Forever Chemicals, Sewage Spill, and Ghost Pots discussed at NAPS Special Program/Annual Meeting/Ice Cream Social

Madeleine Green of Potomac Riverkeeper Network explaining health risks of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” at NAPS Special Program, Annual Meeting &Ice Cream Social

PFAS (“forever chemicals”), the Potomac River sewage spill, and NAPS’ Ghost Pot Program were featured topics at Northumberland Association for Progressive Stewardship’s (NAPS) Special Program & Annual Meeting, Sunday, March 29 in Heathsville.

Madeleine Green, Virginia Campaign Coordinator for Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN), presented a primer on toxic PFAS "Forever Chemicals” (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances used in manufactured products) and and update on recent state legislative efforts to require PFAS testing of sewage sludge biosolids before farmland application as fertilizer. The chemicals resist breaking down, bioaccumulate in fish, livestock, and humans, and has been linked to a wide array of diseases and health conditions. “PFAS are a migratory kind of chemical…they can move from biosolids to soils to crops where they get taken up into the food chain,” said Green, adding that runoff can carry them into surface waters and be absorbed into groundwater and wells. “Once they're in the environment, it's functionally impossible to remove these things, especially because they are toxic at such small, small levels,” said Green.

Six of seven PFAS-related bills passed in this year’s Virginia legislative session and are awaiting the Governor’s action, said Green, including HB1072 initiated by Westmoreland County to give jurisdictions the ability to test land-applied biosolids. Other legislation (HB1443/SB386, HB938/SB138) would require regular testing at wastewater treatment plants for PFAS discharged or provided as biosolids for land application. Green said the thresholds in much of the legislation are not “particularly restrictive,” so PRKN, other organizations and concerned citizens still have some work to do. HB122 would prohibit the manufacture or sale of cosmetic products with certain PFAS ingredients in Virginia.

The one failed bill (HB348) would have provided $3 million in a funding program for rural well testing, said Green. Cyclopure is one of the companies offering PFAS well water testing ($85 according to cyclopure.com), but soil testing is considerably more expensive, said Green.

A member of the audience asked whether the blockade of fertilizer in the Strait of Hormuz could increase demand of biosolids application. Green said the permit process takes time, so unless the crisis continues for an extended period, it shouldn’t have much of an effect. She added that PRKN and other organizations continue to educate farmers and the public about PFAS risks.

Another attendee asked whether E-Coli levels in the application of bio-solids were an issue with land application. “They would have to have been treated for pathogens,” said Green, “although it is extremely nutrient rich” which can cause algal blooms and dead zones if not applied conservatively.

Green also presented an update on the January 19 collapse of a major sewage pipe near Washington DC that is estimated to be “one of the largest, if not the largest, sewage spills in US history.” An estimated 240 million gallons of raw, untreated sewage was released into the Potomac River basin, said Green. Despite the lifting of recreational advisories by many agencies and counties, PRKN continues to monitor levels on the river. Although the spill is not likely to have a significant effect in the Northern Neck section of the Potomac River or the Chesapeake Bay, the risk of damage to the reputation of local seafood is a concern, said Green.

NAPS Ghost Pot Program

Andy “Sit” Sitison and Eric Knudsen highlighted the second winter season of the NAPS Ghost Pot Removal and Loss Prevention Program. The team removed 100 derelict crab pots over the crabbing off-season, in coordination with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). Sitison will be presented the VIMS Volunteer of the Year award in May, and has been selected as Volunteer River Counties “Volunteer of the Month” along with NAPS president Mike Ahart.

Brent Stansbury, Pat Clement and Etienne Lavallee also participated as crew or guest crew in the Ghost Pot Program.

“The boat made a big difference,” said Sitison. NAPS was granted a 16-foot center-console skiff by Grace Episcopal Church before the winter season. “Last year we we had a few piles…,” he said, showing photos of stacked crab pots, “this year we got a big set of piles,” adding that about half of the removed pots were functional, and “can still kill things.”

“There are two types of ghost pots,” explained Sitison. The team used side-scan sonar to locate “lost” pots sitting on the bottom with no float attached, and used a nail rope and other tools to grab and pull them from the water. If there is a float and it's out of season…that’s called an ‘abandoned’ pot,” and can often be pulled up by the attached line – 33 of the 100 pots had floats attached. The permit from VIMS and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) allows NAPS to remove pots with or without floats from January 1 to March 15. Sitison and Knudsen spoke about the wide array of live and dead sea life found in the traps. Location and contents of each trap was documented and uploaded through the VIMS TRAP App and all contents returned to the water. A map and data of traps pulled as part of the program can be found at www.trapprogram.org.

Sitison and Knudsen talked about the challenges of the work, especially in freezing or windy conditions. Each of the team members wore survival suits when on the water, and the work was very physical and dirty. The 16-foot skiff was a significant upgrade from last year’s smaller vessels which could only hold a couple pots before having to shuttle back to shore, but an even larger skiff would be more effective and allow working in less-protected waters. “The water would be about and inch or two below the gunwale when pulling a 80-pound pot, so if we could get a 19-footer, and a little bit wider,” said Knudsen. Many pots are partially buried in silt and contain dozens of oysters and mussels adding to the weight.

Sitison demonstrated the process of identifying pots using side-scan sonar and how the team used a nail rope to retrieve a pot. He also showed how forward-scan sonar could be more effective since a boat can be driven directly to the pot and retrieved with a grappling hook. The next phase of the program is proving the concept that commercial crabbers can find and retrieve missing pots during the season at the time they discover one missing from a line of pots, allowing them to recover the $60 pot and the catch. According to VIMS studies, ghost pots cause an estimated $33 million in lost revenue in the Chesapeake Bay region, and commercial crabbers lose up to 20% of their crab pots each year.

The winter 2026 NAPS Ghost Pot Program was performed mostly on the Little Wicomico River, with a few outings on Indian Creek, Dividing Creek, and the Coan River. Brent StansburyVisit https://www.trapprogram.org/ for an interactive map plotting each ghost pot retrieved.

Northern Neck Wooden Boat School

Katie Wilkins presented a brief update on the Northern Neck Wooden Boat School as it plans for its third year. The program teaches essential woodworking and project skills to area students as they design and build a working wooden skiff. It also launched its inaugural Cardboard Regatta in Reedville last year, with several teams competing.

Boatbuilding “is part of our heritage here in Northumberland…we have so many boat businesses, so many citizens who enjoy the water, and it's just so great in our community,” said Wilkins, adding that the program requires both volunteer and financial support. The Wooden Boat School’s building at the Northumberland Schools campus is now completed, and the organization has attained non-profit status as a 501(c)(3). Wilkins thanked NAPS for being a sponsor of the program ,each year.

Other NAPS Initiatives/NAPS Annual Meeting

NAPS president Mike Ahart outlined a few of the organization’s programs and events, including its 11th Annual Earth Day Festival in Heathsville scheduled for Sat., April 25, annual Fall Creek Cleanup (TBD(, spring and fall highway cleanups (spring cleanup is scheduled for Sunday May 3), scholarship program, Paddler’s Guide to Northumberland County, and Too-Good-To-Throw-Away Shed at the Horsehead waste disposal/recycling center.

After the presentation, attendees were treated to an ice cream social while NAPS members held a brief annual meeting. Ian Brownlee, Jen Sagan, Denez Yancey and Beth Novick were re-elected to the NAPS Board of Directors.