Since we have made progress in the control of pollution that comes out of a pipe, pollution from non-point diffuse sources is today's greatest water quality problem. West Virginia’s first conference on non-point pollution was just completed in Charleston, West Virginia on October 1, 2, and 3. This kind of pollution occurs when rainfall, snow melt or irrigation runs overland or through the ground, picking up pollutants and delivering them to the stream system. The most common problem is sediment and nutrients that wash into streams from agricultural land, construction sites, and other areas of disturbance such as logging. Sediment from streams themselves such as bank and bottom scour is also considered non-point pollution. Leaking dysfunctional septic systems, settlement, and careless or uninformed households, are also sources.

Agricultural sources include confined animal facilities, grazing, fertilizer or herbicide and pesticide use, irrigation, plowing or harvesting. Agricultural activities can damage habitat and stream channels, but sediment to streams can be reduced 20%-90% by applying "Best Management Practices" - keeping the soil in place. Animal concentrations can produce quantities of manure far above stream and groundwater assemblative capacity. It can produce levels above legal health standards of phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium and other nutrients, as well as pathogens (viruses and bacteria). Again Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been carefully devised for this also.

Forestry professionals pioneered Best Management Practices for timber production and harvest. Households, too, have ways of reducing unfavorable impacts in the land by their location and design, and living habits.

Urban runoff is a problem as settlement expands into forested areas with impervious roads and roofs that causes high flow volumes to increase by a factor of four or five times. This erodes natural stream channels below, produces sediment, and produces a hydrologic overload on all structures below. The drainage control system is then destroyed by sediment accumulation in streams; and pipes, ditches and bridges can be washed out. Wetlands that would help relieve flooding by themselves flooding at high flows, are often drained and filled in the process of settlement. In clearing for development the tree canopy is reduced. Trees evaporate intercepted rain and snow, and by transpiration as tree roots take up soil moisture which tends to dry the soil. With abundant tree cover soil generally has more water storage capacity to take up the first part of a rain. Trees thus are important in reducing flooding.

Education of the public was considered by the experts from many fields as the first, most needed, and most profitable approach to these many nonpoint source pollution problems. Education may encourage a greater concern about the environment and community which then would make regulation unnecessary or more understandable if needed. Needed then are awareness of these problems; and education in the various BMPs by those engaged in forestry, agriculture, construction, and homeowners in general.

(We all know to turn off our lights when not needed, or use more fluorescent lights, to recycle, and to not waste water by using low consumption commodes and showers, etc.) It was noted that citizen volunteer efforts are useful in defining these environmental problems as a basis for action, and as a way to educate volunteers themselves, and in turn their community.

Agencies plan to coordinate programs better with each other -- sharing data, planning and programs, and using a watershed approach. All agencies plan to increase educational efforts, especially about Non-point Source Pollution.

There was much excellent literature available. There were 23 posters, and probably as many agencies and private groups that gave the roughly 50 talks. The D.O.H. had a very able representation to assure everyone that their sediment control measures were adequate, even enhancing the environment. Their attitude and competence was reassuring. Of course the recent recovery in some streams by liming mining’s residual acid seepage was touted by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Again good agency attitude was noted, and some real progress that they can take credit for was apparent. (However, there was no mention of mountain top removal.) Moreover, a superlative overview of mining in West Virginia was given that will be briefed in a later issue of The Voice.

DEP Director Michael Miano welcomed everyone and started the conference. State Forester Bill Maxey described West Virginia Forests as naturally renewable, and sustaining the present harvest. Maxey claimed that the Division of Forestry does educate, certify, and control loggers. The number of inspectors in the Division (106) is not sufficient to do the job, he stated, needing 11 more. In 1997 the Forestry Division suspended 271 operations with a loss of three million dollars to operators. They do mean business. They want the BMPs to work. He noted the great harm to site productivity and the damage to remaining timber by forest fires. He restated that if log roads are properly constructed, sediment will not be produced. (He failed to address the fact that increased flow from the site causes stream scour and sediment. This inherent problem with logging can not be easily solved by BMPs.)

DEP’s Water Resources described its many challenges to protect clean water and its uses. They made the meaning of nonpoint pollution clear: regional failure of septic systems, oil and gas roads, and other roads and other disturbances causing sediment, flooding and bank erosion from hydrologic modification by settlement, animal concentration and other agricultural practices, etc. Even Acid Rain was mentioned as causing "loss of buffering at high elevations." Persons from this agency count on riparian stream-side tree boarders, and on BMPs (voluntary or obligatory) to protect the environment.

DEP’s many programs were explained to encourage citizen partnerships in watershed protection and in goal setting. The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service did also. The Department of Natural Resources - Wildlife presented information about stream-side wooded boarders and wildlife.

The US Geological Survey gave very good technical papers on geology and water quality, and pollution of the Greenbrier Limestone via sink holes. Every aspect of nutrient management and their uptake by stream-side vegetation was explored in several presentations. (It was stated that the poultry problem can be solved, if the excess can be shipped to areas where it is needed, and producers are paid more for their products by the big poultry producers so they can afford these measures without having to rely on public funding.)

An exciting comprehensive watershed project is beginning on Knapps Creek of the Greenbrier in Pocahontas County where deteriorated channel quality has made this experiment a necessity. (There will be further reports on this.)

In passing, among many other valuable observations, the State Conservationist defended small flood control dams in spite of a sentiment against them. He said he knew they had done a lot of good -- that his agency (NRCS) had a proud legacy in them. (I think they should be proud, and that today we need more of them.)

Stream assessments by volunteers and agencies and the macroinvertebrates associated with streams, and other things were superbly covered. Mike Arcuri (DEP - Water) did macroinvertebrate index(s) of water quality, and Dr. Andy Dolloff (USFS) did riparian watershed history and wood in trout streams. Pam Moe- Merritt from the Rivers Coalition gave a talk on tools for grassroots organizations.

There were presentations on grasslands, and aquaculture. The restoration of badly polluted sites (brownfields) and the technology and programs associated with them were presented. Well plugging and control of new wells was described. The Public Health Service explained sewage regulation.

New initiatives like the President’s watershed "Clean Water Action Plan" was explained, as were new avenues of coordination between agencies and citizen partners in developing watershed plans. The State’s mapping and data gathering (GIS) program was described as were the services they now offer. (The Clean Water Action Plan will be reported in more detail. Letters to our Congressional delegates in Washington wouild be helpful to get the necessary funding.)

In addition to literature and individual handouts, there was a 3/4 inch thick compilation of talks.

There may be another conference next year. Attend if you can.