Shenandoah Forum urges DCR to adopt the proposed stormwater management regulations. Shenandoah Forum is a non-profit organization that promotes informed dialogue among diverse interests addressing issues of growth and development within Shenandoah County, Virginia.  Our mission is to ensure the county remains essentially rural, preserves a healthy environment, protects our natural and historic resources, promotes a sustainable economy, and provides a high quality of life for the people who live here.  

Shenandoah Forum fully supports the process DCR used to develop the regulations.  Throughout the three-year process DCR worked diligently to ensure input from technical experts, including engineers and economists, and key stakeholders, including homebuilders, environmental groups, and localities.

In recent years, progress has been made to reduce water pollution from agricultural activities and wastewater treatment facilities within the Shenandoah Valley.  However, these reductions have been offset by the increases in pollution from new development over the past ten years. The proposed stormwater regulations would require developers to join the agricultural community, industry and local governments in taking steps to reduce pollution in streams and rivers.  The proposed new regulations give local governments the means to control run-off and water pollution from land development to ensure that new development does not continue to degrade our local streams and drinking water.

Within the new stormwater regulations, Shenandoah Forum encourages DCR to create incentives so that new development will occur within the towns and not risk further loss of farmland and forestland.

Stormwater run-off from a poorly planned development can decimate a good fishing stream, harm drinking water sources, recreation and tourism, and even lower property values. It is critical that the regulations in place ensure growth and development do not degrade water quality in Shenandoah County for future generations. 

Again, we urge DCR and the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board to adopt the Virginia Stormwater Management Regulations.  With these strong regulations in place, the residents of Virginia can stand proudly behind these efforts to protect our rivers and streams, conserve healthy fisheries, help prevent damaging floods in our local communities and ensure clean drinking water to all of Virginia’s citizens.

Rosemary Wallinger

Shenandoah Forum

www.ShenandoahForum.org

info@ShenandoahForum.org