2012 Rivanna Watershed Snapshot - Rivanna River Basin ...

2012 Rivanna
Watershed Snapshot
Rivanna River Basin Commission
801 W. Main Street, Suite 202 • Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: 434-971-7722 • www.rivannariverbasin.org

Welcome to the Rivanna Watershed
The 2012 Rivanna Watershed Snapshot is a summary of the health and current
conditions of the Rivanna River and its watershed.
The Rivanna River drains 768 square miles of land from its headwaters in the Blue Ridge Mountains to
its confluence with the James River at Columbia, Virginia. The Rivanna River is the largest tributary of the
James River upstream of Richmond, Virginia.
1
The Rivanna Watershed is 1/80 the size of the entire Chesapeake Bay
watershed. The James River is a major tributary of the Chesapeake
Bay, which is considered the largest estuary in North America.
There are 7 jurisdictions that have some or all of their land area within the Rivanna Watershed, including
the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, and Greene and
the City of Charlottesville. Nelson, Louisa, and Orange % of
Square
Jurisdiction in Jurisdiction Miles within
counties together comprise less than 3% of the Rivanna
Watershed
Watershed
Watershed.
100 Charlottesville 10
The Rivanna River Basin Commission
The Rivanna River Basin Commission (RRBC) was
created with the vision that the river and its watershed
can best be protected and conserved through regional
cooperation and by seeking solutions across political
boundaries. The RRBC members are the counties
of Albemarle, Fluvanna, and Greene, the City of
Charlottesville, and the Thomas Jefferson and Culpeper
Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Resource management decisions are most effective
when they are based on geography that is defined by
natural systems, such as watersheds.
68 Albemarle 494
59 Greene 93
51 Fluvanna 149
3 Louisa 14
2 Orange 7
< 1 Nelson < 1
What is a Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land from which all
water drains to a common waterway.
Other terms used for a watershed are river
basin or drainage basin.
Look for me, Snappy the Snapping Turtle, for important information
throughout this Snapshot. Snapping turtles are aquatic omnivores and
help keep ponds and streams healthy. We are also one of the
oldest living species, a true relic from the age of dinosaurs. For
reasons not well understood, snapping turtles are declining
in Virginia, so we have a lot at stake. A healthy and vital
ecosystem serves all of us in the Rivanna Watershed.
The Rivanna River joins the James River at Columbia, Virginia, about 50 miles upstream of Richmond.
Photo/Mary Porter

Our Watershed is Unique
The Nature Conservancy has identified the
Rivanna Watershed as one of the finest
remaining freshwater river and stream systems in
the Piedmont of Virginia.
The Rivanna Watershed has many unique features and important
designations, including:
• A higher percentage of healthy streams than most other areas in
Virginia, according to Virginia Commonwealth University.
• Designation of the Rivanna Corridor as an American Treasure by
the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the White House
Millennium Council’s Save America’s Treasures program.
• Many headwater streams originating in National Park Service
lands along the Blue Ridge Parkway and in Shenandoah National
Park.
• Designation of the Upper Doyles River as an Exceptional State
Water, home to brook trout and other cold-water fish.
• An elevation change of 3,400 feet, from 3,580 feet above sea level
in the Blue Ridge Mountains to 180 feet at Columbia, Virginia.
• Over 2,000 miles of permanent and seasonal streams.
• Approximately 4,250 acres of wetlands including agricultural
wetlands and ponds.
• Forest cover in over 70% of the watershed.
• Home to 11 species of freshwater mussels, including globally rare
James spinymussel, Atlantic pigtoe, and green floater.
• Approximately 165,700 people living in the watershed, with
population densities at the subwatershed level ranging from 10 to
1,685 persons per square mile.
• Many groups and individuals passionate about the Rivanna River
working to protect the water and natural resources here.
Many Rivanna headwaters begin on the eastern slopes
of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the interface between the
Appalachians and the Piedmont. Photo/Mary Porter
There is habitat in several Rivanna headwater streams for
the James spinymussel (Pleurobema collina), a globally
rare and federally and state endangered species. Photo/
USFWS
The Rivanna becomes a classic Piedmont river as it
winds past Carysbrook and through Fluvanna County.
Photo/Mary Porter
The wetlands in Greenbrier Park along Meadow Creek
help absorb flood (high flow) waters and pollutants such
as lawn fertilizer and oily wastes carried off nearby lawns
and streets. Photo/City of Charlottesville
The Rivanna Conservation Society
The Rivanna Conservation Society (RCS) was created in 1990 with the mission to safeguard
the ecological, recreational, historical, cultural, and scenic resources of the Rivanna River and
its tributaries. RCS hosts river paddles, river clean-ups, public education, teacher and student
education, and stream and watershed restoration projects. RCS works to keep the health and
protection of the Rivanna River at the forefront of our community’s environmental agenda.
Water is the most critical resource issue of our lifetime and our children’s lifetime. The health of our waters is the principal measure of how
we live on the land. –Luna Leopold, Hydrologist
2

Enjoying Our Watershed
§¨¦ 64
Shenandoah National Park
F
G r e e n e
Free Union
!Ô
!Ô
!¡
White Hall
F
Hollymead
A l b e m a r l e
!Ô
Crozet
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Charlottesville
F
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FF
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F
F
Lake Monticello
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Batesville
Legend
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F !¡
F!Ô
Streamside Trail
Public Boat Access
Significant Aquatic Resource
Waterway
Rivanna River Basin
Locality Boundary
Shenandoah National Park
!Ô
F
F
!Ô
Nortonsville
F
F F F
F FF
Stanardsville
Ruckersville
F
F
£¤ 29 £¤ 33 £¤ 15
Rivanna River
Cunningham
Palmyra
F
F
F
F
F
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F l u v a n n a
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Fork Union
Columbia
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0 2 4 8 12 16
Miles
The Rivanna Watershed provides abundant opportunities for recreation and
enjoying the outdoors.
There are many opportunities for fishing, hiking,
birdwatching, swimming, boating, and being in
nature and close to water:
• Over 170 miles of trails in the Rivanna Watershed,
including the Fluvanna Heritage Trail and Rail Trail
in Palmyra; Old Mills Trail in Albemarle; the Rivanna
Trail around Charlottesville; trails at Greene
County Community Park; and headwater trails in
Shenandoah National Park.
• 9 public boat launches, including 5 state landings
located directly on the Rivanna River, plus
numerous spots along tributaries for launching
kayaks and canoes.
• The 38-mile Rivanna River Water Trail for paddling
from from Darden Towe Park in Charlottesville to
the James River at Columbia, with 2 camping sites
along the way.
• 12 miles of wild trout streams; 8 miles of stocked
trout streams; and over 700 miles of perennially
flowing streams.
The removal of the Woolen Mills Dam in Charlottesville opened
up fish passage for shad and other species, as well as new
opportunities for recreation. Photo/Bill Emory
There are fish species of ecological or
economical importance (significant aquatic
resources) in 65% of the Rivanna streams
assessed by Virginia Commonwealth
University in 2010. Brook trout,
American eel, and smallmouth
bass are among the 49 species
of fish found in the watershed.
3
Trails and fire roads in Shenandoah National Park provide options
for walking, hiking, and running. Photo/RRBC
The lower Rivanna in Fluvanna County is broad and flat, with fishing
holes, sandy beaches, and the remains of historic mill dams to
explore. Photo/Mary Porter
No special equipment is needed to enjoy a neighborhood
stream. Photo/City of Charlottesville

Our Water Budget
Just like a bank account balance, the relationship between
water withdrawals, water discharges, and streamflow can be
viewed as a “water budget.”
We withdraw water from the Rivanna
Watershed for drinking and household
needs, commercial and industrial uses,
and irrigation for our crops and fields. Of all
permitted water withdrawals in the Rivanna
Watershed:
Million Gallons Per Day
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
Total Permitted Surface Water Withdrawals: (1984-2011)
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Water withdrawal permits in Virginia require maintaining
“beneficial in stream flow” for fish and other aquatic
resources. Photo/RRBC
At Sugar Hollow Reservoir, the Rivanna Water and Sewer
Authority (RWSA) releases water back to the Moormans
River to match seasonal variations for the benefit of the
downstream ecosystem. Photo/TJSWCD.
How Much is a
Million Gallons Per Day?
One million gallons per day (MGD) is the
equivalent of using the water from 1 ½
Olympic-size swimming pools per day.
• 97% to 99% is for public water supplies.
• 1% to 3% is for agricultural operations and
for irrigating golf courses.
We put water back into the Rivanna River
primarily through discharges of treated
waste from wastewater treatment plants,
which are permitted by the Virginia Dept. of
Environmental Quality (DEQ) and must meet
water quality standards. For those of us with
septic systems, our wastewater is treated
before the liquid diffuses into surrounding
soils. Water enters shallow and deep
groundwater reserves, much of it eventually
seeping back into streams.
Stormwater runoff from rain and snow also
finds its way to streams. Impervious surfaces
(our roofs, driveways, sidewalks, parking
lots, and roads) prevent the moisture from
soaking into the ground and recharging the
groundwater system.
A healthy water budget balances human
withdrawals and discharges and maintains
streamflow levels needed to sustain
aquatic life. Water conservation measures
help ensure that there is the right amount of
water flowing in area streams at the right time
to support biological life and human needs.
Permitted water usage during this period in the Rivanna Watershed has varied from
almost 10 MGD to just over 13 MGD. Source/Annual Records (2012) from Virginia DEQ
Million Gallons Per Day
Healthy Waters, Water Consumption
and Water Conservation
The relationship between human water consumption, the level of
water in streams, and stream health is affected by many factors,
including precipitation patterns, water conservation (especially
during dry periods), pumping of groundwater, and the amount of
runoff generated by impervious surfaces. Wise use of our available
resources can provide for our needs
and those of aquatic and terrestrial living organisms.
13
12.5
12
11.5
11
10.5
10
9.5
9
8.5
8
Monthly Permitted Withdrawals and Discharges (2008)
Discharges
Withdrawals
Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Monthly surface water permitted withdrawals and discharges are shown for a typical year
in the Rivanna Watershed. Note how water withdrawals increase during summer months
while at the same time, discharges from treatment plants tend to be less because water
used for irrigation increases consumption, but the water is not returned to streams via the
treatment plants. Data source: Virginia DEQ.
4

Living in Our Watershed
§¨¦ 64
Shenandoah National Park
G r e e n e
Nortonsville
Free Union
White Hall
A l b e m a r l e
Crozet
Hollymead
Charlottesville
Ruckersville
¯
Stream health is related intimately to how
we live on and use the land. As land use
intensifies from rural to urban, stream health
declines predictably.
The 2011 StreamWatch Land Use Study predicts stream
health based on the amount of forest and development
in the surrounding area. The study finds:
• Less forest and more impervious cover in the
Watershed over time lead to unhealthy stream
conditions.
Impervious cover such as roads, parking lots, rooftops,
and other hard surfaces strongly influence stream
health. Photo/TJSWCD
5
Batesville
Legend
Forest (71.6%)
Open Land (22.3%)
Water (1.1%)
Impervious (3.2%)
Forest Harvest (0.6%)
Orchard/Vineyard (0.4%)
Bare Earth (0.5%)
Golf Course (0.2%)
Locality Boundary
Rivanna River Basin
Shenandoah National Park
Rivanna River
£¤ 29 £¤ 33 £¤ 15
Lake Monticello
Cunningham
Palmyra
F l u v a n n a
Fork Union
Columbia
0 2 4 8 12 16
Miles
The 2009 Rivanna and Vicinity Map provides land use and land cover
data to 1-meter resolution based on 2009 aerial imagery. RRBC,
StreamWatch, and local government partners have used this imagery to
analyze land use and to better understand and determine policies that
could improve water quality in the Rivanna Watershed.
• Unhealthy (impaired) streams have less aquatic life,
more erosion along stream banks, and higher levels of
various pollutants, including too much sediment.
• Even relatively modest levels of land disturbance affect
stream health.
• More than half of the monitored semi-rural (or exurban)
streams fail the biological water quality standard.
• StreamWatch estimates that, within 20 years,
increased development in non-urban areas could
reduce the number of healthy streams by about 1/3.
• Many of our Rivanna streams are “borderline” and can
be restored to better water quality and maintained in a
healthier condition.
Impervious surfaces lead to higher stream flows which
in turn cause more erosion along banks that are poorly
stabilized. Photo/Center for Watershed Protection
Downstream in Fluvanna County, the Rivanna River
swells with sediment-filled flow. Photo/Mary Porter
An important aspect of watershed forest cover is the extent to
which trees and vegetation are immediately adjacent to streams
and rivers. A buffer densely vegetated with native trees and
shrubs, 35 to 100 feet (or more) wide, can intercept runoff
from adjacent lands and protect and stabilize stream banks.
StreamWatch in the Rivanna Watershed
StreamWatch is the local stream monitoring non-profit that collects water
quality data to support our community’s efforts to maintain and restore healthy
waterways. StreamWatch collects and analyzes data with help from citizen
volunteers and local professionals, and presents stream assessments and reports
to partners, planners, managers, elected decision-makers, and the general public.

The Health of Our Waters
§¨¦ 64
Shenandoah National Park
White Hall
G r e e n e
A l b e m a r l e
Crozet
Batesville
Free Union
õ
Nortonsville
õ
Legend
VA DEQ 2010 Assessment
Unassessed Waterway (Black)
Impaired Waterway (Red)
Meets VA Standard (Blue)
õ
USGS Streamflow Station
Rivanna River Basin
Locality Boundary
Shenandoah National Park
Stanardsville
õ
Hollymead
Charlottesville
Ruckersville
Rivanna River
£¤ 29 £¤ 33 £¤ 15
Lake Monticello
Cunningham
Palmyra
õ
F l u v a n n a
Fork Union
¯
Columbia
0 2 4 8 12 16
Miles
The Virginia DEQ has determined that 315 stream miles in the Rivanna do not
meet Virginia water quality standards.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
(DEQ) is responsible for assessing whether our
waterbodies meet water quality standards, for
one or more designated uses, such as fishing (the
aquatic or biological standard) or swimming (the
bacteria standard). Waterbodies that do not meet a
designated use are listed as “impaired.”
Based on draft 2012 data, Virginia DEQ reported:
• 192 miles are impaired biologically (do not support
aquatic life)
• 123 miles are contaminated by bacteria (based on
E.coli or fecal coliform indicators)
Only half of the perennial streams in the Rivanna
Watershed have been assessed by DEQ. Many
stream miles have more than one impairment.
Based on StreamWatch’s data collected over 10
years of monitoring in the Rivanna, about 70% of
streams in the Rivanna Watershed are impaired for
aquatic life.
In addition to monitoring for the aquatic life
standard, StreamWatch also monitors bacteria
levels in the Watershed. Of the 13 monitoring sites
in the Watershed, 7 are part of RCS’s Can You
Swim Here? program that assesses public health
concerns at popular swimming spots.
The StreamWatch long-term monitoring program provides Virginia
DEQ with significant amounts of high quality data that is used by
DEQ to help assess water quality. Photo/StreamWatch
The presence and types of macroinvertebrates (the larval stage of
aquatic bugs) indicates the health of streams. Flathead mayflies
(above) are generally found in cleaner waters. Photo/StreamWatch
Ivy Creek is one of the many streams in the Rivanna Watershed that has
too much sediment in the water after storms, reducing habitat for fish
and other aquatic life. Photo/StreamWatch
Excessive sediment (soil or dirt) is a major issue in the Rivanna Watershed because it smothers the
aquatic life in the stream bed and reduces water quality. Sediment also fills up our reservoirs, reducing
water storage capacity. Elevated levels of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) lead to excessive
growth of algae, decreased oxygen, reduced water clarity, and taste and odor problems in
drinking water supplies. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) samples water quality at a gauge
in Palmyra, Virginia, as part of the Chesapeake Bay monitoring network. Everything we
do to improve local water quality will also help the James River and the Chesapeake Bay
downstream from us.
6

Protecting Our Watershed
7
Shenandoah National Park
G r e e n e
Nortonsville
Free Union
Stanardsville
Ruckersville
¯
Water quality and natural resources can be
conserved and protected in many ways.
Private landowners and a variety of agencies work to protect
and conserve land in the Rivanna Watershed. Some land
protection mechanisms are permanent, while others are
temporary, or time-limited.
§¨¦ 64
White Hall
A l b e m a r l e
Crozet
Batesville
Hollymead
Charlottesville
£¤ 29 £¤ 33 £¤ 15
Conservation easements are a wonderful tool for protecting
land. They allow a landowner to give up certain rights (such
as the right to further develop the property), while retaining
others (the right to engage in agriculture, harvest timber, and
build a limited number of structures).
Protecting large tracts of forests benefits water
quality and helps maintain habitat for wildlife.
Photo/Mary Porter
Rivanna River
Legend
Federal Conservation Land
State Conservation Land
Local Conservation Land
Non-Profit Conservation Land
Private Conservation Easement
Lake Monticello
Cunningham
Palmyra
F l u v a n n a
Rivanna Watershed Protection
95,000 acres (20%) of the Rivanna Watershed has some form
of protection or is under a conservation easement.
A number of different entities manage or monitor these lands
to assure the intended benefits are achieved.
Rivanna River Basin Boundary
Locality Boundary
Shenandoah National Park
Fork Union
Columbia
0 2 4 8 12 16
Miles
Protected lands in headwaters and along the Rivanna River are
especially important. Source/Protected land records (2012) from Virginia
Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
A 100-foot wide stream side forested buffer, or
vegetated strip, can reduce 97% of sediment, 80%
of nitrogen, and 77% of phosphorus from
entering streams. Further analysis is
required to ascertain the quantity and
quality of the buffers located along
Rivanna streams.
Many individual landowners practice good forest and land
stewardship that helps protect the Rivanna River and the
Watershed.
From 2002 to 2012, the Thomas Jefferson and Culpeper
Soil and Water Conservation Districts have worked with
landowners in the Rivanna Watershed and
• Installed over 125 miles of stream fencing to keep
livestock out of streams.
• Planted or protected an estimated 640 acres of stream
side buffers on agricultural land.
Private landowners with horse and cattle operations,
pastures and row crops, vineyards, and other agricultural
activities have many tools for protecting soil and water.
Many management practices are partially subsidized by
state and federal cost-share programs.
Stream exclusion fencing helps keep farm animals
out of streams, thus reducing nutrient runoff, bank
erosion, and excessive sedimentation.
Photo/TJSWCD
Most easements include measures to protect water
quality for the public benefit, such as stream buffers
that keep livestock, soil, and nutrients out of the
river. Photo/Mary Porter

Managing Our Resources
Shenandoah National Park
White Hall
G r e e n e
A l b e m a r l e
Crozet
Nortonsville
Free Union
Stanardsville
Hollymead
Ruckersville
Rivanna River
¯
£¤ 33 Charlottesville
§¨¦ 64 Batesville
£¤
£¤ 15
29 Lake Monticello
Legend
Cunningham
! Urban Stormwater BMP
Palmyra
Urban Growth Areas
Waterway
F l u v a n n a
Rivanna River Basin
County Boundary
Fork Union
Shenandoah National Park
0 2 4 8 12 16
Columbia
Miles
The plants on this green roof at the University of Virginia capture rainfall
that would otherwise become stormwater runoff. The green roof also
helps reduce heating and cooling needs. Photo/UVa
-
Management practices are being used
across the Rivanna Watershed to treat
runoff from urban and agricultural areas.
Stormwater Best Management Practices
Private landowners and the counties of Albemarle,
Fluvanna, and Greene, the City of Charlottesville, and the
University of Virginia together treat stormwater runoff
from over 21,800 urban acres (4% of the watershed).
Private landowners and local governments help reduce
the impact of development projects on streams by:
• Installing stormwater management practices at public
sites wherever possible.
• Encouraging private urban stormwater management
practices through incentives and other financial tools.
• Planting stream side buffers where possible and
protecting and maintaining these buffers as land is
developed.
• Ensuring that streets and parking lots do not create
impervious cover in excess of that needed for safe and
orderly development.
• Limiting construction on steep (or critical) slopes,
especially adjacent to streams and creeks.
• Steering higher density development to Urban
Growth (or Development) Areas to help maintain rural
character and protect natural resources.
Pet Waste Management
In Moores Creek and other urbanized watersheds, one of
the main contributors to bacterial pollution is pet waste
from dogs and cats. As our domesticated pet population
grows, we need to manage pet waste properly
if we want clean water.
Greene County Community Park’s bioswale treats runoff
from parking and playing fields. Native plantings ensure
survivability during wet or hot and dry conditions.
Photo/RRBC
The rain garden at Smith Aquatic Center in Charlottesville
treats parking lot and roof runoff. Photo/City of
Charlottesville
Virginia’s new stormwater regulations
require local governments to develop
enhanced local programs for
reducing the quantity of
stormwater and improving the
treatment of stormwater
before it is discharged to
rivers and streams.
8

The Future of Our Watershed
We are fortunate to live in the Rivanna Watershed, where many of our
headwater streams are protected by National Park Service lands.
We have ample opportunities for recreation and enjoyment along the Rivanna River and its streams.
9
We have a high percentage of streams with diverse habitat and fish species.
Our local governments work to manage and protect our natural resources through innovative codes and
ordinances and by setting an example of stewardship on public lands.
Many landowners understand the ecological and economic importance of conserving land and water at
home, on farms, and at businesses.
Our Future
The actions we take today to restore our
impaired streams and to return our landscapes to
healthy ecosystems will benefit our human and
natural communities now and into the future.
Elected officials, local government staff, and citizens join an educational
tour of local stormwater projects to learn about new ways to manage
stormwater (above, Crozet wetlands project). Photo/RRBC
Stronger storms and longer periods of drought will require more robust
and flexible water resource management. Photo/RRBC
At the same time, over half of our assessed streams are degraded. Development results in more
impervious surfaces that, if not properly managed, are damaging to our streams.
We can improve the health of our watershed if we:
Better Information to Support Better Policies
We will make better decisions if we have better data on:
• The health of all the streams in our watershed.
• The location and density of stream side buffers.
• The status of our groundwater resources and its
projected level of use.
• The impacts of emerging pollutants
(pharmaceuticals, personal care products,
and polyciclic aromatic hydrocarbons) on
our streams.
• The effectiveness of older, existing
stormwater best management practices.
• Improve stormwater management parcel-by-parcel, from fields, homes, and businesses,
reducing damaging flows to our streams and increasing water resources for all.
• Identify and protect the landscapes that best protect river and watershed health.
• Improve forested stream buffers and systematically protect and restore these
natural defense systems.
• Use policies, incentives, and education to create a culture of watershed protection
in our community.
• Establish a water budget for all human and ecological needs and to inform water resource
planning.
• Monitor and plan for the impacts of changing weather patterns on our water resources
and natural systems.
• Develop tools for selecting the most effective and economical strategies for land
and water conservation.
• Continue to assess our progress with subsequent snapshots.
A river is more than an amenity...It is a treasure. It offers a necessity of life that must be rationed among those who have power over it.
–Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935), U.S. Supreme Court justice, New Jersey v. New York, 4 May 1931

A Roadmap and Tools for Working Together
roadmap and decision support toolkit can help identify the most cost
A effective and efficient strategies to guide our path forward.
The Rivanna River Basin Commission is developing the Rivanna Watershed Action Plan and Toolkit
for use by its member local governments, partners, stakeholders, and citizens to help inform and guide
Rivanna protection and restoration. The planning process will build on the information in this Snapshot
and provide a road map and tools for guiding our work in the Rivanna Watershed.
Working together, we can restore the Rivanna Watershed to support diverse habitats, provide the
ecological services we rely on, and provide waters that are fishable and swimmable for all our citizens.
RRBC thanks our partners for the collaborative support and information essential for completing
the 2012 Rivanna Watershed Snapshot.
RRBC Technical Advisory Committee
Collaborative support from Albemarle, Greene, and Fluvanna Counties and the City of Charlottesville
Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District (www.culpeperswcd.org)
James River Association (www.jamesriverassociation.org)
Rivanna Conservation Society (www.rivannariver.org)
Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (www.rivanna.org)
StreamWatch, Inc. (www.streamwatch.org)
Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District (www.tjswcd.org)
Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (www.tjpdc.org)
The Nature Conservancy in Virginia (www.nature.org/virginia)
University of Virginia (www.ehs.virginia.edu/ehs)
Funding and technical assistance were provided by
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund (www.nfwf.org/chesapeake)
Center for Watershed Protection, Inc. (www.cwp.org)
Preserving local farmlands can help protect water quality and maintain
the rural character we value in the Rivanna Watershed.
Photo/Greene County
The RRBC Technical Advisory Committee considers strategies informed
by credible science in order to make practical recommendations to the
Rivanna River Basin Commission. Photo/RRBC
Special Thanks
RBBC gives a special thanks to those individuals who contributed RRBC start-up funding, which has been
instrumental to the success of the early work of the Commission and for the completion of this project.
Photography: Bill Emory (www.billemory.com), David Harp (www.chesapeakephotos.com)
Cover photos: David Harp (left), Mary Porter (top right), RRBC (middle/bottom right)
Back cover photo: David Harp
Graphic Design: Down to Earth Design (www.d2edesign.com)
Data sources, references, and methodology used for this Snapshot are in the 2012 Rivanna Watershed
Snapshot Technical Report available at www.rivannariverbasin.org.
The long view from Carter’s Mountain to the Blue Ridge Mountains
provides perspective and understanding of how the land has shaped
our communities. Photo/RRBC
10

The Rivanna River Basin Foundation has been created by the Rivanna River Basin Commission, in accordance with its mandate
defined by the Virginia General Assembly. The Foundation accepts contributions and grants from private foundations and individuals
who wish to invest in the activities of the Rivanna River Basin Commission and partner organizations working
to protect, conserve, and restore the natural and water resources of the Rivanna Watershed.
Please visit www.rivannariverfoundation.org for details on how you can contribute and participate.
801 W. Main Street, Suite 202 • Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: 434-971-7722 • Fax: 973-201-7722
info@rivannariverbasin.org • www.rivannariverbasin.org