The Public Comment Period for the Looney Creek Water Quality Improvement Plan was open from November 27 through December 27, 2007. A copy of the plan is available on the DEQ web site at: http://www.deq.state.va.us/tmdl/iprpts.html .  Written comments concerning the plan should be sent to:

Charlie Lunsford
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Phone: 804-786-3199
email: Charles.Lunsford@dcr.virginia.gov

Background

Looney Creek and its tributaries in Botetourt County are on Virginia’s list of impaired or “dirty” waters because bacteria levels in the streams exceed Virginia’s water quality standards.  Levels of bacteria in the stream measured by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) indicate an increased risk of illness for people who come in direct contact with the water.  The Looney Creek watershed is located in the eastern section of Botetourt County, and includes Mill Creek and Back Creek.  Water from Looney Creek flows directly into the James River near the Town of Buchanan. 

Implementation Plan

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is beginning to work with local government representatives and citizens to develop an implementation plan to reduce bacteria in the streams so that the risk of illness is reduced.  The implementation plan will outline the improvements, or best management practices, needed to reduce the sources of bacteria and their associated costs and benefits.  Examples of best management practices to reduce bacteria sources include repairing failing septic systems, fencing livestock from streams and establishing vegetated stream buffers.  The plan will also identify measurable goals and an implementation timeline. 

The implementation of this plan will provide an opportunity for citizens in the Looney Creek area to help improve water resources, increase farm production, and increase property values in their community.  For example, there are currently 10 projects to implement similar plans ongoing in Virginia.  These projects have assisted farmers install livestock exclusion systems along more than 30 miles of streams and have addressed human sources through the replacement or improvement of more than 70 waste treatment systems and more than 210 septic tank pump-outs. 

Strong local public participation ensures an implementation plan driven by local input.  Community involvement in the creation of the plan, and support of its implementation are critical factors that will determine the success of efforts to improve water quality locally.

Implementing the Plan

Implementation will occur in stages as outlined in the plan. Funds will be available to pay up to 75% of the costs of agricultural BMPs. The agricultural BMPs will focus on stream exclusion practices for livestock, and practices to reduce the bacteria reaching streams from runoff from agricultural land. Funds will also be available to remove straight pipes (pipes directly discharging untreated sewage into the stream) and to repair/replace failing septic systems in close proximity to streams. All landowners are eligible to receive 50% cost share for the residential BMPs and up to 75% based on economic need. Funding will also be made available to provide the technical assistance (staffing) needed to carry out the plan.

What can you do to help?

Become Involved - Volunteer to do stream monitoring.
Pick up Pet Waste - At parks and in your own yard.
Maintain or Update Your Waste Treatment - Pump out your septic system every 3 to 5 years. Divert surface runoff away from your drainfield area.
Contact the Mountain Castles Soil and Water Conservation District - Get information about livestock stream exclusion
Educate - Let your friends and neighbors know there are pollution problems and what they can do to help.

Citizen Water Quality Monitoring

DEQ has a Citizen Water Quality Monitoring for volunteers that want to make an impact in their watershed. A small group of citizens in the Looney Creek watershed have started a monitoring group with assistance from the DEQ West Central Regional office and the Mountain Castles Soil and Water Conservation District. More information about Citizen Monitoring opportunities can be found at DEQ's Citizen Water Quality Monitoring web site.

Funding for Implementation

Local, state, federal, and other funding sources available for implementation will be identified in the plan. EPA Section 319 funds are specifically directed to assist in the implementation of TMDL implementation plans and additional funding is anticipated from the Water Quality Improvement Fund. It is important to note that as more implementation plans are developed in Virginia the competition for Section 319 funds will greatly increase. Therefore, stakeholders are encouraged to take advantage of financial assistance that is currently available through Section 319 funding, while also researching additional funding opportunities for future implementation efforts.

DCR has provided funding and support for the development of ten implementation plans to date, and two more will be completed by the end of 2006. In nearby Franklin County, DCR is working with the Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District on the implementation of the Upper and Lower Blackwater River Implementation Plans. The Upper Blackwater River project entered its fifth year in 2006, and water quality monitoring is showing significant improvement in several of the impaired streams in the watershed. The Lower Blackwater River project began in March of 2006 and is anticipated to continue for five years. The US EPA also has a series of success stories from across the nation available for review.

Meetings

The final public meeting was held on November 27, 2007 in the multipurpose room at the Buchanan Elementary School to present the Water Qauality Improvement Plan.  A copy of the plan is available on the DEQ web site at: http://www.deq.state.va.us/tmdl/iprpts.html. The meeting opened a 30-day public comment period for the plan that ends on December 27, 2007.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation began the planning process with a public meeting on December 7, 2006 at the Buchanan Elementary School. Following a brief presentation outlining the implementation plan development, a discussion took place about different ways to clean up the streams including voluntary programs that offer financial incentives for landowners to install best management practices. Citizens will have additional opportunities to participate in the plan development through working groups that will begin to meet in January.  The working groups will identify ways to reduce residential and agricultural sources of bacteria entering the streams.

As part of this effort, DCR held a pair of working group meetings on January 22 and 23, 2007 in the Town of Buchanan to get local input on the measures needed to successfully reduce bacteria concentrations in these streams. Minutes from those meetings are available below.

Looney Creek Agricultural Working Group - Meeting #1 (minutes), January 22, 2007 

Looney Creek Residential Working Group - Meeting #1 (minutes), January 23, 2007

Looney Creek Residential & Agriculutral Working Group - Meeting #2 (minutes), June 13, 2007.

The agricultural working group focuses on reducing agricultural sources of bacteria in the Looney Creek watershed. The residential working group focuses on addressing human sources of bacteria including failing septic systems and straight pipes. At the meetings, DCR will discuss possible pollution prevention activities and ask for input on the actions that are needed. Public input is needed at the group meetings. Fact sheets describing the role of each working group are available: Agricultural Group , and Residential Group.

The Government Working Group for the proposed Water Quality Improvement Plan for the Looney Creek watershed  held its first meeting on March 26, 2007 at the Mountain Castles Soil and Water Conservation District office. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss with key local stakeholders how the proposed plan will be developed. A fact sheets describing the role of the working group is available: Government Working Group . Minutes from those meetings are available below.

Looney Creek Government Working Group - Meeting #1 (minutes), March 26, 2007.


In the News

WDBJ 7 News 12/07/06.
Roanoke Times 12/06/06.
Fincastle Herald  12/06/06.

Links

Virginia Department of Environmental Qualty TMDLs
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's Soil and Water Conservation Programs
Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission TMDL projects
MapTech Inc. environmental consultants

For additional information contact:

Charlie Lunsford
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Phone: 804-786-3199
email: Charles.Lunsford@dcr.virginia.gov

Eddie Wells
Roanoke Valley - Alleghany Regional Commission
Phone: 540-343-4417
email: ewells@rvarc.org




Last update: November 28, 2007.