Rain, Rain, Go Away

More rain, more mess.  Forecast calls for more of each.

As reported at WSLS , WDBJ7, and in the Roanoke Times, flooding is becoming a plague in Christiansburg.  Why?  This is not a residual storm brought to us by a hurricane.  It is just another spring, albeit not what appears to be a drought year. 

Newer homes have seen their yards wash away, established homes in Hans Meadow have seen their immaculate lawns turned into a muddy lake.  Drivers are dodging barricades where manhole covers are popping up, and at the town's Rec Center traffic was down to two lanes.  College Street, Church Street, Cambria, Cameo Court -- all over town,  Christiansburg residents are experiencing serious storm water and sewage problems.

Historically, Christiansburg was established because of a convergence of creeks and streams.  But after nearly two centuries, real growth has exploded over the past decade.  With it, more trees and greenspace have disappeared, hills shifts and pavement is poured.  Problems are surfacing.  

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation includes the Division of Soil and Water Conservation (SWCD).  This includes erosion and sediment control, which impacts water quality.  Effective July 1, new districts are being formed and the Blue Ridge SWCD regional office will be located in Christiansburg.  In addition to NRV localities, this office will cover Botetourt, Franklin, Henry and Roanoke counties, as well as the cities of Martinsville and Roanoke and the Town of Rocky Mount.    

Their website indicates "The first step in reporting a possible violation of Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law and Regulations is to contact the locality in which the observed violation occurred. If the locality fails to respond to the alleged violation, then contact the local DCR regional office that serves your locality. Throughout Virginia, there are eight such offices in which staff serve local governments, citizen groups and citizens."  That would be here in Christiansburg, by calling Stacy Horton at (540)394-2585 or Dean Gall at (540) 394-2580 -- but only after a locality fails to respond to an alleged violation.

What constitutes as a violation of these laws, especially when a locality may allow waivers for certain situations?  Well, visit the erosion and sediment control page to begin.  Also visit another local Christiansburg blog, Depot Dazed, to see what resources are out there relative to storm water management or erosion and sediment control.  Note if you are researching these topics via the town's official website, one needs to be careful which document is used as some appear more complete or current.  Question why the state needed to order the town to update their related code. 

Then remember that on some local ballots you're asked to vote for someone on this (soil and water conservation) board, as well as council members (who appoint planning commissioners). 

Then call your Christiansburg Town Council members and get their guidance.  Then call town hall.  If you're not satisfied with the response, call the SWCD. 

It may just be that you need to take out more insurance, or re-do landscaping to mitigate water and sediment flow whenever the ground is saturated.  It may be, however, that the problems will remain apparent and are related to how or where the town allows development -- if this is the case, you need to know what options are available to you to protect your home and property. 

Meanwhile, if you have a neighbor in distress -- see if you can help them clean up the mess.  Be courteous to our town Street and Public Work department personnel, who are putting in long hours right now, and may be bearing the brunt of citizen ire.