I had a great time attending this year’s annual Shenandoah Low Down Festival, a successful celebration featuring remarks from the Shenandoah Riverkeeper, tabling from partner organizations, exceptional live music by Chris and Stewart Plein, wine from MUSE Vineyards, and a raffle for a Bonafied P127 Kayak.
Before hearing from the Riverkeeper, I enjoyed a crisp glass of 7 Bends Vidal Blanc and took the opportunity to familiarize myself with the attending partner programs: Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District, Friends of the North Fork, Friends of the Shenandoah River, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. My conversations revealed the extensive community involvement, such as how Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District provide cost share programs and how the Friends of the North Fork volunteer at middle schools to educate children.
Then it was time for Mark Frondorf, the Shenandoah Riverkeeper, to walk attendees through this past year’s achievements, future goals, and actions to promote clean water in the Shenandoah. One of this year’s highlights was the successful deployment of two water quality monitoring buoys in the North and South Forks, which introduces hard science into the river system by collecting data on water chemistry, temperature, oxygen levels, pH, chlorophyll, and blue-green algae. Another significant achievement was adopting a new satellite service to track harmful algal blooms, which provides data to the USGS, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Department of Health, and Virginia Commonwealth University for monitoring. Other key successes included securing state budget funds for algal studies, the full operation of the recently restored Front Royal Fish Hatchery with a plan to release 35,000 smallmouth bass into the Chesapeake Bay annually, and implementing a water treatment initiative to hold manufacturers accountable for discharging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFOS) into the river. Frondorf credited these accomplishments to the community’s persistence and stressed the importance of continuing the fight for clean water in the face of challenges like climate change.
Climate change is significantly impacting the Virginia ecosystem, waterways, and community, evident in the wet springs and dry summers punctuated by extreme weather events and the warming water temperatures that have led to a 50% decline in trout across over 70% of Shenandoah National Park streams. In response, Frondorf urged attendees to make their voices heard through voting and civic engagement. Mobilizing and building on ongoing advocacy is key to promoting river access and recreation for all.
Continuing to advocate for clean water through voting and volunteering will help us achieve another great celebration at next year’s Shenandoah Low Down Festival. Through the people I met and the conversations I had, I truly felt the sincerity and ambition of this community in protecting the environment and waterways. I am excited to be part of this community and look forward to joining a team that champions water quality!
