1. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Presented to Loudoun Valley High School May 9, 2012 David Ward and Scott Sandberg Loudoun County Department of Building & Development

2. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Why is this a healthy stream?

3. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring A larger healthy stream.

4. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Healthy?

5. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Could this be a problem?

6. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Or this?

7. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Too much water?

8. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Overview 8  Monitoring – Type, who, where  Stream assessment and impairments  Catoctin Watershed  Bacteria sampling  Historic monitoring in Purcellville Nature Park  Benthic Monitoring Identification

9. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Types of Monitoring 9  Stream assessment and conditions (benthic/habitat)  Groundwater levels and groundwater quality  Surface water streamflow rates and surface water quality  Precipitation / rainfall

10. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Who Monitors 10  Federal Government – US Environmental protection Agency  State - Virginia Department of Environmental Quality  Local Government – Loudoun County, Soil & Water Conservation District  Citizen Groups – Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, Goose Creek Association, student groups and other Loudoun Watershed Watch Partners  Size of organization  Intensity of Monitoring

11. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring 11

12. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring  17 major watersheds  1,500+ miles of perennial streams  Bull Run and Cub Run drain south to Occoquan, all others drain N/E to Potomac. Watersheds (Where)

13. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring  Precipitation / rain  Stream flow  Groundwater levels  Groundwater quality  Stream assessment  Stream water quality +Volunteer data Monitoring Sites

14. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Precipitation 14 Real-time data at USGS

15. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Groundwater Level 15

16. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Streamflow 16 Real-time data at USGS

17. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Stream Assessment and Impairments 17

18. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Stream Impairments 18 "Not Supporting Designated Use" --> "Impaired" --> "Dirty"

19. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Assessment Cycle 19 Every two years Virginia Dept of Environmental Quality (DEQ) conducts water quality assessment

20. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring State Stream Monitoring 20 Over 100,000 water chemistry and bacteria analyses since 1990’s Over 100,000 water chemistry and bacteria analyses since 1990’s

21. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Stream (Impairments) 21 Aquatic Life Use - BenthicRecreational Use - Bacteria

22. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring 22 Based on a probability-based benthic survey at 178 locations more than 78 percent of streams are “stressed” or “severely stressed”. 2009 Stream Assessment Interactive map at www.loudounwatershedwatch.org/maps

23. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring 23 Benthic and Habitat www.loudounwatershedwatch.org/maps

24. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring 24 Benthic only

25. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring 25 Habitat Site

26. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring 26 Photo Popup

27. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Catoctin Watershed

28. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Citizen Volunteer Stakeholder’s Overall Contributions – 2005-2009 Citizen volunteer organizations have made a substantial contribution to the TMDL IP: Community Outreach and Education – publications, website, meetings, etc. = 1200 hrs volunteer time Riparian Tree Planting and Stream Clean-up Projects = 1500 hrs volunteer time Stream Monitoring – 90 sampling days, 970 samples, 1500 lab analyses = 1500 hrs volunteer time Recognition -- LWW/CWP received the 2007 Outstanding Organization Award from Virginia Citizens for Water Quality

29. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring 37 Livestock stream exclusion practices 14 Cover crop

30. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring 57 corrective actions 19 minor repairs 27 gravity field replacements 10 alternative drainfields 8 straight pipes eliminated Grant funds $550,000

31. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Lessons Learned – Stream Monitoring Volunteer citizen group can conduct stream monitoring for a TMDL IP Assessing trends or significant changes requires several years of data A monitoring program based on Coliscan Easygel costs $1200/year, and grant funds are typically available

32. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Nature Park 32

33. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring 33

34. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Events Family Stream Day – October (2002-2011) Earth Day at Loudoun April (2009-2012) Lucketts Potomac River Rangers

35. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring 35

36. Loudoun County Water Resources Monitoring Contact: David Ward (david.ward@loudoun.gov)david.ward@loudoun.gov Scott Sandberg (scott.sandberg@loudoun.gov ) Loudoun County Dept. of Building & Development 703-777-0220 Additional information is available at www.loudoun.gov/waterresources