April 30th will mark our third annual collaboration with the New Hope Ruritans to collect tires during the Augusta County Spring Cleanup week. Last year, our crew collected 178 tires that went straight to the landfill! Hopefully this year we will collect even more tires to keep out of our watershed.
We could use a few volunteers for this event. If you are interested, please contact Mason Kilbourn at middlerivermrk@gmail.com or 540-290-3961.
Friend of the Middle River Joe Moore on PFAS & Biosolids
Joe Moore served on our Board from 2014-2017, is a landowner along the Middle River, and works as Augusta County Coordinator for the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley. Joe and his wife, Hunter, won a FOMR-sponsored Splash ‘n Dash two-person kayak race in 2017. Joe, Hunter, and their kids, Elliott (5) & Phoebe (2.5), also often float down the Middle from their home.
Current board member Bruce Dorries sat down with Joe recently to find out more about an area of concern of Joe's that closely affects our watershed: PFAS & Biosolids. (PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and are commonly referred to as "forever chemicals." A biosolid is any sort of solid organic waste leftover from wastewater treatment.)
About PFAS & Biosolids: "PFAS in biosolids generally come from landfill leeching and industrial users. In Augusta County, landfill leeching is not an issue – which is a very good thing. The main concern [that I have] is that there is no testing being done by DEQ in Virginia for PFAS specifically. (They do test for heavy metals and pathogens, but they are not on the lookout for PFAS). That’s changing with the new legislation this year -- there’s going to be more testing starting in 2027. There are thresholds that are still being debated when it comes to protecting public health (or not) but the testing is a good start."
Why We Should Be Concerned: There are biosolid sites on the Middle River. "There is a biosolids application site on the Middle River right where Morris Mill Road crosses Middle River. If you look at a map of where biosolids are spread, it tends to correlate somewhat with riverbanks just because the river bottoms are good, flat cropland. Often that cropland benefits from biosolids as a cheap or free source of fertilizer for farmers."
What Can We Do: "There’s just not a lot of information [out on PFAS] right now, the most important thing is to just be aware of where biosolids are spread. Look into if your neighbors are using biosolids as fertilizers. It’s just really important to stay aware of this issue and get as much information as possible as we learn more [in Virginia.] You can get PFAS tests, they are about $70. If FOMR wants to test waterways, that could be great. There are discharge sites from wastewater treatment plants – independent of biosolids - so those sites along the river could be worth testing. [On a personal level,] you can also test your well water."
Come See us at Earth Day Staunton & Riverfest!
EARTH DAY STAUNTON | Saturday April 25, 2026 | 11 AM - 3 PM
Earth Day Staunton is a popular event that draws and educates hundreds of area families. Earth Day Staunton began in 2007. It includes interactive, kid-friendly displays from local green organizations, tree giveaways, native wildlife programs from the Wildlife Center of Virginia, Earth Hero Awards and more. In 2024, we had beautiful weather and an estimated 800 plus people attended—an increase from previous years. The event is hosted by Shenandoah Green and organized with the help of other local organizations including us, Friends of the Middle River!
RIVERFEST | Saturday May 2, 2026 | 10 AM - 4:30 PM
This FREE annual event takes place river-side at Constitution Park in Waynesboro, VA. Activities include Reptile World shows, Stream Safari, presentations by the Wildlife Center of Virginia, Fish and Fun Rodeo, Farmer’s Market, canoe rides, kids arts & crafts, Stream electro-fishing with DGIF and is capped off by the… Great South River Duck Race!! Rain or Shine – No Pets Allowed.
Do you have a perfectly good canoe or kayak that has not been out on the water for a couple of years? Would you like to see it given a new life while bringing joy to river lovers who do not
own a boat?
FOMR is seeking donations of used but still serviceable, boats, paddles, and other gear to allow us to acquire a small fleet of boats and open our float trips, river cleanups, and educational programs to a much wider audience.
Please consider helping your fellow FOMR members by sharing your old boat and creating many future river trips for your neighbors.
Reply to this email if you are interested!
FOMR is a subcommittee of the Friends of the Shenandoah River, and your contribution is tax-deductible.
Upcoming Science Talk in Waynesboro
March 17, 2026 | 7 PM
Appreciating and Promoting Native Bees in Local Landscapes
This talk will feature the University of Virginia's T'ai Roulston highlighting
research and natural history on Virginia's native bee species. Wild bee species pollinate the bulk of native plants in Virginia's wild areas, are the most frequent pollinators of home gardens, and often dominate pollination on small farms. They work alongside European honey bees pollinating major crops on large farms but only if the broader landscape supports their populations. This talk will describe some of the different life histories of native bee species, the challenges they face in our landscape, and some things that can help keep them around.
Chasing Water: Moving from Water Scarcity to Sustainability
In honor of World Water Day, Wild Virginia is excited to host Brian Richter, a global leader in water science and conservation, for a special webinar on March 26th at 7 pm!
Throughout much of human history, there has been enough affordable water to meet our needs as our populations grew. However, in many regions, all of the naturally replenished water supplies began to become fully consumed to support growing cities and farms. With droughts and climate warming in recent decades, many of the populations dependent upon fully exploited water supplies began to experience painful shortages.
This presentation will discuss some of the places — such as the western US — now facing severe water crises with huge economic and environmental consequences. Some of the most promising solutions will be highlighted.
Join us and learn why protecting our water resources is critical and what we can do to make a difference.
FOMR Upcoming Events
March
24 Monthly Board Meeting, 6:30 PM
April
24 FOMR @ Earth Day Staunton
28 Monthly Board Meeting, 6:30 PM
30 Tire Collection Day with New Hope Ruritans
Current RAP Booklet Version 04/07/2025
New to receiving the FOMR newsletter?
Maybe we met you at a festival recently or you saw us on the local news, but you still wish you knew more about our organization... First of all, welcome! And just so you know, we do have a slightly more detailed sign-up form that tells us some more about you - like any potential volunteer interests you might have - and also gives you the chance to sign up for our River Access Program.
