At a recent Strategic Planning session, the FOMR Board revised our guiding Mission and Vision statements. Drumroll, please...FOMR reveals our new "paddle plan"!
Mission: FOMR promotes the stewardship and enjoyment of the Middle River Watershed through volunteer action, education, science and outreach.
Vision: FOMR envisions a healthy and clean Middle River thanks to the voluntary conservation practices by everyone in the watershed.
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Benthic Macroinvertebrate Class New & Review
New and returning volunteers alike are welcome to attend our annual spring class to help you learn/ relearn to identify the insects of the river that tell us about our water quality. Certain species of aquatic bugs cannot tolerate poor water, so if we catch those insects in our nets-- Yay!-- our water is healthy! Other species of aquatic insects tolerate really crummy water. So if we see lots of those insects-- Boo!-- our water isn't as good as we'd like. That is the basis of our benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring program--which translates to "catching and counting the insects that live at the bottom of the river."
Sunday, March 24, 2019 3-6pm
Churchville Library
3714 Churchville Ave, Churchville, VA 24421
3-4pm for persons new to benthic monitoring (field demo)
4-5pm for new and returning volunteers (classroom portion) 5-6pm certification and re-certification testing
The class will be conducted by Darrell Schwalm,
certified trainer for Virginia Save Our Streams. Make THIS your year to start learning and volunteering as a benthic monitor!
Please notify Pete Cooper at pfcoop2@gmail.com or Darrell at schwalmie2@aol.com to register.
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Have you ever seen a fluttering caddisfly net attached to a rock in Middle River? Here is video of two nets Roger spotted last summer! Order:Tricoptera, Sub-order: Spicipalpia. Look for the triangular shaped net at the center of the video. |
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Augusta County Fishing Expo
Join FOMR at the 7th Annual Fishing Expo hosted by Augusta County Bass. Admission is $5 at the door for persons 8 years and older. It is being held from 9am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3 at the Augusta Expoland in Fishersville! Come gear up for the season and hang out with FOMR! |
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FOMR's New Intern!
We are very excited to have Catherine Case interning with us, primarily in our benthic and E.coli monitoring programs through May 2019. Catherine is a Mary Baldwin University student, majoring in business with emphasis in sustainability. She
will graduate this December and she hopes to work in environmental science. Catherine grew up locally and currently resides in Staunton. Please welcome Catherine when you see her. (To meet the taxidermy river otter also pictured, visit the DGIF lobby in Verona!)
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Seeking: Volunteer Landowners for River Access Program
As we enter the second year of our River Access Program, we are seeking to expand our offerings of available boat put-in and take-out access sites on Middle River. As a Middle River landowner, would you consider joining our program? We'd love to talk with you, to describe how the program works and how you can participate while retaining control over who accesses the river via your private property and when. Call Kate at 540-609-8267.
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The above photo is the Capital Conservation District West Virginia Soils Tunnel Trailer. (See other examples of various soil trailer designs at the link below.) |
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Mobile Soil Classroom Update
FOMR has
partnered with the Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District (HSWCD) to help fund a new
educational project the District is creating that teaches about soil and water quality.
The District
is developing a mobile classroom. Constructed from a new 22 foot cargo
trailer, this classroom will aim to provide hands-on interactive learning on
soil health and soil conservation. The district has gathered input from the
instructional departments of our three public school systems ....
Read more from HSWCD and see more photos HERE. |
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Buffers for Wildlife
When:
Thursday, March 7
6-8pm
Where:
Weyers Cave Community Center
682 Weyers Cave Road
Weyers Cave, VA
Cost:
Free! Dinner included.
Guest
speaker Roger Rohrer, with his entertaining speaking style and wealth
of experience, will discuss how to attract a diverse mix of game and
bird species by planting healthy, streamside buffers. Buffer width,
native plants, and management of invasive species will all be discussed.
With staff from Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and
Virginia Department of Forestry available to share technical and
financial resources, this evening is the perfect kickstart to bring the
benefits of riparian buffers to your community. Learn more and register now!
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Mark your Calendars!
February 19 HSWCD Meeting, 10am
March
9am-5pm, $5 each age 8 and older
12
NRDA/Impact on South River
Restoration: Science Talk,
24 Benthic Stream Monitoring Class, Churchville, 3-6pm
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FOMR is a Paddle America Club member
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Read more about Friends of the Middle River at our website HERE.
And follow us on Facebook!
P.O. Box 131, Verona VA, 24482 540-609-8267
FOMR is a 501(c)(3) organization.
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