FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friends of the Rappahannock Urges Governor Spanberger to Release Overdue Groundwater Study
Fredericksburg, Va. (July 20, 2026) — Today, Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) called on Governor Abigail Spanberger to publish the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) groundwater study required by Senate Joint Resolution No. 25 (2024), which is now more than six months overdue.
The General Assembly directed DEQ to study the groundwater supply east of I-95 and submit an executive summary, its findings, and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by the first day of the 2026 Regular Session. The resolution also requires the report be published on the General Assembly’s website for public consumption.
In a letter sent to Governor Spanberger today, FOR urged the administration to approve and release the report without further delay. The letter emphasizes that its findings are critical to informing water management decisions across eastern Virginia.
“Virginia’s groundwater resources are under increasing pressure,” said Brent Hunsinger, Advocacy and Coastal Programs Director for FOR. “Communities and local governments need access to this information to make informed decisions about the Commonwealth’s future water supply. Publishing this report is an important step toward ensuring our groundwater resources are managed sustainably.”
The request comes as DEQ staff have indicated that the Potomac aquifer, the primary groundwater source for much of eastern Virginia, is projected to resume declining within the next five to ten years. At the same time, Virginia is experiencing one of its driest years on record, according to DEQ and Governor Spanberger, with 12 of the Commonwealth’s 13 drought evaluation regions currently under drought warning or emergency conditions and groundwater reaching record daily lows.
Given that DEQ is actively encouraging localities east of Interstate 95 who depend on groundwater resources to find alternative sources of water (often surface water), the findings and recommendations of the SJ25 groundwater study are critical to helping guide timely action that will ensure Virginia’s water resources remain available for all beneficial users and are withdrawn at a sustainable rate.
FOR’s letter asks Governor Spanberger to fulfill the requirements of Senate Joint Resolution No. 25 by approving and publishing the completed report, so that policymakers, local governments, and the public have access to the information needed to address Virginia’s growing groundwater challenges.
A copy of the letter sent to Governor Spanberger is below. Any further questions can be directed to Brent Hunsinger, Friends of the Rappahannock’s Advocacy and Coastal Programs Director, at brent.hunsinger@riverfriends.org
About Friends of the Rappahannock
Friends of the Rappahannock is a grassroots nonprofit organization focused on being the voice and active force for a healthy and scenic Rappahannock River through advocacy, restoration, and education.
July 20, 2026
The Honorable Abigail Spanberger
Governor of Virginia
Commonwealth of Virginia
P.O. Box 1475, Richmond, VA 23218
Abigail.Spanberger@governor.virginia.gov
Re: Request to publish DEQ groundwater study required by Senate Joint Resolution No.25
Dear Governor Spanberger,
On behalf of the undersigned environmental organizations, we write to request the publication of the Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) study of the groundwater supply in the Commonwealth east of Interstate 95 as required by Senate Joint Resolution No. 25 (2024). The Resolution requires that the DEQ submit an executive summary and report, including DEQ’s findings and recommendations, to the Governor and General Assembly no later than the first day of the 2026 Regular Session of the General Assembly and be posted on the General Assembly’s website. We urge you to approve and publish this study report as its publication is now six months overdue.
The delay in the publication of the SJ25 groundwater study comes at a time when DEQ staff have presented information that the groundwater supply in the Commonwealth east of Interstate 95, specifically the Potomac Aquifer, is projected to resume declining in the next 5 to 10 years. In addition, we are experiencing the second driest year on record with 12 of 13 drought evaluation regions in a drought warning or emergency with groundwater wells are at record daily lows.
Given that DEQ is actively encouraging localities east of Interstate 95 who depend on groundwater resources to find alternative sources of water (often surface water), the findings and recommendations of the SJ25 groundwater study are critical to helping guide timely action that will ensure Virginia’s water resources remain available for all beneficial users and are withdrawn at a sustainable rate.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to the publication of the SJ25 groundwater study so that we can more effectively assist your administration in protecting Virginia’s public water resources.
Respectfully,
Brent Hunsinger, Advocacy Director, Friends of the Rappahannock