The Shenandoah River watershed encompasses about 3,063 square miles. The main stem of the Shenandoah River begins in Front Royal, at the confluence of the North Fork and the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. The North Fork of the Shenandoah River originates in Rockingham County and the headwaters of the South Fork of the Shenandoah are in Augusta County. The 60-mile-long Shenandoah River empties into the Potomac at Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, and its watershed comprises about 4.8 percent of Virginia’s entire bay basin.
Farms still account for as much as 37 percent of land in the watershed, despite the region’s growing population and close proximity to urban centers. About 58 percent of the watershed is forested, 37.9 percent is agricultural, and 2.8 percent is urban. The population of the Shenandoah River watershed in 2000 was estimated at 328,985.
Throughout the Shenandoah River watershed, an extensive and varied agriculture industry thrives. Corn, hay, and orchards dominate its cropland, while densely populated livestock operations including poultry, dairy, beef and swine utilize untilled land. Several counties in the Shenandoah Valley are the top agriculture-producing counties in Virginia. The Shenandoah Valley is underlain by karst topography, which creates a direct link between surface water and groundwater. Thus, groundwater supplies are particularly vulnerable to nonpoint source pollution generated through agricultural and urban activities.
The phosphorus levels throughout the Shenandoah-Potomac watershed equal 3.4 million pounds (Chesapeake Bay Program, 2000 projected progress scenario),of which 79.5 percent is generated from nonpoint source pollution.
Nitrogen levels throughout the Shenandoah-Potomac watershed equal 41 million pounds (Chesapeake Bay Program, 2000 projected progress scenario), of which 66.1 percent is generated from nonpoint source pollution.
Contact information:
DCR Shenandoah Watershed Office
44 Sanger Lane, Suite 102
Staunton, VA 24401
Phone: (540) 332-9991
Fax: (504) 332-8956
Learn from others in your community.
Additional resources:
Friends of the North Fork Shenandoah River
Friends of the Shenandoah River
Shenandoah Valley Pure Water 2000 Forum
Chesapeake Bay Program
