The Rappahannock River on the border of Culpeper and Fauquier counties in Virginia has always been a popular hangout for folks looking to cool off in the summer.

However, overuse, and the resulting trash and human waste, threatens the river, leading state officials to introduce restrictions on the river’s use.

Here are four pdfs of a story package I put together last summer on the overuse issue. The stories won first place for feature writing in the 2011 Virginia Press Association contest.

River Runs Through It 1

River Runs Through It 2

River Runs Through It 3

River Runs Through It 4