Just released: A new memorandum directing Federal agencies to factor the value of ecosystem services into Federal planning and decision-making.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/10/07/incorporating-natural-infrastructure-and-ecosystem-services-federal-decision-making
Now if we can the states to take this on...
Richardson Lane Watershed
Richardson Lane Watershed
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Monday, October 26, 2015
Sunday, October 25, 2015
River District Festival Findings
One fine weekend I went to the River District Festival in Danville, VA. The Dan River flows through the city, and even then, outsiders don't know there is a river through the city or why Danville is named Danville. There are some folks out there trying the educate people about their watershed and the importance of protecting our waterways. The local rotary club was at the festival handing out this information. Pretty cool stuff!
Extra Learning Modules, EPA Watershed Information, Great Resource
The EPA has a pretty interesting web module program for a little additional learning.
The EPA's Watershed Academy's Distance Learning Program, or Watershed Academy Web is a Web site that offers a variety of self-paced training modules that represent a basic and broad introduction to the watershed management field. The modules are organized by the six themes listed above. Modules vary in the time they take to complete, from ½ hour to 2 hours (EPA http://cfpub.epa.gov/watertrain/index.cfm.)
http://cfpub.epa.gov/watertrain/index.cfm
The EPA's Watershed Academy's Distance Learning Program, or Watershed Academy Web is a Web site that offers a variety of self-paced training modules that represent a basic and broad introduction to the watershed management field. The modules are organized by the six themes listed above. Modules vary in the time they take to complete, from ½ hour to 2 hours (EPA http://cfpub.epa.gov/watertrain/index.cfm.)
http://cfpub.epa.gov/watertrain/index.cfm
Monday, October 12, 2015
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Watershed Protocol Selection
Friends of the Banister Watershed Management Plan
Watershed Management in the Piedmont
As my watershed protocol selection, I've elected to, attempt to, develop a Watershed Management Plan for the Banister River. My education and profession has allowed me to be pretty familiar with the suggested protocols listed for this class. In an attempt to try something new, I'm looking into the protocols of watershed planning.
I've found a nifty document by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) that focuses on watershed management in Virginia. This document can be found at:
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil_and_water/documents/wshedguideb2b.pdf
My plan is to dissect this document and make it applicable to Southern Virginia Piedmont localities, specifically Pittsylvania County and the Banister River watershed.
My micro-watershed, the Richardson Lane Watershed, is in the Banister River Watershed and will provide a nice starting point for investigating any monitoring techniques, or basic data collection that may be needed.
As I progress through this process I will post interesting tid-bits on this blog. The body of the work is in google docs. If anyone is interested in following along, just click on this link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18vuWZ3QcOTdLTmcGgdqgbRfmRp5XSLgfkmHkmUh4664/pub
Thinking big here, but I'm hoping that this endeavor will either turn into an actual plan to be adopted by the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) and/or the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors. Perhaps Friends of the Banister can be an actual subsidiary chapter to DRBA. This will not happen in the course of this class, but perhaps through the course of my graduate program. If a plan is not adopted, I can at least use what I've learned, and my mock management plan as a means to further my employment into the planning sector.
Watershed Management in the Piedmont
As my watershed protocol selection, I've elected to, attempt to, develop a Watershed Management Plan for the Banister River. My education and profession has allowed me to be pretty familiar with the suggested protocols listed for this class. In an attempt to try something new, I'm looking into the protocols of watershed planning.
I've found a nifty document by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) that focuses on watershed management in Virginia. This document can be found at:
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil_and_water/documents/wshedguideb2b.pdf
My plan is to dissect this document and make it applicable to Southern Virginia Piedmont localities, specifically Pittsylvania County and the Banister River watershed.
My micro-watershed, the Richardson Lane Watershed, is in the Banister River Watershed and will provide a nice starting point for investigating any monitoring techniques, or basic data collection that may be needed.
As I progress through this process I will post interesting tid-bits on this blog. The body of the work is in google docs. If anyone is interested in following along, just click on this link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18vuWZ3QcOTdLTmcGgdqgbRfmRp5XSLgfkmHkmUh4664/pub
Thinking big here, but I'm hoping that this endeavor will either turn into an actual plan to be adopted by the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) and/or the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors. Perhaps Friends of the Banister can be an actual subsidiary chapter to DRBA. This will not happen in the course of this class, but perhaps through the course of my graduate program. If a plan is not adopted, I can at least use what I've learned, and my mock management plan as a means to further my employment into the planning sector.
Saturday, October 3, 2015
What's up your stream?
We should all try to know what is the condition of our upstream headwaters.
This stream segment was the discharge of a pond overflow and seepage from the pond dam.
As we moved further downstream, the water clarity cleared.
This condition is probably a result of high iron, but would be frightening to most people upon first inspection.
This stream segment was the discharge of a pond overflow and seepage from the pond dam.
As we moved further downstream, the water clarity cleared.
This condition is probably a result of high iron, but would be frightening to most people upon first inspection.
Friday, October 2, 2015
Head Deep in Field Work
Our week long adventure along Morrow Creek and its tributary led us deeper and deeper into the waters and vegetation.
 |
| Photo by: Briana Bill |
 |
| Photo by: Briana Bill |
 |
| Photo by: Briana Bill Surrounded and head deep in impatiens capensis (jewelweed) |
 |
| Photo by: Briana Bill Head deep in puerarua lobata (kudzu) |
 |
| Photo by: Briana Bill When Kudzu rules the earth: "Ahhhhh!" |
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Knee Deep in Field Work
I get the chance to walk a lot of different watersheds. It's of great value to observe the differences, and the similarities.
When observing a watershed, we must take time to stop and smell the flowers, or talk to the frogs, and ooh and ah over the mushrooms.
Last week we were knee deep in field work. We were visiting the Morrow Creek watershed in Rutherford County, North Carolina. At the time, the watershed was experiencing a severe drought. Streams were dry, or very low. Luckily, the drought may soon be over...
Here are some photos from my days walking along Morrow Creek and it's tributaries. Morrow Creek is a tributary to the Broad River. It's all the little things that make the day interesting.
When observing a watershed, we must take time to stop and smell the flowers, or talk to the frogs, and ooh and ah over the mushrooms.
Last week we were knee deep in field work. We were visiting the Morrow Creek watershed in Rutherford County, North Carolina. At the time, the watershed was experiencing a severe drought. Streams were dry, or very low. Luckily, the drought may soon be over...
Here are some photos from my days walking along Morrow Creek and it's tributaries. Morrow Creek is a tributary to the Broad River. It's all the little things that make the day interesting.
 |
| Photo by: Briana Bill apatelodes torrefacta (Spotted Apatelode) |
 |
| Photo by: Briana Bill |
 |
| Photo by: Briana Bill euonymus americanus (strawberry bush, hearts-a-burstin') |
 |
| Photo by: Briana Bill |
 |
| Photo by: Briana Bill chelone glabra (turtlehead) |
 |
| Photo by: Briana Bill commelina communis (asiatic dayflower) |
 |
| Photo by: Briana Bill lithobates palustris (pickerel frog) |
 |
| Photo by: Briana Bill lobelia kalmii (brook lobelia) |
 |
| Photo by: Briana Bill |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)