Most people are familiar with the concept of “financial” capital and “human” capital. Theorists have found useful the concept of “social” capital as well. And then there’s “natural” capital, the assets bequeathed by nature. We’ve been drawing down our stock of natural capital pretty rapidly. Now, in Virginia at least, we’re getting a handle on just how fast we’re doing so.
Every two years, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality surveys the quality of Virginia waters, which include 50,357 miles of rivers and streams, 116,058 acres of lakes and reservoirs, and 2,248 square miles of estuaries. DEQ establishes whether the waters are capable of supporting six categories of use: aquatic life, fishing, shell fishing, swimming, public-water supplies and wildlife.
The bad news, emphasized in the MSM headlines was this, as reported by the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star: 8,984 miles of rivers and streams in Virginia are unable to support any or all of six categories of use–aquatic life, fishing, shell fishing, swimming, public-water supplies and wildlife. That’s up 29.6 percent from 6,931 miles in 2004.
Of course, there is a proviso: The state is finding more impaired areas this year because the survey has added new waters, and some water-quality standards have been tightened.
Bottom line: The headlines are meaningless. As much as the survey has improved, it’s still hard to tell if water quality if improving or not. But the exercise is critically important. We need to know whether we’re drawing down our natural capital or replenishing it. That means expanding the survey from 90 percent of state waters to all 100 percent. It also requires making apples-to-apples comparisons, on the basis of comparable standards, of water quality.