RD202 - Annual Report on the Status of Virginia's Water Resources


Executive Summary:
I. Introduction

The Commonwealth of Virginia is rich in water resources, both in terms of quantity and diversity. However, this resource cannot be taken for granted. The Commonwealth and its localities must work together to manage and protect our water resources to meet long term human and environmental needs. Improved coordination of drought response and water resources management activities at the local, regional and state levels are essential to guaranteeing the adequacy of Virginia’s water supplies to meet the needs of Virginia’s citizens in an environmentally sound manner. This report, submitted to the Governor and the Virginia General Assembly in accordance with Chapter 3.2 of Title 62.1 of the Code of Virginia, describes the status of the Commonwealth’s water sources, both surface and ground water. Section VI, entitled “Water Supply and Resource Planning” summarizes progress on the Commonwealth’s Water Supply Planning Initiative.

II. Water Resources Data

A summary of Virginia’s water resources is provided in Table 1. Virginia has an estimated 50,537 miles of streams and rivers divided into nine major basins (Figure 1). Annual statewide rainfall averages almost 43 inches. The total combined flow of all freshwater streams in the state is estimated at about 25 billion gallons per day. The 248 publicly owned lakes in the Commonwealth have a combined area of 162,230 acres. Additionally, many thousands of other small, privately owned, lakes and ponds are distributed throughout the state. Other significant water features of Virginia include approximately 236,900 acres of tidal and coastal wetlands, 808,000 acres of freshwater wetlands, 120 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline, and more than 2,500 square miles of estuaries.