August 2019
Watershed Calendar
Dear ,

For all of you stream monitors that have considered becoming certified, good news! NVSWCD is partnering with Prince William SWCD to put on a certification workshop to be held on Saturday, August 10, 9am-3pm at Manassas National Battlefield Park . Here, you'll have the opportunity to become certified and monitor your own stream. See more details below!

If you have questions on the certification test, study materials, or anything else relating to the certification workshop, feel free to reach out to Ashley Palmer at Ashley.palmer@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-324-1423. We'll see you there!

For certified stream monitors, the summer monitoring season starts July 1 and ends August 31 . Now is your opportunity to get out and explore your stream this summer! If you need new monitoring supplies, reach out to Ashley and get restocked for summer stream monitoring.

With a more consistent schedule for stream monitoring, NVSWCD has announced the remainder of our outdoor stream monitoring workshops for 2019! Hopefully this will help some of our volunteer monitors that need to schedule events farther out. See events below for more details.
Stream Monitoring & Stream Cleanup Events
Broad Run/Dawkin's Branch Stream Monitoring Session
When: Saturday, August 3, 10:30am-12:30pm  
Where: Bristow, VA
Parking is in the upper parking lot of Victory Lakes Elementary School parking at 12001 Tygart Lake, Bristow VA 20136. Follow signs near the playground to the Broad Run trail near the kiosk area. Join Sonnie Coffey at this beautiful adopted outdoor learning site for more water quality awareness in Prince William County. You're invited to come learn more about benthic invertebrates and how they can determine the water quality of a stream. For more information and RSVP, please contact  Sonnie Coffey .

Reston Association Stream Monitoring Workshop
When: Wednesday, August 14, 1:00-4:00pm
Where: Walker Nature Center, Reston VA
Spring is here and the warm weather is creeping back. What better way to enjoy the changing seasons 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 streams. Not only do you get to learn about streams,
it also provides an opportunity to make new friends! Learn more and register .

Wolftrap Creek Stream Monitoring Workshop
When : Friday, August 16, 5:00-7:30pm
Where : Wildwood Park, Vienna, VA
Join NVSWCD as we discover aquatic life in Wolftrap Creek at certified monitor Ho Yeon's site in Wildwood Park! 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. This workshop will also help to prepare you to become a certified stream monitor. Registration is limited. Send questions to Ashley Palmer and RSVP here .

Keep Loudoun Beautiful Stream Cleanup
When: Sunday, August 18, 9:00am-3:00pm
Where: Taylorstown VA
Please join Keep Loudoun Beautiful in cleaning up a section of the Potomac River. Professional river guides will transport participants upstream and we'll pick up and bag trash as we paddle down the Potomac. Canoes, life jackets, cleanup supplies, and refreshments/lunch will be provided. Wear clothing and sturdy footwear that are weather appropriate and can get wet and dirty. No sandals, open-toed shoes, or bare feet. Registration is required. Event is free, but space is limited. Visit Keep Loudoun Beautiful for more information, and to complete registration forms and liability waivers.

Holmes Run Stream Monitoring Session
When: Sunday, August 18, 9:00am-12:00pm
Where: Near Hockett Street, Falls Church VA
Join certified stream monitor Valerie Bertha at her site in Holmes Run. Registration is limited. Contact Valerie for more information or to register.

Pohick Creek Stream Monitoring Session
When: Sunday, August 18, 1:30-4:00pm
Where: Hidden Pond Nature Center, Springfield VA
Join certified stream monitor Susan Demsko at her site at Hidden Pond Nature Center. Registration is limited. Contact Susan Susan for more information or to register.

Reston Association Stream Monitoring Workshop
When: Saturday, August 24, 8:00-11:00am
Where: Reston VA
Spring is here and the warm weather is creeping back. What better way to enjoy the changing seasons 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 streams. Not only do you get to learn about streams,
it also provides an opportunity to make new friends! Learn more and register .

Potomac River Cleanup at Jones Point Park
When: Saturday, September 7, 9:00am-12:00pm
Where: Jones Point Park, Alexandria VA
Get your Hands Dirty for Clean Water! Our river clean-ups will kick off again in early September (which is not so far away!). We'll be collecting trash, beautifying our community, and fighting for clean water on a beautiful summer day. Potomac Conservancy will provide trash grabbers, gloves, bags, and all other materials for a successful cleanup.  Register today for this free, family-friendly event!

Sugarland Run Stream Monitoring Workshop
When : Sunday, September 8, 10:00am-12:30pm
Where : Sugarland Run Stream Valley Park, Herndon, VA
Join NVSWCD as we discover aquatic life in Sugarland Run! 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. This workshop will also help to prepare you to become a certified stream monitor. Registration is limited. Send questions to Ashley Palmer and RSVP here .

Accotink Creek Stream Monitoring Session
When: Saturday, September 14, 9:30am-11:30am
Where: Lake Accotink Park, Springfield VA
Join Friends of Lake Accotink Park and Friends of Accotink Creek for a rewarding and fun time for adults and children who enjoy helping our parks and environment by identifying and counting stream critters to document the health of the stream. RSVP here .

Holmes Run Stream Monitoring Workshop
When : Saturday, October 19, 9:00-11:30am
Where : Roundtree Park, Falls Church, VA
Join NVSWCD as we discover aquatic life in Holmes Run! 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. This workshop will also help to prepare you to become a certified stream monitor. Registration is limited. Send questions to Ashley Palmer and RSVP here .

Horsepen Run Stream Monitoring Workshop
When : Sunday, November 3, 10:00am-12:30pm
Where : Horsepen Run Stream Valley Park, Herndon, VA
Join NVSWCD as we discover aquatic life in Horsepen Run! 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. This workshop will also help to prepare you to become a certified stream monitor. Registration is limited. Send questions to Ashley Palmer and RSVP here .
NOVA Stream Monitor Certification Workshop
This event is jointly organized by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District and the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District and is open to anyone aspiring to become a Certified Stream Monitor.

Once certified, a monitor can adopt a stream site to monitor quarterly. The certification/training follows the Virginia Save Our Streams (SOS) monitoring protocol and the data collected is sent to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

All certified monitors are also invited to seize this opportunity to meet with the Chesapeake Monitoring Council Coordinator for new monitoring meters or get old meters calibrated.

Saturday, August 10, 2019
9am-3pm

To register and for more information,
please contact Veronica Tangiri  (Prince William) or Ashley Palmer (Fairfax)
NVSWCD Events
2019 Conservation Poster Contest
Deadline: October 4, 2019
The Youth Poster Contest is a national competition. Students submit entries to their local Conservation District. Winning entries can be sent to state and even national competitions for judging and awards. The contest is open to the public, private or home school students, girl scout/boy scout troops, etc. Please note that both Girl and Boy Scouts that participate in the contest and submit valid entries at any level are eligible to receive the VASWCD Conservation Poster Patch.
·          K-1
·          2-3
·          4-6
·          7-9
·          10-12
Entries must be submitted to the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District by October 4, 2019. Learn more and enter .
Community Events
Applications are now being accepted for the Fall 2019 Arlington Regional Master Naturalists Volunteer Training class!
You can make a difference in our community by becoming a Master Naturalist volunteer! The Virginia Master Naturalist program trains volunteers to provide education, citizen science, and outreach to help conserve and steward natural resources and public lands. Master Naturalist volunteers gain certification through state-approved natural history courses. Recognized experts in a wide range of disciplines such as ecology, botany, herpetology, ornithology, forest and aquatic ecosystems, and much more provide fun and interactive training. Volunteers must commit to at least 40 hours of service and 8 hours of continuing education annually to become certified. Arlington Regional Master Naturalists (ARMN) will hold daytime training this spring, beginning September 9 through December 9, 2019 on Mondays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington , and at other locations around the area. Classroom training generally will be scheduled for the mornings with field training to follow in the afternoons. Applications are due Friday, August 9, 2019.  ARMN will hold an open house for prospective trainees on Tuesday, August 6 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Long Branch Nature Center. Applicants for the Fall 2019 Basic Training Class are encouraged to attend. For more information and to complete an application, visit the Arlington Regional Master Naturalist website at www.armn.org

Birds, Butterflies, and Dragonflies 
When: Sunday, August 18, 8:30am
Where: Bles Park, Ashburn VA
Join the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a walk at Bles Park located along the Potomac River in eastern Loudoun. We'll look for birds, butterflies, and dragonflies in this hidden gem of a park with a great mix of habitat. Everyone is welcome. Bring binoculars if you have them. Questions: Contact Bryan Henson

2019 4th Annual Farm to Table Dinner for Environmental Education
When: Saturday, August 24, 3:00-7:00pm
Where: Windy Knoll Farm, Nokesville VA
On Saturday August 24, 2019 the Prince William Environmental Excellence Foundation will be hosting their 4th annual Farm to Table fundraiser dinner to support environmental education. Windy Knoll Farm is a working farm in addition to being an event center that hosts a variety of the education programs that the Foundation funds for county residents. The event will run from 3 – 7 p.m. The meal will be served from 4:00-5:30 with the ability to eat anytime within that time frame. Tickets for the meal are; $35 for adults, $15 for children ages 13 - 18, and free for children 12 and under. Following meal time, a live auction and speaker on rural development, Chris Price PWC Planning Director, will commence. In addition to the meal and live auction, there will also be a silent auction, photo sessions, opportunities to meet local artisan & farm sponsors, view vendor displays, farm hayride tours, and antique equipment displays.
All proceeds from the event go towards the implementation of beyond the walls of the classroom environmental and agricultural education for the Prince William County Community. This mission is achieved through educational programs: Farm Field Days, Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE’s), Arbor Day activities, Water Quality Monitoring, and Adopt-A-Stream, to name a few. Your support of the Foundation and the community enable us to provide these outreach programs.

Purchase your tickets early and bring a friend or neighbor to a dinner that highlights the wonderful agricultural products produced in Prince William County. All ticket sales for this event are final. If you are unable to attend this wonderful event we ask that you consider making a tax exempt donation through this site to help us expand the learning environment of Prince William County youth. We thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you at the dinner. Register for the event here .
For the event menu or more information about the event, visit our website.

Edible Landscaping Plants with Fairfax Food Council
When: Tuesday, September 10, 6:30-8:00pm
Where: Daniels Run Peace Church, Fairfax VA
Are you trying to figure out how to grow food without upsetting your HOA or subtracting from the beauty of your existing landscaping? Do you want a garden that delights all five of your senses? Permaculture farmer, Cory Suter, will lead a tour of Daniels Run’s edible landscaping and then discuss selecting edible perennials for challenging conditions such as shade, clay soil, and hungry deer. He will introduce dozens of successful edible landscaping plants for Fairfax County, including beautiful evergreens, and deciduous plants with multi-season interest that produce food.
Hosted by the Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth. Registration is required. Learn more and register here .

Singing Insects
When: Wednesday, September 11, 6:30pm
Join Friends of Dyke Marsh to learn about “singing insects,” how they make sounds, and why. Speaker Wil Hershberger, Nature Images and Sounds and coauthor of The Songs of Insects. Email FODM for more information.
6:30 p.m. Informal social
7 p.m. Insect talk
8 p.m. Insect listening walk
Help Stop the Spread of a New Species of Water Chestnut
Localities, pond management personnel and the general public are asked to look for a new species of Water Chestnut (genus  Trapa ) recently found in the Potomac Watershed. It has been spreading since 1995 so you may have already encountered this floating aquatic vegetation growing over the surface of a pond, lake or other fresh waterbody. This species  is identified by the seed cases having two spines instead of four found in the Eurasian Water Chestnut. Reports of this or other invasive aquatic species can be made using  this reporting form .  Water Chestnut should be managed by mechanical harvesting or herbicide application. 
Invasive Watch:
Spotted Lantern Fly
A potentially very serious pest of grapes, peaches, hops, and a variety of other crops, the spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, was detected in Frederick County, Virginia, on Jan. 10, 2018. It is important to look for it and report any finds. The spotted lanternfly has also been reported on a range of ornamentals around the home and in the landscape; in high numbers, the insect can become a nuisance pest to homeowners.

by Brad Leahy, Vice President of Blades of Green, Potomac Conservancy