Watershed Newsletter

   January 2023

 www.pwswcd.org

Special Thanks to all the Conservation District's Volunteers

Your hard work and dedication in protecting water quality across Prince William in April 2022 got you recognized as the 2021 Winner of the National Earth Team Award by the National Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA).

2022 recorded more achievements under the Water Quality programs.

The Adopt-A-Stream/Pond/ River Program registered 39 cleanup events which covered over 88.62 miles of streams. This intercepted over 27,970 lbs. of debris from reaching the Chesapeake Bay. 1,199 litter bags and 134 tires were collected with an input of over 3,376 hours of volunteers’ time.

The Biological Monitoring program registered 20 monitoring events with over 128 participants. 4 new certified monitors and a certified trainer were added to the program. Thanks to Prince William County and Manassas City school systems for their engagement to promote science and data. Thanks to the Town of Dumfries Public Works Department for promoting E. Coli monitoring which is open to the public.

The Chemical monitoring program collects the following chemical parameters, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, turbidity, pH, and temperature. 9 new monitors joined the program in 2022 adding 22 new sites to the program’s map. Over 670 monitoring events were recorded. This registered over 538 hours of volunteer time.

Overall, the Conservation District’s Water Quality programs saved over $129,618. of taxpayers’ money as of Independent Sector Volunteer Rate (29.95/hr.).

Special thanks to all the local organizations, cooperate sectors, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and the County Government for their extra support of the program. 

Are you a Landowner or Farmer in Prince William?

Are you concerned about the future of water quality and more?

Join the Conservation District on January 24th!

Where: Cedar Run Brewery, 6- 8 pm

    Some upcoming Water Quality Events

January 21: Biological Water Quality Monitoring in Lake Ridge

Feb. 11: The 5th Annual Prince William Native Plant Symposium

March 4: Water Quality and Certification Event

March 11: Bull Run Protectors Cleanup

April 14: Potomac Roundtable Meeting in Prince William County

April 24-28: National Water Quality Monitoring Conference

Sept. 23: Occoquan River Cleanup (PWTSC)

Biological Water Quality Monitoring

Come get the Experience or Certification on March 4, 2023

Broad Run Watershed

Do you want to become a Certified Water Quality Monitor?

Virginia Save Our Streams Certified Monitors collect biological data and support the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) with data from the hundreds of miles of streams in Virginia that its staff cannot cover.



Contact: Veronica Tangiri: [email protected]

Become A Certified Water Quality Monitor!

Start Your Training Here!

Virginia Save Our Streams!

Promote Water Quality Awareness. Protect Water for the Future generation!

Save Our Streams Certification (iwla.org)

For promoting water quality awareness and making a huge

difference in 2022

There are more sites open for adoption. For more information, please contact

Veronica Tangiri at [email protected].

Promote Science and Research in local Waterways with the '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"

• Enter your data as you clean up!
• Promote Water Quality Awareness
• Get free cleanup supplies from the Conservation District

contact:

[email protected]

Community Science Volunteers Needed for the Chemical Monitoring program

With the Conservation District's mission to promote clean waterways in Prince William, the Water Quality Monitoring program gets an additional YSI water meter to collect more chemical data in both shallow and deep water.

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 Community Scientist with the Conservation District

For more information, contact: [email protected]

For Chemical Data and monitoring sites in Prince William County, visit: Chesapeake Data Explorer

Water Quality Volunteers Make a Difference!

Together, We Can Make A Change!

To adopt a waterway,

Contact;

[email protected]

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 cleanup every Friday!

Do you know how this trash trap works?

Be part of this data collection program every Friday in the Neabsco Watershed!

For more information, please contact:

Tim Hughes ([email protected]).

Some upcoming events

Biological Water Quality Monitoring Event

Westridge Community in Lake Ridge

Saturday, January 21

Join Certified Monitor Sarah Caradetti at this newly adopted site along the Westridge trail as it flows into Airport Creek.

Parking: Westridge Elementary School 12400 Knightsbridge Dr, Woodbridge, VA 22192. Then 5 mins walk on a paved trail to the site. (Trail is marked in red).

Alternatively, park on the street on Flodden Ct. Or Orkney Ct and access the trail.

For more information, contact [email protected]. (Spots are limited).

Register as an Attendee or as an Exhibitor