December 2019
Watershed Calendar
Hello ,

In this month's watershed calendar, be sure to volunteer at the last few stream monitoring workshops and stream cleanups of 2019, check out upcoming events, and join the Izaak Walton League in their Winter Salt Watch Program! 

Ashley Palmer
Conservation Education Specialist
ashley.palmer@fairfaxcounty.gov
703-324-1423
Stream Monitoring Events
Accotink Creek Stream Monitoring Session
When: Saturday, December 14, 9:30am-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 .
Fall Stream Cleanup Events
Friends of Dyke Marsh Trash Cleanup
When : Saturday, December 12, 10:30am-2:00pm
Where : Alexandria VA
Join the FODMers for a trash cleanup along the Potomac River shoreline north of Belle Haven Park. Meet at the north Belle Haven Park parking lot. Bring water and gloves; wear long pants and sleeves and sturdy shoes. Other supplies provided by the National Park Service. If the weather is questionable, check the website  or  Facebook page .
Community Events
Fairfax Master Naturalist Spring 2020 Training Applications Now Open!
Applications Due : December 28, 2019
Applications for the spring 2020 basic training for the Fairfax Master Naturalists are now open. This exciting program is a great way to learn about our local environment, meet new people, and give back to the community. The training includes three months of weekly classes and four Saturday field trips. Classes run from 7-10 pm on Thursdays at the Fairfax County Government Center. Deadline for mailing is December 28, 2019.  Apply Today or Download the Flyer .

Take a Walk to See the Tundra Swans
When : Wednesday, January 1, 2020, 12:15pm
Where : Mason Neck State Park, Lorton VA
Have you ever seen Tundra Swans, those amazing birds that migrate thousands of miles from the Arctic to spend the winter in our region? Their haunting calls are nearly impossible to forget! You've got a great opportunity to see the Tundra Swans at 12:15 pm on January 1, when the Friends of Mason Neck State Park will lead a guided walk to see them. We'll start from the Woodmarsh Trail parking lot, on the left side of High Point Road a short distance BEFORE you get to the Park's Contact Station. We'll walk about a mile over fairly level ground to the viewing area. You'll likely hear the birds before you see them. We'll have binoculars and telescopes so you can view the swans and other water birds and we'll also help you identify them. There's no charge for this event, which is open to everyone. Come out and enjoy the first day of 2020 with the Friends! The trails can be a little muddy, so be sure to wear sturdy shoes or boots.  Learn more .

Conservation Action Workshop
When : Thursday, January 16, 2020, 6:00-7:30pm
Where : Belmont Station Elementary School, Ashburn VA
Want to be a steward of the landscape and our watersheds? Whether it’s installing a rain garden on your own property, working to convince an HOA to make a management change to shared space, or identifying ways to evolve HOA guidelines, learn the basics of making change locally. After a short presentation, you’ll divide into groups and prepare your own Action Plans to grow your watershed stewardship. Got kids? Bring them along! They will join a separate kids’ activity to learn about watershed health with fun, hands on activities they’ll enjoy! Sponsored by the Audubon Naturalist Society and hosted by Renee Grebe .

2nd Annual Native Plants for Beginners
When : Saturday, February 8, 2020, 6:00-7:30pm
Where : Northern Virginia Community College, Woodbridge VA
More details and registration info to follow. See plantnovanatives.org for more information.
  With a chill in the air and snowstorms already blowing through some parts of the country, we know that ice, snow, and salt aren’t far behind. It’s time to gear up for Winter Salt Watch!

Last year Winter Salt Watch volunteers helped us learn more about chloride levels in 17 states across the country. Volunteers and community groups took more than 300 readings using their Salt Watch kits! You can join this nationwide citizen science project and find out how road salt is affecting your local waterways. Order your FREE Winter Salt Watch kit today – even if there’s no snow on the ground yet. You can use your kit right away to take a reading before the road salt starts to pile up. We call these readings “baselines”, and they give you a number against which to compare your winter chloride readings. Without a baseline, you can’t effectively track changes in chloride levels and what’s causing these changes, such as road salt application. Aquatic life is affected by chloride when levels exceed 230 ppm (parts per million). And water treatment plants are not equipped to filter out extra salt, so it can end up in your tap water and even corrode your pipes.

This year we plan to synthesize and share the Salt Watch data with participants regularly throughout the season. Don't miss an update –  request your FREE Salt Watch kit right now!


Article and photo by Barbara J. Saffir, Fairfax Master Naturalist