Man-made sinkholes

This is recirculating again on Facebook because of a web admin trick to increase "likes" and therefore advertising on their pages ("Press Like and type 1 to see what happens next"; nothing happens except the Like).

Previous sinkholes in Guatemala were due to ruptured sewer lines.  It reminds me of a friend in Penn Hills Township outside of Pittsburgh.  In seeking finance to buy a house, the would-be lender discover the septic/sewage line to most of the homes in the neighborhood were open directly to an abandoned mine shaft with no treatment.  You can imagine the groundwater problems that causes, as well as other dangers.

JAE

Sinkhole in Guatemala

2010 sinkhole spurred by tropical storm Agatha.

A roughly 30-story-deep sinkhole in Guatemala City. (More photos)

Photograph courtesy Paulo Raquec

Ker Than

for National Geographic News

Published June 1, 2010

A huge sinkhole in Guatemala City (map), Guatemala, crashed into being on Sunday, reportedly swallowing a three-story building—and echoing a similar, 2007 sinkhole in Guatemala.

The sinkhole has likely been weeks or even years in the making—floodwaters from tropical storm Agatha caused the sinkhole to finally collapse, scientists say.

The sinkhole appears to be about 60 feet (18 meters) wide and about 30 stories deep, said James Currens, a hydrogeologist at the University of Kentucky.

(See more photos of the Guatemala City sinkhole, and a Texas sinkhole picture.)

Sinkholes are natural depressions that can form when water-saturated soil and other particles become too heavy and cause the roofs of existing voids in the soil to collapse.

Another way sinkholes can form is if water enlarges a natural fracture in a limestone bedrock layer. As the crack gets bigger, the topsoil gently slumps, eventually leaving behind a sinkhole.

It's unclear which mechanism is behind the 2010 Guatemala sinkhole, but in either case the final collapse can be sudden, Currens said.

(Related: "Sinkhole Holds 12,000-Year-Old Clues to Early Americans.")

2010 Guatemala Sinkhole Could Grow

A ruptured sewer line is thought to have caused the sinkhole that appeared in Guatemala City in 2007.

The 2010 Guatemala sinkhole could have formed in a similar fashion, Currens said. A burst sanitary or storm sewer may have been slowly saturating the surrounding soil for a long time before tropical storm Agatha added to the inundation.

"The tropical storm came along and would have dumped even more water in there, and that could have been the final trigger that precipitated the collapse," Currens said.

(See Guatemala pictures from National Geographic Traveler magazine.)

Depending on the makeup of the subsurface layer, the Guatemala sinkhole "could eventually enlarge and take in more buildings," he said.

Typically, officials fill in sinkholes with large rocks and other debris. But the 2010 Guatemala sinkhole "is so huge that it's going to take a lot of fill material to fill it," Currens said.

"I don't know what they're going to do."

More: Traveler's overview of recent Guatemala natural disasters >>

Watershed Job Opportunities

1.) Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Director – Closing date December 31, 2012

2.) Chesapeake Bay Program, Communications Office Staffer -- Closing date: January 7, 2013

3.) Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., Entry-level engineers and/or landscape architects – Closing date: January 14, 2013

4.) Trout Unlimited (TU), Habitat Project Coordinator – Closing date: January 14, 2013

5.) Executive Director, StreamWatch – Closing date: January 15, 2013

6.) James River Association, Field Educator – Closing date: January 18, 2013

7.) Healthy Watersheds Internship, EPA Water 2012-253

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1.) Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Director – Closing date December 31, 2012 – The Sanctuary Director is responsible for overseeing Sanctuary operations and programs, and for staff supervision. The Sanctuary Director implements the core mission of the Sanctuary consisting of environmental education, ecological research and environmental stewardship programs. BS required, MS or higher preferred. To view the position description or apply, visit: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/annearundel/job_bulletin.cfm?JobID=567127. For more information, contact Debra Gage at rpgage00@aacounty.org.

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2.) Chesapeake Bay Program, Communications Office Staffer -- Closing date: January 7, 2013 – Activities include providing information to the public, working with the media, branding and promoting the Chesapeake Bay Program, and facilitating communications between state and federal agencies. Special emphasis is placed on using multimedia content and online tools in the office's daily work.  Job posting available at http://www.chesapeakebay.net/jobs. 

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3.) Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., Entry-level engineers and/or landscape architects – Closing date: January 14, 2013 -- Projects include stream restoration, low impact development, urban stormwater management design, wetlands mitigation design, and floodplain studies. Ideal candidate will have from 0 to 5 years of experience, EIT (if applicable), and knowledge of AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, SWMM, HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, TR-55, and Microsoft Office.  Submit resume, cover letter, salary requirements, and list of professional references (no calls) to: Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., Attn: Kate Tomlinson, 5300 Wellington Branch Drive, Suite 100, Gainesville, Virginia  20155, Fax: (703) 679-5601; E-mail: ktomlinson@wetlandstudies.com.  For more information, see www.wetlandstudies.com (Careers). 

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4.) Trout Unlimited (TU), Habitat Project Coordinator – Closing date: January 14, 2013 -- Full-time position in northcentral Pennsylvania – Will inventory stream crossings (i.e. road culverts), coordinate fish habitat improvement projects, and conduct pre- and post-construction monitoring.  Send cover letter, resume, and 1-2 page writing sample to:  Habitat Project Coordinator Position, Trout Unlimited, 18 East Main Street, Suite 3, Lock Haven, PA  17745, awolfe@tu.org.  No phone calls – TU staff will contact qualified applicants in January, 2013.  For more information, see http://www.tu.org/about-us/jobs

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5.) Executive Director, StreamWatch – Closing date: January 15, 2013 -- Location: Charlottesville, VA -- Full/Part Time: Full time 35 hours/week;  Regular/Temporary: Regular exempt position; Reports to: Board of Directors -- StreamWatch is a non-profit organization located in Charlottesville, VA, dedicated to monitoring and reporting the health of the Rivanna River watershed’s streams. The Executive Director is responsible for overall leadership and implementation of StreamWatch’s mission.  Applications should be submitted by email to admin@streamwatch.org.  More information is available at http://streamwatch.org/jobs.

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6.) James River Association, Field Educator – Closing date: January 18, 2013 -- Full-time, seasonal 10-month position starting February 2013 -- During March to June and September to November, the Field Educator will assist with weekday school-group programs, and weekend overnight camping excursions with extracurricular youth groups.  Additionally, the field educator will help lead canoe-based river expeditions during the summer, offsite paddle programs, and educational events as needed. To apply, mail or email resume and cover letter to Jessica Templeton, James River Association, 9 South 12th Street, 4th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219; Email:  jtempleton@jrava.org.  For more information, see  http://www.jamesriverassociation.org/about-jra/employment

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7.) Healthy Watersheds Internship, EPA Water 2012-253 -- Location: Washington, D.C.; Type of Position: Full-time, renewable annually for up to 3 years; Salary: Negotiable -- A postgraduate internship is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water. The participant will have the opportunity to learn about EPA's Healthy Watersheds Initiative. The participant will be involved in healthy watersheds assessments, help develop coordinated protection programs, and identify opportunities to integrate healthy watersheds protection into EPA programs. A detailed description of this position can be found at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education's web site: http://orise.orau.gov/science-education/internships-scholarships-fellowships/description.aspx?JobId=12574. This job announcement can also be found at chesapeakenetwork.org in the Job Announcements folder of the Community Resources Section. Applicants must have received either a master’s or a doctoral degree in aquatic ecology, environmental science, or biology within four years of the desired starting date, or completion of all requirements for the degree should be expected prior to the starting date.

Wrapping up the semester

Thanks to everyone for pulling your projects together over the last week.  For those who haven't finished, please remember to share a proposed workplan with me over the weekend.  You may take up until the end of the Winter Break to finish things, unless you're one of the folks who are evolving a specific project into a much larger-scaled outcome (capstone).

Over the weekend I'll begin assembling your products into larger collections to share with future students, but you'll be able to continue updating them as desired.

At any time, even years from now, don't hesitate to ask for help accessing something you've submitted or the Projects pages I created for each of you.

It seems weird to say I'm proud of your work, because in this course it really is all YOUR work; so instead know that I'm proud to know and be associated with you and your work!

Urban Wildlife - Hawk and Squirrels

While working at my laptop on Sunday I had the good fortune to notice this Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) probably a juvenile female - fly into the large Sweetgum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) in my neighbor's back yard.

I was taking photos with my old phone, frustrated there were no windows without a screen, when two nervous but curious, juvenile Grey squirrels  (Sciurus carolinensis) appeared.


Although blurred by the screen, the interaction is interesting to watch.  The juvenile squirrel is much larger than the small hawk's normal prey, but it's surprising the hawk doesn't lose its patience.  This ends well - safe for kids to watch.

The video:

VT Student Feedback on Teaching

I just received this. You may have already received something similar and replied.  If so, thanks! Laughlin, Anne <laughlin@vt.edu>
to OFFICE_OF_ASSE.

Dear Colleagues,

It is mid-point in the two week period when students can submit feedback through the online Student Perceptions of Teaching (SPOT) system. Currently, responses are coming in more slowly than they have in past semesters. While the university-wide response is about 70% each term, some instructors have taken steps to achieve online response rates of 80% or better. Instructors who receive high response rates tend to do the following:

Communicate with Students about SPOT

·         Direct all students to the login page ( eval.scholar.vt.edu ). After login, they will see a link to the SPOT survey for each of their classes.
·         Share examples of how you have modified class content or instruction based on past student feedback. 
·         Teach students what it means to provide constructive feedback (e.g., keep comments narrowly focused and include suggestions for improvement).
·         Impress upon students that practicing constructive feedback is part of professional development – it is a learned skill that will show its value long after graduation.

Provide Class Time for SPOT

·         Ask students to bring their laptops to class and offer 10 minutes for them to complete the SPOT survey.

Assure Confidentiality

·         No identifying information is associated with responses when they are shared with instructors. Knowing this may help students to be more comfortable with responding.

DC takes steps to clean waterways

From the Washington Post:

D.C. debates best path to cleaner waterways

(Linda Davidson/ The Washington post ) - Trash and debris collect along the shores of the Anacostia River near Nationals Stadium in Washington, D.C.

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By Darryl Fears, Published: December 2

For environmental activists who fight to clean the District’s dirty waterways, there was no sweeter victory than the one they witnessed in 2004.

That year, the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority was forced to settle a federal lawsuit that claimed it failed for decades to stop its Civil War-vintage sewers from spewing pollution. D.C. Water agreed to build three huge tunnels within 20 years to stop pipes from overflowing during hard rains, sending billions of gallons of storm water mixed with raw sewage into Rock Creek and the Potomac and Anacostia rivers every year.

“Maybe . . . before I pass away, I can see children swimming in there,” Robert Boone, the former president of the Anacostia Watershed Society, said shortly after the settlement was reached.

But now, the three-tunnel solution is in doubt, and activists, engineers and bureaucrats are arguing once again about the best path to cleaner waters. Although digging is underway for the first tunnel, D.C. Water wants to put the other two on hold and instead see whether rain gardens, retention ponds and grass rooftops can soak up as much storm-water runoff as the pipes can store.

D.C. Water has asked the Environmental Protection Agency for permission to build an experimental “green infrastructure” project and run tests for at least eight years.

The green project would be built where the second and third tunnels were slated to run, along Rock Creek Parkway near the Kennedy Center to protect the Potomac River and in Upper Northwest neighborhoods to protect Rock Creek. A 13-mile tunnel under the Anacostia River and deep into the Northeast near a Home Depot off Rhode Island Avenue, currently under construction, would continue as planned.

The EPA is considering D.C. Water’s proposed “partnership agreement,” and a decision on whether to move forward with public hearings on the changes is expected soon.

Among local environmental activist groups, a verdict on the request is already clear: Don’t do it. Some are enraged; others have expressed dismay about the proposal.

“We’re well down the road to the tunnel solution, and I’m a little ambivalent about changing course midstream,” said Brent Bolin, a spokesman for the Anacostia Watershed Society.

Opponents say that if the green pilot project wins approval, billions of gallons of sewage would pour into the Potomac and Rock Creek for eight years while D.C. Water conducts its tests.

The proposed agreement played a major role in the recent firing of the head of the D.C. Department of the Environment (DDOE), Christophe Tulou. He said he believed the green infrastructure project had no hope of performing as well as the utility claimed, and he allowed experts in his department to say as much in comments on the project submitted to the EPA.

In a recent interview at his home, Tulou, now unemployed, said his department “had no beef about green infrastructure. But there are still issues one has to resolve . . . how effective is green infrastructure in mitigating storm-water runoff. We don’t know exactly.”

Continue to Page 2

EPA Watershed News November

You can subscribe to the EPA's Watershed News, a monthly electronic newsletter with all kinds of watershed-related news.  Here's a link to the November newsletter, and instructions on how to subscribe can be found at the very bottom http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/1112.cfm

Here is the Table of Contents:

In this month's newsletter:

1. Community-based Restoration Program funded by NOAA and American Rivers
2. National Service Agency Announces AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities
3. Nonpoint Source Grant Guidelines Available for Comment 
4. Des Moines Register releases collection of articles on Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone
5. Register for Webinar on "How’s My Waterway? and Other Water Quality Apps"
6. Updated Data Now Available in EPA’s Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution Data Access Tool (NPDAT)
7. New Nutrient Video Posted on YouTube
8. "Don’t Let Trash Ruin Your Scene"
9. Watershed Spotlight:  Friends of the Los Angeles River

Webcast for "How's my Watershed tool".

We used the  EPA "How's my Waterway" tool, where you can search local water bodies and learn about their water quality.  This Wednesday there is a free webcast to learn more about this ap, and others related to water quality.  Here is the link to register http://water.epa.gov/learn/training/wacademy/webcasts_index.cfm  You can also search and download past webcasts, and subscribe to the podcast.

Nov. 19 Class Cancelled

Sorry folks, my doctor tells me I will likely be spending most of tomorrow in the hospital due to what she believes are complications from a previous GI problem.  I had a low fever from when I woke up Tuesday morning straight through Saturday, interrupted only with ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

I will have a phone and iPad with me and should be able to monitor email.

See you on the 26th.   

VWMC Announcements

Opportunities communicated by the Virginia Water Monitoring Council (VWMC) this afternoon. 

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1.) Job Opportunity: Environmental Planner, Stream Restoration Design Specialist – Stafford, VA -- Williamsburg Environmental Group, Inc. (WEG) is accepting resumes for an Environmental Planner / Stream Restoration Design Specialist (B.S. minimum) to work with a team of design professionals in a progressive company with offices located in Williamsburg, Richmond, and Fredericksburg, VA. Position advertised is currently available in the Stafford, VA office. Activities and skills will include stream assessment, restoration processes, channel design, sediment transport mechanics, and hydrology. To apply, view the instructions at the bottom of this website: http://www.wegnet.com/employment.php. For more information, contact Kelli Ancarrow at kancarrow@wegnet.com or 757-220-6869. WEG is an equal opportunity employer.

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2.) Homeowner Rain Garden Workshop – November 17, 2012 (9:30am-12:30pm)  – Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford St. Arlington, VA -- Learn how to properly locate, design, construct and maintain a small-scale rain garden -- a landscaped area that is designed to capture rain water and allow it to soak into the ground. Call 703-228-3610 or email awinquist@arlingtonva.us to register. For more information, visit http://www.novaregion.org/index.aspx?NID=977. This workshop is co-sponsored by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, Arlington County, and the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, with partial funding provided by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program and NOAA.

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3.) Seminar: Challenges and Opportunities in Water Resources Research and Education – November 19, 2012 (4pm) (Rescheduled because of Hurricane Sandy) – Alumni Hall Auditorium, The Inn at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA – George M. Hornberger, distinguished Vanderbilt University professor and Director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and the Environment, will be speaking about the need for disciplinary depth and intellectual breadth to bridge disciplines and the ability to communicate science to policy makers effectively, and the associated challenges with water resources research and education to achieve the goal of effective “translational hydrologic science.” The event will be followed by a reception. The flyer for the event can be accessed here: http://www.ictas.vt.edu/communication/seminarseries.html. Co-sponsored by the College of Natural Resources and Environment and Virginia Water Resources Research Center. For more information, contact Stephen Schoenholtz, Director of the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, at stephen.schoenholtz@vt.eduor 540-231-0711.

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4.) Movie Screening: Ocean Frontiers – November 19, 2012 (3:30pm & 6:30pm)  – Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), McHugh Auditorium, Gloucester Point, VA – “Ocean Frontiers: The Dawn of a New Era in Ocean Stewardship” documents issues affecting seaports and watersheds across the country, including their various stakeholders and interests, discussing both problems and solutions facing ocean and estuary management. The film is one hour.  Two showings will be offered. Sponsored by the Center for Coastal Resources Management, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia, Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission and VIMS. To learn more about the movie, visit: http://ocean-frontiers.org/about/. To register for the 3:30pm showing, visithttp://tiny.cc/Frontiers330. To register for the 6:30pm showing, visit: http://tiny.cc/Frontiers630.

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5.) Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Stormwater Training Sessions – November 27 – December 19, 2012 (9am – 4:30pm) – Various VA locations -- Attendees will learn the basics of stormwater management, the history of stormwater regulations in VA, design and implementation tools for managing stormwater on developed sites, tips for implementing the regulations and overseeing regulated land disturbing activities, and the future of VA's Stormwater Management program.  This training will be worth 6 hours of continuing education credits.  Attendees will receive class materials on a CD-rom and will be awarded Certificates of Attendance. Registration is free. For more information and to register, visit: http://dcrswtraininggeneral.eventbrite.com/. -- Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Facility, Fisherville – November 27, 2012

-- Warren County Government Center – Front Royal, VA – November 28, 2012

-- Loudoun County Government Center – Leesburg, VA – December 13, 2012

-- Hungry Mother State Park – Marion, VA – December 17, 2012

-- VA Institute of Marine Science – Gloucester Point, VA – December 19, 2012 (Rescheduled because of Hurricane Sandy)

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6.) Upcoming TMDL Public Meetings in Virginia – For more information, contact Nesha McRae at nesha.mcrae@dcr.virginia.gov or 540-332-9238.

– November 27, 2012 (7pm) -- Linville Creek Watershed (Rockingham County  – Linville Edom Ruritan Hall, 3752 Linville Edom Road, Linville, VA 22834 -- http://townhall.virginia.gov/l/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=19090

– December 5, 2012 (6pm) -- Spout Run, Page Brook, & Roseville Run Watersheds (Clarke County & Towns of Millwood and Boyce)– Powhatan School, 49 Powhatan Lane, Boyce, VA 22620 -http://townhall.virginia.gov/l/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=19091

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7.) Virginia Invasive Plant Symposium – November 29, 2012 (8:30am-4pm) – Middleburg Community Center, Middleburg VA – The Piedmont Environmental Council will be hosting a day-long symposium on invasive plants in Virginia. Presentations will range from scientific to land management topics. Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home, is the keynote speaker. To register and for more information, visit www.pecva.org/events. For more information contact James Barnes atjbarnes@pecva.org or 540-347-2334.

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8.) RETScreen Workshops – November 29 – December 6, 2012 (8:30am – 5:30pm) – Various locations -- RETs are Renewable-energy and Energy-efficient technologies, including biogas, woody biomass, solar, energy efficiency retrofits, etc. RETScreen Clean Energy Project Analysis software is a free Excel-based decision-support package used to determine the feasibility of RETs. The Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Bioenergy Engineering Education Program is holding six free introductory training workshops on this software (bring a laptop). Space is limited. This workshop series is made possible by support from the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (VA-DMME). For more information about RETScreen, visit: http://www.retscreen.net/ang/what_is_retscreen.php or contact Katherine Ready at 757-498-0100 ext 154. To register, see the links below.

-- Hampton – November 29, 2012 - http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4595023840/eorg

-- Richmond – November 30, 2012 - http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4643984282/eorg

-- Alexandria – December 3, 2012 - http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4643827814/eorg

-- Weyers Cave – December 4, 2012 - http://virginiaretscreenworkshops-eorg.eventbrite.com/

-- Roanoke – December 5, 2012 - http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4644347368/eorg

-- Danville – December 6, 2012 - http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4644507848/eorg

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9.) Maryland Water Monitoring Council Conference – December 6, 2012 (7:30am – 4:30pm) – Maritime Institute, North Linthicum, MD -- Theme: “What Else is in your Water? From Arsenic to Zinc.” The conference will address water quality issues beyond more conventional pollutants such as nutrients and sediments. Session topics will include Mercury, Road Salt, Headwater Streams, Bacteria, Protecting Healthy Watersheds, Marcellus Shale, Harmful Algal Blooms, Environmental Information, Land Use Change, Groundwater, Fish Diseases, and Volunteer Monitoring. For more information, to view the agenda, and to register, visit: http://mddnr.chesapeakebay.net/MWMC/MWMC2010/annualConference.asp or contact Dan Boward at dboward@dnr.state.md.us or 410-260-8605.

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10.) Grant: NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program River Grants –Applications due: December 7, 2012; Decision: March 2013 -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Community-based Restoration Program (CRP) provides financial and technical assistance for river restoration projects benefiting diadromous fish species, particularly stream barrier removal projects. The maximum award request is $150,000. For more information, visit:http://www.americanrivers.org/initiatives/grants/noaa/

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11.) AWRA Policy Committee Publication: "Case Studies in Integrated Water Resources Management: From Local Stewardship to National Vision" – The American Water Resources Association (AWRA) document showcases state, multi-state, and regional efforts to implement Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), and highlights the effectiveness of various strategies. To view the publication, visit: http://awra.org/committees/AWRA-Case-Studies-IWRM.pdf.

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12.) USGS Report: Changes in Water Budgets and Sediment Yields from a Hypothetical Agricultural Field as a Function of Landscape and Management Characteristics—A Unit Field Modeling Approach – The USGS developed the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) to simulate slope, soil texture and agricultural management practices to evaluate their effects on water budgets and sediment yield. Sixty-eight 60-year simulations were run, and the analysis is available in this report. To view the abstract and full report, visit:http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2012/5203/

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Tree Stewards - Invasive Removal in Arlington

Over the last ten years I'm guessing I've cleared more than 10 acres of invasive plants and planted more than 4000 trees in their place.  It's one of the most satisfying things for me, maybe because it's so different from sitting in front of multiple screens all day.  I regularly find myself thinking out loud while I do it (hopefully not in range of anyone's video camera!), suggesting that it's one of those "centering" exercises where we get to put lots of things in perspective or rehearse challenging situations.  

I can't be there but I'm sharing this so you all can meet like-minded folks, get a little hands-on training, maybe just get a few photos for your Facebook page, or maybe take some friends or sig. others outside on what will apparently be a VERY nice day (low 50's and cloud-free).

JAE

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Join us as we continue the Barcroft Park Habitat Restoration Work Parties on Saturday morning November 17 at 9:30 am.  We will continue to cut Ivy from trees as we did on beautiful fall days in September and October.  Just last week, IPC (Invasive Plant Control, the County contractor) completed its fall treatment of Ivy, Vinca, and Wintercreeper on the ground, while leaving the Ivy on trees for volunteers like us.  In taking this role, we are saving the County thousands of $$$, thereby extending IPC's technical work on a fixed budget to other County parks.  The great progress that the County, IPC and we volunteers have made removing and treating invasive plants and trees throughout the park is evident and spectacular.

See Jim Hurley’s prior post concerning the results of work to date throughout the park: dead or browning porcelainberry vines, multiflora rose thickets, Oriental Bittersweet, and 15’ Japanese Honeysuckle bushes cut off at the base and treated, as well as Norway Maple, Mimosa and Japanese Pagoda trees cut andlying on the ground. Some 25 species of invasives were targeted for work over a five week period this summer. Better yet, join us on Saturday and see it first hand.

This event is sponsored by the Arlington Regional Master Naturalists. The work party will be followed by a walk led by Jim Hurley and others to admire the results of our collective work, view mature invasive trees such as Golden Raintree and Japanese Sophora, and identify as many plants as we can.

We will meet at the picnic pavilion in Barcroft Park at 9:30 am. If you park in the Barcroft recreational area parking lot, walk past the soccer fields toward the stream and away from Four Mile Run Dr., cross the stream on the wood and steel bridge and look for the picnic pavilion on your right.  Wear long pants and long sleeves. Bring gloves, clippers and a handsaw if you have them.

This project needs you!  Every pair of hands makes a difference for this valuable ecological site. Enjoy the satisfaction of clearing invasive plants to encourage growth of native plants which provide habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Come back to Barcroft and see a park on its way to natural health. If you have worked with us in the past, come see the results of your hard work and the county investment. If you are new to Barcroft, join us to see the park that has been designated the top priority natural aea for Arlington due to its unique habitat. 

Fish Consumption

Maryland: Women and Children

EPA

FDA

Anacostia

NonProfit Resources

IRS Resources

An example:  South Branch Science Consortium

Prezi presentation

Organization Timeline and Responsibilities

Sample ByLaws

Additional Links

Reposted from the Anacostia Watershed Society:

SUBSISTENCE FISHING ON THE ANACOSTIA RIVER

Anacostia Watershed Society and a team of local, state, and federal organizations, and agencies have conducted a study of fishing on the Anacostia River to find out

• The extent of consumption and sharing of fish from the river
• Awareness and attitudes among anglers about the potential risks to their health
• The most effective strategies for lessening the consumption of contaminated fish

A report on the study, Addressing the Risk, is released to the public on November 8, 2012. The study found that at least 17,000 people are eating fish from the Anacostia River each year, particularly via sharing of the fish with anglers' families and neighbors. While fish can be a very nutritious food, people consuming Anacostia River fish are potentially exposed to contaminants that can cause significant long-term health impacts. The study also found that existing fish consumption advisories are not adequately penetrating at-risk populations.

Download the report and launch press release here:

 Addressing the Risk: Understanding and Changing Anglers' Attitudes about the Dangers of Consuming Anacostia River Fish (PDF)

 Press Release: Study of Anacostia Anglers Indicates Widespread Sharing of Contaminated Fish (PDF)

The report is only the beginning of this project. Anacostia Watershed Society's goal -- and the goal of many project partners -- is to return the Anacostia River to a fishable and swimmable state by 2032 -- so that anyone can enjoy time on the river fishing, and safely eat their catch. Following the launch of the report, AWS will convene a community meeting to discuss the next steps. Updates to this outreach and restoration effort will be posted at this site.

For more information about where to go on the river now to fish (and practice catch and release), please visit our recreational fishing page.

Media Coverage

• Reel Talk (Washington City Paper, 11/8/12)

Tonight's Agenda

I'm sorry I didn't communicate over the weekend, because I knew I would be working in the field all day today.  I just got to my office in Clarendon, and I'll probably get to Falls Church around 6:15pm.

Tonight we'll be discussing Teaching and Learning Strategies, and we'll provide lots of time for sharing presentations of all the work you folks have been submitting.  Many asked for troubleshooting and review time also.

Some of you folks asked for examples from last year.  Promise me you won't be overly influenced by any, and then feel free to peek!    http://goo.gl/7xs8j

New EPA Tool for Your Watershed

A new tool for watershed assessment and monitoring.

Clicking the image takes you to http://watersgeo.epa.gov/mywaterway/search.html

Displaced Beavers in Arlington

Arlington Beavers Displaced by Hurricane Sandy

Posted on October 31, 2012 by acgcitizen

Hurricane Sandy’s high winds and driving rains brought some unusual visitors to two Arlington neighborhoods.
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington reported that on Tuesday, Oct. 30, the day after the storm’s fury peaked here, two calls came in of beavers sightings in our highly urbanized community.

“We don’t get many beaver calls at all, so two in one day was very unusual,” said the Animal Welfare League’s Susan Sherman. “It was definitely due to the weather.”  Sherman said one beaver, spotted in North Arlington, “escaped on its own,” but an Animal Control officer captured a second beaver sighted in Pentagon City, and set it free at Gravelly Point, near Reagan National Airport. Neither beaver, she said, showed any sign of injuries or illness. “There is no reason to think that once the waters recede, they won’t be back in business,” Sherman said.

Over the past decade, Arlington has been home to six to 12 beavers a year, according to Arlington County Naturalist Greg Zell. The County boasts two beaver lodges. Both are in Roach’s Run Waterfowl Sanctuary. Other beavers who live in the County build “bank dens,” into the banks of streams. “They dig a hole into the stream bank and tunnel up — sort of like a condo in the mud,” Zell said. Arlington beavers tend to be two-year-olds who have been ejected from colonies along the Potomac River. “They are very transient,” Zell said. “They come here looking for a home, and some don’t like what they see. We have a very marginal habitat in Arlington for beavers.”

Zell speculated that the two beavers who strayed into neighborhoods in the wake of Sandy were temporarily flooded out of their homes. “They were inconvenienced, like the rest of us,” he said. “Now that the storm is gone, they’ll go back to their homes and refurbish them.”

Zell cautioned that if you see a beaver, ” don’t pet it, don’t let your pets near it. Either allow it to wander off on its own, or call the Animal Welfare League if the animal cannot escape.”

Sandy’s impact on most wildlife in Arlington was temporary and limited, Zell said. Most migratory birds, have already passed through the County or headed south for the winter. Squirrels may have suffered the loss of their nests, and will have to quickly rebuild before winter hits. Small snakes, moles, shrews and other smaller wildlife that normally live beneath the soil may have been forced to the surface by the drenching rain, but will be fine once the ground dries out.