Resources

Water Quality Information Resources

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Culpeper Soil & Water Conservation District

http://www.culpeper.vaswcd.org/

Mission: To promote the stewardship of soil and water and the conservation of our natural resources by educating and providing technical assistance to manage, protect, and enhance the land and water for the benefit and enjoyment of the citizens of Culpeper, Greene, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock Counties.

These are some of the ongoing activities of the CSWCD:

• Administer the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMP) Cost-Share Program and administer the Virginia Agricultural BMP Tax Credit Program.  
• Provide technical assistance. Technical assistance and information is provided outside of the cost-share program to all organizations, businesses, county governments, and individuals when requested. Information is available on soils, aerial photography, topographic maps, ponds, water management and protection, wetlands, grazing management for conservation and profitability, stormwater control, and many related topics. 
• Host workshops, tours, field days, and provide educational programs and information to schools, the general public, legislators, and local governments. 
• Review erosion and sediment control plans.
• Make site inspections for member counties.

Virginia's Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)

http://www.dcr.state.va.us/sw/swintro.htm

Coordinates and directs programs and services to prevent degradation of the Commonwealth's water quality and quantity. DCR is the State's lead agency for developing and implementing statewide non-point source pollution control programs and services.

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)

http://www.deq.state.va.us/

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is dedicated to protecting Virginia's environment and promoting the health and well-being of the citizens of the Commonwealth.                 

Virginia Department of Health

http://www.vdh.state.va.us                                

Water-related activities are handled by the Division of On-Site Sewage and Water Services and the Division of Wastewater Engineering

Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries

http://www.dgif.state.va.us/

To manage Virginia's wildlife and inland fish to maintain optimum populations of all species to serve the needs of the Commonwealth; to provide opportunity for all to enjoy wildlife, inland fish, boating and related outdoor recreation; to promote safety for persons and property in connection with boating, hunting and fishing.

Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF)

http://www.vdof.org/info/index.shtml

VDOF is responsible for:Protection of 15 million acres of forest land from fire, insects and disease. Management of 14 State Forests and other state lands totaling approximately 50,000 acres for timber, recreation, water, research, wildlife and biodiversity. Assistance to non-industrial private forest landowners through professional forestry advice and technical management programs.

Check in particular http://www.vdof.org/wq/index-bmp-fguide.shtml for Virginia's Forestry Best Management Practices for Water Quality.

U.S. EPA water page

http://www.epa.gov/water/                         

The ultimate site for information and links concerning water in the U.S. 

EPA’s overall water related goal:

“All Americans will have drinking water that is clean and safe to drink. Effective protection of America's rivers, lakes, wetlands, aquifers, and coastal and ocean waters will sustain fish, plants, and wildlife, as well as recreational, subsistence, and economic activities. Watersheds and their aquatic ecosystems will be restored and protected to improve human health, enhance water quality, reduce flooding, and provide habitat for wildlife.”

U.S. EPA: Biological indicators of watershed health

http://www.epa.gov/bioiweb1/html/invertebrate.html

The presence, condition, and numbers of the types of fish, insects, algae, and plants can provide accurate information about the health of a specific river, stream, lake, wetland, or estuary. These types of plants and animals are called biological indicators.

National Atmospheric Deposition Program

http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/                                  

The National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN) is a nationwide network of precipitation monitoring sites. The network is a cooperative effort between many different groups, including the State Agricultural Experiment Stations, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and numerous other governmental and private entities.

U.S. Geological Survey

http://www.usgs.gov                                        

The Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment. USGS operates in every State.  The Water Resources mission is to provide water information that benefits the Nation's citizens: publications, data, maps, and applications software.  To accomplish this mission, the Water Resources Division, in cooperation with State, local, and other Federal agencies.

For real time data, see: http://va.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

http://www.fws.gov/

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a bureau within the Department of the Interior.  It’s mission is: “working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.”

The Fish and Wildlife Service administers a variety of natural resource assistance grants to governmental, public and private organizations, groups and individuals. http://grants.fws.gov/

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

http://www.nfwf.org/

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is a private, non-profit, 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization, established by Congress in 1984 and dedicated to the conservation of fish, wildlife, and plants, and the habitat on which they depend.  NFWF has approved a grant for RappFLOW.

Virginia Save Our Streams

http://www.sosva.com/

VA SOS trains and certifies volunteer water monitors throughout the state. Data collected by our certified monitors is sent to state agencies for use in water quality assessments. We are a nonprofit, non-governmental organization, and a project of the Virginia Division of the Izaak Walton League of America. We work with everyone from individuals to agencies to ensure that future generations inherit improved and protected streams, rivers, and estuaries across Virginia.

Virginia Forest Watch (VAFW)

http://www.virginiaforestwatch.org/home.html

A grass-roots based coalition of individuals and environmental groups organizing throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our mission is "to maintain and restore the natural ecology and biodiversity of woodlands across Virginia through education and citizen participation."

Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC)

http://www.pecva.org/                                     

The Piedmont Environmental Council is a 30-year-old non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the Piedmont's rural economy, natural resources, history and beauty.  PEC is a RappFLOW sponsor.

Friends of the Rappahannock

http://for.communitypoint.org/

The Mission of the Friends of the Rappahannock is to promote the conservation, protection, and enjoyment of the natural, cultural, recreational, scenic and historical values of the Rappahannock River and its tributaries.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

http://www.cbf.org/

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is the largest conservation organization dedicated solely to saving the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It is supported by more than 110,000 active members and has a staff of approximately 175 full-time employees. Approximately 95 percent of CBF's $20 million annual budget is privately raised.

Piedmont Research Institute (PRI)

http://www.piedmontresearch.org/

http://www.piedmontresearch.org/rappflow.html

The Piedmont Research Institute supports educators and community leaders in applying geospatial information technologies to real-world problems so that people can share, visualize, and analyze information and build knowledge together.  PRI is RappFLOW’s main partner and manages its web site.

Shenandoah National Park

http://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm  

The Shenandoah National Park lies astride a beautiful section of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which form the eastern rampart of the Appalachian Mountains between Pennsylvania and Georgia. The rolling Piedmont country lies to the east of the park.

UVA water quality page

http://wsrv.clas.virginia.edu/~swasftp/

Provides data and documents on water quality.        

Upper Rappahannock Watershed Stream Monitoring Project          

http://www.rappmonitor.va.nacdnet.org/

The Culpeper SWCD (consisting of Culpeper, Greene, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock Counties) and John Marshall SWCD (Fauquier County), in cooperation with the Rappahannock Conservation Council, have established a network of volunteers to conduct chemical and biological monitoring of streams  in the Upper Rappahannock River Basin. Volunteers are trained and certified to conduct monitoring that meets the requirements of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Rappahannock Conservation Council

http://www.rcc.va.nacdnet.org/

The Rappahannock Conservation Council facilitates and coordinates on-the-ground pollution reduction within the Rappahannock River Watershed.  The Council strives to create a forum for basin-wide cooperation, information exchange, and partnership building among local governments, civic groups, and SWCDs.  The Council is active with the implementation of the Tributary Strategy, identifying needs and issues to be addressed in order to achieve the reduction goals set forth in the Strategy.