September 2020
Watershed Calendar
|
|
Hello ,
As we move into fall, a new normal, and for some of us a new school year, we hope that you'll use this time to take advantage of virtual learning opportunities and citizen science volunteer events. Read on and see all the cool things happening in your community this month, because we're happy to share them with you!
We are offering a limited number of stream monitoring workshops this month that comply with CDC and VASOS recommendations for social distancing and safety. We hope to continue to offer these opportunities as we move into fall, and they'll be announced here in the Watershed Calendar.
As you've heard many times before, wash your hands, stay home, and take care of yourself. Keep in touch with NVSWCD on our Facebook and Instagram. Your friendly neighborhood stream monitors are very happy to welcome you back!
Ashley Palmer
Conservation Education Specialist
ashley.palmer@fairfaxcounty.gov
703-324-1423
|
|
|
|
Stream Monitoring
Citizen Science & Training Opportunities
|
|
|
NVSWCD stream monitoring workshops have resumed! |
|
NVSWCD stream monitoring workshops are resuming, with safety as our first priority. It may seem very different than the stream monitoring that you're used to, but we hope to have you join us.
New precautions for stream monitoring workshops include:
- social distancing and spacing out equipment
- small group sizes
- masks are required for all participants
We expect these workshops to fill up quickly, so follow the links below to register or join the waitlist. Priority is given to volunteers who have completed the IWLA online training.
-
Big Rocky Run, Centreville - Friday, September 11, 10:00am-12:30pm (9/11 Day of Service) - Register Here
- Sugarland Run, Herndon (by Route 7) - Saturday, September 19, 10:00am-12:30pm (celebrating World Water Monitoring Day) - Register Here
|
|
|
|
Stream Selfie
You can collect and share important data on the amount of trash at your neighborhood stream, if your stream is monitored for water quality, and more, just by taking a quick photo. Your observations will help us tell the story of our country’s waterways. Snap a stream selfie and check out other submissions! While you're at it, check out all the other cool citizen science projects on SciStarter!
|
|
Creek Critters
Ready to start monitoring, but not quite ready to take on official training and certification? Creek Critters has got you covered! This app guides you step by step through the process of finding and identifying bugs in your stream. Perfect for families, public programs, and even as a solo activity, Creek Critters is easy and fun. Collect bugs by following simple step-by-step instructions, and identify your bugs with an interactive identification key. Once you’ve identified your bugs, Creek Critters does the rest! The app automatically calculates your Stream Health Score based on your findings. This score can tell you how healthy your stream is! Learn more and get started!
|
|
Izaak Walton League Stream Monitoring Training
Want to become a certified Save Our Streams monitor? Now you can start the certification process from the comfort of your home with online interactive webinars! Simply watch the video versions of in-person training lectures: Introduction to Water Quality and Introduction to Macroinvertebrates. Miss the live sessions? You can still watch the recordings! After viewing the trainings, you have the opportunity to take part of the stream monitor certification exam, with the in-person portion to follow. See all the information you need here!
|
|
International Coastal Cleanup (September 1- October 31)
Join Clean Virginia Waterways, the Alice Ferguson Foundation, the Potomac Conservancy, and numerous local organizations in participating in this year's International Coastal Cleanup! Thousands of volunteers gather along the shorelines of Virginia’s rivers, lakes, bays, and beaches in September and October to cleanup litter and debris, and recycle found items. They also complete Data Cards or use the CleanSwell app, to collect valuable information about the amounts and types of litter and debris they are finding.
|
|
Virtual Community Opportunities, Events & Webinars |
|
|
NVSWCD "Soil" Your Undies Challenge
Have you ever wondered how healthy your soil is? Take the Soil Your Undies Challenge and find out! NVSWCD is challenging farmers and ranchers across Fairfax County to bury a pair of cotton underwear as part of a campaign to promote soil health awareness. Find out more on our website!
|
|
Fairfax County Community-Wide Energy and Climate Action Plan Seeks YOUR Input!
Fairfax County is developing its first-ever Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) and your input is needed! Only three percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the county come from local government and school operations, the rest are from cars and trucks on our roads, energy use in our buildings, waste management processes, and other community sources. It’s up to all of us to take steps, even small ones, to reduce our emissions so that our families, friends, neighbors, and future residents of Fairfax County are spared the consequences of climate change and can thrive in a clean, healthy, prosperous community. Join one of three virtual public meetings in late August and early September and take the CECAP public survey to share your opinions and suggestions. Your input will be considered by the CECAP Task Force as they make decisions about climate change mitigation goals, strategies, and actions we can take in the years to come.
|
|
Fairfax County, VA Household Water Quality Program
Do you know what’s in your drinking water? While public water supplies are tested daily for contaminants, most private water supplies, like wells and springs, are rarely tested. There are more than 16,000 household wells in Fairfax County. It is recommended that well owners test their water at least annually for bacteria and nitrates. Learn more about the quality of your water and how to care for your water system at our Fairfax County Drinking Water Clinic. View the flyer and register.
|
|
Wetland Ecology
When: Tuesday, September 8, 7:30pm
Dr. Christian Jones of George Mason University’s Potomac Science Center will give a presentation titled “Wetland Ecosystems in the Mid-Atlantic: Types, Functions and Threats.” Hosted on Zoom by the Friends of Dyke Marsh, registration required in advance. To sign up, please email info@fodm.org and put “September 8 program” in the subject line and your name in the body of the email. Free.
Friends of Dyke Marsh Invasive Plant Removal - Volunteer Opportunity!
When: Thursday, September 10
Help control invasive plants! To sign up, email info@fodm.org. Sign-up is required. To reduce risk and have appropriate distancing, we have to limit participation to six people and require advance registration. Wear sturdy shoes, long pants and sleeves, gloves and sun protection. Bring water and insect repellent. We will provide bags, some tools and help people identify the target plants.
Virtual Walk & Talk: Healthier Streams for a Healthier Community
When: Thursday, September 10, 7:00-8:30pm
Join Fairfax County staff Charles Smith & JoAnne Fiebe for a virtual walk and talk about ideas for making this stream part of the community again. We’ll show videos of a recent site visit, talk with Charles and JoAnne about the vision for the Route 1 redevelopment, and talk about how, as we face bigger rain storms, redevelopment can be tied to creating healthier streams, and therefore a healthier world for us. Free. Register and learn more.
Friends of Accotink Creek Stream Monitoring
When: Saturday, September 12, 9:30-11:30am
Volunteers assess ecological conditions in streams, based on the presence and abundance of bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Where to Meet: Parking lot behind Lake Accotink Park Administrative building. Call or email for directions. See Friends of Accotink Creek for additional stream monitoring information. This event may be impacted by the Covid- 19 pandemic. Contact FoAC to confirm the event is taking place and to register.
Audubon Afternoon
When: Sunday, September 13, 3:00-4:00pm
Hosted by the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia. Guest Speaker: Amanda Gallinat. Save the date! Learn about some of our guest speaker’s work here.
HOAs and Condo Associations: Planning and Managing Common Open Space
When: Friday, September 25 and Saturday, October 24 (choose one) 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Join us for an engaging session on ecologically sustainable community master planning and land management in Loudoun County. The examples will be from Loudoun but the information is applicable anywhere, so all are welcome. Details here.
Conservation Advocacy 101 for HOAs and Condo Associations
We can act locally in our own communities to create change. Learn how you can make a difference. You'll get a chance to think about your own community, begin developing your own action plan, and participate in breakout discussions. Requested donation $10-$20. Click on the dates above to register.
Facinating Facts about Bears
When: Thursday, October 15, 7:00pm
Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Jenny Swiggart as she discusses the many fascinating and interesting facts about bears native to the area. Registration required. Participants will receive a link via email to this live-streamed program.
Leave No Trace Awareness Virtual Workshop
When: Thursday, October 22, 7:00pm
Join Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics Master Educator Jessie Myers for a one-hour Leave No Trace virtual awareness workshop. Learn about the history and principles of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and gain valuable knowledge, skills, and motivation to enjoy the outdoors responsibly and help spread the message of responsible recreation. Registration required; register and learn more.
Plants Shaped by Water
When: Tuesday, November 10
Charles Smith will give a presentation on plants shaped by water. We will hold this meeting via Zoom. Hosted on Zoom by the Friends of Dyke Marsh, registration required in advance. To sign up, please email info@fodm.org and put “November 10 program” in the subject line and your name in the body of the email. Free.
|
|
All Around the Garden
Gardening Webinars and Resources
|
|
|
Virginia Cooperative Extension - Prince William Horticulture Classes
Held Wednesdays 11:00am-12:00pm over Zoom! Added after to Youtube.
Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia
Held Fridays 10:00-11:30am over Zoom!
Lunch-n-Lawn with VCE Fairfax County Master Gardeners
Held every other Wednesday at noon (12:00pm). Questions are answered by a panel of Master Gardeners on growing healthy lawns and managing weeds.
Xerces Society - Gardening for Invertebrates
See website for webinar details (including time) and registration.
|
|
Do No Plant Unsolicited Seeds from China
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is aware that people across the country have received unsolicited packages of seed from China in recent days. APHIS is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection and State departments of agriculture to prevent the unlawful entry of prohibited seeds and protect U.S. agriculture from invasive pests and noxious weeds.
Anyone who receives an unsolicited package of seeds from China should immediately contact their State plant regulatory official or APHIS State plant health director. Please hold onto the seeds and packaging, including the mailing label, until someone from your State department of agriculture or APHIS contacts you with further instructions. Do not plant seeds from unknown origins.
People with questions can also call:
844-820-2234
Monday-Friday - 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET
Virginia Contact: Karen A. Williams, USDA APHIS PPQ
5657 South Laburnum Ave., Richmond VA 23231-4536
Office Phone: 804-226-5262
Cell Phone: 757-812-2064
|
|
 |
|
|
|
By Kellyann Baxendell and Laura Harrington, Ecological Landscape Alliance
|
|
|
|
|
By Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy
|
|
|
|
By Janet Quinn, Fairfax Master Naturalists
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
