Scribe: Kemper Eagle Convener: Kemper Eagle, Dave Garner, John Reese Location: Liberty Park Time: 12:45
Attendees: Kemper Eagle, John Reese, Dave Garner, Jeff Peake, Lynn Cameron, Harry Yoder, Dan Downey, Pam Yates, Mike Wong, et al
Discussion started with Dan Downey giving background on the city’s 1400 (+? up to 400 acres additional) surrounding Dry River. The 1.2 billion acres of water provided by Switzer Lake flows by gravity down Dry River to the City intake and on to Harrisonburg, one of the cleanest water supplies in the state and country.
All agreed we need to protect this special supply from several abuses it has suffered in the past. Dry River is the longest continuos native brook trout stream in the state (32 miles), but as Dan pointed out, its name points out a problem it suffers from,nearly drying up in stretches in summer droughts. Other problems have been noted such as off-road vehicular traffic IN THE STREAMBED and in stream crossings and riparian land areas, mud holes formed, occasional illegal tree cuttings, and general neglect, including trash in and along the stream.
Dan pointed out the City is blocking illegal vehicle traffic road access, placing signage on allowed useage, etc. What can citizens volunteer? Mud bogs should be reseeded, preferably with native plants. Mike Wong suggested Dry River be put in City comprehensive plan. Lynn C suggested short trails be constructed for family hiking. Harry Yoder suggested using composting toilets.
Eagle asked what the group desired for useage of the area for the future-suggestions: hiking, fishing, bicyling.
Dave C brought up Black’s Run; sewage smell still in parts, city needs to upgrade system. We need to change peoples’ MINDSET toward conserving individual water use like in eg. Germany. John Reeves noted in Europe people use 35 gallons/day, in US, three times that. He said reducing water consumption would reduce use of water from Shenandoah River, etc., which is less pure thus needs more pretreatment before potable use, also reducing water means less wastewater treatment which makes wastewater treatment plant less expensive!
Dave SUGGESTS: more use of rain barrels. Pam? SUGGESTED city could set up a demonstration rain garden and demo use of rain barrels, composting -Liberty Park suggested for demos. Dry River area also SUGGESTED as a demonstration area, also general for ecology for grade, high schools, even colleges. SUGGESTION: let college students design demonstration areas. Also, get help from Canaan Valley Institute on designs.
Friends of Shenandoah Mountain proposing to make Dry River area part of a wilderness area, goal to get support to get scenic area introduced as a bill. Would give perpetual protection of our valued water supply area.
Eagle: SUGGESTION; More active City control of Dry River would increase out-of-area fisherman use with resultant economic boost to Harrisonburg and area.
Dave: Black’s Run near his home is fed by springs which keep nearby stretch water temps in 60s-if e. coli, etc. were controlled, maybe BR could support trout?
Group: Feel free to add any ideas I missed, and thanks for your input.
Respectfully,
Kemper Eagle
