Subject: Autumn River News

Photo by Randi B. Hagi, WMRA

No Known Water Quality Problems From Factory Fire

Regarding the industrial fire at Ball Corporation in Verona on September 18th, Morgan Shrewsbury, the Municipal Stormwater 4 Coordinator of Augusta County told Friends of the Middle River (FOMR) representative Dave Mangun that environmental protection efforts were made by the fire department and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) at the time of the fire. In a collaborative effort, they installed protection around storm sewer inlets and installed containments on the ground to limit runoff into the adjacent Middle River. Two days later, DEQ and FOMR member Ted Turner examined and assessed the river and reported the following: "At both sites I visited, there were live minnows, and no dead minnows or dead bugs were observed.  I couldn't see any signs of petroleum products on rocks or organic debris on the banks, as one might expect if substantial amounts had been released into the water...I'm reasonably confident that there hasn't been any impact on the stream so far, and I don't expect that to change in the future."


You can read WMRA's reporter Randi B. Hagi's story of the fire HERE.    


Annual FOMR Middle River Cleanup Results


The results from this year’s 9-day cleanup held in August are:

  • 204 tires were removed from the Middle River, including one behemoth!

  • an additional 1.88 tons of an assortment of trash, including farm byproducts, furniture, a lawn mower, a water pump structure, insulation stripped from electrical cable, a wooden pallet, a kiddie pool, a metal toy truck, and a fully inflated basketball

  • 87 volunteers on 13 teams participated in the cleanup

  • we cleaned 18.8 miles of the Middle River, 0.5 miles of Lewis Creek, and one mile of roadside

You can see more pictures of this year's cleanup teams HERE!


Best Management Practices Consultation Meeting


We have had to change the date and location for our upcoming meeting. Here's the new date that Friends of the Middle River and the Shenandoah Valley Conservation Collaborative will be hosting a meet and greet to talk about financial assistance that is available throughout the state (and federally) to support agriculture preservation and conservation practices on private land!


NEW Date:  Wednesday, November 29
Time:  4:00 PM until 6:30 PM

NEW Location:  Spring Creek Town Hall, 7764 Thomas Spring Rd., Bridgewater, VA

Who is eligible to attend?

  • Landowner must own 20+ acres of land

  • Land should have conservation potential...which means that the land is near a water source, near public lands, or contiguous with forested acreage

  • Or the land is pasture or open agricultural land with significant other conservation value

Meet with representatives from various organizations to talk in a round-robin, one-to-one format about your property and where you'd like to engage in conservation. Learn, all at one place and time, about many opportunities that could help your property pay for itself while engaging in conservation, or other resources for temporary planting or buffering opportunities on your land. Each landowner will spend between 6 and 10 minutes one-on-one with each organization to talk about your vision for your property.     


Sign up to request a space HERE! 


Trout in Classroom: Seeking a Coordinator


For the school year 2023-2024, FOMR is joining with other local organizations and schools to bring Trout in the Classroom program to between 5-7 classes in area schools. Or role will help teachers inform the students about the insect population and the habitat at the release sites.

 

Would you consider being the volunteer coordinator just for FOMR’s part of project this year?  The Coordinator does not to have benthic monitoring experience, just be an organized and interested volunteer coordinator!

 

Overview of the responsibility:

  •       The coordinator will coordinate the scheduling of volunteers and the equipment of benthic monitoring teams on each of the trout release days in April, 2024

  •       The coordinator will schedule a volunteer from the pool to give the streamside talk on the release day for each of the 5-7 schools

Call Kate 540-609-8267 or email info@friendsofthemiddleriver.org for a phone or zoom chat to further discuss the details of the project. Thanks!

Above:Kayak raffle winner: G.R. Davis (left) and SUP Winner: Todd DeBarba (right)

Photos by Nancy Owens.

Raffle Winners and FriendsFest Recap


Tropical storm Ophelia pushed back the date of our party picnic, but those 85-95 folks who were able to pivot and reschedule enjoyed some mighty fine food! We potlucked our way through the gathering, and really enjoyed seeing you and meeting with friends. Thank you for attending! Congratulations G.R. and Todd!


  • Friendsfest was held at American Legion Post #13

  • We had about 85-95 attendees

  • BBQ was provided by our local 1Tribe Farm

  • ...and the potluck dishes provided by attendees; all were amazing!

  • A few event pictures HERE! 

Volunteer Appreciation: Safety Committee


The volunteers who form our newest committee have shared their considerable paddling and river experience to help FOMR build new policies to assure that our river trips—be they recreational or for cleanups—will be safe experiences for everyone. Sometimes on a sleepy river like the Middle, it can be easy to be lulled into a false sense of security. But all rivers have the combined risk of varying water levels, varying weather and also typically are remote and lack cell service. Thank you to the volunteers who think long and hard about ways to make sure we all come back in one piece from our adventures.

 

Spotlight on a Conservation Partner:

Alliance of Shenandoah Valley

 

This month, Maya Alexander has written to introduce our members to a partner-organization of FOMR: The Alliance of the Shenandoah Valley:


"Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley works to ensure the Valley’s rural character, scenic beauty, clean water and vibrant communities are protected by providing accurate and timely information to community members and decision makers. We believe that, together, we can preserve what is important to community members and grow in ways that are sensitive to the extraordinary natural and cultural resources that distinguish our region.

  

What we bring to the table:

 

We believe in connecting with community members through engagement and sharing information to protect the natural resources, cultural heritages, and rural character of our region.

 

People can connect with us to learn more about our work through our county coordinators as well as specific programs such as the Shenandoah Valley Fund - a revolving loan fund to assist landowners with gap funding to cover the costs of completing conservation easements on their land. Want to learn more? We would love to hear from you!"

  

Page & Warren Counties: Chris Anderson - canderson@shenandoahalliance.org

Shenandoah County: Kim Woodwell - kwoodwell@shenandoahalliance.org

Rockingham County: Kim Sandum - ksandum@shenandoahalliance.org

Augusta County: Nancy Sorrells - nsorrells@shenandoahalliance.org

General inquiries:info@shenandoahalliance.org

https://shenandoahalliance.org/

Free Nutrient Pollution, On-Line Class


The Environmental Protection Agency's Watershed Academy has a new Nutrient Pollution Module now available. It takes about three hours to complete.

 

This free online teaching module is intended to provide an overview of nutrient pollution and the associated water quality and human health impacts. This module covers the science behind the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, the impacts of nutrient pollution on human health and the environment... It also includes the current science on how climate change may impact nutrient pollution. Finally, the module covers the tools, opportunities, and activities available for the public to get involved in these issues.

 

Visit https://www.epa.gov/watershedacademy/nutrient-pollution-module to begin the course!

 

Coal Tar Sealant Webinar


Could your street, driveway, or local playground be home to toxic, carcinogenic chemicals? Join the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) for a free webinar on the harmful effects of coal tar sealants in Virginia.


Coal Tar Sealants in Virginia

Tuesday, October 24

6:30–8:00pm

via Zoom webinar


Coal tar sealants are used to protect asphalt and are commonly applied commercially and privately. Unfortunately, they contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are toxic to humans, birds, amphibians, fish, mammals, and vegetation. During this webinar, our speakers will describe the harm done by PAHs, existing cost-effective alternatives, and why CBF will be working on this issue during Virginia's 2024 General Assembly session.


Sign up HERE!

Our Business, Individual and Family Sponsors


Thank you to the 2023 Sponsors of all FOMR's summer activities--the businesses, individuals and families who invest in creating the river and river community they want to see here in Augusta County!


Alliance of the Shenandoah Valley

Alpha Omega Wealth Management LLC

American Legion Post #13, Staunton
Ann & Mike Cline
Antonio Martinez & Marion Bittinger
Augusta Bird Club
Bear Creek Outdoor Living

Betty & Mark Gatewood
Black Dog Bikes
Bob's Up the Creek Outfitters
Campbell Print Center
Carol Morency
Carolyn Ford
Charlotte Waller & David Pence
Clayton & John Griffin
Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge
County of Augusta
Crucible Coffee Roasters
Dave & Jan Mangun
David & Cindy Fuller
Deborah Patton
Dennis & Anne Barnes
Devan Koehn
Didawick & Co., PC
Don & Donna Kain
DuPont Community Credit Union
Fisher Auto Parts, Staunton
Float My Boat, LLC
Friends of the Shenandoah River
G.R. & Hilary Davis Family
Hanna & Lamay Family Dentistry

Jan & Eddie Painter
Jeanine & Mark Botkin
Jeff & Susan Young

John & Ginny Bauman
Joe & Liz McCue
Joy Loving & Lloyd Pollitt

Katherine Crow, CRPC, CLTC Private Wealth Advisor
Keep Virginia Beautiful
Lambert Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc.
Lisa Leonard
Lee Coffman

Mark & Sugie Battin
Marshall Farms, LLC
Middle River Bees

Middle River Outfitters
Midland Wine
Murphy Tuomey Wilson
Nancy Owens & Roger Robinson
Nancy Stevenson & Gil Nova

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Oaktree Builders, Inc.
Peason Financial Group, Inc.
Pete & Faye Cooper
Pete Barlow & Hannah Mack-Boll
Paul & Ruth Bugas
Ramon & Felicia Esteban
Randolph Bertin

Reese Bull & Pamela Patrick

Rick Chittum
Riverbend Bluff Enterprises

Riverview Cottage Airbnb

Rosemary Spell
Shenandoah Habitat Services, LLC

Shenandoah Valley Campground
Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative
Shirley & Stuart Webster
Solid Rock Outdoor Concepts

Steve & Emily Talley
The Amato Clinic

The Blacksmith Shop
The Fisherman's Attic

Todd DeBarba
Tom & Karen Shapcott
Tom & Linda Dunlap
Valley Roofing & Exteriors
Verona Car Care
Verona Mini-Storage
Victoria & Rod Granberry
Virginia Eagle Distributing Company
Wayne & Maribeth Nolde
Whit & Jane Morris
Woodman Life


THANK YOU ALL!​


Current RAP Booklet Version 3.16.23

Upcoming

October    

24 Board Meeting, 6:30pm


November

29 Resheduled BMP Consultation Meeting, 4-6:30pm

Friends of the Middle River

P.O. Box 131,

Verona, VA 24482

540-609-8267

Web: www.friendsofthemiddleriver.org

Email: info@friendsofthemiddleriver.org

Friends of the Middle River, PO Box 131, Verona, Virginia 24482, United States

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