Water Quality Awareness, Natural Resource Conservation, and Environmental Sustainability | |
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Some upcoming Water Quality Events
Sept. 16: Citizens for Water Quality Summit
Sept. 21: Potomac River Conference
Sept. 23: Upper Occoquan Annual River Cleanup (PWTSC)
Sept. 23: Fall Festival at Leopold's Preserve
Sept. 26: 2023 VWMC Conference https://vwmc.vwrrc.vt.edu/conferences/]
Oct. 6: Potomac Watershed Roundtable meeting
Oct. 11-12: Farm Field Days
Oct. 14: Occoquan River Cleanup (FOTO)
Oct. 14: Little Bull Run Cleanup Event
Oct. 24: NOAA Marine Debris Action Plan Review
Oct. 28: PW Service Authority 1st annual Trick or Treatment event (10 -2 p.m.)
Nov. 11: Bull Run Watershed Protectors Cleanup event (9 -12 p.m.) Rain date Nov. 18
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Conservation Education in the Community | |
At the 2023 Manassas African American Heritage Festival, folks stopped by the Conservation District's booth to learn more about the Conservation District's mission and programs. Among them were Supervisor Andrea O. Bailey of the Potomac District, Supervisor Kenny Boddye of the Occoquan District, the Prince William County School Superintendent, Dr. LaTanya McDade, and other conservation friends like R. Jessie. They also had the opportunity to meet the Conservation District Manager, Duane Mohr, and his conservation team. | |
Portland, Oregon Artist into Water Quality Education and Plastic Pollution Awareness in Prince William County | |
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(L-R): Artist Angela Pozzi ( ReUPIt ), Veronica Tangiri (PWSWCD), and Frank Rocco (ReUpit Marketing Director).
Picture taken in Portland, Oregon
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Angela Hoseltine Pozzi (left) in Portland, Oregon, is the Artist behind this stunning piece of Water Quality Educational Outreach art which features the most caddisfly and rich biodiversity around aquatic ecosystems. Ms. Pozzi has also done some artwork for the Smithsonian Museum. This art is to promote clean water awareness in Northern Virginia. This 14-month project collected plastic debris from Prince William County's waterways that was later shipped to Portland, Oregon.
The completed piece of art arrived in Prince William County last May with a celebration.
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia (CFNV) supported this project through a grant offered to promote the Conservation District's mission of natural resources protection and conservation.
Thanks to the support of the Prince William County School System, through its Center for Environment and Natural Resource Sciences (CENS) at Freedom High School, for promoting clean water awareness for future generations. This Center's leadership role in promoting natural sciences will promote environmental sustainability in Northern Virginia and beyond.
Thanks to the Prince William Service Authority, and Fairfax Water Authority for their great community partnership in supporting the Conservation District's mission of clean water in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
The Prince William County Service Authority had the Water Quality Educational Outreach Sculpture on display to the public this summer at the Raymond Spittle Building in Woodbridge.
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Sculpture being transported from CENS to PWSA | |  |
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Michelle Bouchard of Prince William Service Authority and Nicki Bellezza of Fairfax Water | |
Fairfax Water Authority will have the Water Quality Educational Outreach Sculpture displayed at the Potomac Roundtable Meeting in October. | |
The Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District's Water Quality Program joins the Ecological Society of America (ESA) to inaugurate ESA's Private and Public Sector Section | |
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The Ecological Society of America's 2023 Annual meeting that took place last August in Portland, Oregon, featured the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District (PWSWCD) in the inauguration of a new section for ecologists in the state, local government, and private sectors.
This year's theme "Ecological Society of America for All Ecologists", recognized the great contributions made by ecologists in promoting science and research, especially those working in non-academic institutions.
Veronica Tangiri, with the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District's Water Quality Program, joined other ecologists from across the nation in a panel discussion on careers in applied ecology.
Ms. Tangiri, also had the opportunity to meet with Honorable Jane Lubchenco, Deputy Director for Climate and Environment, and Heather Tallis, Assistant Director for Biodiversity and Conservation Sciences with the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the Executive Office of the President. She brought back to Virginia the "Request for Public Comments on Proposed Guidance for Assessing Changes in Environmental and Ecosystem Services in Benefit-Cost Analysis".
For public comments, please click here.
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Photo credit: Ecological Society of America. | |
L-R, Honorable Jane Lubchenco , Veronica Tangiri , and Heather Tallis | |
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Farm Field Days 2023
Volunteers Needed!
Wednesday, October 11
Thursday, October 12
The volunteer registration form is now live on our website. To volunteer (or if you plan to bring livestock) please go to:
https://forms.gle/BoCqK8LbpnLUV3TQ7
For more information, please contact Kim Lowther, at education@pwswcd.org
or call our office at 571-379-7514
We hope to see you at Farm Field Days this year!
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The Conservation District's Water Quality Program Gets $6,500 from Fairfax Water Authority!
This is a Grant Support to Promote Water Quality Monitoring in the Occoquan Watershed
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Join the Conservation District to Help Clean Waterways in your neighborhood!
Make a difference in the community by adopting a pond or waterway. Locate any site (orange color) on the map or propose any waterbody/wetland close to home and be part of the Conservation District's Adopt-A-Stream/Pond/River Program.
Click here: https://arcg.is/1SrPWa
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Promote Science and Research with the 'Clean Swell' App!
Explore the Clean Swell App provided by Ocean Conservancy. Record your cleanup data from any location across the County.
To report your cleanup data, get the free download "Clean Swell" App
Land Cleanup <Enter Group Name <: "PWSWCD"
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Enter your data as you clean up!
- Promote Water Quality Awareness
- Get free cleanup supplies from the Conservation District
For more information, contact:
waterquality@pwswcd.org
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Water Quality Volunteers Make a Difference!
Together, We Can Make A Change!
To adopt a waterway,
Contact;
waterquality@pwswcd.org
Video on Plastic Pollution Awareness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh4r15a-su4&t=15s
Marine Debris Project - Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District
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The County's First Trash Trap "Bandalong" needs frequent cleanups.
Do you know how this system works?
Be part of this data collection program every Friday in the Neabsco Watershed! For more information, please contact: Tim Hughes (thughes@pwcgov.org).
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Chemical Monitoring Program | |
Volunteers with the Conservation District collect monthly water quality data on conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and turbidity from waterways across Prince William County, its towns and cities. | |
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Community Science Volunteers Needed for the Chemical Monitoring Program
This data goes to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) as Tier II data through the Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Cooperative (CMC).
Volunteers support with water quality data from any site in the community, backyard, or nearby stream. No bushwhacking is involved.
For all monitoring sites across Prince William County, visit: Chesapeake Data Explorer
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Did you know Prince William has about 1,100 miles of streams? Become a chemical water quality monitor!
For more information, contact:
Veronica Tangiri, waterquality@pwswcd.org
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Green Algae or Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)?
Have concerns about strange greenish organisms in your nearby ponds or lakes?
Contact: waterquality@pwswcd.org
What are Cyanobacteria? (www.vdh.virginia.gov)
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For Promoting Water Quality and Green Community Awareness | |
Adopt-A-Stream/Pond/ River Program | |
- Prince William Serve Authority, Neabsco Watershed
- Girl Scout Troop (GST) 90054, Bull Run Watershed
- BSA Troop 884, Winter Branch, Broad Run
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Biological Monitoring Program | |
- Thanks to Certified Monitor Elaine Wilsom and Team, Catharpin Creek, Little Bull Run.
- Thanks to all the newly certified monitors this summer!
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Water Quality Certification Event in the Broad Run Watershed | | |
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Prince William Soil and Water Conservation Staff Certification Event, Hooes Run, Occoquan Watershed | |
Chemical Monitoring Program | |
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Thanks to all the amazing chemical monitors who keep track of water quality changes in our waterways every month!
Special thanks to the Merrimac Master Naturalist Chemical Monitoring Team led by Shea Megale and Tom Ligon for spotting traces of cyanobacteria and Trapa bisponosa in the Middle Bull Run Watershed.
Thanks to the swift measures taken by the Manassas City Public Works Department, the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and the George Mason University lab.
The Merrimac Master Naturalist Chemical Monitoring Team is on the updates on the cleanup and changing conditions.
Meet Shea Megale and Tom Ligon as they share chemical monitoring techniques and their field experiences with the Prince William Master Gardeners on September 30th.
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Picture Credit: Tom Ligon | |
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Some Upcoming Water Quality Events | |
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September 16
Virginia Citizens for Water Quality
At Randolph Macon College, Ashland VA.
The Virginia Citizens for Water Quality (VCWQ) summit is here! To Registration and for more information, visit the VCWQ website here.
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September 21
Potomac River Conference
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This event is in memory of Curtis Dalpra, who greatly supported and promoted the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District's Water Quality Program. Curtis will be greatly missed! | |
September 23 (Upper Occoquan Rive ( PWTSC) | |
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September 26
2023 Virginia Water Monitoring Council (VWMC) Conference – September 26, 2023 (9am-4pm) – Henrico, VA
Learn more about the conference program, scholarship opportunity, and registration process at https://vwmc.vwrrc.vt.edu/conferences/. Contact vwmc@vt.edu for more information. Organized by the Virginia Water Monitoring Council.
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October 6: Potomac Watershed Roundtable Meeting | |
October 14: Occoquan River Cleanup (FOTO) | |
October 14: Little Bull Run Cleanup | |
Thanks again for making a difference!
Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District is funded by Prince William County Public Works Department, Stormwater Management Branch, and through financial and administrative assistance provided by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Soil and Water Conservation.
Programs, activities and employment opportunities are available to all people regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, or political affiliation. Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
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