Drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water. Drought conditions effect all aspects daily life, especially in an agrarian economy like that found in Clarke County. Farmers need abundant water for livestock and crops. Because drought occurs naturally, the best humans can do is to plan and prepare.

A severe drought from 1999 through 2002 prompted localities in the Shenandoah Valley region to create and/or update their drought response plans. Clarke County is included in the Regional Drought Response and Contingency Plan prepared by the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission. This plan is referenced in the Code of Clarke County, Virginia (Chapter 180 Water & Wastewater).

The Drought Plan outlines three main components:
Indicators – groundwater, surface water, precipitation, and reservoirs (Clarke County has no reservoirs)
Stages – normal, watch, warning, and emergency
Actions – reduce water consumption in gradations dependent on stage

Integral to Clarke County’s drought response is the real-time monitoring network that was developed in cooperation with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in response to the 2002 drought. There are three groundwater wells and two surface water gauges, both established in 2002, that constantly monitor water levels in Clarke. Use the links below to learn more.

Drought Indicator Maps of the Shenandoah Basin from DEQ includes drought status reports and general information about water resource conditions in Clarke County, the region, and state.

This USGS stream flow site shows the real-time stream-flow gauges across Virginia; colored dots describe current conditions.

This USGS groundwater site shows the real-time groundwater monitoring network in West Virginia and Virginia; colored dots describe current conditions.

To see current groundwater levels in Clarke County, click these five real-time monitoring sites:

• Blandy Experimental Farm central Clarke (well)
• Chet Hobert Park Berryville (well)
• Dry Marsh Run northwestern Clarke (stream)
• Rockwood Ridge northeastern Clarke on mountain (well)
• Spout Run central Clarke (stream)

The Clarke County Board of Supervisors adopted this Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Water Supply Plan and the Supervisors revised the Code of Clarke County to include a Drought Response.

Shenandoah River Flood Information

• Graph Detailing Current Flood Stage from the National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS).

Va. 7 bridges looking west September 1996 after Hurricane Fran; photo by Jack Lillis

Lorien Lemmon
Biosolids Monitor
(540) 955-5134
llemmon@clarkecounty.gov

Report on Water Quality of Spring-waters where biosolids were applied as fertilizer.

In July 1997, the Clarke County Board of Supervisors approved the adoption of a text amendment establishing standards for the application of Biosolids.

Beginning in 1998, two companies (Bio Gro and Recyc Systems) applied biosolids in the county. Currently Synagro (formally Bio-Gro) and Nutri-Blend (formally Wright Trucking) spread biosolids on local farms.

In 2004, Virginia law repealed the ability of counties to regulate biosolid application beyond testing and monitoring. The change permits counties to request reimbursement for expenses relating to monitoring and testing, but it eliminated increased setback standards that Clarke County had adopted to protect ground and surface water resources in sensitive karst areas. Clarke County maintains the ordinance and requests applicators to comply.

All applications have been closely monitored by county and state representatives and have been in compliance with all requirements. In accordance with state regulations, counties may be reimbursed for the testing and monitoring expenses.

In January 2008, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) assumed regulatory oversight of all land application of treated sewage sludge, commonly referred to as biosolids.

This action, which moves oversight of the Biosolids Use Regulations from the Virginia Department of Health to DEQ, was at the direction of the 2007 General Assembly, which voted to consolidate the regulatory programs so that anyone applying biosolids would be subject to uniform requirements, and to take advantage of the existing compliance and enforcement structure at DEQ. DEQ has established an Office of Land Application Programs within the Water Quality Division to manage the biosolids program, as well as land application of industrial sludges, septage, livestock and poultry waste, and water reclamation and reuse. The Virginia Department of Health will continue to consult with DEQ and advise the public on health issues related to biosolids applications. 

Current state regulations require:

• Nutrient Management Plan to be submitted with application
• Posting of property 5 days prior to application
• No spreading on snow

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) permit requirements:

• Notification to the owners of land adjacent to proposed site applications
• Public hearing 30 days before approval of site permit
• Setback requirements of 100 feet for property lines and 200 feet for occupied dwellings

DEQ Frequently Asked Questions 

DEQ Central Office / Richmond

Neil Zahradka
(804) 698-4102
nrzahradka@deq.virginia.gov

Bryan Cauthorn
(804) 664-7860
bryan.cauthorn@deq.virginia.gov

DEQ Permitting Agent for Clarke County / Valley Regional Office

Brandon Kiracofe
(540) 217-7479
brandon.kiracofe@deq.virginia.gov

Biosolids Applicators

Comprehensive Plan Sections

• Water Resources Plan 2018 update
• Mountain Land Plan w/ Color Maps
• Mountain Land Plan w/out Color Maps
• Mountain Land Plan Summary
• Timber Harvest Regulations  (Loggers must submit a pre-harvest plan.)
• Vegetative Clearing Limits (Read before cutting or clearing a property.)

Zoning Regulations

• Flood Plain Ordinance
• Spring Conservation (Regulations for Prospect Hill Spring, the public water supply for Boyce, Millwood, Waterloo, and White Post.)
• Stream Protection Overlay District (Limits vegetative clearing along perennial streams.)

County Code

• Septic Ordinance (Regulations pertaining to septic system siting and installation)
• Well Ordinance (Regulations pertaining to well siting and installation)
• Sinkhole Ordinance (Don't put things in sinkholes you wouldn't drink!)

There are specific places in Clarke County that play critical roles in recharging its ground water. Water that falls as precipitation (rain, snow) needs to find pathways to the groundwater, and that happens best in the carbonate areas where sinkholes, caves, sinking streams, faults, and fractures provide easy access for water to percolate down to the water table

Even in the carbonates that underlie most of the valley area, some areas are more critical than others for groundwater recharge. On the western side of Clarke County, a limestone ridge runs from Double Tollgate and trends to the NE crossing into West Virginia east of Stones Chapel. This area, identified by the U.S. Geological Survey, is approximately 22,100 acres and contains the drainage divide between the Opequon Creek and the Shenandoah River. It is also a critical area for filling the groundwater that runs below the county because of its unique structure, elevation, and distance from the river, streams, and springs that discharge water from the groundwater.

Why does this matter? What humans do in this critical recharge area to preserve permeable surfaces for groundwater recharge affects water availability and quality for a large portion of the county. To help protect this area, the Easement Authority has asked the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, the state agency responsible for conservation easement holdings, to designate this area as a priority project area. This designation focuses resources on placing properties in the recharge area into permanent conservation easement to reduce development potential on this critical resource area.

What is Karst?

Karst terrain includes sinkholes, springs, sinking streams, and caves. In karst areas, the fractured limestone rock formations have been dissolved by flowing groundwater to form cavities, pipes, and conduits. Sinkholes, caves, sinking streams, and springs signal the presence of underground drainage systems in karst terrain. Unless watersheds are protected, these direct connections between the surface and the subsurface can threaten the quality of drinking water. The safest watersheds are those in which all residents understand the karst landscape and work together to reduce soil erosion, high-density development, agricultural and urban storm water runoff, overgrazing, improper waste disposal, and pollution.

Karst-Related Ordinances & Code Sections:

The Shenandoah River is an obvious indicator of drought or flood conditions; however, much of Clarke County’s water is in its karst terrain, which the county strives to protect. 

• Sinkhole Ordinance
• Karst Plan
• Resistivity Test Consultants This list is here as a courtesy and does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or any relationship with Clarke County government.
• Blasting Ordinance

More:

• Living on Karst: Guide for Landowners Living in Limestone Areas

Clarke County has long been a leader in environmental protection and managed controlled growth. This is evidenced by the extensive long-term planning and visionary thinking by the Board of Supervisors in the 1970s and 1980s, when the county developed the Groundwater Protection Plan. The plan led to the establishment of septic and well ordinances, a sinkhole ordinance, the first United States Geological Survey (USGS) groundwater study, and an overall awareness of the sensitive nature of groundwater resources from a water-quality view. The county also adopted Sliding-Scale Zoning, implemented the Agricultural-Forestal District, use of value taxation, use of the LESA scoring system, and designated growth areas. These tools, in addition to the establishment of the Conservation Easement Authority and adoption of the Mountain Land Plan, have provided a strong framework to allow for growth while protecting agricultural economy and natural and historic resources.

This USGS map shows the groundwater real-time streamflow monitoring network in West Virginia and Virginia; colored dots describe current groundwater levels.

To see current groundwater levels in Clarke County, click these five real-time monitoring sites:

• Blandy Experimental Farm central Clarke (well)
• Chet Hobert Park Berryville (well)
• Dry Marsh Run northwestern Clarke (stream)
• Rockwood Ridge northeastern Clarke on mountain (well)
• Spout Run central Clarke (stream)

The Friends of the Shenandoah River (FOSR) is a volunteer, non-profit, scientific organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of the Shenandoah River and its tributaries. FOSR has been monitoring water quality in the river and its tributaries since 1987 at its EPA-certified lab at Shenandoah University. Explore FOSA water-quality data and monitoring sites on its website. 

6-Year Clarke County Groundwater Study (2002-08)

• The USGS Scientific Investigations Report: "Hydrogeology and Groundwater Availability in Clarke County, Virginia" by D.L. Nelms and R.M. Moberg Jr.
• Summary of Six-Year USGS Ground Water Study: What Did the County Learn?

More:

• Additional Water Conservation Information