February 7, 2010
FORVA Track Record
FORVA (Friends of the Rivers of Virginia) is a statewide river conservation coalition, whose mission is the conservation, preservation and restoration of Virginia’s river resources. Coalition activities include addressing and resolving river related problems through research, education and activism.
FORVA has a 9 member board of directors and a 18 member steering committee, with membership open to all. It provides communication and coordination for river conservation groups in Virginia. It is active in the research and development of river related legislation and regulations.
FORVA was created in 1987 in response to a proposal by Roanoke County to withdraw water from the already depleted Roanoke River. FORVA’s efforts led to Virginia’s first laws ever to provide minimum stream flows for our rivers to protect fisheries and recreation.
FORVA has been the leading group in Virginia in the effort to designate Tier III Exceptional Waters. FORVA led the effort to get Virginia’s first Tier III designation approved in 1994, and in 2004, FORVA obtained designation of Virginia’s first two Tier III streams located on private land.
In 2001, FORVA produced Virginia’s first State of Our Rivers Report on the water quality of all of our rivers. The report was praised by Virginia’s media and state agencies as well as thousands of citizens of the Commonwealth.
In 2009 and 2010, FORVA sponsored successful bills to provide better public access to our rivers.
FORVA has been involved in many river conservation issues, including:
Public access: All rivers, especially James, New, Roanoke and Gauley (WV).
FERC dam relicensings: New (3); James (2); Gauley; Roanoke;
Conservation easements: New River; James River; Franklin County; Botetourt County; etc.
Legal standing for riparian owners: Intervenor, US Supreme Court, Commonwealth v. Browner, 1992; this win gave riparian owners legal standing rights, as in all other states in US.
Water withdrawal issues: New, Roanoke, Staunton, Maury, Mattaponi, Catawba Creek.
Flood reduction projects: Maury; Roanoke;
Dam removal/bypass projects: James; Rappahannock; Shenandoah; Pigg; Maury (Lexington);
Invasive species: Invasive Species Council Advisory Board participation; research;
Riverside park development: New (Whitt-Riverbend, Bluff City, Pembroke, New River Trail);
Roanoke (Explore Park, Roanoke Greenway, McVitty Park); James (Solitude);
Conservation water use plans: Water Loop Concept; Dry Tech Condensation Cooling; etc.
Water quality issues: All rivers
Water planning issues: All rivers
In sum, our all volunteer organization in Virginia has been the statewide leader in protection for Virginia’s rivers, including issues of access, water quantity and water quality.
The Norfolk Virginian-Pilot wrote in 2001, “… Friends of the Rivers of Virginia has done what the state should have done. It has issued a report in plain English that anyone can consult to determine the quality of … waterways.
…state reports on Virginia waterways have been technical documents that even environmental experts had difficulty deciphering. If the public understood more it might demand that more be done to clean up rivers…
In any case, … DEQ should take some report-writing tips from Friends of the Rivers.”
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