Word on the Water

Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper

In this issue

VA Department of Environmental Quality Comes to the Shore ........ 2

Healthy Soils, Clean Waters ........ 3

Next Steps for Poultry on ESVA ... 4

Crab Season is Here .................... 5

Also inside

• Upcoming Community events

Welcome to the Shorekeeper Newsletter

Happy Spring Eastern Shore of Virginia! With Spring comes new beginnings and we are thrilled to

welcome you to Word on the Water, a newsletter from Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper that will keep

you up to date with issues impacting our Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Waters, and Creeks. You will also

find upcoming educational events, and opportunities to take action for our waters and community.

This newsletter is the very first and with each and every issue we want to make this letter more

informative and helpful to each of you who also care deeply about the health and well-being of our

waters here on the Eastern Shore. To better serve you we invite you to contact us at

info@shorekeper.org with topics you would like to see discussed and upcoming water related

events for our calendar.

Thank you for being champions of our waterways. With your help we will preserve, protect, and

enhance our Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay waters for generations to come. See you on the water!

- Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper

Help Tell the Shore’s Story at the People’s

Climate March

Here on the Eastern Shore Climate Change is not a hypothetical, but rather our daily reality. Rising

sea level impacts many parts of the Shore and ocean acidification threatens the long-term outlook of

our shellfish industry. Our region has some of the most at risk coastal communities in the country

but curbing the causes and developing mitigation strategies requires a national and international

focus. As priorities shift in Washington D.C. we need to ensure that our story is heard loud and clear.

To that end, Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper is excited to be joining local partners, and the Internation-

al Waterkeeper Alliance on April 29th for the People’s Climate March in Washington D.C.

This historic event will bring together persons from around the country and the world to call upon

our national leaders to take decisive action on Climate Change now. We are working with local part-

ners to provide transportation from the Eastern Shore and we hope you will make plans to come

represent the Eastern Shore.

Please join us for what will be an inspiring day standing up for our home, our waters, and our planet.

To RSVP please email Claire Poole at clairepoole@gmx.com and include your phone number OR call/

text her at (757) 651-1342 and include your email. Sign up today!

4.4.2017 Volume 1, Issue 1

VA Department of Environmental Quality Visits the Shore

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SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR

ANNUIAL CLAMBOREE

Saturday August 19th at 5pm we will be having our annual Clamboree at the Eastern Shore Country Club. Mark your calendar now for a wonderful time with all you can eat fresh local clams, live music from ‘Double Booked,’ dinner, craft beer tastings, a won-derful silent auction, a live onsite painting by Willie Crockett, and much more. Tickets are available at www.shorekeeper.org. Get yours now for the early bird discount!

Last week, Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper was proud to host the new Regional Director,

Craig Nicol, and the Director of Operations, Jeffrey Steers, from the Virginia Department

of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The purpose of the visit was to learn about the unique

industries on the Shore that depend on clean water and to explore some of the potential

threats to our water quality.

We started the day at the H.M. Terry Company hatchery in Willis Wharf where they

learned about the process of raising shellfish from seed and spat in order to get them

ready to mature in waters all over the Eastern Shore. The majority of clams grown on the

Eastern seaboard start right there in Willis Wharf and depend upon clean water from

Parting Creek and the Machipongo River to survive. In one little town they could see

clearly the vital importance of clean water to our economy all over the Shore.

Next we brought our visitors to the construction site of a new poultry growing operation

in Pungoteague. Here they could see firsthand the scale of the new operations being

constructed around Accomack County. DEQ staff graciously answered questions from

citizens, and advocacy staff that joined us onsite. They walked us through the next steps

they will be taking on addressing groundwater withdrawal and explained differences

between permits to residents looking for additional clarity.

We ended the day at Nandua Oyster Company where they could enjoy oysters they had

seen as larvae under a microscope just that morning. We also took a boat up Pun-

goteague Creek and into Taylor Creek where we were able to give them a firsthand view

of the watershed downstream from the construction site we had just visited.

DEQ left with a better understanding of our critical aquaculture industry, emerging

threats to our waters, and most importantly the Director of Operations had his very first

oysters. We look forward to working with them to protect and enhance the waters of

Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Healthy Soils, Clean Waters

Did you know that healthy soils act help clean up our waters? Healthy soils cycle nutrients more efficiently, they

retain more water, buffer potential pollutants, and can even help fight climate change by sequestering carbon.

With all the benefits quality soil provide we are excited to announce the ‘Healthy Soils, Clean Waters’ education

series for 2017.

Throughout the year, we will be bringing speakers to the Shore that are researching and experimenting with

new agricultural techniques and best management practices to increase soil health with a focus on carbon con-

tent. As our soils grow more robust our farms become more profitable and our waters cleaner providing a win

all around for the Eastern Shore.

We will also be exploring the potential for Carbon trading markets. These markets would provide an additional

incentive for our farmers who work to make their soil healthy by letting them trade credits for the carbon they

sequester on an open market. These markets are already up and running in countries around the world and in

parts of the United States providing farmers a way to monetize work that benefits our lands and waters.

The first event is titled, ‘Digging into Healthy Soils and Carbon Farming,’ and will be held on April 27th at 1pm.

This will be a webinar so you can attend from anywhere with an internet connection. The event is being co-

hosted by Chesapeake Foodshed Network, The Town Creek Foundation, and the Harry R. Hughes Center for

Agro-Ecology. The speakers will be Dr Sara Via of University of Maryland, who works on Climate Science for

Farmers and the Connections between Healthy Soils, Healthy Food, and Healthy Planet and Jay Ford, Executive

Director for Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper.

You can sign up for the webinar at https://chesapeakefoodshed.net/index.php/vcoffee-talk-webinar-series-

learning-and-connecting-for-action/.

We look forward to exploring our soils and their connection to clean waters with you this year. We will make

announcements as each event is scheduled, so stay tuned to www.shorekeeper.org

3

A 2007, court ordered study of just 2 poultry houses found that they emitted over 10 tons of ammonia in a single year. These emissions are currently unregulated

and unaccounted for in our Chesapeake Bay clean up plan.

Next Steps for Poultry on ESVA

4

One year ago, Accomack county passed a new set

of regulations pertaining to the poultry industry

after a tumultuous public debate. Citizens raised

concerns about impacts to water and air quality,

property values, and the loss of quality of life. The

measures that eventually passed were more re-

strictive than the past code but left many concerns

unaddressed. At the time, citizens were told we

needed to rush the measures through to be pre-

pared for the volume of new permit applications

anticipated. One year later, we have seen no

movement from either the planning commission or

the Board of Supervisors on the lingering concerns

from Eastern Shore citizens.

Now is the time for Accomack to take the next

steps and finish the job started last year.

The zoning code still does not have prohibitive

setbacks around schools, parks, medical facilities,

and senior care facilities. Our children and elderly

populations are at increased risk from air emissions

from these facilities and should be protected as

such. Establishing these setbacks would provide

safeguards for our most vulnerable citizens as well

as our poultry operators who care about the well-

being of their neighbors.

Another outstanding issue is sitiing these facilities

based on the location of people’s homes instead of

their property lines. An individual in an agricultural

has a right as property owner to have their land

boundaries respected. Setbacks for grow opera-

tions need to recognize the rights of pre-existing

homes by being based on property lines. Denying

homeowners the right to clean air on their own

land is clearly a violation of their property rights

and needs to be amended to match the 500-foot

setback protections given to residential communi-

ties.

The Eastern Shore Health Director made clear that

there is a potential for health impacts at least up to

500 feet and our zoning needs should be amended

to reflect this public health reality.

At the state level, it is also time to for Virginia to

start addressing dated aspects of the code that are

leaving citizens feeling confused and concerned

about the impacts from these facilities.

In 2007, a court ordered study of just 2 poultry

houses found they emitted over 10 tons of ammo-

nia in a single year. These emissions are currently

unregulated and unaccounted for in our Chesa-

peake Bay cleanup plan. Addressing this gap should

be a top priority for Virginia’s Department of Envi-

ronmental Quality (DEQ) as these emissions have

impacts on health and human welfare as well as

our waters.

Another area of concern pertains to groundwater

withdrawal. Currently ,not a single poultry grow

facility has a groundwater withdrawal permit. This

leaves our community unable to adequately model

impacts to our delicate sole-source aquifer. The

permits are not burdensome for the growers but

would give our community and DEQ needed infor-

mation to protect our drinking water supply.

On April 18th DEQ will be offering free assistance

to those who may require a withdrawal permit at

the Community College from 1pm-4;30pm. We are

hopeful operators will take advantage of these free

services to start filling an information gap in our

groundwater modeling here on the Eastern Shore.

Finally, the Delmarva Land and Liter challenge

(DLLC) workgroup will be releasing their report

shortly that will give localities additional infor-

mation on the amount of manure the Shore can

sustainably handle. We will then have a science

based tool to help Virginia’s Eastern Shore avoid

the environmental consequences our neighbors to

the north brought on through excessive application

of poultry liter.

We obviously have some ways to go to ensure our

poultry industry is truly sustainable but each of

these items is a piece of the puzzle we need to

solve as a community.

Shorekeeper will continue our work getting in-

creased water quality monitoring, studying impacts

on clean water businesses, and enforcing our ex-

isting environmental regulations but it is time for

our elected leaders, poultry industry, and citizens

to come together and lay out a plan for long term

sustainability. The Eastern Shore of Virginia can be

a national leader on sustainability for this industry

if we so choose. Lets get working to make sure

that happens.

Crab Season is Here, Let’s Protect Our Terrapins Crab Season is upon us and many are already enjoying the delicious Blue Crabs that call our region home, but did

you know that those same crab pots can also endanger the lives of the Diamond Back Terrapin?

Crab pots that go unmonitored for some time or that are left in the creek can serve as traps for the Diamond

Back Terrapin who often climbed inside and sadly drown. However, with a simple device known as a Turtle Ex-

cluder Device or TED (pictured above) Terrapin are kept out while crabs can get in.

Shorekeeper unfortunately comes upon derelict crab pots often with deceased Terrapin inside and last year

decided that it was time for action. Working with our Senator and Delegate here on the Eastern Shore we

helped get new legislation passed that changes the licensing for recreational crabbing. Now when you obtain a

recreational crab license you have a choice; do you want to protect terrapin or not? By installing a TED you save

$10 off of your license fee and you get the piece of mind that your pots are only catching crabs.

These devices have been required in other states along the Atlantic for some time now so we can happily report

that these devices do not impact your crab harvest at all. In fact, Maryland has reported that pots equipped with

a TED may actually catch more crabs! Also, since implementation they have seen Terrapin numbers rebound in

creeks where they have not been present for sometime. A few years from now we hope that many of Virginia’s

creeks can boast the same.

Since the passage of this legislation last year we have provided hundreds of these devices to folks around the

Chesapeake Bay region and as we would love to help you get these devices on your pots as well. Simply send us

an email at info@shorekeeper.org with the subject line, “TED,” or as always you can call us at 757-971-2600.

Please spread the word to others who might need TED’s as well. The terrapin will thank you.

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• April 8th- 1-4:30pm, Citizens Climate Lobby Hampton Roads Climate Advocacy Training,

Brock Environmental Center, 3663 Marlin Bay Drive, Virginia Beach, VA, 23455

• April 11th– 7pm, Northampton Board of Supervisors Meeting

• April 18th– 10pm, Eastern Shore Groundwater Committee Meeting, Accomac

• April 19th– 5pm, Accomack Board of Supervisors Meeting

• April 22nd, 2nd Annual Earth Day Celebration, 3364 Main Street, Exmore, VA

• April 22nd -9am-4pm , Nature Conservancy Open Farm Day at Brownsville Preserve

• April 22nd, Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust 10th Annual Oyster Roast, http://

www.veslt.org/ for tickets

• April 27th– 1-2pm, Digging into Healthy Soils and Carbon Farming Webinar

• April 27th— CBES Annual Meeting at the Island House, Dinner at 6, Meeting at 7

Upcoming Events Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper

Our Mission is to Preserve, Pro-

tect, and Enhance the waters of

Virginia ‘s Eastern Shore through

Advocacy, Education, and

Enforcement.

To Report a pollution, fish kill,

algal bloom, or marine debris

event on our coasts or waterways

contact us by email at

info@shorekeeper.org or call us

at (757) 971-2600.

Become A Member of Shorekeeper Today !

Your support allows us to continue Protecting, Preserving, and Enhancing the Waters of

Virginia’s Eastern Shore for generations to come. Simply mail this slip with your tax deductible

contribution and you will be joining a community of fellow champions of clean, fishable,

swimmable waters.

Donation Amount:

• $30 ___

• $50 ___

• $100 ___

• $250 ____

Please mail your donation to:

PO BOX 961

Eastville, VA, 23347

Or you can support clean water online at www.shorekeeper.org

Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper

Our Mission is to Preserve, Pro-

tect, and Enhance the waters of

Virginia ‘s Eastern Shore through

Advocacy, Education, and

Enforcement.

To Report a pollution, fish kill,

algal bloom, or marine debris

event on our coasts or waterways

contact us by email at

info@shorekeeper.org or call us

at (757) 971-2600.