Stormwater ravages in the Roanoke River: Riverside Park in Salem to the Star City’s Memorial Avenue Bridge
One of the greatest threats to the Roanoke River Basin and, indeed, the entire watershed is uncontrolled water run-off which drains directly into the Star City’s fragile watercourse.
Last year, we took trip down the Roanoke River in anticipation of thunderous rains to track the flow of drainage into the River from numerous locations along the 3-4 mile stretch from Riverside Park in Salem to the Memorial Avenue Bridge near Grandin Village in Roanoke.
At Riverside Park in Salem, several families were enjoying the grassy bank and shallow stretches of stones worn by the water’s ancient work. The visual quality of the water at this point in the Roanoke River (and, indeed, stretches up river) is adequate, and the bank is relatively clear of debris.
The gradient of this mature river is low: floating a Loon and a Perception over rocks and downed limbs is difficult without the rush of recent rains. We struggled through an alternating series of cobbled, shallow spots and long still pools before dumping into the channel of a sharp curve of class-2 whitewater.
Thunder clapped in the distance at first–then closer–and large drops of rain fell in heavy thumps on the hollow bodies of our kayaks. We made for some shelter beneath a railroad tressel and watched as the clear river became the color of steak gravy.
Scientific American reported last year that “[t]he water in brooks, streams and creeks from Michigan to Puerto Rico carries a heavy load of pollutants, particularly nitrates from fertilizers. These nitrogen and oxygen molecules that crops need to grow eventually make their way into rivers, lakes and oceans, fertilizing blooms of algae that deplete oxygen” and extinguish aquatic life. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the bulk of the pollutants noted by SA comes from stormwater runoff. One group is leading the charge to bring to light the dangers associated with stormwater runoff and intentional or unintentional sewage discharge into our Nation’s waterways: Act for Healthy Rivers.
AHR notes,
Every single day, especially when it rains, sewage pours into our waterways. Shocking but true: Overflows of pollution from our nation’s crumbling sewer systems dump 850 billion gallons of sewage annually. It is simply unacceptable to allow raw or poorly treated human waste, laden with potentially-deadly pathogens, to enter our rivers, streams and lakes.
In 2002, the National Research Council found that “about 29 million gallons of oil enter the oceans around North America each year as a result of human activities. Of that, the largest share, 15.6 million gallons, comes from rivers and runoff, largely from such things as street runoff, industrial waste, municipal wastewater and wastewater from refineries.”
Perhaps the most user-friendly and practically-minded website for more information on the detrimental effects of storm-water runoff on rivers and streams is the Clean Rivers and Streams site maintained by a regional environmental consortium for water quality in the Pacific Northwest.
The rain poured steadily for nearly half an hour. Slowly, a parade of garbage appeared behind us on the river, and a film clung to the branches of the trees dipping into the water. We slid our boats into the drink, which was beginning to rush by carrying sticks and bits of plastic.
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At several places, large industrial iron pipes run across the riverbed. The rainwater agitates the rusty flakes along the length of pipe and tiny rivulets of maroon mix with the brown water. Even though we had less than an inch of rain on Sunday, the gutters opened with a torrent of dirty rushing water. We noticed the faint smell of sewage as the sun opened again on the river.
Click on the following images to enlarge.
We got out of the rising river under the Memorial Avenue Bridge in the heart of Roanoke and pulled our yaks into the park beneath the enormous Jesus Saves sign overlooking Wasena.
In 2006, the US Conference of Mayors advised that US cities and counties must consider regional solutions to complex issues like conservation and water quality.
If what we observed on Sunday floating down the Roanoke River in a storm is any indication, Roanoke City and Roanoke County should follow that advice. 