The Key Soil and Water Conservation Issues for Prince William

The entire Chesapeake Bay watershed is under a federal mandate to reduce sediment and fertilizer runoff into the bay in order to improve water quality. The best way to assure this is through cooperative and locally run programs but EPA doesn’t always see it that way. The District must help in assuring that the goals are met but without the often crude and misdirected micro-management so common with EPA. Further, water availability and quality are critical issues facing all communities. While public water systems get much attention, many Prince William residents are often dependent on private wells and the healthy recharge of underground water supplies crucially depends on good land management. Finally, one quarter of the land of the county is in agricultural use and the best management of this local food production is a great benefit to our economy and our health.