Water Quality Efforts: Promoting Sustainability in Prince William County |
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Congratulations!
Prince William Water Quality Volunteers Rocked 2021 in Grand Style!
The Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District's Water Quality Program received the 2021 Virginia Earth Team Outstanding Group Award!
This was awarded by USDA Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) as the Conservation District works in promoting environmental sustainability and clean water in the Chesapeake Bay.
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2021 Virginia Earth Team Outstanding Award To PWSWCD's Water Quality Program |
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Adds Prince William County's Community Webinar "Water Equality: Sustainability and Accessibility to All" to its Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Hero Database List |
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Video:
Special thanks to all the partners!
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Prince William County Celebrates its Bandalong:
The New Trash Jewelry in the Neabsco Watershed
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Some Past Neabsco Creek Cleanup videos:
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Volunteers' Cleanup Trophy from 2021 :) |
Fun memories from the Neabsco Watershed Spring Cleanup Event 2021 |
Water Quality volunteers are curious as they have fun keeping local waterways clean. They also work to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, which is an important food resource. The doll seen above made the day at the Neabsco Creek cleanup last spring! |
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Results: 2021 Water Quality volunteers' initiatives for Sustainable Green Communities in PWC |
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In 2021, over 2,200 Water Quality volunteers recorded over 5,455 hours protecting waterways in Prince William County. This saved over $ 155,500 of taxpayer's money (Independent Sector Rate, 2021).
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in volunteers' engagement under the Water Quality programs in 2021. This shows County residents care about their water quality and the future generation since water is a natural resource.
The Adopt-A-Stream/Pond/River program
Compared to 2020 where over 17,000 lbs. (pounds) of debris was collected, in 2021, close to 36,000 lbs. (pounds) was intercepted from reaching the Potomac River into the Chesapeake Bay from Prince William County.
These cleanup efforts covered over 90 miles of local waterways in Prince William County, its towns and cities. In total, 10 new sites were adopted with 30 Adopt-A-Stream/Pond signs installed across the County.
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Water Quality Monitoring
Biological and Chemical Monitoring 2021 Milestone
140 volunteers registered over 500 hours in water quality monitoring. This recorded 450 data entries for both the chemical and biological monitoring programs.
This data goes to the Virginia Save Our Streams (VASOS) and Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative (CMC) databases.
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Promote Science and Research around PWC Waterways with 'Clean Swell' App!
Explore the Clean Swell App provided by Ocean Conservancy. Record your cleanup data from any location across the County.
Get the free download "Clean Swell" App
Land Cleanup <Enter Group Name <: "PWSWCD"
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- Enter your data as you cleanup
- Promote Water Quality Awareness
- Get free cleanup supplies from the District
contact:
waterquality@pwswcd.org
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More Volunteers Needed for the Chemical Monitoring program
With the Conservation District's mission to promote clean waterways in Prince William County, the Water Quality Monitoring program gets an additional YSI water meter to collect more chemical data.
This program follows the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) data standards and supports the Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Cooperative (CMC) database with the following parameters; conductivity, pH, temperature, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and turbidity.
Become a Citizen Scientist with the Conservation District.
For more information, contact: waterquality@pwswcd.org
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'One-Time-Pond Cleanup' Program
This new 'One-Time-Pond Cleanup" program under the Conservation District is to prevent County storm water ponds from becoming trash mines.
Storm water ponds cleanup is a great challenge especially with the presence of vegetation. This 'One-Time-Pond Cleanup' program will promote more ponds cleanup in the fall and spring.
Volunteers are welcome to help improve the ecological health of any pond of interest in the community with a one-time cleanup with no other commitments.
The Conservation District is working on getting kayak (s) to support the needs of this new program.
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Water Quality Volunteers Make a Difference!
Together, We Can Make A Change!
To adopt a waterway or pond,
Contact;
waterquality@pwswcd.org
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh4r15a-su4&t=15s
Marine Debris Project - Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District
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The Beautiful Neabsco Boardwalk and its watershed |
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Debris Concerns In Waterways Rallied Water Quality Partners in Prince William County
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Several tires and debris being washed into the Neabsco Creek delta of the Potomac River at the southern tip of Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge has been of concern. This brought out some Conservation District's Water Quality Partners. Led by Jason Williams, this Coalition of 15 volunteers, cleaned up over 1,200 lbs. of debris in less than 2 hours as they seek for better solutions on trash management in PWC.
Special thanks to the following volunteers and their Affiliated Organizations:
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Jason Williams - MORE, PWTBC, PWTSC
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Lynda Silverstrand -PWTBC, WPCCA
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Carina Velazquez-Mondragon - US Fish and Wildlife Service
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Neil Nelson -PWTBC, PWTSC
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Jessica McCaulley -PWSWCD
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Robert Boyd - PWDPRT
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Myra Lau - Belmont Bay Paddlers
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Sonia Monson - Friends of the Occoquan
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Rita James - The Clean Water Project
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Kirk Yeager -NOVA Geocache
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Stephen Kopach -Volunteer with US Fish and Wildlife Service
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Clancy McQuigg - Lakeridge Occoquan Coles Civic Association
Abbreviations:
MORE Mid-Atlantice Off Road Enthusiast
NOVA Northern Virginia
PWDPRT Prince William Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
PWTBC Prince William Trails and Blueways Council
PWTSC Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition
PWSWCD Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District
PRNWRC Potomac River National Wildlife Refuge Complex
WPCCA Woodbridge, Potomac Communities Civic Association
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Special Thanks to all the Water Quality Volunteers for the great achievements in 2021.
The Conservation District would like to seize this opportunity to appreciate the following individuals for their outstanding volunteering efforts in promoting the Water Quality program in 2021.
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Vera McShane (Neabsco Watershed) for bringing out water and treats to volunteers as her personal efforts of appreciation since she could not join in the physically work.
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Shea Megale (Merrimac Farm Master Naturalist) for are dedication in supporting water quality data through the District's chemical monitoring program
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John Harkins ( County out-large) for collecting close to 100 trash bags from Leesylvania State Park and different locations across the County
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Maxwell Mabardy (Occoquan Watershed) for personally monitoring and collecting floatable data from a nearby trash accumulating inlet along the Occoquan River
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The Flear Family ( Occoquan Watershed) For their dedication in promoting the Adopt-A-Stream program through the years along the Occoquan River
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The Shoemaker Family (Bull Run Watershed) for promoting the Adopt-A-Stream program and Biological monitoring efforts in the Bull Run Watershed
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All the Biological Water Quality Monitoring Coordinators for adopting sites, organizing and coordinating water educational events that collect data and promote citizen science and STEM in the community
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All the Chemical Water Quality Monitors for adopting sites across the County and collecting monthly chemical data for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed database
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To Our Retired Volunteers |
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Ed Dandar Retires From Volunteerism Spotlights in Prince William County |
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Ed Dandar, a dedicated Water Quality Steward and Community Leader retires from the spotlights of volunteerism in Prince William County.
As a retired veteran, Ed has been very instrumental in promoting water quality awareness and clean waterways as a member of the Prince William Trials and Streams Coalition (PWTSC) for over 10 years.
Ed has been the main force in organizing the + 30 miles Annual Upper Occoquan River cleanup events. Since 2011, he has worked relentlessly to establish a good working relationship with private property owners and Homeowners Associations (HOAs) along the Occoquan River for maximum support during river cleanup events as a District Water Quality Partner.
Ed Dandar was also the President of the Prince William County Trails and Blueways Council where he worked to ensure County residents do not only enjoy waterways recreational activities but to have hundreds of miles of beautiful nature trails and bike paths across the County.
Ed retires to spend more time with his family and especially his grandchildren.
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Eric VanNortwick Retires As A Water Quality Volunteer in PW County |
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Eric VanNortwick, a veteran and an outstanding water quality volunteer in the Neabsco District retires and moves out of Prince William County.
For over 12 years, Eric has been cleaning the Neabsco Creek across Andrew Leitch Park, from Princedale Road to Lindendale Road.
Eric strongly believes as a community, Neabsco Watershed residents can work together to improve the health of the Neabsco Creek by cleaning and preventing trash in their neighborhoods.
Eric has some concerns that technology is fast preventing the younger generation from enjoying the natural beauty of nature. His greatest wish to see more folks spending more time outdoors. Eric believes this will help residents to connect with the impact of trash on their drinking water and food.
Eric’s Adopt-A-Stream and Floatable Monitoring sites are currently open for adoption. To help keep Eric VanNortwick's vision on water quality awareness in the Neabsco Watershed, contact waterquality@pwswcd.org
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Larry Heath Retires from the District's Water Quality Program
Larry Heath, a dedicated Certified Water Quality Volunteer retires as he moves out of Prince William County.
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With Larry's great science background as a medical practitioner, he had great passion to support water science in the community especially with kids and students. This led to his adoption of the Quantico Creek within the Prince William Forest Park property.
For close to 4 years, Larry has been supporting the water quality program where he enjoyed working with the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) students
(Environmental Science Class) on water quality monitoring field experience.
It has been Larry's wish to see the Conservation District's Water Quality program grow. The Conservation District wish Larry well at his new station.
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Jim White Retires from the District's Water Quality program |
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Jim White, a retired USGS staff has been supporting the Conservation District's programs for over 8 years.
Jim got involved supporting the Town of Dumfries on E.coli monitoring to help the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) identify the main source of E.coli in the Quantico Creek.
As a pioneer volunteer with the chemical water quality monitoring team, he has been very supportive of the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative database with water quality data from Prince William County.
Jim retires to spend more time with his family and more especially his grand children.
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Form more information visit: www.pwtsc.com
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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.
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