Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission

AIR QUALITY

The Regional Commission manages the Shenandoah Valley Air Quality Initiative (SHENAIR) air quality program, funded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. SHENAIR is a collaboration of local governments, universities and interested citizens focused on characterizing air quality and providing sound scientific information to local decision makers to support air quality policies in the region. The purpose of the SHENAIR program is to facilitate awareness of air quality conditions and decision support for remedial measures to improve Valley air conditions. The final recommendations were presented during a local government committee June 2009 to review progress of the university research conducted at James Madison University, University of Virginia, and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Air Quality investigations, findings, and recommendations will be posted on this website September 2009. For more information regarding the scientific programs characterizing air quality in the Shenandoah Valley or to review local government committee updates, contact Ms. Jill Keihn.

WATER SUPPLY PLANNING

In October 2009 the twenty localities of the NSVRC region signed a resolution to develop a Regional Water Supply Plan. The NSVRC will submit the regional WSP, on behalf of the localities, to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and State Water Control Board on or before November 2, 2011. The regional plan will enable localities to meet the water supply planning requirements of the Commonwealth of Virginia, 9 VAC 25-780. The purpose of this regulation is to provide improved coordination of drought response and water resources management activities at the local, regional and state levels to guarantee Virginia’s water supplies meet the current and future needs in an environmentally sound manner. The regional plan will cover the existing water supply, future water needs and alternatives, water demand management information, alternative source analyses, and drought response plans / ordinances. Efforts are underway to report existing water sources, existing water use, and water demand management information. The NSVRC has been awarded a financial grant to assist in the preparing the plan.

NEW tool for drought assessment see Shenandoah Valley drought conditions: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/watersupplyplanning/drought/shenandoah/current.html

REGIONAL WATER RESOURCES POLICY COMMITTEE PRESENTATIONS

The combined local government agencies of the Shenandoah River watershed in the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission, portions of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, and the counties of Berkeley and Jefferson, West Virginia have formed a policy committee dedicated to protecting the Shenandoah River’s waters quantity and quality.

The Shenandoah Valley Water Resources Strategic Plan was adopted October 2006 by the member jurisdictions of the Virginia counties of Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren; the counties of Berkeley and Jefferson in West Virginia; the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Winchester; and the town of Front Royal. The strategic Plan identifies 12 goals and strategies to “Take Care of the Water.” A quarterly meeting of the policy committee, state and federal agencies, and interested stakeholders is held and administered by the NSVRC staff. For more information, contact Jill Keihn. The goals were initially created in 2004 by the Regional Water Resources Policy Committee and provide guidance for the regional strategies, setting out the objectives, responsibilities, and key elements for a cooperative and regional approach to water management.

Presentations:

August 19, 2009 - guest speaker: PRIMER ON GROUNDWATER FLOW IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY, Richard M. Yager, United States Geological Survey, Ithaca NY

An informal presentation will describe our present understanding of groundwater flow in the Shenandoah Valley. Introductory remarks will summarize recent USGS studies and explain basic groundwater concepts required to comprehend USGS reports. The general nature of the groundwater flow system will be described, including the principal geologic and hydrologic features. The role of groundwater flow models will be discussed, including the benefits and potential applications of modeling studies. An open discussion will follow to further the understanding of these scientific studies, and to help focus the results of future studies toward providing information required by local water managers.

April 22, 2009 RWRPC Meeting Presentations

CSPDC - Andrea Terry, Senior Planner "Water Supply Planning" (PDF)

Lord Fairfax SWCD - Jim Lawrence "Stormwater Presentation" (PDF)

MIF Shenandoah River - Clay Ramey, USGS (PDF)

Other Water Quality Links - Stormwater:

Link to DCR website for Runoff Reduction Spreadsheet
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/lr2f.shtml

Link to BMP specs:
http://www.vwrrc.vt.edu/swc/NonProprietaryBMPs.html

HAZARD MITIGATION

2007 Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (PDF)

The Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan was adopted in 2007. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management required an update of strategies June 2009. Please click on the link above to download a copy of the Plan.

The NSVRC serves as a resource to foster and support local and regional strategies that will complement existing emergency management programs in the planning area. The NSVRC supports an emergency management approach to mitigation, preparedness, prevention, response and recovery in the event of major emergencies or disasters. Working together helps ensure that the region is well-prepared to protect the safety and well-being of its citizens. The hazard mitigation program addresses disaster preparedness, hurricanes, floods, drought, fires, hazardous materials incidents, etc.

Interested in becoming more active in emergency preparedness? Then, consider training as a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member, designed to involve citizens in emergency preparedness. The training provides members the tools and knowledge that will allow them help to their family and neighbors after a disaster. For more information contact your local emergency response coordinator.

SOLID WASTE PROGRAM

The twenty jurisdictions of the planning area are represented on a Solid Waste Technical Committee that meets bimonthly. The region jointly owns and operates two pieces of equipment designed to reduce solid waste:

A Tire Shredder – maintained and coordinated by Frederick County

A Glass Pulverizer – maintained and coordinated by Page County.

The Regional Tire Shredding Program has been successfully shredding tires both on and offsite to regional jurisdictions as well as clients from New River and Montgomery, VA. The Glass Grinding Operational Program offers glass grinding services to nearby localities. For more information, please contact Jill Keihn, NSVRC.