a hundred miles of the Commonwealth’s cleanest waters.

Four years ago there was only one Exceptional State Water – a section of North Creek in Botetourt County. Today 11 waters including Lake Drummond, one of only two natural lakes in Virginia, have the designation.

In addition, the State Water Control Board approved seven stream segments within Shenandoah National Park as Exceptional State Waters in September 2005. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing these waters and will give final approval of their designations. Eleven additional stream segments have also been nominated, and they are in various stages of the public participation process.

The Exceptional State Water designation provides permanent protection for select waters by prohibiting new or increased discharges from point sources to prevent a decline in water quality. Point sources are fixed locations (a pipe from a plant or ditch, for example) from which pollutants are emptied into a river or other waters.

For a stream, river or lake to qualify for the designation, the water must have exceptional qualities and be located in an area of outstanding beauty. The designated water must also provide excellent habitats for fish such as wild trout and other aquatic life, or superior recreational opportunities such as hiking, fishing, camping and bird-watching.

In response to a citizen’s request and to encourage the nomination of additional waterways, DEQ is developing a recognition program for the Exceptional State Waters and the citizen groups who nominate them. The recognition may include certificates of appreciation, a web page with information on the designated waters, and the placement of signs near the waterways, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The recognition process is scheduled to begin this winter.

Virginia’s many scenic waterways will provide ample opportunities for citizens and DEQ to continue to nominate exceptional waters. The designations will help ensure that future generations of Virginians will be able to enjoy the Commonwealth’s cleanest and most beautiful waters. Information on how to nominate a waterway for the Exceptional State Water designation is available on the DEQ web site.

Exceptional State Waters and their locations:

1. North Creek, Botetourt County
2. Little Stony Creek, partly in Jefferson National Forest, Giles County
3. Bottom Creek, Roanoke and Montgomery County
4. Lake Drummond, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Chesapeake and Suffolk
5. Brown Mountain Creek, George Washington National Forest, Amherst County
6. Laurel Fork, George Washington National Forest, Highland County
7. North Fork of the Buffalo River, George Washington National Forest, Amherst County
8. Pedlar River, George Washington National Forest, Amherst County
9. Ramseys Draft, George Washington National Forest, Augusta County
10. Whitetop Laurel Creek, Jefferson National Forest, Washington County
11. Ragged Island Creek, partly bordered by land owned by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Isle of Wight County

Exceptional State Waters adopted by the State Water Control Board in September 2005:

1. Big Run, Shenandoah National Park, Rockingham County
2. Doyles River, Shenandoah National Park, Albemarle County
3. East Hawksbill Creek, Shenandoah National Park, Page County
4. Jeremys Run, Shenandoah National Park, Page County
5. East Branch Naked Creek, Shenandoah National Park, Page County
6. Piney River, Shenandoah National Park, Rappahannock County
7. North Fork Thornton River, Shenandoah National Park, Rappahannock County

Nominated water bodies and their locations:

1. Blue Suck Branch, National Forest, Alleghany and Botetourt County
2. Downey Branch, National Forest, Alleghany County
3. Piney Mountain Branch, National Forest, Alleghany County
4. North Branch of Simpson Creek, National Forest, Alleghany County
5. Roberts Creek, Amherst County
6. Shady Mountain Creek, Amherst County
7. Cove Creek, Amherst County
8. Little Cove Creek and its tributaries, Amherst County
9. Rocky Branch, Amherst County
10. North Fork of the Buffalo River, Amherst County, (outside of George Washington National Forest)
11. Hazel River, Rappahannock and Culpeper counties

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