| Photo credit, top: Kate Guenther Photo credit, bottom: Bobby Whitescarver | Local Riparian Tree Planting
On a warm, sunny December 4, upwards of 40 folks (13 of whom were from the Friends of the Middle River (FOMR!) volunteered their Saturday to plant riparian tree seedlings at a farm in Churchville belonging to Bobby Whitescarver and Jeanne Hoffman. The landowners have dubbed their little stream Rye Branch and it flows into Whiskey Creek, a tributary of Middle River.
That day, approximately 300 tree and shrub seedlings were planted in tree shelters on one acre of field: black walnuts, black willows, sycamores, viburnums and downy serviceberry.
Tree-planters turned out representing a number of organizations including FOMR, the Alliance of the Shenandoah Valley, the Isaak Walton League of America, James Madison University, Conservation Services, Altenergy, the Chesapeake Bay Alliance, the Virginia Department of Forestry, Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation plus personal friends of the family.
Further plantings on other sections of Whisky Farm Angus continued over subsequent weeks bringing the total to 2790 trees planted in a number of different areas of the farm.
Funding support for the entire project was provided by the Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District and the Dupont-Waynesboro Natural Resource Restoration Settlement monies. View more pictures HERE! | | | Augusta County Fishing Expo
FOMR will have a table again this year at the 9th Annual Fishing Expo where you can be the first to see the new kayak we'll be raffling off late summer! Plus, you can do your fishing gear shopping to round out your spring kit.
What: Vendor show with an emphasis on the sport of fishing When: Saturday, January 29th from 9am-5pm Sunday, January 30 from 9am-3pm Location: 277 Expo Rd, Fishersville, VA 22939 Cost: Free admission
More info HERE. Organized by Augusta County Bass. | | | "How's My Waterway" Webcast
The U.S.Environmental Protection Agency is again offering their webinar training entitled "How's My Waterway" for persons interested in learning how to use the database that "answers questions about the health of waters in supporting swimming, the eating of fish, drinking water protection and delivery, the health of aquatic communities, and the restoration and protection of waterways. The public has access to water information in their community, state and at a national level."
What: Webcast When: January 20th, 2-3:30pm EST, online Register HERE
From the flyer: "How’s My Waterway is most frequently used by students and educators at all grade levels and capabilities. Teachers and after school programs have begun to build curriculum around using the tool to help children explore their local waters and learn how they can become environmental stewards. How’s My Waterway is also frequently accessed by the public, including concerned citizens, watershed organizations, non-profits, realtors, volunteer monitoring groups, decision makers and many others."
To access the tool directly, visit: https://mywaterway.epa.gov/
| | November's E. coli Report
The Middle River's E. coli levels continue to be in a healthy range. It will be interesting to watch as we move into winter precipitation months how these numbers hold up, since E. coli levels often increase as precipitation runs off some agricultural fields.
Read more HERE!
| Current RAP Booklet Version: 10.01.21 | | Current RAP Booklet Version 10.01.21 | January 2022
25 FOMR Board Meeting, 6:30-8:30pm, All welcome, email us for location! 29 Augusta Fishing Expo, 9am-5pm 30 Augusta Fishing Expo, 9am-3pm
| Friends of the Middle River Email: info@friendsofthemiddleriver.org |
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