March 2020
Watershed Calendar
Hello ,

We've recently updated our stream monitoring webpage with more information about stream monitoring, and we'll be adding even more about NVSWCD's streams and the data we've collected from them. Stay tuned!
In this month's watershed calendar, you have a lot of stream monitoring events and stream cleanups to choose from! I hope you get the opportunity to get outdoors, have a meaningful impact on your community, and have fun!

Ashley Palmer
Conservation Education Specialist
ashley.palmer@fairfaxcounty.gov
703-324-1423
Stream Monitoring Events
  • Workshops are hosted by certified Virginia Save Our Streams (VASOS) Trainers who operate certification programs in their respective areas.
  • Sessions are hosted by certified VASOS stream monitors.
  • Both are great opportunities to explore streams, gain stream monitoring experience, and gain service hours!
Powells Creek Stream Monitoring Session
When : Saturday, March 7, 10:00am-12:30pm
Where : Montclair VA
Join Prince William SWCD certified monitor Buck Arvin and the Merrimac Master Naturalist Team in monitoring the Powell’s Creek in the Montclair area. Residents are welcome to come support the data collection of this stream and learn more about the water quality in their local stream.
For directions RSVP to Buck Arvin .

Northern Virginia SWCD Big Rocky Run Stream Monitoring Workshop
When : Friday, March 13, 4:30-7:00pm
Where : Ellanor C. Lawrence, Centreville VA
Join Ashley Palmer in monitoring one of NVSWCD's stream monitoring sites along Big Rocky Run. Volunteers will learn more about watersheds and stream monitoring, collect and identify benthic macroinvertebrates, and use collected data to determine a stream score. Learn about the NVSWCD stream monitoring program and how to register here, contact Ashley with questions .

Accotink Creek Stream Monitoring Session
When: Saturday, March 14, 9:30-11:30am
Where: Lake Accotink Park, Springfield VA
Join 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. See upcoming Accotink Stream Monitoring events   here .

Northern Virginia SWCD Horsepen Creek Stream Monitoring Workshop
When : Saturday, March 14, 10:00am-12:30pm
Where : Horsepen Run Stream Valley Park, Herndon VA
Join Ashley Palmer in monitoring one of NVSWCD's stream monitoring sites along Horsepen Creek. Volunteers will learn more about watersheds and stream monitoring, collect and identify benthic macroinvertebrates, and use collected data to determine a stream score. Learn about the NVSWCD stream monitoring program and how to register here, contact Ashley with questions .

Canon Branch Stream Monitoring Session - Perfect for Home-school Students!
When : Thursday, March 19, 9:00-11:30am
Where : Manassas VA
The PWSWCD's Water Quality Monitoring programs has now established a new site for home-school students who would like to learn more about water quality monitoring in PWC. Join Prince William SWCD certified monitor Diane Behm at this newly adopted beautiful site on Cannon Branch ne ar the Manassas Airport for more water quality awareness. For more information about the event, please contact Diane Behm .

Airport Creek Stream Monitoring Session
When : Sunday, March 22, 11:00am-1:30pm
Where : Woodbridge VA
Join Prince William SWCD certified monitor Janis Cook at this beautiful adopted site in the Lake Ridge area for water quality monitoring experience. For more information and RSVP, please contact  Janis Cook .

Pohick Creek Stream Monitoring Session
When : Sunday, March 22, 1:00pm
Where: Hidden Pond Nature Center, Springfield VA
Join Northern Virginia SWCD certified stream monitor Susan Demsko as she celebrates World Water Day by monitoring her site along Pohick Creek at Hidden Pond Nature Center! Registration is limited. Contact Susan for more information or to register.

Reston Association Stream Monitoring Workshop
When : Saturday, April 4, 1:30pm
Where : Reston VA
Reston Association 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 .

Northern Virginia SWCD Sugarland Run Stream Monitoring Workshop
When : Monday, April 6, 5:00-7:30pm
Where : Sugarland Run Stream Valley Park, Herndon VA
Join Ashley Palmer in monitoring one of NVSWCD's stream monitoring sites along Sugarland Run. Volunteers will learn more about watersheds and stream monitoring, collect and identify benthic macroinvertebrates, and use collected data to determine a stream score. Learn about the NVSWCD stream monitoring program and how to register here, contact Ashley with questions .

Northern Virginia SWCD Difficult Run Stream Monitoring Workshop
When : Friday, April 10, 5:00-7:30pm
Where : Difficult Run Stream Valley Park, McLean VA
Join Ashley Palmer in monitoring one of NVSWCD's stream monitoring sites along Difficult Run. Volunteers will learn more about watersheds and stream monitoring, collect and identify benthic macroinvertebrates, and use collected data to determine a stream score. Learn about the NVSWCD stream monitoring program and how to register here, contact Ashley with questions .

Reston Association Stream Monitoring Workshop
When : Saturday, April 25, 9:00am
Where : Reston VA
Reston Association 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 .

Broad Run Stream Monitoring Session
When : Saturday, April 25, 10:00am-12:30pm
Where : Bristow VA
Join Prince William SWCD certified monitor Sonnie Coffey at this beautiful site in the Broad Run watershed which forms a major portion of the Occoquan River. Come learn about the benthic macroinvertebrates and how they interpret the health of streams for more water quality awareness. RSVP to  Sonnie .  

Catharpin Creek Stream Monitoring Session
When : Sunday, April 26, 12:00-2:00pm
Where : Haymarket VA
Join Elaine Wilson, one of PWSWCD's pioneer certified monitors and her team for fall monitoring at this beautiful site in the Catharpin Creek in the Gainesville area. This site has some outstanding critters that are unique only to this site. STEM kids are welcome. Spots are limited. For more information and RSVP, contact Elaine Wilson .

Quantico Creek/Prince William Forest Park Stream Monitoring Session
When : Tuesday, April 28
Where : Haymarket VA
Prince William Forest Park protects a large portion of the Quantico Creek; a watershed which scientists use as the water quality benchmark in Prince William County. Join Prince William SWCD certified monitor Larry Heath and Professor Meyering of Virginia Community College Woodbridge campus to learn more about water quality. RVSP to  Larry Heath .
Stream Cleanup Events
It's almost time for the Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup! Use these resources to find a stream cleanup you can join, and make a difference in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day!

Potomac Cleanup Leader Training Webinar
When : Tuesday, March 3, 6:30-7:10pm
In this online webinar training, you can learn how to lead a stream cleanup in your community for the Alice Ferguson Foundation Potomac Watershed Cleanup. The training will equip you with the tools to lead a successful community volunteer project. Learn more and register here .

Alice Ferguson Foundation and the Annual Potomac Watershed Cleanup

Alice Ferguson Foundation and the Trash Free Potomac Network

Potomac Conservancy
Student Opportunities
Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship
Application Deadline : Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Up to $1000 scholarship available to support high school seniors or college freshmen pursuing studies related to natural resource conservation. Open to students living in or studying in Fairfax County. Visit our website to see all application guidelines and access the application.

Youth Conservation Camp
Application Deadline : Wednesday, April 22, 2020
This week-long camp held in July on the Virginia Tech campus brings together 70 high school students from across Virginia to learn about conservation and the environment through hands-on experience with conservation professionals. Open to all high school students. NVSWCD offers a partial scholarship. Visit our website to learn more about camp and access the application.

Conservation Poster Contest
Where would we BEE without pollinators?
Submit by : Friday, May 15, 2020
Calling all K12 students! The Conservation Poster Contest for 2020 is now open with the theme "Where would we BEE without pollinators?" The contest is open to all students and scouts who enter receive a patch. Visit our website to see the contest rules and learn how to submit your poster.
Community Events
HOAs and Condo Associations: Sustainable Solutions to Landscaping Headaches
When : Friday, March 6
Where : Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus
This is a repeat of two successful events attended by nearly 200 HOA decision-makers and residents in 2019. Speakers will address topics of native plant and wildlife habitat conservation, legal aspects of HOA governance, and examples of community association properties that model innovative sustainable landscape practices, conservation and design. Other land management and conservation experts will be on hand at information tables with specific information and to answer questions. Details and registration.

Virginia Cooperative Extension - Prince William
Vegetable Gardening Series
When: Saturdays, March 7, 10:15am-1:15pm
Where: Bull Run Library, Manassas VA
Come join Master Gardeners to learn more about soils, cover crops, compost, planting calendar, containers and small spaces, managing pests, food safety, and more! Register for free classes here .

Virginia Cooperative Extension - Prince William
The Basics of Gardening Series
When: Saturdays, March 7, 10:15am-1:00pm
Where: Haymarket Gainesville Community Library, Haymarket VA
Come join Master Gardeners to learn more about soils, weeds, native plants, container gardening, seed-starting, rain gardens, integrated pest management, and more! Register for free classes here .

Walk & Talk: Healthier Streams for a Healthier Community
When : Saturday, March 21, 9:00-10:30am
Where : Alexandria VA
Join Fairfax County staff to walk and talk about ideas for making this stream part of the community again. As we face bigger rain storms, how can redevelopment be tied to creating healthier streams, and therefore a healthier world for us? Sponsored by the Audubon Naturalist Society. Learn more and register on the ANS calendar .

Creating a Wildlife Sanctuary on Your Property: The Audubon at Home Program
When : Saturday, March 21, 2:00-4:00pm
Where : Mason Neck State Park, Lorton VA
Join Friends of Mason Neck State Park and The Audubon Society of Northern Virginia at Mason Neck State Park’s Jammes House for a presentation on Saturday, March 21: “Creating a Wildlife Sanctuary on Your Property: The Audubon at Home Program.” Registrants for the program have free admission to the park starting at 1:00 p.m. on March 21 and light refreshments will be available. Registration is free and required.

Introduction to Stream Monitoring w/ Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy
When : Sunday, March 22, 2:00pm
Where : Ashburn Library, Ashburn VA
Aquatic critters living in our streams tell us a lot about water quality. Find out if you’d like to make a splash protecting the environment by joining Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s team of volunteer stream monitors. This introductory program at Ashburn Library will describe how citizen science surveys are used to assess local stream health and share opportunities to volunteer with stream monitoring teams this spring.  No registration required. Learn more .

Raptor Rapture
When : Saturday, April 25, 10:00am-12:00pm
Where : Belle Haven Park, Alexandria VA
Friends of Dyke Marsh , Secret Gardens Birds and Bees, and the National Park Service will host live raptors at Belle Haven Park. Free.

Monitor Bats
When : Sunday, April 26, 8:00pm
Where : Dyke Marsh, Haul Road Trail Entrance
Join Deborah Hammer and Friends of Dyke Marsh to do acoustic monitoring of the bats of Dyke Marsh, part of the City Nature Challenge. We will monitor their echolocation to determine what species might have emerged from hibernation.
Community News
By Plant NoVa Natives 
By Potomac conservancy
Image: William MacFarland, macfarlandphoto.net