Timely Topics
Two weeks ago, I highlighted our current drought conditions and observations of the historic flow rates and reliability of local natural springs. This column is being written before an anticipated winter storm over the weekend. Hopefully all are safe and no deaths or injuries have occurred because of this storm. The precipitation is certainly badly needed and with a full day of temperatures well above freezing just ahead of the storm, prospects are good that significant ground water recharge can be realized once melting begins.
Two weeks ago, I observed the total tree cover in Rockbridge County had significantly gone up in the last 80 years and I implied this had reduced ground water recharge and/or negatively impacted the flow of water from springs. It was an error to suggest such a connection. To the contrary, trees actually enhance ground water recharge, slowing the movement of storm water and enabling water movement into the soil profile.
Understanding that trees enhance rainwater capture combined with the fact that more of our land is now covered with trees than 80 years ago should magnify our concern of how much more we are demanding of our water resources. Anecdotally, it appears our natural springs in Rockbridge are more sensitive to short-term drought than they have been historically.
A Rockbridge native and lifelong resident who read my column two weeks ago reached out to share one observation of theirs. On the western slope of the Blue Ridge, a draw between two well-defined spurs with its own spring and thereby a clearly defined forested watershed undisturbed for many decades was a perennial stream in the late 1950s and decades before. The observer fished this stream through his boyhood but it has been dry for some 20 years now. The spring can still be found close to the top of the Blue Ridge but the stream no longer exists. This could be the result of unseen changes underground or perhaps a change in rainfall patterns the weather record does not readily reveal.
Still another observation from another lifelong resident reported a reinvigorated spring following the rainfall event of Jan. 10.
The United States Drought Monitor (online at https:// droughtmonitor.unl.edu/) sets the standard for monitoring drought conditions nationwide. I find it to be a very accurate indicator of drought conditions as long as we remember it has about a two-week lag in what is observed locally and when it shows up on the drought map.
I appreciate hearing the observations from local folks. What is clear is that we have far more residential wells than in years past, we are withdrawing more water than ever before in Rockbridge, and we need to be more mindful of our daily water use.
If you rely on a well, cistern, or spring and would like to have your water tested for mineral and bacterial content, go online to https://tinyurl.com//vahwqp- rb to learn about the water testing clinic sponsored at the end of February by the Rockbridge County Extension O ffice. C ost o f submitting a sample is $70 and if you do not have internet access you can arrange to participate by calling the Rockbridge County Extension Office at (540) 4634734.
