FR is under voluntary water conservation

front royal town hall

The Town of Front Royal is asking residents to voluntarily conserve water as river levels continue to drop.

Town officials say the flow of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River fell below 400 cubic feet per second on August 5th.

That’s about 260 million gallons of water per day.

The reduced flow triggers conservation measures under the Town’s water withdrawal permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Residents are being asked to limit outdoor water use.

That includes watering lawns, plants and trees only before nine a.m. or after four p.m.

Car washing should be limited to once a week, unless using a commercial car wash.

Residents are also asked to limit washing driveways and other paved surfaces, reduce the use of ornamental fountains, and avoid filling swimming pools unless simply topping them off.

Restaurants are asked to serve drinking water only when customers request it.

Officials also recommend the following conservation efforts:

  • Running dishwashers and washing machines only when they’re full.
  • Taking shorter showers.
  • Turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving.
  • Fixing leaking or inefficient water fixtures.

Residents can call the Town’s Water Treatment Plant at 540-636-7474 with questions and should monitor local media for future updates.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Local Water Alert: Front Royal asks residents to conserve water

The Town of Front Royal is requesting voluntary water conservation from all residents using the municipal water system due to significantly low river levels.

The flow rate of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River has dropped below a critical threshold of 400 cubic feet per second, triggering a conservation request under the Town’s state water permit.

What You Can Do:

  • To help protect the water supply, the Town is asking residents to observe these voluntary
    conservation measures:

    •  Outdoor Watering: Limit watering lawns and vegetation to before 9 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
    • Washing Vehicles: Limit washing personal vehicles to once per week, also restricting the
      time to before 9 a.m. and after 4 p.m. (Commercial car washes are exempt).
    • Restaurants: Restaurants should only serve drinking water upon request.

The Town also suggests simple changes like taking shorter showers, turning off the tap while brushing teeth, and running only full loads in dishwashers and washing machines.

Your cooperation is vital as the community manages its water resources during this period of low river flow.

For questions, please contact the Water Treatment Plant at 540-636-7474.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here

Warren Heritage Society announces return of canoe races

Warren County Virginia new logo used by permission by Warren County Director of Technology Todd Jones

The Warren Heritage Society and Adventure Enablers announced the return of canoe races to the Shenandoah River.

On Saturday, March 29, 2025, paddlers will hit the water at the Canoe Capital Paddle Palooza.

The races will be held in the South Fork section adjacent to Eastham Park, providing a great place for racing and spectators to cheer on their friends and family.

The early season races kick off what is hoping to be a great year for paddling, fishing, and floating on the Shenandoah River which is a major destination for visitors.

There will be an area for music, activities, food and drinks for a festival atmosphere that is family and community focused. 

The event program will feature both endurance and sprint opportunities for canoes and kayaks, with multiple categories for competitors to participate in.

Registration can be found here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Emergency water conservation lifted in Front Royal

Emergency Water Conservation order in Front Royal has been lifted and a mandatory water conservation  is effective as of September 15th.

As of Friday, the Town observed that the South Fork of the Shenandoah River is above the 240 cubic feet per second (CFS) level but yet below 340 CFS.

The Town’s permit for water withdrawal from the river issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality stipulates river flow rates that require various conservation measures.

As a result of the river flow and to be in compliant with the issued withdrawal permit, all users of the Town’s municipal water system are notified to continue to observe mandatory water conservation efforts.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

SNP celebrates addition of nearly 1,000 acres

photo credit Scott Bradley Hesson with permission

Shenandoah National Park celebrated the addition of nearly 1,000 acres of land from the Shenandoah National Park Trust.

The historic donation is one of the largest ever received by the park according to the press release. 

The land was purchased in 2021 from the Bradford, Dean, and Graves families by the Trust using funds from a $3 million settlement between the Commonwealth of Virginia and  Dupont Chemical Company.

The land will be open to the public as part of the park but no trails are currently being planned as the main purpose of acquiring this land is forest preservation and to combat climate change.

The woodlands contain the headwaters of Naked Creek in the Tanners Ridge area of Page county which is home to many native plants and animal species like black bear and brook trout.

Conservation of this area also protects some of the tributaries that lead to the South Fork of the Shenandoah River which will improve the habitat for migratory birds, fish and other wildlife.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

River Report: 8-12-22

In this edition of the Shenandoah River Report, Mark Frondorf has more on algal mats on the North Fork and bacteria levels in the Shenandoah. Brought to you by Front Royal Outdoors, where Don Roberts can help you plan your Shenandoah River adventure! Visit them at https://frontroyaloutdoors.com

 

River Report: 7-11-22

In our latest Shenandoah River Report, Riverkeeper Mark Frondorf has some details about this weekend’s  Riverpalooza snorkeling event on the Shenandoah. Brought to you by Front Royal Outdoors. Don Roberts can help you plan your next South Fork adventure! Visit https://frontroyaloutdoors.com for details!

News Maker Mark Frondorf on the toxic Algae Blooms

Did the recent rain help to alleviate the toxic algae blooms on the Shenandoah River?

We spoke with River Keeper Mark Frondorf about it in our latest news maker segment.

The good news is brought to you by the town of Front Royal.

Mark tells us where the rain helped it will take a lot more to eliminate the problem.

Mark also offers advice on using the Shenandoah River recreationally.

Here is part 1 of Mark’s interview.

Tomorrow we will talk to Mark about what can be done to prevent toxic algae blooms.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.