Water Quality and Its Community Challenges | | |
What does Sustainability Mean to You?
How can sustainable clean water quality be preserved for present and future generations in Prince William County, the Potomac River, and the Chesapeake Bay Watersheds?
It must be a community effort, with meaningful partnerships, networking, and eco-friendly practices and policies.
Together, We Can Make a Change!
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Fairfax Water offered $9,100 to support Water Quality Community Outreach and Education in Neabsco and Powells Watersheds!
Fairfax Water offered $9,100 for the Neabsco and Powells Creeks Community Water Quality Educational and Pollution Prevention Partnership Project in Prince William County. This Project, housed by Leesylvania State Park, has also received financial support from the Virginia Lakes and Wetlands Association.
To support or learn more about this excellent community partnership project, contact: waterquailty@pwswcd.org.
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Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) offers $3,960 to the Conservation District's Citizen Science Water Quality Monitoring Program!
Thanks to the Virginia DEQ Citizen Science Program!
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Veronica Tangiri (PWSWCD) and Tom Ligon (Monitor), who also serves as the Virginia Merrimac Farm Master Naturalist Volunteer, presented on Harmful Algae Blooms and growing community concerns, with field experience gathered from the District's Water Quality Monitoring Program.
Thanks to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin for organizing this great Conference that brought together folks across the Potomac River Basin who work to promote sustainable water quality in the region.
| | Certified Virginia Save Our Streams Monitors with Maggie Dombroski (Green-Right), Mid-Atlantic Save Our Streams Coordinator with the Izaak Walton League of America. | | Tom Ligon, PWSWCD Water Quality Monitor, and Certified Virginia Merrimac Master Naturalist, Prince William | |
2025 Prince William Master Gardeners Program Class on Water Quality with the Conservation District
| | The Conservation District at the Prince William County Police Department Annual Community Fair | | Deshundra Jefferson, Chair at Large- Prince William County Board of Supervisors (Right), and Sonnie Cuffey, Conservation District's Associate Board Director (Left) | | |
After the 'Badges and Bags' Cleanup Event with the Prince William County Police Department in April, the Conservation District was at the Police Department's Annual Community Fair to promote Prince William County's Green Community Values.
| | Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District at the International Life Cycle Management (LCM) Conference on Sustainability, Palermo, Italy | | Veronica Tangiri (PWSWCD) on Man-made Water Quality Challenges at the Local and Regional Level: The Potomac River Basin. | | |
The Life Cycle Management Conference on sustainability was a global platform to address environmental, economic, and social concerns. It emphasized on practical solutions, to help integrate methodologies into strategic decision-making across sectors, from science and industry to NGOs and public institutions.
With the theme "Global to Local," the event brought together 1027 participants from 51 countries and six continents. This pivotal event highlighted methods, tools, and best practices crucial in addressing sustainability. It showcased a participatory approach to sustainability by fostering collaboration between practitioners and academia. The diverse topics resonated with stakeholders worldwide, facilitating discussions across geographical, political, socio-economic, and professional landscapes.
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This event sparked dialogues for a sustainable future and reinforced the business case for sustainability. This gathering of experts, thinkers, and committed individuals signifies a collective effort towards a more sustainable and resilient world.
Special thanks and appreciation are extended to the support received from both local and external sources.
| | Prince William gets Additional Water Quality Monitors under the Virginia Save Our Streams Program | |
Thanks to Maggie Dombroski, Mid-Atlantic Save Our Streams Coordinator, for joining the Prince William Conservation District in completing the certification process. Additional thanks to the Prince William County Watershed Division, Prince William Master Naturalists, and Prince William Master Gardeners for promoting water quality awareness in the community.
Congratulations to the Newly Certified Water Quality Monitors in Prince William!
| | Water Quality Field Experience and Class with the 2025 Merrimac Farm Chapter - Virginia Master Naturalists Program at Broad Run | | The Conservation District at the 2025 Leopold's Preserve Fall Festival | | The Conservation District at the 2025 Leesylvania State Park Fall Festival | | |
Adopt A Stream/Pond/River Segment and Get a Personalized Sign!
Are you interested in supporting clean water in Prince William by adopting or organizing a one-time cleanup event around any desired portion of a water body in the community or neighborhood? Please contact the Conservation District for the support you need.
We will provide free cleanup supplies, support on trash haul, and road sign(s) to showcase individual or group community stewardship.
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- Promote Community Water Quality Awareness
- Get free cleanup supplies for your event
- Get support with debris hauling
For more information,
contact:
waterquality@pwswcd.org
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Water Quality Monitoring Program
Chemical Monitoring Program
| | Volunteers participating in the Conservation District's Water Quality Program collect monthly data on conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, depth, and turbidity in Prince William County, as well as in the towns and cities. They help to identify Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) and water chestnut plants for rapid response and eradication. | | |
Interested in supporting Water Quality Data as a Community Science Volunteer?
To support water quality data for the Chesapeake Bay Programs under the Conservation District Water Quality Program, pick up any stream or site of interest in your neighborhood and contact the Conservation District.
Over 1,100 miles of streams in Prince William drain into the Potomac River and end in the Chesapeake Bay. The water quality data collected is sent to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) as Tier II data under the Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Cooperative (CMC) and the Virginia Save Our Streams Programs. Visit: Chesapeake Data Explorer
For Benthic Monitoring sites, visit the Clean Water Hub
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To learn more and to support this data, contact:
Veronica Tangiri, waterquality@pwswcd.org
| | Marine Debris Reduction and Clean Water Awareness in Prince William Community | | |
Media
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
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Water Quality Volunteers Make a Difference!
Video on Plastic Pollution Awareness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh4r15a-su4&t=15s
Marine Debris Project - Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District
| | The County's First Trash Trap 'Bandalong' Needs Monthly Cleanup! | |
Volunteers are Needed on the 3rd Wednesday of Every Month!
To learn more about the trash trap (Bandalong) cleanup, contact Drew at AUglow@pwcgov.org
| | Green Algae or Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)? | | |
Have concerns about strange greenish organisms in your nearby ponds or lakes?
Contact the Conservation District for monitoring support at waterquality@pwswcd.org.
Why Monitor for Algae? (Using YSI ProDSS)
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Two-horned Water Chestnut
'Trapa bispinosa' OR "Two-Horned Trapa" In Local Waterways !
| | Photo Credit: Tom Ligon, Virginia Master Naturalist, Merrimac Farm Chapter | | |
For more information, contact:
waterquality@pwswcd.org
| | To All the Water Quality Volunteers! | | |
Troop 964 introduces a new approach to litter management at Leesylvania State Park by providing visitors with cleanup supplies.
Troop 964 has also adopted a 2-mile stretch of Neabsco Creek under the Conservation District's Adopt-A-Stream Program, where they have been conducting regular cleanups for the past nine years.
Kudos to Troop 964 and Eagle Scout Jimmy Kosmicki for leading this great initiative!
| | A Stand for visitors with cleanup supplies (trash bags and grabbers) at Leesylvania State Park (Photo credit, Leesylvania State Park Authority) | | Micron Staff (30 volunteers) cleaned up a 2-mile stretch of the Broad Run and Winter Branch this fall | | Kudos to Micron for adopting a portion of Broad Run and Winter Branch under the District's Adopt-A-Stream Program, with consistent cleaning efforts for over 10 years. | | Dumfries Slave Cemetery Cleanup Volunteers with the Conservation District | | Sonnie Coffey- Associate Board of Director with the Conservation District was present to support the Volunteers. | | |
- Bandalong /Trash Trap Neabsco Creek Volunteers
- Beckner Family -Occoquan
- Friends of the Occoquan (FOTO) - Occoquan
- Micron Technology Inc - Broad Run and Cannon Branch
- Troop 964 - Neabsco Creek
- Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. - Broad Run
- Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition (PWSTC) and Water Quality Partners - Upper Occoquan River Cleanup
- Woodbridge Potomac Community Civic Association (WPCCA)
- Kyle Power - Occoquan
- Friends of Dumfries Slave Cemetery - Quantico Creek
- Girl Scout Troop 90127 -Slate Run
Special thanks to all the Biological and Chemical Water Quality Monitors for Collecting Water Quality Data from our Local Waterways!
| | Upcoming Water Quality Events | | |
Bull Run Watershed Protectors
Saturday, November 8
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Parking Location: Walgreens Sudley Road, 9271 Sudley Rd, Manassas, VA.
To register for this great community-transforming and water quality awareness event, follow this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/.../60B0A4CA8AF2FA0FD0...
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Little Bull Run / Bull Run Cleanup Event
Saturday, November 15
Time: 9 am - 12 Noon,
Parking Location: 7621 Coppermine Drive Manassas, VA, 20109
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8th Annual Prince William Native Plant Symposium
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Time: 9:00 am - 4: 00 pm
Location: Verizon Auditorium, George Mason University
10900 University Blvd. Manassas, Va 20110
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Big Stream Cleanup in Manassas Park City
Saturday, February 28
Time: 9:00 am - 12: 00 pm
Meeting Location: 2 Tremont St., Manassas Park, VA 20111. (Manassas Park Dog Park)
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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.
PWSWCD, 8850 Rixlew Lane, Manassas, VA 20109, Ph.: 571-379-7514, Fax: 571-379-8305
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