Watershed Protection Program

The Watershed Protection Program was first established in 1984 between the Robert E. Lee Soil and Water District and Amherst County in order to protect its public water supply. The primary drinking water sources include the Buffalo River, Mill Creek Reservoir, Harris Creek, and Graham Creek Reservoir. Any type of land use can impact the natural resources and bodies of water within these protected watersheds and other watersheds. The goal of the program is to try to reduce non-point source pollution (NPS) from entering these waterways. Non-point source pollution can be anything that gets picked up by rainwater runoff and gets in to a body of water. Improper application of fertilizers and pesticides can contribute excessive loads of nutrients and chemicals to surface waters. Sediments can enter by means of stream bank erosion, due to loss of streamside vegetation. Livestock wading in the streams can cause major erosion and an increase in bacterial contamination and nutrients. Faulty septic systems can also add nutrients and bacteria. Reducing NPS pollution not only improves water quality for human and aquatic life, it also reduces local water treatment and filtration costs.

The Watershed Coordinator for the District, with the help of local college interns, coordinates the watershed assessments. The assessments include surveying streams for water degradation, determining land use impacts and pinpointing source of NPS pollution. The surveys are non-regulatory and are used to suggest methods that could enhance the water quality in local waterways. Best Management Practices (BMPs) are conservation measures used to improve water quality and protect natural resources. Some examples of BMPs would include restoring eroded stream banks with vegetation, fencing livestock out of streams, and supplying livestock with an alternative watering system. Cost-share money is available for Amherst County residents to implement Best Management Practices on their property. The participation of land owners in conservation programs and the permission of land owners to survey private property are pertinent to the success of improving Amherst Counties’ drinking water sources. By landowners volunteering their property in conservation practices, they will not only be reducing pollution from our waterways, but also be forestalling the onset regulatory measures.

If you are interested in signing up for a conservation practice and/or allowing us to a do a watershed assessment on your property please contact:  Anne Marie Clarke, Watershed Coordinator at (434) 851-7043

Agricultural BMP reductions in the protected watersheds of Amherst County

Willows for LIFE Riparian Planting Projects for Spring 2010

Jerome Facchina, Spring '09 intern from Lynchburg College, samples the waters of the Buffalo River in Amherst County for macro-invertebrates (aquatic insects).

The macro-invertebrates found on the rocks in streams are proven to be biological indicators of the quality of water due to their varying tolerances to pollution. Some insects are sensitive to water pollution so if present this indicates a better water quality

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Buffalo River Watershed Progress Report