Water Quality and Pollution Awareness

Watershed Newsletter -March 2020 - www.pwswcd.org

2019 Water Quality Program Milestone:

Volunteers Impact

Prince William County Waterways!

Let’s gear up for 2020!

The District would like to thank all its volunteers especially those under the Water Quality programs for their water quality awareness impact in PW County in 2019. It all shows water is the Earth's live-wire.

Adopt-A-Stream/Pond (2019 Data): This program recorded over 1616 volunteers. All cleanup efforts saw 1636 volunteers who stopped over 36232.6 pounds of trash from the Chesapeake Bay. All the cleanup events recorded over 1596 litter bags, 119 tires and over 4523.5 hrs. of volunteers' time. At a rate of $25.43 per hour as noted by the Value of Volunteer Time with Independentsector.org, this saved Prince William County Government over $115,032.605. All these cleanup events and efforts covered over 73.42 miles of waterways and stormwater drainage in PW County.

Water Quality Monitoring Volunteers (2019 Data) : Over 358 volunteers collected water quality data for more water quality awareness. This recorded over 1064 hrs. of volunteers’ time saving the County over $25,993.52 (Independentsector.org).

Water Quality Educational Outreach (2019 Data): The District's Water Quality programs engaged with over 1057 residents and students in water quality education and pollution awareness at other public events.

A big “Thank you” to all the 1994 volunteers for their 5587.5 hours put-in to support the County's Green Community Goals.

Much work is expected to be done in 2020 !

Thank you for promoting Water Quality Awareness!

For more, please visit: https://www.pwswcd.org/water-quality

Contact: [email protected]

New! Chemical Water Quality Monitoring program with the District

New! Chemical Water Quality Monitoring program with the District

Virginia faces some water quality challenges that will affect the future generation.

The District programs works with the community and farmers for more awareness. Volunteer with the new chemical monitoring program supports the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) with Data. Contact: [email protected]

Some Upcoming Events

February- March; Basics of Gardening with Virginia Cooperative Extension (more below)

March 7 - Big Neabsco Creek-Eagles Park / Wetland/Boardwalk Cleanup!

March 7 - Water Quality Monitoring at Powells Creek @ 10 am

March 14 - Costco project phase 6 cleanup Event

March 19 - Water Quality Monitoring at Cannon Branch, Manassas @ 9am

March 22 - Water Quality Monitoring at Airport Creek @ 11 am

March 21 - PWC Youth Ambassadors Conference

April 4 - Water Quality Monitoring at Broad Run North Fork - Gainesville @ 10.30 am

April 11 - Merrimac Bluebells Festival

April 15, 16, & 17 . Meaningful Watershed Education Dates under the District

A pril 20 -24 - Earth Week in PWC ( Several County Locations for Mother Earth)

April 14 -Little Bull Run - NOVA Manassas Students

April 18 - Stream Cleanup- Sudley Manor Creek - Pack 1831

April 18, - Big Occoquan River Annual Cleanup (FOTO & PWTSC Partnership) Save the Date!

April 26- Water Quality Monitoring, James Long Park Gainesville @ 12 noon- 2 p.m

April 28 - Water Quality Monitoring at Quantico Creek- NOVA Woodbridge Students

May 9 - International Compost Awareness Day (Sean.T. Connaughton Plaza (10 am -2 pm)

May 17 - Prince William Annual Volunteer Celebration Event- Volunteer Prince William

May 30 - Chemical Monitoring Volunteers Training with Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Coop

May 30 - 2020 VCE - Prince William Drinking Water Clinic

July 11 - Water Quality Monitoring at Broad Run via Broad Run Trail (Victory ES) at 10 am

August 8 - Annual NOVA Certification Event - VASOS (PWSWCD and NVSWCD)

Oct. 10 - Water Quality Monitoring - Broad Run via Broad Run Trail ( Victory ES)

Water Quality Program Events

S aturday, March 7

Water Quality Monitoring - Powells Creek, Woodbridge

Time: 10 am- 12.30 pm

Parking location: Along 15601 Northgate Dr. Montclair, VA 22025

Join Buck Arvin and the Merrimac Master Naturalist Team in monitoring the Powell’s Creek in the Montclair area. Residents are welcome to come support the data collection of this stream and learn more about the water quality in their local stream.

For directions RSVP to Buck Arvin at [email protected]

Saturday, March 7

Neabsco Creek – Neabsco Eagles Park cleanup

Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: Neabsco Eagles Park, 15801 Neabsco Road, Woodbridge, VA 22191

We’re planning another cleanup of Neabsco Creek and Neabsco Eagles Park on Saturday, March 7, 2020. Volunteers needed for this trash cleanup! Please click here to register. Partners for this event are the Woodbridge Potomac Communities Civic Association and the PW Soil & Water Conservation District. Meet at Neabsco Eagles Park, 15801 NEABSCO RD, WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191 Contact [email protected] for more information visit: http://www.pwtsc.org/event/neabsco-creek-neabsco-eagles-park-cleanup-march-7-2020/

Saturday, March 7

Neabsco Creek – Neabsco Boardwalk site

Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Locations: Two locations

Clean up on Land Rippon Landing Park 15125 Blackburn Rd. Woodbridge, VA 22191

Clean up by Wate r Potomac Boat Rentals 16205 Neabsco Rd. Woodbridge, VA 22191

J oin REI as part of this big Neabsco Creek cleanup at the boardwalk area. kayaks are available for water cleanup at the above address.

This 3/4 mile long, 10’ wide, elevated boardwalk includes a two-story observation deck so that you can walk across the wetlands to see one of the most beautiful natural settings in Prince William County. The Boardwalk is located just 10 minutes from your neighborhood Co-op. To register please visit : www.rei.com/events OR

Contact: [email protected] for more information

Saturday, April 4

Water Quality Monitoring- North Fork Broad Run in Gainesville

Time: 10.30 am- 12.30 pm

Location: Links Pond Circle

For more information, contact: [email protected] & [email protected]

S a turday, March 14

Stream Cleanup Costco Manassas, Bull Run Watershed-Phase 6

Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: 10671 Sudley Manor Drive. VA 20109

Join the Merrimac Farm Master Naturalists, "Friends of the Square", Keep Prince William Beautiful and other PW County businesses and partners to keep the stream corridor near the Bull Run Shopping Center clean under the Districts Adopt-A-Stream program.

To register for this event, please visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/stream-cleanup-costco-manassas-bull-run-watershed-phase-6-tickets-84742056773

April 14 and 17

NVCC Students Water Quality /Watershed Experience

Manassas Campus Environmental Science Students – Bull Run Watershed.

Thursday, March 19

Water Quality Monitoring: Canon Branch; Good News for Home-School Students!

Time: 9 am - 11.30 pm

Location: Parking 10600 Harry J. Parrish Boulevard Manassas , VA 20110.

The District's Water Quality Monitoring programs now has established a new site for Home-School Students who would like to learn more about water quality monitoring in PWC.

Join Certified Monitor; Diane Behm at this newly adopted beautiful site on Cannon Branch ne ar the Manassas Airport for more water quality awareness.

For more information about the event please contact Diane Behm: [email protected]

Sunday, March 22

Water Quality Monitoring: Airport Creek in Lake Ridge, Occoquan Watershed

Time: 11 a.m. - 1.30 p.m.

Location: Near Salemtown Dr. Woodbridge Virginia 22192

Parking Location: parking is just past Mojave Lane on Springwoods Drive (look for the Water Quality Event sign).

Join Janis Cook at this beautiful adopted site in the Lake Ridge area for water quality monitoring experience.

For more information and RSVP, please contact Janis Cook: [email protected]

Saturday, April 18

Occoquan River Cleanup by Friends of Occoquan (FOTO) and Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition (PWTSC)

Time: 9am - noon/ 2 p.m. respectively

Please join in this big County cleanup event!. Do not miss this big community driven event in support of the 25th Potomac Watershed cleanup initiatives.

To Participate with Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition (PWTSC) Register at: http://www.pwtsc.org/event/11th-annual-occoquan-river-cleanup-april-18-2020/

To Participate with Friends of the Occoquan (FOTO), vist: www.friendsoftheoccoquan.org

Spring Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup with Alice Ferguson Foundation

Spring Cleanup be part of the 32nd Big Event!

Are you a Prince William County residents who wants to impact the community for just a one-time-cleanup event?

This opportunity is for you! pick any time or date that will work for your nearby stream or pond cleanup event.

Register your site under Prince William County with the Alice Ferguson Foundation and pickup your cleanup supplies at the District office ( [email protected])

Contact: [email protected] or call 301 292 5665

April 15, 16 & 17

Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) programs

Time: 9am - 2pm

Location: Windy Knoll Farm, 11602 Kettle Run Rd. Nokesville, VA 20181

Volunteers are needed!

Kids will gain education on the importance of watersheds, soil types and their components, the relationship between soil and water and how human impact them.

As Virginia Standards of Learning to promote stewardship in our communities, these students will in general be groomed with responsible citizenship ethics. Students love and enjoy this program!

See video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Irj5Xo0TuI&feature=youtu.be

To volunteer, RVSP to the MWEE Coordinator; [email protected]

Saturday, April 25

Water Quality Monitoring - Broad Run Watershed

Time: 10 am -12.30 pm

Location: Broad Run - Occoquan River Tributary

Parking: Victory Elementary School :12001 Tygart Lake Bristow, VA 20136

Join Sonnie Coffey at this beautiful site in the Broad Run watershed which forms a major portion of the Occoquan River. Come learn about the benthic macro invertebrates and how they interpret the health of streams for more water quality awareness.

RSVP to Sonnie at [email protected]

Sunday, April 26

Water Quality Monitoring: James S. Long Park - Catharpin, Bull Run Watershed

Time: Noon - 2 pm

Location: James S. Long Park, 4603 James Madison Hwy (Rt. 15) Haymarket, VA 20169

Parking: Old Library parking lot (first right past the horse field).

Join Elaine Wilson, one of the District's pioneer/certified monitor and her team for fall monitoring at this beautiful site in the Catharpin Creek in the Gainesville area. This site has some outstanding critters that are unique only to this site. STEM kids are welcome. Spots are limited.

For more information and RSVP, contact Elaine Wilson: [email protected]

Tuesday, April 28

Stream Monitoring: Prince William Forest Park/ Quantico Creek

Location: 18100 Park Headquarters Road, Triangle, VA 22172 (GPS guide)

Parking: Parking Lot A on Scenic Drive. (From Main Park Entrance, turn left onto Scenic Drive and go all the way until you cross the Scenic Bridge).

Prince William Forest Park protects a large portion of the Quantico Creek; a watershed which scientists use as the water quality benchmark in Prince William County.

Join Larry Heath and Professor Meyering of Virginia Community College, Woodbridge campus to learn more about water quality for more awareness.

RVSP to Larry Heath at [email protected]

Save the Dates!

Saturday, May 30

Chemical Monitoring Volunteers Training with Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Coorperative ( CMC)

V enue- TBA

Time : 10 am

Come learn more about the new District Chemical Monitoring program and the Chesapeake Bay chemical monitoring database with the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative.

For more information contact; [email protected] & [email protected]

Saturday, August 8

NOVA Water Quality Monitors Certification Training

Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m

Location: TBA.

This event is jointly organized by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District and the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District and is open to anyone aspiring to become a Certified Stream Monitor. Once certified, a monitor can adopt a stream to monitor biannually or quarterly. The certification/training follows the Virginia Save Our Streams (SOS) monitoring protocol and the data collected is sent to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

To register and for more information, please contact Veronica Tangiri ( [email protected] ) or Palmer, Ashley [email protected]

Some Big Watershed Events in PWC

Education and Conservation Opportunities

District Conservation Capsule To-Go season

Our watershed capsules are ready to go. First come, first served. This is outstanding tool for kids and students to learn about the important role of the watersheds.

For your reservations, please visit: http://www.pwswcd.org/educators.htm l or contact: [email protected].

Neighborhood Forest Management Plans: An opportunity to meet with property owners and HOA's on any forest stand issue.

C ontact: Kinner Ingram , [email protected]

Office: 540-347-6358 Mobile: 540-216-6524

Urban and Community Forestry Specialist Potomac Work Area Virginia Department of Forestry 675 Frost Avenue Warrenton, Va. 20186

The Basics of Gardening with Virginia Cooperative Extension

February - March 14

Location: Haymarket Gainesville Community Library, 4870 Lightner Road. Haymarket, VA 20169

Time: 10.15 am. - 1.00 p.m.

These classes are Free but registration is recommended.

Feb. 29. Session 2 - Gardening Principles, Native Plants, Container Gardening and Seeding- Starting

March 7. Session 3. Rain Gardens, insects, and Diseases and IPM

March 14. Snow date.

To Register for each class individually visit; www.pwcgov.org/grow.

Vegetable Gardening Series

February - March 21

Bull Run Library 8051 Ashton Avenue. Manassas

Time: 10.15 am. - 1.15 p.m.

These classes are Free but registration is recommended.

March 7. Managing Pests, Vegetable Profiles, Food Safety

March 21. Snow date.

To Register for each class individually contact 703-792-7747 or [email protected]

2020 VCE - Prince William Drinking Water Clinic

Do you know what’s in your well water?

Starts March 30th

Public water supplies are tested daily for contaminants but most private water supplies, like wells, are rarely tested. Well owners are encouraged test their water at least annually for bacteria and nitrates. Regular well testing allows you detect and correct problems early.

The Virginia Household Water Quality Program (VHWQP) tests water samples for iron, manganese, nitrate, lead, arsenic, fluoride, sulfate, pH, total dissolved solids, hardness, sodium, copper, total coliform bacteria and E.coli bacteria. All for the low cost of $65.

The Prince William Drinking Water Clinic has 3 parts:

Kick-Off Meeting on March 30th from 7-8:30 pm
Sample Drop Off on April 1st
Results Interpretation Meeting on May 4th from 7-9 pm

For more information please visit: https://www.pwswcd.org/

Saturday, May 9

International Compost Awareness Day

Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Location : PWC Sean T. Connaughton Community Plaza,1 County Complex Court, Woodbridge, Virginia 22192

Join Prince William County Solid Waste Division for its annual International Compost Awareness Day.This is a community event and an opportunity to educate the community about the positive effects compost has on plant growth, soil and lawn health, the environment and waste management. This year’s event will feature local gardening and soil experts from Prince William County..

For more information contact: [email protected] Tel 703-792-5328 or Fax: 703 -792-4617.

Water Quality Monitoring Program

Benthic Macro invertebrates

Thanks to the Audubon Master Naturalist Young- Branch Team - Bull Run Watershed
Elaine Wilson and Team - Catharpin Creek- little Bull Run

Chemical Monitoring

Thanks to all the dedicated volunteers for the new chemical monitoring program

E.coli. Monitoring

Lili Tabada and Town of Dumfries Team

Adopt-A-Stream/ Adopt- A-Pond Program

Boys Scout Troop 964 - Neabsco Creek

Merrimac Master Naturalists

Environmental Management, Protection and Conservation Opportunities

VASWCD College Scholarship 2020

The Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation District (VASWCD) Educational Foundation scholarship program promotes the education of Virginia citizens in technical fields with a natural resource conservation and environmental protection emphasis. The program provides financial support to students majoring in or showing a strong desire to major in a course curriculum related to natural resource conservation and/or environmental studies. Annually the Foundation provides four $1,000 statewide scholarships in addition to the many local SWCD scholarship opportunities.

Individual applicants must be Virginia residents and full-time college freshmen or high school senior students who have applied to a college freshman level curriculum.

Applications are due to the District by March 1st and can be dropped off or mailed to: PWSWCD Attn: VSWCD Scholarship. 8850 Rixlew Lane Manassas, VA 20109

You can also e-mail your applications to [email protected] .

For more information please visit: https://www.pwswcd.org/

2020 Youth Conservation Camp -Camper Applications are now available!

44th year of Conservation Camp - July 12th-18th, 2020

Camp at Virginia Tech. Any student enrolled in grades 9-12 during the 2019-2020 school year are eligible to attend. The fee for camp, $550.00 will cover the students meals, lodging, activities and transportation while at camp. Students are responsible for obtaining their own means of transportation to and from Virginia Tech for the beginning and end of camp.

Applications are due to the District by April 15th anan be dropped off or mailed to: PWSWCD Attn: Conservation Camp. 8850 Rixlew Lane Manassas, VA 20109

You can also e-mail your applications to [email protected] .

For more information please visit: https://www.pwswcd.org/

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