Watershed Newsletter -May 2021-www.pwswcd.org

Prince William County Waterways Smile with Spring

Over 605 volunteers removed over 19.726 pounds of Debris from Prince William County Waterways ( January to April 2021 Report)

Boy Scout Troop 964 at Powells Creek

Neabsco Creek cleanup in memory of Nick Jackson

Gar-Field Senior High School’s Green Club - Neabsco Creek

Virginia Merrimac Farm Master Naturalists- under the Bull Run Watershed Protectors Project (A Community transformation project for more water quality awareness- Bull Run Shopping Area)

Water Quality Volunteers Make a Difference! How much water do we drink daily? What is the source of your drinking water in PWC? How much life and biodiversity do waterways support? This 2021, the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District has been experiencing an increasing number of citizen engagement in its Water Quality programs. For example, its Adopt- A -Stream/Pond program registered 605 volunteers who collected over 19,726 lbs of debris from an estimated 21.15 miles of Prince William County's waterways (January to April 2021 only). This recorded 1,770 hours of citizen volunteer time which saved the County Govermment $50,515.8 of tax-payers money (Indipendent Sector, 2021).

How can Prince William County and its Citizens Attain the County's Sustainable Green Community Goals ?

April New Water Quality Partners! Aurora Flight Science - Cannon Branch Patriot High School Students - Kettle Run Girl Scout Troop 4670 - Occoquan Watershed Together, We Can Make A Change! Contact; [email protected] Video on Plastic Awareness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh4r15a-su4&t=15s PWC Marine Debris Project - Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District

You Made a Difference Around Our Waterways! Adopt-A-Stream/Pond Program BAE Systems - Manassas, Bull Run Belmont Bay Paddlers and Community - Belmont Bay Boy Scout Troop 964 - Neabsco Creek Boy Scout Troop 670 - Rocky Branch Boy Scout Troop 964 -Powells Creek Friends Of Occoquan- Occoquan River Gar-Field Senior High School’s Green Club - Neabsco Creek Lyon Family - Broad Run  Merrimac Farm Master Naturalist - Bull Run Watershed Protectors- Bull Run Merrimac Farm Master Naturalists -Neabsco Creek Nick Jackson "I might go to the beach” - Neabsco Creek Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition( PWTSC)- Neabsco Creek Servants of Allah - Powells Creek SERVICLEAN Inc. - Neabsco Creek Town of Dumfries - Quantico Creek Woodard Family - Flat Branch Woodbridge Potomac Community Civics Association (WPCCA)- Neabsco Creek

BAE Systems - Bull Run- Manassas Boy Scout Troop 964 -Neabsco Creek Boy Scout Troop 670 Rocky Branch Boy Scout Troop 694 at Powells Creek Merrimac Farm Master Naturalists @ Bull Run

Belmont Bay Paddlers and Community Lyon's Family Friends of The Occoquan (FOTO) Merrimac Farm Master Naturalists @ Neabsco Creek SERVICLEAN Inc @ Neabsco Creek

The Spring Annual Neabsco Watershed Cleanup Event

Our Volunteers are Awesome! Special thanks to Eric VanNortwick for his dedication, stewardship and passion in promoting the Conservation District's programs especailly within the Neabsco Creek Watershed and Prince William County in general.

Water Quality Monitoring program Jahara Lewis, a Sophmore at Osburne Park High School Manassas becomes a Certified Water Quality Monitor under the District. Ms. Lewis has the inspiration to take water science and STEM to her African American Community where she is already volunteering to to help other children and kids in her church. Jahara Lewis during monitoring @ Broad Run Kudos to all the Water Monitors!  Sarah Bergmann - Adopts a new biological monitoring sites at Russia Branch in Manassas Park City. Mike Mobley - (Merrimac Farm Master Naturalist)- Introduce E.coli monitoring in the Woodbridge community for more water quality awarenesss in Prince Wiliam County. Janis Cook - Airport Creek - Lake Ridge and the Bull Run Team! Special thanks to Jim White for his dedication and service in water quality awareness for the Conservation District and Town of Dumfries.

For more information on how to become a Certified Water Quality Monitor with the District Contact: [email protected]

Some upcoming Events

Sunday, May 16 Annual Westridge Community Green Day Event Time: 10am -2pm.

July 20-22, 2021 The Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Summit The Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Work Group, through a NOAA grant from the Virginia Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program, will host a virtual Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Summit July 20-22, 2021. An agenda and registration will be available on midatlanticocean.org.

Water Contest

February 1 – July 30 Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Photo contest The VASWCD is committed to the conservation of natural resources through stewardship and education programs. The theme this year is “Conservation through the local lens”. Participants are encouraged to capture some vibrant moments and express what conservation looks like through the lens! To learn more about the contest please visit: https://vaswcd.org/photocontest  You can submit up to 10 photos. All photographs must be taken within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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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