GLOUCESTER POINT — The York River and Small Coastal Basin Roundtable has released its State of the York Watershed System report.
The publication that offers what the organization touts as the most comprehensive assessment to date of environmental trends, threats and opportunities in the York River and its surrounding watersheds.
Led by the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia, with input from the Center for Coastal Resources Management, both part of William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS, the report was shaped through extensive collaboration with more than 160 regional stakeholders over the course of three years, according to the Roundtable.
The report is the first of its kind since a CCRM-authored 2000 release.
“The State of the York Watershed System stems directly from needs expressed by residents and practitioners throughout the region,” said Cirse Gonzalez, training and engagement coordinator at CBNERR-VA and lead author of the report. “Our goal was to create an accessible and scientifically rigorous report that can inform the people who work, live and play within the York Watershed System, and that was only possible through a process that prioritized local voices every step of the way.”
“Roundtable members are excited to have such a comprehensive document publicly available for education and awareness surrounding the successes and issues within the York Watershed System,” adds Roundtable Coordinator and York River Steward Leslie Anne Hammond.
The York Watershed System, which spans the York River, Mobjack Bay and Piankatank River basins, remains largely natural, with approximately 75% of land cover in forests, wetlands and other natural areas, according to the report. However, the report cautions that this natural character is increasingly at risk.
Some key findings of the report:
- Land use and development: Development made the largest land cover gains between 2001 and 2016, predating a sharp population increase following the COVID-19 pandemic. These trends point to mounting development pressures that threaten natural habitats supporting water quality, biodiversity and flood protection.
- Flooding and erosion: Between 1937 and 2009, 95% of the system’s shoreline experienced erosion. Flooded areas in the watershed are projected to increase by up to 124% by 2070. Approximately 84% of the shoreline is suitable for the implementation of living shorelines, which emphasize natural and nature-based features that can help mitigate flooding and erosion while benefiting existing ecosystems.
- Water quality and septic: Reductions in nutrients and sediments have been partially offset by sources associated with continued development. However, the system’s waters are among the Chesapeake Bay’s lowest contributors to these potentially detrimental inputs. About 88% of properties within the system rely on septic systems, with 267 identified septic “hot spots” contributing to water quality concerns.
- Algal blooms and warming: Rising temperatures and nutrient loads are contributing to harmful algal blooms, which impact public health and safety as well as the ecosystems upon which local economies depend.
- Conservation and access: There are nearly 350 conservation areas helping to protect approximately 100 at-risk species and approximately 70 public access sites in the System for water-based, outdoor recreation.
“We’ve been fortunate that the system has largely held the line, maintaining relatively stable water quality due to its innate natural features,” Gonzalez said. “But that balance is shifting. We can no longer rely solely on the landscape to protect us. Our natural assets are under pressure from rising populations, development and global change — that means we all have a role to play in stewardship.”
Despite the challenges, the report highlights promising small- and large-scale efforts, from conservation easements and land-use practices to the restoration of oyster reefs and attempts to improve seagrass coverage. Moreover, it emphasizes benefits to the economy through activities like fisheries harvest and outdoor recreation, the latter of which was associated with at least $15.5 million in economic value during 2022 within the Middle Peninsula alone.
The report calls for more study on topics like wetland loss, streamflow disturbance, forever chemicals (e.g. PFAS), and vessel discharge while outlining practical steps that can be taken — from repairing septic systems and installing riparian buffers to engaging in community science and supporting nature-based solutions. The Roundtable emphasizes that “holding the line” is achievable if shared stewardship becomes the norm.
“Positive change is within everyone’s sphere of influence,” said Gonzalez. “Our report includes clear actions from backyard fixes to big-picture policy recommendations, so people feel empowered to contribute meaningfully to the future of our region.”
To view the full report and other associated information, visit yorkriverroundtable.
