Local Government use of Instream Flow Studies Shenandoah River - Alison Teetor Natural Resource Planner Clarke County, Virginia

Local Government use of
 Instream Flow Studies
   Shenandoah River

           Alison Teetor
     Natural Resource Planner
      Clarke County, Virginia

Outline
   Background
   Why studies are important - Purpose
   What was learned
   How is information being used
   What could be done moving forward

Shenandoah River Watershed

Background
   1990 - Clarke and Warren Counties petitioned
    the Department of Environmental Quality to
    designate the Shenandoah River in Clarke and
    Warren Counties as a "Surface Water
    Management Area."
       • the stream has substantial instream uses;
       • records indicate that damaging low flows
         could occur;
       • current or potential offstream uses are
         likely to exacerbate natural low flows to
         the detriment of instream uses.

Why Important -Valuable Fishery
“Serious smallmouth anglers know the Shenandoah
River is one of the top smallmouth bass rivers in the
eastern United States” (VA Dept. Game & Inland Fisheries)

Why Important - Tourism
   Big money maker in Valley
   Economic health dependent on minimum flows

Why Important:
          Aquatic Ecosystems
   Fish depend on certain minimum flows, others
    depend on fish

Why Important - Industry

Why Important - Residential

Shenandoah Valley located near major
        metropolitan areas

Why Concerned:
    10 Year Population Projection

 Shenandoah Valley
  9% average increase

 4 of top 10 Agricultural
  Producers in Virginia

 Water demand high

                             * Top 10 Agricultural Producer

Supply and Demand in the North Fork
                       40
Maximum Daily Demand

                       30                                 Maximum
                                                          Daily
                                                          Demand
       (mgd)

                                                          Low Daily
                       20                                 Mean Flow
                                                          of Record

                       10

                       0
                       2000   2025          2050   2075
                                     Year

Regional Investment
   Main Stem Shenandoah River: 1995 to
    1999 280K
   North Fork Shenandoah River: 1999 to
    2004 400K
   South Fork Shenandoah River: 2004 to
    2011 700K
   Mainstem Shenandoah River Model Update:
    2011 to 2013 54K

Regional Investment
   Long term regional approach
   2 Planning Districts, 7 Counties, 4 Cities,
    numerous towns have all worked together
   20+ years and still going strong USGS
    partnership
   DEQ and General Assembly, Environmental
    Organizations
   Long term monitoring data essential
   Stream gage data vitally important

Purpose
Provide the counties and communities in the
Shenandoah Basin a better knowledge of the:
    water resources in the basin
   the regional hydraulic system

   the effect of withdrawals and conservation measures
    on the ecology, agriculture, industry, and water
    supply.

What are the Habitat Needs of Fish
                      in the Shenandoah River Watershed?

Non-game Fish                                        Game Fish

 River chub
 (www.fishbase.org)

 Cyprinella spp.
 (www.fishbase.org)

What are the Suitable Flow Ranges for Recreation
      in the Shenandoah River Watershed?

Benefits and Outcomes
    Shenandoah EcoFlows Studies (1995-2013)
   Field data collection coupled with
    habitat modeling to provide relevant
    recreation and ecological flow
    information for the Shenandoah
    River Watershed

   Select drought thresholds from
    science-based understanding of fish
    habitat needs.

   Test state-mandated “Water Supply
    Planning Initiative” water-use
    scenarios for impacts to aquatic
    habitat.

   Results can be used by DEQ for
    water supply planning

Shenandoah River Instream Flow
               Results
   A ‘tipping point’ below which habitat loss occurs in the lower part of the
    South Fork Shenandoah watershed was the 5% flow. For the upper
    portion of the watershed the tipping point was often 10% flow. The 7Q10
    is much lower than the 5% flow. Traditional flow statistics for drought
    planning (7Q10) are not protective of fish habitat.

   Timing of water withdrawals (or conservation) and preceding flow/habitat
    condition effects the magnitude of impact they have on habitat availability.

   During normal years, increased water use is not likely to correspond with
    habitat loss, but during drought years increased water use may cause
    extensive habitat loss

What are we doing:
    Uses of Minimum Instream Flow Data

 Local - Drought Response (current)
 State - Water withdrawal permitting (current)

 Regional - Offsite storage needs (future)

What are we doing:
      Drought Response Plan

   Drought Indicators
         Precipitation
         Stream flow
         Groundwater levels
         Palmer Drought
          Severity Index
          (PDSI)

What are we doing:
                Drought Response
   Incorporate low flow data
    in Drought Response

What are we doing:
           Drought Response Plan
   Stage levels

          Stage               Cootes Store      Mt. Jackson       Strasburg

         Normal              62% (>100 cfs)    37% (>120 cfs)   22% (>150cfs)
          Watch              62% (< 100 cfs)   37% (>120 cfs)   22% (>150 cfs)
         Warning              50% (

Watch
• Precipitation at or below normal for time period
• Stream Flow 10-25%
                               Warning
• Groundwater 10-25%           • Precipitation at or below normal for time
                                  period
                               • Stream Flow below 10%
                               • Groundwater below 10%
    Stage
                                               Emergency
  Declaration                                  • Precipitation at or below normal for time period
                                               • Stream Flow at or below 5%
                                               • Groundwater at or below 5%

Web Site Development
 Drought Awareness

Conclusion
   Natural Resources specifically water are of vital
    importance to regions economy
   Continuous research, data collection and analysis
    are critical to understanding this complex
    resource – DEQ water quality monitoring USGS
    stream gages
   Recommend incorporation of regional flow data
    in low flow metrics used to evaluate water
    withdrawal permits
   Initiate development of off-site water storage

Questions?
           Alison Teetor
     Natural Resource Planner
Clarke County Planning Department
          101 Chalmers Ct.
        Berryville, VA 22611
           540-955-5134
     ateetor@clarkecounty.gov