October 2020
Watershed Calendar
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Hello ,
This month brings the return of virtual stream monitoring training sessions from the Izaak Walton League! 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 through 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
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Stream Monitoring
Citizen Science & Training Opportunities
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NVSWCD stream monitoring workshops have resumed, 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.
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Wolf Trap Creek Stream Monitoring, Vienna - Monday, October 12, 10:00am-12:30pm - Register Here
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Pohick Creek, Springfield - Saturday, October 31, 1:00pm-3:30pm - Register Here
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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. 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!
Introduction to Water Quality
- October 7, 7-8pm
- October 8, 1-2pm
Introduction to Macroinvertebrates
- October 6, 1-2pm
- October 8, 7-8pm
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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!
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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!
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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.
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Community Opportunities, Events & Webinars |
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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.
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An Afternoon with Dr. J. Drew Lanham
When: Friday, October 2, 1:30-2:30pm
A native of Edgefield, South Carolina, J. Drew Lanham is the author of The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature, which received the Reed Award from the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Southern Book Prize, and was a finalist for the John Burroughs Medal. He is a birder, naturalist, and hunter-conservationist who has published essays and poetry. Register and learn more.
Reston Arbor Day
When: Monday, October 12, 9:30-12:00pm
Join us as we plant native trees and shrubs in various Reston locations and remove invasive plants that harm trees. Learn about proper tree planting and care. Special guests will include Jim McGlone of the Virginia Department of Forestry. All volunteers will be notified of their planting location prior to event day. All locations will be in Reston. Contact Ha Brock at habrock@reston.org with questions. Learn more.
Fascinating 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.
Hawks: Their Natural History and Migratory Habitats
When: Tuesday, October 20, 7:00-8:00pm
While a number of hawks nest and raise their young in Northern Virginia, thousands migrate through our area in the fall. Liam McGranaghan, educator, wildlife photographer, avid falconer, and hawk bander, will describe the different birds of prey that migrate through our area. He will also describe how to identify them, how their behavior varies and the calls they make. Workshop link.
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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.
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Planning for a Pollinator Landscape
When: Thursday, October 22, 11:00am-12:00pm
Landscape Designer Barbara Ryan will address questions about creating a good design for a pollinator landscape. Submit your questions on the registration page, and please send photos of the area in question to plantnovanatives@gmail.com. This videoconference will be recorded and posted to YouTube. Register here.
Birding in the Blue Ridge
When: Saturday, October 24, 8:00am
Changing Seasons Walk
When: Saturday, October 24, 10:00am
As the days get cooler and frost is in the air, deciduous trees and shrubs put on an autumn show in all shades of red, yellow, orange, and purple. Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a walk in the woodlands at the Blue Ridge Center of Environmental Stewardship to enjoy all the colors that Mother Nature provides this time of year. Led by Emily Southgate, we’ll discuss various tree species and why trees change their color in the fall. Meet at the Education Center. Limit 9. Registration required; register and learn more.
Conservation Advocacy 101 for HOAs and Condo Associations
When: Thursday, November 5, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
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; 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.
Foundational Planning
When: Wednesday, November 11, 12:00-1:00pm
Are the shrubs and other plants next to your house or business looking tired? Landscape Designer Adele Kuo will address questions about creating a good planting design with native plants for foundation plantings. Register and learn more.
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All Around the Garden
Gardening Webinars and Resources
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VNPS Potowmack Chapter Plant Sale
Offering 11 other species at the rate of 1 free plant for each plant you purchase. They have sale prices for Milkweed, White Wood Aster, Great Blue Lobelia, Wild Bergamot, Orange Coneflower and New England Aster, to name a few. They are open for sales every Wednesday morning in October from 10 am until 1 pm until the beds are closed for the winter.
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.
Friends of Accotink Creek Kudzu Klub
Every Wednesday in October starting at 12 pm, join the Friends of Accotink Creek in removing Kudzu from Americana Park. RSVP.
Xerces Society - Gardening for Invertebrates
See website for webinar details (including time) and registration.
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Virginia Department of Forestry Seeks Acorns!
"The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) is again seeking 12 species of acorns and nuts that can be planted at its Augusta Forestry Center [Crimora, Virginia] to grow into tree seedlings that will become the forests of tomorrow. Each year, VDOF asks the public from across the state to collect and donate nuts of select species to be planted at the state nursery. These seeds will produce next year’s hardwood seedling crop, which will be sold to Virginia’s forestland owners. Seedlings grown from Virginia-grown seed generally produces trees that will best thrive in our state’s climates."
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By Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy
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By Kate Cholakis and Seth Charde, Ecological Landscape Alliance
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Article by Margaret Fisher, Photo by Plant NOVA Natives
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by Marilyn Kupetz, Fairfax Master Naturalists
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