Friends of the Banister Watershed Protocol Development Page

Purpose:

1. To develop a regional guidance document to assist in the encouragement of rural piedmont communities to adopt a watershed management plan.  
2. To promote appreciation and pride of local waterways in the county.  
3. To encourage the understanding that good watershed planning equals effective and long-term development.

Watershed management in southern Virginia counties appears to be underrated, as compared to the more populated northeastern Virginia counties that are part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.  Perhaps watershed management is not included in a county’s comprehensive plan because 1) it's not state mandated and 2) the general belief is that a watershed management plan will include restrictions on development and additional costs and management.

This regional guidance document will be developed with the intent to create a subsidiary organization of the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA).  By creating the volunteer organization “Friends of the Banister”, the DRBA can assist Pittsylvania County in developing a watershed management plan and incorporating it into their county comprehensive plan.  By working together with Halifax County, Pittsylvania County can strengthen the community’s involvement and appreciation of the Banister River and its watershed.  

The Friends of the Banister Watershed Management Plan will be developed utilizing the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) document A Community Water Quality Approach: Local Watershed Management Planning in Virginia (http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil_and_water/documents/wshedguideb2b.pdf).  The plan will be streamlined to apply directly to the southern Virginia piedmont and Pittsylvania County.  The idea of the development of this plan is that it can be incorporated into any rural community watershed management plan.

Why focus on rural communities?  Rural communities in southern Virginia are often plagued by economic strife due to the loss of production and textile industries.  Uncongested populations, rural landscapes, and less sensitive ecosystems vital to commerce, results in less government oversight and policy.  As a result, watershed management is not on the forefront of county development plans.  These regions are scrambling to bring commerce back to their towns and cities.  To many, incorporating watershed management into the comprehensive plan of a town or county appears to add restrictions on development and potential industry.

An applicable watershed management plan will help ask the question: Will the potential industry at hand provide a long term solution or a short term boom and bust?  Will a paper or chicken plant supply the region enough capital to shift the tide of the economic downturn, or will it reduce the aesthetics of the area to dissuade a residential boon that would accompany a major industry moving into the area?  What would these industries mean for water quality?  All industry poses a threat to waterways if managed improperly, and while intentions may be good, industry and the state cannot be the only responsible parties ensuring the protection of the watershed.  

The watershed management plan can help direct county development in a direction that will ensure proper management of industry runoff and the implementation of best management practices that will work for the region and by doing so, may help attract the kind of industry that is best suited for the region and long term economic development.  

In addition, the plan may pose the question: Is industry the solution to the regional economic problem?  Are there other means of creating a thriving economic community?  Would increased recreational opportunities aid in the economic development of the region?  Would small scale sustainable farming operations aid in the economic and cultural development of the region?  

Pittsylvania County is largest county in land mass with a history rich in agriculture.  The watersheds in this county are diverse and expansive.  Expansive watersheds do not equate easy industrial development due to federal regulations protecting waters of the U.S. and wetlands.  Rather than expending countless dollars fighting regulation, perhaps a community could shift their focus to another method of development and strengthening their local economy.  It’s time to think outside the box and inside the watershed.

Watershed management in the southern Virginia Piedmont.

1. Where is the Virginia Piedmont?

Source: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/login/image/npregions.png

2) Where is Southern Virginia?

Source: Smithsonian Institution, Roots of Virginia Culture (http://www.folklife.si.edu/resources/2007Festival/VA_Signs/SFF07_VA_Intro_Map.pdf)

3) Where is the Banister River?

The Banister River begins in Pittsylvania County in Callands and travels east through Dry Fork, south of Chatham, traversing north of Java, then heads southeast into Halifax to Banister Lake and then southeast to the Kerr Reservoir.

The Banister River watershed is part of the Roanoke River Basin.  This basin traverses the state line into North Carolina and ends in the Albemarle Sound in Plymouth, North Carolina.

Source: US Geological Survey (USGS), Effects of Flood Control and Other Reservoir Operations on the Water Quality of the Lower Roanoke River, North Carolina (Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5101) 

Friends of the Banister Watershed Management Plan Outline:

1. Purpose (Identify the watershed)

1. Pittsylvania County is approximately 982 square miles
2. Approximately 87% of the County is forested or in farm production (PCP 2010)

1. 43% forest
2. 44% farm
3. expected to decrease with development

3. Remaining 13% is residential, commercial, industrial, public use

1. residential most prolific (PCP 2010)

4. The Banister River is approximately 65 miles long and traverses Pittsylvania County and Halifax County.  The headwaters of the river begin in Pittsylvania County.

1. includes the southern portion of the Town of Gretna
2. includes the entire town of Chatham (County Seat)
3. central to Pittsylvania County

2. Stakeholders (Identify what a stakeholder is)

1. Identify stakeholders (government, business, private, non-profit)

1. GOVERNMENT

1. County Planning Commision (identified districts in which the Banister River Watershed (BRWS) is located)

1. Tunstall District
2. Chatham-Blairs District
3. Callands-Gretna District
4. Banister District
5. Dan River District

2. County Board of Supervisors (include all of the BOS as they will vote collectively on issues brought before the County; highlight, or spotlight district supervisors in the BRWS)

1. Chatham-Blairs District
2. Tunstall District
3. Callands-Gretna District
4. Westover District
5. Staunton River District
6. Banister District
7. Dan River District

3. County Staff

1. County Administrator
2. Assistant County Administrator for Facilities and Operations
3. Assistant County Administrator for Planning and Development
4. Director of Economic Development
5. Director of Code Compliance
6. GIS Specialist

4. County Parks and Recreation
5. Pittsylvania Soil and Water Conservation District
6. Town of Gretna
7. Town of Chatham
8. County or State Farm Bureau
9. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

1. TMDL program

10. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

1. published “A Community Water Quality Approach: Local Watershed Management Planning in Virginia” of which this WSMP outline was designed after

11. Virginia Department of Health
12. Natural Resource Conservation Service

2. BUSINESS

1. Who are the businesses in the growth node areas identified in the Comprehensive Plan?

1. Chatham
2. Gretna

2. MapTech

1. Private firm hired by DCR to write “A Plan to Reduce Bacteria Sources in the Upper Banister River and Tributary Watershed”
2. Present and involved in stakeholder meetings
3. familiar with the Upper Banister River watersheds

3. PRIVATE

1. Hargrave Military Academy
2. Chatham Hall
3. Averett University

4. NON-PROFIT

1. Dan River Basin Association
2. Roanoke River Basin Association
3. Southside Bird Club
4. FFA

2. Roles and responsibilities

1. Plan Development
2. Plan Authorship
3. Plan Implementation

3. Participation

3. Vision for the watershed

1. Goals (set by the stakeholders and community) (Look to Comprehensive Plan to start this discussion).  Keep it simple - top 3 goals.  These goals cannot be listed until public meetings and hearing occur

1. Government goals

1. One (for example - list one from Comprehensive Plan)
2. Two (for example - list another from CP)
3. Three (for example - list another from CP)

2. Business goals

1. One (for example - Provide advertising opportunities at public access areas by donating funds to maintain and enhance the riverside watershed)
2. Two (for example - Improve stormwater runoff management from upgradient businesses)
3. Three (for example - Ensure water quality standards are met so organic tobacco and other farms can acquire certification)

3. Private citizen goals

1. One (for example - Improve water quality)
2. Two (for example - Provide public boat landings and fishing areas along the river)
3. Three (for example - Clean up physical blockage (i.e. downed trees, fences, etc.) within the river to allow for boating)

4. Non-profit organization goals

1. One (for example - Promote public education of water quality)
2. Two (for example - Provide fund raising efforts in the name of improving the Banister River to help pay for public boat access along the river)
3. Three (for example - Improve and maintain public access areas along the river to promote the bird and wildlife trail)

4. Current watershed status/evaluation

1. Assess and evaluate status of watershed

1. Existing data

1. Environmental Protection Agency
2. Department of Environmental Quality
3. Department of Conservation and Recreation
4. Dan River Basin Association
5. Other resources: http://yosemite.epa.gov/water/adopt.nsf/SearchAdopt?SearchView&Query=(03010105)

2. collect data

1. Volunteer organizations
2. Colleges/Universities

2. identify critical concerns based on data

1. Impaired waterways (state designation) (DCR - Upper Banister and Tributaries)
2. Point source pollution - VDH/DCR - straight pipes, pet waste (residential, kennels, vets, etc.)
3. Buffers - Ag & Industrial
4. etc.

5. Regulatory responsibility

1. County government / Board of Supervisors
2. State involvement
3. Federal

6. Establish Goals based upon watershed data

1. Short term
2. Long term

7. Strategy

1. Short term goal achievement strategies

1. Action plan
2. Responsible parties
3. Timeframe

2. Long term goal achievement strategies

1. Action plan
2. Responsible parties
3. Timeframe

8. Resources

1. Funding
2. Technical support
3. Limitations

9. Progress Benchmarks

1. Short term goal benchmarks
2. Long term goal benchmarks
3. Reevaluation methods and timeframes

10. Other Considerations

1. MS4 stormwater system locations and management
2. TMDLs
3. Scenic Rivers (portion of the Banister is a scenic river)
4. Watershed Roundtable
5. Tributaries

1. Naming tributary policy and planning

Management Plan Implementation Outline:

Key watershed information should be compiled and presented to participants prior to or during planning.  Key watershed information includes:

• existing baseline stream and riparian conditions
• existing regulations to protect or restore the watershed’s streams
• existing zoning and current land uses and impacts
• an analysis depicting future watershed land uses with full implementation or current zoning and predicted impacts to stream flows or water quality

After obtaining the available baseline data, data gaps will be identified.  Methods and organizations to use to fill the data gaps will be identified.

This information will be collected prior to implementation of the watershed management plan to establish a baseline of information for interested stakeholders to review.  The information will be provided in the form of a Fact Sheet no longer than 2-4 pages.

The Friends of the Banister Watershed Management Plan Outline will be edited and updated as information is obtained.  The initial goal is to provide a Table of Contents for the Plan.  A checklist will accompany the TOC and will be specific to the Banister River and the region.  Talking points and questions will be presented in the checklist to promote discussion with the stakeholders once identified.  A DRAFT Plan will be completed prior to submittal to the DRBA.  Upon consideration by DRBA, the DRAFT may be presented to the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors for review and approval.

Pittsylvania County Comprehensive Plan (Plan)

written in 1991, revised 2010

reading the Plan, the following are interests to include in development of the WSMP:

• the Plan seeks “to preserve the County’s natural resources and aesthetic quality” (1)
• The time to introduce and suggest the implementation of the WSMP could be during the revision period of the Plan

• It’s hoped that during the Plan revision, citizens will contribute, meetings and public hearings will be held

• The Plan lists 8 minimal requirements. #5 states: “The designation of areas for the implementation of reasonable ground water protection measures.”

• What is “reasonable”?
• What about surface waters?

• The Plan is to be “reviewed by the Pittsylvania County Planning Commission at least once every five years.” (4) The next review period is 2015.  Currently there isn’t any information on a review by the Planning Commission.  If the 2015 date is missed, then the WSMP can be developed and a draft written in time for the next review of the Plan in 2020.
• Community Goals: Goal #3: “To promote the preservation of the natural and cultural environment for present and future residents of the County.” (9)
• Chapter 2 provides a general overview of the Natural and Cultural Environment in Pittsylvania County (for reference for the WSMP)
• “Protecting the environmental quality of the county’s surface water sources is an important objective for the County to pursue.  Both point, and nonpoint sources of pollution can contribute threats to water quality, with agricultural runoff, development related sedimentation, and impervious surface runoff contributing most of the potential contaminants.” (7)  “It is very important that land development, as well as agricultural and forestry activities, be undertaken with an understanding of the importance in protecting the County’s watersheds.  In identified water supply source areas, conservation zoning and effective erosion and sediment control practices are particularly important.” (8)

• Without appearing to attack the County, it is imperative to utilize their own words to promote the need for the WSMP.  How are they specifically going to implement these ideas without having a direct plan for watershed protection?  Each planning group, ordinance, proposed plan, etc. will need to be able to reference to the WSMP.  

• Floodplains: The floodplain map provided in the Plan illustrates the centrality of the Banister River and its flood zones.  The Banister River is the central waterbody in Pittsylvania County and should be a focal point for the County to preserve and maintain the water bodies central to the County.  
• Mineral Resources: DMME has a plethora of water quality data at various points on the Banister River and its tributaries near the Coles Hill deposit.  The data can be obtained through FOIA and can provide baseline data for water quality in that area.
• Forest Resources: “forestland is being converted due to land development to accommodate population growth.” (12)

• This section needs to be re-addressed as population growth is projected to stop and a decline is projected (reference Solid Waste Management Plan and US Census).  Forestland is being depleted to logging and logging practices need to be addressed here to ensure buffers to waterways.

• Agricultural Resources: Pittco one of the “top agricultural producers in the state.”(14) 9th in the state overall

• #1 in Flue-cured tobacco
• #3 Burley tobacco
• #4 Hay
• #4 Milk/dairy
• #6 cattle/calves
• #8 poultry pullets
• “Both timber harvesting and farming activities have the potential to produce non-point source pollutants that can contaminate ground and surface waters, and increase sedimentation in streams and lakes.  These two activities are exempt from local control under the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control law.  There are other state and federal regulations that are designed to reduce this non-point source pollution and the County should support these programs to create vegetated buffers and the use of other best management practices.” (15)

• What are these other regulations and why aren’t they identified in the Plan?

• Chapter 2’s Goals, Objectives and Strategies:

• Goal #1: “To protect and enhance the natural environment.” (21)
• Objective #1: “Protect and enhance the County’s surface and groundwater resources.” (21)

• Strategies:

• 1) “Promote, encourage, and develop policies to provide incentives for the use of low impact development techniques.” (21)

• What are these policies?
• What are the incentives

• 2) “Continue to enforce the County’s erosion and sediment control laws.” (21)

• How are these enforced?
• What are the penalties if not enforced?

• 3) “Evaluate all new development partially on the basis of its impact on water resources.” (21)

• What is the evaluation guidance?
• Who is in charge of evaluation?
• What is an example of a current development where comments were issued for water resource impacts?

• 4) “Develop policies to enhance the protection of wetlands and groundwater recharge areas on property proposed for development.” (21)

• Have these policies been developed yet?

• 5) “Review and revise ordinances as necessary to provide adequate area for septic systems and to protect ground and surface waters from sewage contamination.” (21)

• Has this been done?
• DEQ has identified the Banister and its tributaries as impaired waters likely due to sewage.  Has anything been done to remediate this?
• river floats to id straight pipes
• voluntary straight pipe removal programs
• BMPs at farms

• 6) “Continue to enforce the floodplain management ordinance and promote protection of floodplain areas” (21)

• What does the floodplain management ordinance entail?
• Who and how is it enforced?

• Objective #3: “Protect and enhance County’s visual resources.” (22)

• Strategies:

• 1) “Develop tree protection policies to encourage preservation of mature trees and tree clusters during development activities

• What are these tree protection policies?
• These policies will also aid in the watershed and water quality protection plan and can be included in the WSMP

• 2) “Promote and encourage low impact land development practices that reduce land clearing and grading operations and maintain natural drainage patterns.” (22)

• How is it promoted and encouraged?
• Again, assists in watershed and water quality protection plan

• 3) “Promote reasonable landscaping requirements for new development projects.” (22)

• What is reasonable?
• What are the requirements?
• How are they enforced?  

• 5) “Support the use of conservation easements to protect and preserve open space, agricultural areas and environmentally sensitive area where such uses are compatible with the Future Land Use Map.” (22)

• How often are conservation easements implemented?
• Where?

• 6) “Require strict adherence to environmental protection regulations associated with land development and mining operations and assure bonding guarantees for land reclamation and environmental remediation.” (22)

• Okay!

• Parks and Rec should have a Recreation Master Plan that will be incorporated into the Plan - has this or will this be done? Is this RMP even in existence?
• Economic Development:

• Objectives:

• #2) “Enhance the long-term visual attractiveness of the County’s major commercial corridors.” (9, chapter VI)
• #3) “Increase visitation and tourism to Pittsylvania County.” (9)

• People don’t come to tour industrial parks, they come to recreate - via bike, foot or boat.  All three of those recreations can be enhanced through a WSMP.

• #7) “Encourage creativity in the design of economic development project.”

• Creativity isn’t always the cheapest route.  Creativity sometimes has to be forced (if not heavily encouraged).  A WSMP can help direct what development should be doing, regardless of cost.  Look to our northern neighbors development restrictions and their retention of business. Requiring creative development is a good way to weed out the impostors and short term investors (this region has quite a history with impostors and short term investors - costing the city and the county millions of dollars)

• Strategies:

• 6) “Require landscaping and, to the extent practical, the preservation of existing trees and vegetation in all new economic development and redevelopment.” (10)

• A WSMP can help require, or direct, engineers, architects and other developers to look at the site and design based upon existing site conditions that would be enhance and protect the development area utilizing existing conditions as best as practicable.

• 7) “Participate in the development of events and facilities designed both to bring visitors into the area during the shoulder seasons or off-season and to encourage visitors to remain longer” (10)

• WSMP can help develop these events and facilities

• 8) “Actively work with regional entities and local colleges and universities to develop and promote regional strategies and plans that will benefit the economic well being of Pittsylvania County.” (10)

• By bringing in these entities and colleges/universities as stakeholders, or to provide guidance and volunteers, the County can promote the region

• Transportation: Deficient Bridge Structures

• Several bridges in Pittsylvania County were identified by VDOT to be in need of repair.  The featured intersections of bridges over streams was of interest.  The WSMP could utilize the bridge repair needs to incorporate some of the Plans objectives of improving aesthetics, providing buffers and creating recreational opportunities, while protecting the watershed.

• Identify bridges intersecting streams in the BRWS (see table and map)
• Develop a scenic bridge to waterway plan to be implemented with each bridge replacement

• The area can be evaluated for pre-existing conditions, stream channel and reach associated with the bridge, proposed enhancements to the channel and buffers, and any recreational opportunities to go with it (parking, boating, fishing, hiking, biking, bird watching, etc.)
• Identify sections between bridge replacements that may offer good boating and fishing to plan boat put-ins/take outs, fishing access
• Volunteers/schools/colleges could be used to gather data and plan improvements
• Could offer local businesses/private citizens the opportunity to donate for development and maintenance (advertising)

• Virginia Roadways in Use for Birding Trails

• This section of the Plan discusses local, regional birding roads and trails.
• The County needs to view the watershed(s) as regional as well, and that it doesn’t stop at the county line.
• A WSMP will help promote the birding trail and could enhance and enlarge the birding opportunities (see map)

• Scenic Roads

• This section lists several scenic roads in the County

• ID road locations and how they fit in the BRWS
• This section can be addressed in the WSMP as areas to focus on to promote tourism statewide - scenic roads are on maps distributed by the state for tourism

• Bikeways, Trails and Pedestrian Facilities

• What is the status of the Bicycle Plan?
• The WSMP can incorporate the Bike Plan and promote focal areas incorporated with the bike plan to further promote tourism.  It will help prioritize areas to focus on (as will the scenic roads, and birding trails) (see map)

• Source of Funds: Enhancement Grant Program

• This section of the Plan discusses VDOT grants.  It should be emphasized in the WSMP that the more integrated a program/plan is, the more encompassing of function, aesthetics, recreation, tourism and education, the more likely it will be awarded a grant.  The WSMP will help integrate all of these into development plans.

• Project #4 - Bridge Replacement and approaches of Sugartree Creek on Rte 853 is scheduled for 12/2015 - this could be a pilot program for the WSMP for bridge to stream enhancement discussed above.  If this is implemented before the WSMP is adopted, then the next stream/bridge replacement identified in the 2020 Plan could be used.
• Chapter VIII - Land Use Growth and Management

• “Future residential, commercial and industrial development should be encouraged to locate in the designated growth areas of the County where adequate public services are available or planned.  Development that does occur in the rural agricultural and forestal portions of the County should be designed to incorporate significant open spaces and minimize environmental impacts on the County’s land, air and water resources.” (p10)

• The WSMP can outline what these design options should be at a minimum so developers can have guidance

• “It is important to maintain a balance between development and preservation objectives throughout the County” (p. 10)

• The WSMP can help create and establish that balance

• “Any additional regulatory approaches to land conservation should be pursued in conjunction with an educational and programmatic approach.  Such an approach would encourage property owners to limit development on such properties, and offer incentives for appropriate conservation and environmental design.” (p.10)

• The WSMP can outline the additional regulations, identify the educational components and organizations to use/refer to/seek assistance from.  And the WSMP can identify the development limitations and identify the incentives specific to the County.

• Programs & Incentives identified in the Comprehensive Plan:

• Land Use Taxation
• Cluster Development
• Agricultural and Forestal Districts
• Conservation Easments

• Land Use Goal #1: “To achieve a balanced land use system that provides sufficient and compatible land areas for all community land use needs, while protecting sensitive natural environments and important local historic and cultural resources.” (p.21)
• Land Use Goal #1, Objective #3: “Enhance the rural and environmental character of the County through the preservation of agricultural and forestal lands, wetlands, flood hazard areas, and steep slopes.” (p.22)

• Strategies:

• “Promote opportunities to educate property owners on the benefits of conservation site design.” (p.22)
• “Adopt a local agricultural and forestal district ordinance as a first step in establishing agricultural and forestal districts in the County.” (p.22)
• “Support efforts of conservation organizations and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation to acquire and provide stewardship for locally obtained conservation easements where such land conservation and preservation is compatible with the Future Land Use Plan and approved by the Planning Commission.” (p.23)

A Plan to Reduce Bacteria Sources in the Upper Banister River and Tributary Watersheds

2011, MapTech, Inc. for Virginia DCR

Impaired Banister River watersheds = Impaired for E. coli

• Bearskin Creek
• Cherrystone Creek
• Stinking River
• Whitehorn Creek
• Lower Banister
• Upper Banister
• Sandy Creek

• addressed in separate report not found

The upper Banister river is 11.67 miles

Impaired: “Do not meet the primary contact recreation standard which is designed to protect human health and reduce the risk of illness or infections when swimming or splashing in the water.”

The plan calls for 2 staff members at $50,000 / year each

1. Implement Agricultural Plan
2. Implement Residential Plan

The County could hire these 2 employees to first implement and maintain the TMDL and then the WSMP as needed.

TMDL Plan Stakeholders Included:

• Pittsylvania County and residents/citizens (landowners, businesses)
• Town of Chatham
• Town of Gretna
• DEQ
• DCR
• VDH
• NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service)
• Pittsylvania County Soil and Water Conservation District
• MapTech, Inc.

Public Participation in the Plan Development included:

• 2 public meetings
• 2 meeting of Ag and residential working groups
• steering committee meeting

Issues discussed included:

• straight pipes
• livestock

BMPs for AG:

• Livestock exclusion
• pasture management

BMPs for Residential:

• septic (human and pet)

Monitoring stations are already established by DEQ.  They have stated that there is currently no volunteer monitoring, but I’m guessing they’ll accept volunteers

Utilize Figure 12, Table 18

Page 20 for usable quote

This plan identifies possible funding and grants - federal, state, local, ag

This plan provides a list of contacts