Exceptional State Waters (Tier III)
The Department of Environmental Quality is dedicated to protecting and enhancing Virginia's environment. The Exceptional State Waters Program helps achieve these goals by identifying and protecting high quality waters for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations by prohibiting new or increased point source discharges to the designated waterbody. “Tier III” is how the public commonly refers to these protected waters. The equivalent regulatory terms are “Outstanding National Resource Waters” for EPA and “Exceptional State Waters” for Virginia. The designation of a waterbody as an Exceptional State Water is a regulatory amendment to the Antidegradation Policy section of Virginia's Water Quality Standards. Citizens may submit a petition to designate a waterbody or a nomination may orginate from within the agency. As of September 11, 2007, there are 27 Exceptional State Waters designated in Virginia. Descriptions and locations of these waters are shown below.
For additional information regarding petition submission and the designation process, please refer to agency Guidance for Exceptional State Waters.
Exceptional State Waters fact sheet
Exceptional State Waters rulemakings
Exceptional State Waters - Shenandoah National Park Region
Waterbody Name | Boundary Description | Nominating Party |
|---|---|---|
Big Run | Big Run in Rockingham County from its headwaters downstream to the first crossing with the Shenandoah National Park boundary and all tributaries to this segment of Big Run within the confines of Shenandoah National Park. Approximately 20 miles |
DEQ |
Doyles River | Doyles River in Albemarle County from its headwaters to the first crossing with the Shenandoah National Park boundary and Jones Falls Run from its headwaters to its confluence with Doyles River and all tributaries to these segments of Doyles River and Jones Fall Run within the confines of Shenandoah National Park. Approximately 6.9 miles |
DEQ |
East Branch Naked Creek | East Branch Naked Creek in Page County from its headwaters downstream to the first crossing with the Shenandoah National Park boundary and all tributaries to this segment of East Branch Naked Creek within the confines of Shenandoah National Park. Approximately 4.6 miles |
DEQ |
East Hawksbill Creek | East Hawksbill Creek in Page County from its headwaters downstream to the first crossing with the Approximately 4.0 miles |
DEQ |
Jeremys Run | Jeremys Run in Page County from its headwaters downstream to the first crossing with the Shenandoah National Park boundary and all tributaries to this segment of Jeremys Run within the confines of Shenandoah National Park. Approximately 15.1 miles |
DEQ |
North Fork Thornton River in Rappahannock County from its headwaters downstream to the first crossing with the Shenandoah National Park boundary and all tributaries to this segment of the North Fork Thornton River within the confines of Shenandoah National Park. Approximately 9.1 miles |
DEQ | |
Piney River | Piney River in Rappahannock County from its headwaters downstream to the first crossing with the Shenandoah National Park boundary and all tributaries to this segment of the Piney River within the confines of Shenandoah National Park. Approximately 7.6 miles |
DEQ |
Exceptional State Waters - West Central Region
Waterbody Name | Boundary Description | Nominating Party |
|---|---|---|
Blue Suck Branch | Blue Suck Branch from its headwaters downstream to the first crossing with the George Washington National Forest boundary. Approximately 4.25 miles | Cowpasture River Preservation Association |
Cove Creek | Cove Creek from its headwaters downstream to the National Forest boundary. Approximately 2.4 miles | Amherst Co. Service Authority |
Downy Branch | Downy Branch from its headwaters downstream to the first crossing with the George Washington National Forest boundary. Approximately 2.8 miles | Cowpasture River Preservation Association |
North Branch Simpson Creek | North Branch Simpson Creek (Brushy Run) from its headwaters downstream to its confluence with Simpson Creek. Approximately 3.9 miles | Cowpasture River Preservation Association |
Brown Mountain Creek, located on U.S. Forest Service land in Amherst County, from the City of Lynchburg property boundary upstream to the first crossing with the national forest property boundary. Approximately 2.8 miles |
DEQ | |
Laurel Fork, located on U.S. Forest Service land in Highland County, from the national forest property boundary below Route 642 downstream to the Virginia/West Virginia state line. Approximately 6.5 miles |
DEQ | |
Little Cove Creek | Little Cove Creek and its tributaries from the headwaters downstream to the National Forest boundary. Approximately 1.8 miles | Amherst Co. Service Authority |
North Creek in Botetourt County from the first bridge above the United States Forest Service North Creek Camping Area to its headwaters. Approximately 3.8 miles |
Trout Unlimited, Virginia Council | |
North Fork of the Buffalo River, located on U.S. Forest Service land in Amherst County, from its confluence with Rocky Branch upstream to its headwaters. Approximately 2.6 miles |
DEQ | |
North Fork of the Buffalo River | North Fork of the Buffalo River from its confluence with Rocky Branch downstream to the National Forest Boundary. Approximately 0.40 miles | Amherst Co. Service Authority |
Pedlar River, located on U.S. Forest Service land in Amherst County, from where the river crosses FR 39 upstream to the first crossing with the national forest property boundary. Approximately 5.2 miles |
DEQ | |
Ramseys Draft, located on U.S. Forest Service land in Augusta County, from its headwaters (which includes Right and Left Prong Ramseys Draft) downstream to the Wilderness Area boundary. Approximately 8.2 miles |
DEQ | |
Roberts Creek | Roberts Creek from its confluence with the Pedlar River upstream to its first crossing with the National Forest boundary. Approximately 1.3 miles | Amherst Co. Service Authority |
Rocky Branch | Rocky Branch from its headwaters downstream to its confluence with the North Fork of the Buffalo River. Approximately 1.2 miles | Amherst Co. Service Authority |
Shady Mountain Creek | Shady Mountain Creek from its headwaters downstream to its confluence with the Pedlar River. Approximately 1.4 miles | Amherst Co. Service Authority |
Exceptional State Waters - Southwest Region
Waterbody Name | Boundary Description | Nominating Party |
|---|---|---|
Bottom Creek in Montgomery County and Roanoke County from Route 669 (Patterson Drive) downstream to the last property boundary of the Nature Conservancy on the southern side of the creek. Approximately 2.2 miles | Friends of the Rivers of Virginia, Bent Mountain Civic League, Trout Unlimited, Roanoke Valley Chapter 308, Friends of the Roanoke River, American Rivers | |
Little Stony Creek in Giles County from the first footbridge above the Cascades picnic area, upstream to the 3,300-foot elevation. Approximately 6.5 miles | Friends of the Rivers of Virginia, Trout Unlimited, Virginia Council, Trout Unlimited, New River Chapter 207, Friends of the New River | |
Whitetop Laurel Creek, located on U.S. Forest Service land in Washington County, from the national forest boundary immediately upstream from the second railroad trestle crossing the creek above Taylors Valley upstream to the confluence of Green Cove Creek. Approximately 2.7 miles |
DEQ |
Exceptional State Waters - Southeast Region
Waterbody Name | Boundary Description | Nominating Party |
|---|---|---|
Lake Drummond, located on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service property, is nominated in its entirety within the cities of Chesapeake and Suffolk excluding any ditches and/or tributaries. Approximately 5.1 square miles |
DEQ | |
Ragged Island Creek in Isle of Wight County from its confluence with the James River at a line drawn across the creek mouth at N36o56.306'/W76o29.136' to N36o 55.469'/W76o29.802' upstream to a line drawn across the main stem of the creek at N36o57.094'/W76o30.473' to N36o57.113'/W76o30.434', excluding wetlands and impounded areas and including only those tributaries completely contained within the Ragged Island Creek Wildlife Management Area on the northeastern side of the creek. Approximately 1 square mile |
Isle of Wight Citizens Association |
