Water Quality, Resilience, and Equity in the PlanRVA Region

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program, established by the federal Clean Water Act, helps maintain water quality in the nation’s surface waters. In Virginia, our Department of Environmental Quality runs the state branch of this program, known as the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES). This program issues permits for discharge of pollutants and stormwater into surface waters. These permits can then be used to track and monitor pollution.

In the map to the right, you can see current VPDES permits mapped as yellow triangles. Click on one to view the facility name and location. According to the DEQ VPDES Data Sheet, “this dataset includes outfall locations for all Water VPDES Individual and General Permits. There are nine (9) General Permits; Concrete Products; Domestic Sewage Discharge; Noncontact Cooling Water, Nonmetallic Mineral Mining; Petroleum and Hydrostatic Test; Potable Water Treatment Plant, Seafood Processing; Stormwater Industrial; and Vehicle Wash and Laundry. There is a single VPDES Individual Permit, but these are designated as either Major or Minor permits depending on the amount of flow or if they require EPA review.”

As we follow the James down to its mouth at the Chesapeake Bay, we can also follow other sources of pollution which impair Virginia’s surface waters. Agricultural runoff from farming operations in the watershed is a significant input, with nutrients from fertilizer like nitrogen and phosphorus being carried into water bodies. With the introduction of these nutrients, algae can grow out of control. As a result, excessive amounts of dissolved oxygen are taken up from the water, leading to fish kills and dead zones where aquatic life cannot survive.

Sedimentation, or the addition of sediment to surface waters through erosion, is another way the quality of our waterways is degraded. Construction and deforestation can lead to increases in sedimentation, which disrupts aquatic populations.

On the map to the right, try clicking on a waterway segment near your location. Scroll to the "Impairment Causes" section to view why the waterway is impaired.

Preventing excessive inputs of pollution to the James is a priority to ensure the survival of the many fish species that call the river home, including the critically endangered Atlantic sturgeon (right) and James spinymussel. In addition to fish habitat, many species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals all rely on the James River for clean water.

Sedimentation, discussed above, can interfere with photosynthesis of submerged aquatic vegetation. This vegetation provides safe nursery habitat for fish and crabs, and when light is blocked by sediment in the water, it cannot properly grow. Furthermore, sediment settles on rock river bottoms where sturgeon eggs are laid and sticks to the eggs reducing their chance of survival.

To the right, two IDF (Intensity-Duration-Frequency) curves using data from Richmond International Airport's weather station are shown. The red curve uses historic rainfall data to predict stormwater depth and duration. The blue curve incorporates climate change information to provide a more accurate prediction. Factoring in climate change produces a noticeable increase in intensity, frequency, and duration on the IDF curve. To give some idea of the difference, let's assume a one hour rainfall event covering one square mile. The difference between the blue line and red line at the 60 minute mark is 0.09 inches. This may not sound like a lot, but for just one square mile over the course of one hour, this would add an extra 1,564,088 gallons of water to the rainfall event. Planning for this additional volume is crucial to ensure that appropriate infrastructure is in place to handle the effects.

(Graph generated using the NOAA  Mid-Atlantic IDF Curve Tool  )

FEMA flood maps play a pivotal role in understanding and mitigating the risks associated with these issues. Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are crucial for assessing flood risks and implementing protective measures. These SFHAs categorize areas based on the probability of a base flood event occurring, with Zone A being the highest risk. Moderate flood hazard areas are labeled Zone B or Zone X (shaded), and areas of minimal flood hazard are labeled Zone C or Zone X (unshaded).

Base flood events, also know as 100-year flood events, are floods which have a 1 percent chance of happening in any year. It is important to note that 100-year floods don't only occur every 100 years. For example, hurricanes Camille (1969) and Agnes (1972) both causd 100 year floods and occurred within only 3 years of each other.

The PlanRVA region has numerous communities situated in or near FEMA flood zones. As climate change brings more intense rainfall and rising sea levels, the frequency and severity of flooding events are expected to increase, exacerbating the risks faced by these communities.

The Flood Hazard Composite map, compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, provides a visual overview of a variety of flood risks. This map incorporates a broad range of factors, including FEMA flood zones, sea level rise, and storm surge risk areas.

In order to identify Equity Emphasis Areas in the PlanRVA region, PlanRVA and the Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RRTPO) used six indicators of disadvantaged populations drawing from federal nondiscrimination law and regional experience. These six indicators are combined in an overall index to identify communities of concern or Equity Emphasis Areas (EEA) which serve as the focus for equity and environmental justice analysis for transportation planning in the region. The process for identifying these equity emphasis areas is described in the methodology included in Technical Report G: Constrained Plan Evaluation of the RRTPO long-range plan, ConnectRVA 2045. The EEAs identified in the region are shown here.

Justice40 Initiative

In 2023, President Joe Biden issued executive Order 14008:  Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad , which created the White House  Environmental Justice Interagency Council (IAC)  and the  Justice40 Initiative .

The goal of Justice40 is to ensure that “40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.”

Programs covered under  Justice40  are those which could impact underserved communities and include the following categories: “climate change, clean energy and energy efficiency, clean transit, affordable and sustainable housing, training and workforce development, remediation and reduction of legacy pollution, and the development of critical clean water and wastewater infrastructure.”

On the left of this map are underserved communities mapped by the Justice40 initiative. Adjust the position of the slider to see how water quality concerns such as impaired waters and pollutant discharge sites overlap with these communities.

Stormwater Retrofits

Stormwater system retrofits are improvements made to existing infrastructure to improve filtration or add additional green infrastructure to increase capacity. These can include engineered solutions like bioretention basins, planting strips, or sand filtration systems.

Impervious Surface Reduction

Impervious surfaces are hard surfaces that impede the penetration of water into the ground. Examples are buildings, roads, parking lots, and sidewalks.

Reducing impervious surfaces will promote infiltration of runoff storm water, which in turn will help to reduce flooding.

Impervious surface reduction can be accomplished through a variety of practices. Permeable pavers are one practice that allows previously paved alleys to be converted into areas which allow stormwater infiltration while remaining useable by vehicles.

Here you see the new Ashland, VA town hall with its previous parking lot removed. Scroll down to see the new permeable pavement installed!

Permeable pavers installed in Ashland, increasing rainwater infiltration and reducing the risk of flooding.

Another example of impervious surface reduction can be seen here, as portions of a double-wide sidewalk are removed to add new tree planting space.

Urban Tree Plantings:

Urban tree plantings can be used in a variety of Best Management Practices. Either individually planted or planted in groups, trees provide interception of rain droplets that slows stormwater velocity. They also provide filtration and reduce erosion. Urban riparian buffer plantings are strips of trees planted along the edges of waterways to provide another stage of water quality protection directly adjacent to surface waters. You may see plastic tubes sticking out of the ground where recent riparian buffer plantings have taken place. These are tree shelters that will protect the young seedlings from wildlife as they grow.

In addition to protecting water quality, urban trees offer a wide range of benefits, including:

• Improved Air Quality: Certain tree species help improve air quality through filtration. Appropriate species selection is necessary as other tree species may harm air quality through the release of large amounts of pollen.
• Energy Savings: Tree canopy can provide shade, decreasing utility costs associated with cooling.
• Aesthetic Appeal: With proper planting design and maintenance, urban trees provide space for recreation and beautification of urban areas.
• Quality of Life: Accessible green space can improve mental health for urban and suburban communities.
• Wildlife Habitat: Trees are a source of habitat and food for local wildlife. These resources bolster numbers of native pollinators, supporting food webs and ecosystems.