November 2018
Watershed Calendar
Dear ,
Thanks for staying up-to-date with NVSWCD's great stream monitoring and community programs! We hope to see you soon at one of the upcoming fall stream monitoring sessions or workshops, the Mount Vernon Environment Expo, or another great community outreach event.
November Stream Monitoring Events
Hidden Pond Stream Monitoring Session
When: Saturday, November 3, 9:00am-12:00pm
Where : Springfield
Join a volunteer certified stream monitor as she assesses ecological conditions in streams, based on the presence and abundance of bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Registration is required and limited to 5 registrants. Register by email to Susan Demsko .

Reston Association Stream Monitoring Workshop
When: Saturday, November 3, 11:00am-2:00pm
Where: Reston
Fall brings cooler weather and beautiful colors. What better way to do this than to get your feet wet in one of Reston’s streams? RA welcomes new volunteers to assist with stream monitoring at several locations. Get involved with a small team to collect data and identify insects with the goal of assessing the health of Reston’s stream. Not only do you get to learn about streams, it also provides an opportunity to make new friends. Learn more and register for the workshop.

Young's Branch Stream Monitoring Session
When: Sunday, November 4, 10:00am-12:00pm
Where: Manassas Battlefield Park
Join this team of dedicated pioneer stream monitors of the Audubon Society to monitoring this beautiful historic stretch of the Young's Branch in the Bull Run Watershed. Registration is limited. RSVP to Stephanie Martin .

Accotink Creek Stream Monitoring Workshop
When: Sunday, November 11, 10:00am-12:30pm
Where: Rutherford Park, Annandale
Join NVSWCD as we discover aquatic life at Rutherford Park! Sampling will take place at Long Branch, a tributary to Accotink Creek. This official NVSWCD stream monitoring workshop covers watershed health, what macroinvertebrates tell us about stream quality, and what you can do to prevent pollution in your local stream. Registration is limited. RSVP to Ashley Palmer .

Broad Run Stream Monitoring Session
When: Saturday, December 1, 10:30am-12:30pm
Where: Bristow
Join a stream monitor at this adopted outdoors science lab to learn more about water quality for more awareness in Prince William County. Registration is limited. RSVP to Sonnie Cuffey .
November NVSWCD Events
Build You Own Tumbling Composter
When: Saturday, November 10, 1:30-4:30pm
Where : City of Falls Church Community Center
Start with a pile of lumber, a recycled pickle barrel, and assorted screws and bolts, but leave with a fully functioning tumbler composter! Staff from the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District and the City of Falls Church will guide you through the construction steps. All lumber will be pre-cut and all tools and materials will be provided. The cost is $80 and registration is limited to 12 people, although you may bring helpers to assist with construction. Please RSVP to Dan Schwartz: dan.schwartz@fairfaxcounty.gov or (703) 324-1422.
Mount Vernon Environment Expo
When: November 10, 8:00am-12:00pm
Where: Alexandria
Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck will host his first Environment Expo where we will explore how everyone can help save our planet. The morning will feature an Exhibit Hall with a variety of County agencies, services provider and educators, informational and hands-on workshops and screenings of the film "Hometown Habitat". Be sure to visit the Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District table at the expo, where we will have NVSWCD Conservation Specialists speaking about the ways you can resolve drainage and erosion concerns on your property, and the programs that are available to support you! Learn more and register for the event.
November Community Events
Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals Level 2 Training
When: November 8-10, 9:30am-5:30pm each day
Where: Arlington
Attendance on all days is required. The seminar includes classroom lectures, group and individual exercises, and a field trip. The seminar is followed by a written assessment on November 30. Level 2 topics include detailed site analysis, soil and vegetation protection during construction, using natural plant communities as reference landscapes to inspire design, and an in-depth focus on stormwater BMP design and installation, with an eye toward long-term management success. CBLP is focused on creating a connected community of like-minded professionals, and this fast-paced and dynamic class allows dedicated time for networking and socializing with participants and instructors. To apply for Level 2, you must have already passed the Level 1 exam (or be confirmed to take the exam), and must have experience in design and/or installation of stormwater practices. To learn more and register for this paid training, please visit the CBLP website .

Lane's Mill Workday and Invasive Plant Pull
When: Saturday, November 10, 8:30am-1:30pm
Where: Centreville
We will be clearing overgrowth and invasive plants at Lane's Mill. This project will help the Park Authority protect the ruins of this 1760 mill and allow for detailed documentation. Learn more and register for the event.

Meadow Planting & Accotink Gorge Walking Tour
When: Saturday, November 10, 10:00am-1:00pm & 1:30pm-4:30pm
Where: Springfield
Join Friends of Accotink Creek at this great volunteer opportunity! Bring trowels and shovels to help install a native meadow at a Fairfax County maintenance facility. Afterward take a walking tour of the adjacent scenic Accotink Gorge and spend some time along the way cutting back the alien invasive Chinese wisteria vines that are engulfing this biological gem. We recommend sturdy work shoes, long pants, and long sleeves. Water and work gloves will be available. Free event. See this and other volunteer and educational opportunities by visiting the Friends of Accotink Creek calendar .

How Recycling Works in Fairfax County
When: Tuesday, November 13, 7:30-8:30pm
Where: Alexandria
Fairfax County Recycling Coordinator, Erica Carter, will share what happens to our recyclables after they're picked up from our curb and what we can do to reduce the amount of trash we produce. Sponsored by the Kingstowne Cares Conservation Club. View the event on facebook or nextdoor .

The Biodiversity of the George Washington Memorial Parkway
When: Wednesday, November 14, 7:30pm
Where: Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria
On November 14, National Park Service biologist Brent Steury will give a presentation summarizing the George Washington Memorial Parkway’s eleven-year biodiversity inventory of its 4,580 acres.  NPS experts have documented 5,563 species: 101 species new to the flora or fauna of Virginia, seven species new to the District of Columbia, three species new to North America, at least 71 species new to science, 106 species state listed for rarity, three federally-threatened species and 58 peer-reviewed journal articles published in the last 11 years. Steury has worked for the National Park Service (NPS) for over 20 years. For the past 15 years he has overseen the all-taxa biodiversity inventory. This free, public program is sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh, the American Horticultural Society, the Friends of Little Hunting Creek and the Four Mile Run Conservancy Foundation. Learn more about this program on the Friends of Dyke Marsh website .

Trash Cleanup at Marumsco Creek
When: Saturday, November 17
Where: Woodbridge
Volunteer opportunity! Partner with the PWC Parks & Recreation Department, PWC Dept. of Public Works, and the PW Soil & Water Conservation District on a trash cleanup in the Woodbridge district. We’ll focus on Marumsco Creek, where it flows through Jefferson Park and Veteran’s Park. The cleanup will be part of a larger public outreach event on Plastics Pollution Prevention and Cleanup, with educational exhibits setup at Veterans Park. Learn more by visiting the event webpage and registering for the cleanup at Veteran's Park and/or Jefferson Park.
Applications Now Open for Spring 2019 Internship!
NVSWCD is seeking a spring intern that will support the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District’s award-winning spring outreach programs. We reach thousands of people in breadth and have a deep impact on many youth and adults. Programs can include classroom presentations, outdoor learning experiences, outreach events and festivals, high school Envirothon competition, rain barrel workshops, Seedling Sale, high school science fair project judging, stream monitoring, Enviroscape trainings, storm drain marking, the Sustainable Garden Tour, and more! Learn more about this paid opportunity and how to apply by visiting the positon description and announcement . Please share this opportunity with all qualified applicants that may be interested.
What this summer's rainfall could mean for the Bay
This article written by Joan Smedinghoff for the Chesapeake Bay Program considers the impact summer rains have had on the Chesapeake Bay. This is a very insightful look into the changes we'll see in the Bay in upcoming months. Check out the article here .
Photo by Kaitlyn Dolan/Chesapeake Bay Program
Watershed groups have a positive impact on local water quality, study finds
You help us make a difference! This article written by Chris Branam from Oregon State University discusses a recent research study that suggests that watershed groups can positively impact their local watershed. Check out the article here .
Photo by Sarah Beldin/USGS