http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler stories of landscapes, conservation, and people in and beyond the Rivanna Watershed Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:11:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 © lmiddleton@embarqmail.com () lmiddleton@embarqmail.com() stories of landscapes, conservation, and people in and beyond the Rivanna Watershed lmiddleton@embarqmail.com No no http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler 144 144 http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/11/29/113-thanksgiving-for-drinking-water/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/11/29/113-thanksgiving-for-drinking-water/#comments Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:05:06 +0000 admin http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/11/29/113-thanksgiving-for-drinking-water/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/11/29/113-thanksgiving-for-drinking-water/feed/ 0 5:14 November 27, 2008 Walking through the South Fork Rivanna Water Treatment Plant brings a new appreciation for what it takes to turn river water into potable, ... November 27, 2008 Walking through the South Fork Rivanna Water Treatment Plant brings a new appreciation for what it takes to turn river water into potable, safe drinking water. This show originally aired on November 27, 2007 on ldquo;The Rivanna Rambler,rdquo; a weekly public affairs show airing every Thursday at 11:55 a.m. on WTJU 91.1 FM or wtju.net. In late 1620, the God-fearing and intrepid band of Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, first stepped on the outer shores of Cape Cod ndash; close, but not quite there, in their search for a home and religious freedom in the New World.nbsp; After an arduous 2-month voyage across the Atlantic, their stores of fresh water ndash; and more importantly, the cider and beer on which most people relied for drink -- were precariously low. It took several forays down the sandy arm of the Cape to find rivers that spilled fresh water hellip; and eventually, when they moved the Mayflower to what is now known as Plymouth Harbor, it was chosen as much for its protection from Cape Cod Bay as for thenbsp; fresh water flowing in to it from the Jones River and a "very sweet brook" that flowed beside the landing rock, a brook that William Bradford wrote had as "good water as can be drunk."nbsp; He describe the water as "sweet," perhaps an adjective hard for us to appreciate in our modern day, unless we remember that by the 1600s, many rivers ndash; and city streets in the Old World ndash; were already fouled by sewage and what we would today call gray-water from bathing and laundering -- and were anything but sweet or safe to drink. For our Thanksgiving gatherings today, perhaps the one thing on the table that costs little in money or time to prepare is the water that fills our drinking glasses.nbsp; As a City resident, I get my water from the tap, with a simple turn of the wrist.nbsp; I do pay a monthly bill for this service (so it is not exactly "free").nbsp; Ad because I recently had the privilege of touring the South Fork Rivanna Water Treatment Plant, I now know a little more of what goes in to making the water safe for me to drink and cook with. Our tour, led by David Golladay, deputy manager water operations for the RWSA, starts outside in the chill bright air that has us all hugging ourselves for warmth as we walk the various stations of treatment.nbsp; Raw water from the reservoir is pumped uphill to the treatment facility where it travels through a series of 100-foot long settling basins for processes that remove the organics and dirt that give it the dense green -brown color of raw.nbsp; It's a mini-lesson in chemistry, as we learn how aluminum sulfate and other compounds are added to encourage the unwanted particles to clump together like small gauzy patches of snow and settle to the bottom.nbsp; As the water moves to other basins, long vacuum units remove what is now called sludge and send it down the hill to a dewatering facility that wrings out every last bit of moisture.nbsp; Eventually, the partially treated water moves inside and under cover, where it is dosed a second time with lime to adjust the pH, and where small amounts of chlorine and fluoride are added for our health and inhibitors added to reduce corrosion from the various piping systems it will eventually travel.nbsp; The treated water takes a final pass through filter basins made of crushed stone, sand, and coal, to capture any remaining impurities.nbsp; The result is water that regularly exceeds the Federal safe drinking water standards. All of these processes are overseen by one water treatment operator at the plant aided by modern electronics that provide closed circuit TV, automated and electronically controlled actuators for mixing and for analyzing water quality, pressure head, and flow through the various stages of treatment.nbsp; This plant treats 12 million gallons a day and sends it into the vast distribution network that delivers the water, on demand, 24 ndash;7 to homes and businesses like... Albemarle,County,,Charlottesville,,Rivanna,River,,South,Fork,,Water,Conservation,,Water,Quality,,Water,Supply lmiddleton@embarqmail.com no No http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/11/06/110-here-comes-the-hydrilla-part-2/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/11/06/110-here-comes-the-hydrilla-part-2/#comments Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:05:46 +0000 admin http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/11/06/110-here-comes-the-hydrilla-part-2/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/11/06/110-here-comes-the-hydrilla-part-2/feed/ 0
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5:04 November 6, 2008 Hydrilla may improve certain aspects of water quality, but it is an invasive aquatic weed that has caused numerous problems around the country.nbsp; ... November 6, 2008 Hydrilla may improve certain aspects of water quality, but it is an invasive aquatic weed that has caused numerous problems around the country.nbsp; The future maintenance of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir will need to address this growing problem in the reservoir.nbsp; This show originally aired on October 30, 2008 on ldquo;The Rivanna Rambler,rdquo; a weekly public affairs show airing every Thursday at 11:55 a.m. on WTJU 91.1 FM or wtju.net. Last week, we learned about the aquatic weed, hydrilla, an herbaceous, perennial freshwater herb originally imported from southeast Asian for aquariums and water gardens ndash; and a plant that has taken over millions of acres of shallow standing and moving water in the United States.nbsp; Unfortunately, it has taken rootnbsp; in our watershed, particularly in the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir, but it has also been found in tributaries like the North Fork as well as the river itself downstream from the reservoir. Like many plants that are characterized as invasive, it is not unattractive.nbsp; It has delicate leaves organized in whorls of three to eight around a central stalk that rises to the surface in water that can be from a foot to fifteen feet deep.nbsp; The leaves are 2 to 4 millimeters wide and can be from six to 20 millimeters long ndash; and what distinguishes hydrilla from the native pondweed (elodea), as well as a another look-alike transplant, the Brazilian waterweed, is the presence of many sharp teeth along the margin of the leaves. Invasive species take hold in our local habitat through a variety of means.nbsp; Some terrestrial plants out-compete natives by emerging earlier in the season, or being resistant to the evolutionary system of ecological checks and balances, or by reproducing in a scale that overwhelms local species.nbsp; Hydrilla has its own set of tricks for flourishing in the places it is introduced, whether by boats traveling from one waterway to another, or on the wind, or using other aquatic species to hitchhike a ride.nbsp; Once in a waterbody, it spreads out and forms dense canopies that can shade out native vegetation ndash; and while these areas can provide protective nursery grounds for juvenile fish, it is not a major food source for aquatic species.nbsp; Fishermen on our reservoir report seeing larger fish taking cover in the hydrilla ndash; but it is hard to get to them without snagging a lure full of heavy weed. Hydrilla also alters water quality by raising the pH and decreasing oxygen as well as increasing temperature under the mats of weed.nbsp; In slow moving water, the stands that are rooted to the bottom can catch sediment and accelerate the process of filling in and creating islands, as has been seen along many stretches of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir. And these clever hydrilla have more than one way of reproducing. The plants, such as those often found in the mid-Atlantic, can host both male and female flowers, making for an easy date between ovary and sperm.nbsp; Plants also produce rhizomes that root horizontally in bottom soils, sending up new shoots opportunistically.nbsp; If that weren't enough, the plants also produce turions, small tuber-like growths that grow between stem and leaf and breaking free in the fall and floating till they fetch up in another spot, ready to take root in the spring.nbsp; With all these reproductive mechanisms at work, it's easy to see how simply mowing down the plants, as is done in some areas to clear docks or swimming areas, is only a partial solution ndash; and how eradication, as well as prevention of its spread, is next to impossible. Though chemical agents can kill the plants, many localities have used grass carp ndash; also an imported species ndash; to control hydrilla, though this has its own risks. Grass carp will out-compete native fish species ndash; and are only recommended in enclosed water bodies.nbsp; Our reservoir is only a temporary impoundment... Albemarle,County,,Charlottesville,,Ecology,,Natural,History,,North,Fork,Rivanna,,Rivanna,River,,Rivanna,mainstem,,South,Fork,,Water,Quality,,Water,Supply lmiddleton@embarqmail.com no No http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/10/30/109-here-comes-the-hydrilla/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/10/30/109-here-comes-the-hydrilla/#comments Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:11:35 +0000 admin http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/10/30/109-here-comes-the-hydrilla/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/10/30/109-here-comes-the-hydrilla/feed/ 0
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5:07 October 30, 2008 While the Virginia Film Festival showcases movies about aliens from other countries, other lives, and other worlds, we need look no further than ... October 30, 2008 While the Virginia Film Festival showcases movies about aliens from other countries, other lives, and other worlds, we need look no further than out own watershed for invasives of the biological variety.nbsp; The South Fork Rivanna Reservoir is now infested with Hydrilla verticillata, an aquatic weed that has caused problems in lakes, rivers, and sounds in other parts of the country. This show originally aired on October 30, 2008 on ldquo;The Rivanna Rambler,rdquo; a weekly public affairs show airing every Thursday at 11:55 a.m. on WTJU 91.1 FM or wtju.net. I was reading in the paper how Richard Herkowitz, director of the Virginia Film Festival, decided that the subject of aliens could have social, political, as well as entertainment value ndash; and now we are in the midst of the movies about topics that range from immigration to space invasions.nbsp; We use the word alien to describe something that is "not from here" and usually with the connotation that it has no business being here.nbsp; Many times, we ascribe to aliens the notion that they are "invading," and thus underscore the menacing potential. Well, these terms are also used in the biological world.nbsp; While an alien species is simply "one not native to an area," it may become invasive if it is able to out-compete similar but native species.nbsp; If it is able to overcome ndash; or even thrive ndash; within the ecological limits provided by other native organisms, the plants, insects, and animals that have evolved together in a healthy balance. While alien space invaders may be thrilling or scary to contemplate, it is usually much harder for any of us to have a similar reaction about an invasive plant species ndash; like the common reed, Phragmites, that is overwhelming wetlands across the eastern seaboard and changing the visual and ecological character of marshy areas.nbsp; Or the Zebra mussel, whose capacity for feeding and filtering has rendered waters from the Great Lakes to the St. Lawrence Seaway stunningly clear, but biologically barren.nbsp; Usually, we first become aware of such invasions when they have an economic impact ndash; such as the need to keep water intakes from fowling with Zebra Mussels. But thanks to the focused attention of the South Rivanna Reservoir Task Force, we now know that we have an aquatic invasion in our watershed. Hydrilla verticillata, commonly known as hydrilla, is forming dense mats of growth along the margins of the reservoir, reducing access to rowing lanes, snagging fishermen's lures and stopping the strokes of boater's paddles. Those who row on the reservoir say its been a recent addition, only first noticed a couple of years ago, but dramatically increasing during this last growing season. Hydrilla came to the US through the nursery trade in the 1950's and has infested waters in coastal areas since the 1970's ndash; producing thick mats of vegetation on still and slow moving waters in Florida, Washington state, and now in the mid-Atlantic. Nearby in Louisa County, hydrilla management has been in effect for almost a decade to keep water intakes to the power plant unobstructed ndash; and simultaneously clearing the surface of the water for recreational boating. True to its invasive nature, hydrilla has multiple means of reproduction ndash; tubers at its roots, seeds from flowers, and turions ndash; those small seed-like growths at the axil of the plant stem.nbsp; These can survive ice, ingestion, and burial in bottom sediments for several years.nbsp; Mowing or chopping down plants only results in more aggressive growth. Other biological characteristics contribute to hydrilla's success.nbsp; Because it absorbs carbon from the water more efficiently than other plants and can store its own phosphorous, it thrives during summer months when these nutrients can be limited.nbsp; Because of this, some say that hydrilla improves water quality ndash; and though fisherman will say that it'... Albemarle,County,,Charlottesville,,Ecology,,Rivanna,River,,South,Fork,,Water,Supply,,Wetlands lmiddleton@embarqmail.com no No http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/10/16/107-south-fork-rivanna-reservoir-task-force/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/10/16/107-south-fork-rivanna-reservoir-task-force/#comments Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:24:26 +0000 admin http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/10/16/107-south-fork-rivanna-reservoir-task-force/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/10/16/107-south-fork-rivanna-reservoir-task-force/feed/ 0
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6:03 October 16, 2008 The South Fork Rivanna Reservoir, built in 1966, is continuing to silt in from upstream erosion.nbsp; The South Fork Rivanna Reservoir Task Force ... October 16, 2008 The South Fork Rivanna Reservoir, built in 1966, is continuing to silt in from upstream erosion.nbsp; The South Fork Rivanna Reservoir Task Force is examining the condition of the reservoir and is seeking public input regarding its uses and fate. This show originally aired on October 5, 2006 and as an encore on October 9, 2008nbsp; on ldquo;The Rivanna Rambler,rdquo; a weekly public affairs show airing every Thursday at 11:55 a.m. on WTJU 91.1 FM or wtju.net. Almost twice a month for the last couple of months, a small group of citizens and representatives of various stakeholders has been meeting to discuss the fate of the South Fork Ravenna Reservoir.nbsp; The members of this task force represent the variety of uses and benefits that the reservoir now affords this community. Built in 1966 to augment the storage capacity at the Ragged Mountain Reservoir, it now also provides miles of flatwater for varsity and community rowers.nbsp; Fishermen come from surrounding counties to launch jon boats at all times of day and night.nbsp; Novice canoeists learn their first skills on its calm dark waters.nbsp; The upper reaches of Ivy Creek consistently offer sightings of beaver, green and great blue herons, turtles, and, sometimes even bobcats. The reservoir also provides an immutable kind of pleasure and solace that only an expanse of water can do ndash; one that can be appreciated looking upstream or down while crossing its bridges, or for the fortunate few who live along its shores, from livings rooms and decks.nbsp; Out of sight ndash; and out of the minds of most ndash; is what lies beneath, the remains of a small but thriving African American community at Hydraulic Mills which was vacated and submerged when the waters rose after the dam construction. The aesthetic, recreational, and ecological benefits were never the primary purpose of building this reservoir, but as the community contemplates its future, it is these very benefits that the Task Force has been asked to consider by the four chairs ndash; two of them elected, Charlottesville's Mayor, Dave Norris, and the Chair of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, Ken Boyd ndash; and two appointed, the Chair of the Albemarle County Service Authority Board, Don Wagner, and the RWSA Board Chair, Mike Gaffney. The Task Force has been asked to determine what would happen to the reservoir if nothing is done to maintain it hellip; and to make recommendations about whether or not to maintain itndash; presumably by dredging.nbsp; And finally, if dredging is to be recommended, for what purpose?nbsp; Retain the ecologic benefits?nbsp; The recreational benefits?nbsp; The guidance was clear to the Task Force ndash; With the approved water supply as a given, lets turn our attention to the South Fork Reservoir. It may seem to some a no-brainer that, of course, we would maintain this piece of aging infrastructure ndash; one that in the 1960s was actually designed for a useful life of only fifty years.nbsp; That's the way it was done back then ndash; and we are not alone in this community in grappling what to do now that hindsight has caught up with us and our infrastructure, including dams, now demand attention. And you'd think that dredging the South Fork should obviously become the centerpiece of any future water supply plan ndash; but somehow, it didn't in this last go around.nbsp; How could that be so? There are a variety of reasons, some regulatory and some practical.nbsp; Foremost is the fact that simply dredging to the original volume will not get this community to the 50 year need, based on growth and water use predictions.nbsp; And there are other issues:nbsp; dredging requires permits from the Army Corp of Engineers, who carefully regulate all land-disturbing activity on river bottoms and who are especially watchful over the wetlands that provide multiple ecologic benefit. And the water supply plan must address other aspects of aging... Albemarle,County,,Charlottesville,,Headwaters,,Ivy,Creek,,Moormans,River,,Rivanna,River,,Sediment,,South,Fork,,Water,Supply lmiddleton@embarqmail.com no No http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/06/12/91-scenic-river-trip/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/06/12/91-scenic-river-trip/#comments Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:30:53 +0000 admin http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/06/12/91-scenic-river-trip/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/06/12/91-scenic-river-trip/feed/ 0 00:01:01 June 12, 2008 This show originally aired on June 12, 2008 on ldquo;The Rivanna Rambler,rdquo; a weekly public affairs show airing every Thursday at 11:55 a.m. ... June 12, 2008 This show originally aired on June 12, 2008 on ldquo;The Rivanna Rambler,rdquo; a weekly public affairs show airing every Thursday at 11:55 a.m. on WTJU 91.1 FM or wtju.net It could be any spring day on the river. True, the weather is especially cooperative: May morning temperature just rising from the low 60's as we approached the water. Cumulus and blue above, the green fully leafed out over the river. You might say that it was as scenic as a perfect Virginia morn, as you put your boat in the water amongst cattails and the fresh mist from the sheets of water tumbling over the dam at the South Fork Rivanna River Reservoir. Or, you might, as we were, be launching your kayaks and canoes for a trip with the specific task of evaluating just how scenic our fair Rivanna River is -- according to a formula that the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation established with the state Scenic River program in 1970. This program's goal is to enhance the protection of rivers and their corridors by providing tools for local authorities to help protect waterways that offer special scenic, recreational, historic, and natural values of significance. There are over 500 river miles comprised of 25 river segments in Virginia that have achieved this special status. The Rivanna between Woolen Mills and its confluence with the James in Columbia is already designated as a state scenic river. The stretch from Palmyra downstream was one of the first, in 1975. In 1988, from Palmyra to the Woolen Mills dam was also named a State Scenic River. So today we are traveling from the next dam upriver --- on the South Fork from just below the reservoir down nine and half miles to the place where the Woolen Mills dam used to cross the river, this section now eligible precisely because the dam has been removed. We are a mixed group: five from the state agency, five of us locals, a pack of canoes and kayaks, guided by Dan Mahon, Blueways and Greenways coordinator for Albemarle County who alternately paddles ahead to scout obstructions and falls back amongst us with offerings of local knowledge of the river and the greenways that flank its banks. Today, we have our share of blue heron, geese, a red tail, turtles of all sizes sunning themselves on smooth logs protruding like commas from the side of the river and angling from the dusky water. These sightings are important, but we're also looking for other things: power line crossings, short and long range vistas, residential houses that we can see, bridge crossings, historic structures, changes in vegetation, geological features. The roads, houses, and powerlines detract from the scenic formula, as do sparse or non-existent buffers, stands of bamboo or multiflora rose, slumping earthen banks. There's a tally sheet. We record our observations and we take pictures. But as we go, we point out the things to DCR that they may not know about our river: on our left, Monnasopegenau where the Monacans lived and thrived on the river for hundred of years; the old carriage road on river left that runs to Gordonsville, said to have been built to transport sulpher from the mines materials from Key West. Some of the gentle rapids are actually historic structures: Broad Mossing Ford, wing dams for batteau. So these all get counted, along with restoration work we know is underway, tree buffers being planted. As we come into Charlottesville, signs of civilization detract from the scenic score: powerline crossings, the Free Bridge, the apartments at Pantops we can see through the trees. But the long view down the last section above Woolen Mills shows Montalto rising in the distance, one of the few real vistas the Rivanna along this stretch has to offer. At the end of the trip, we sit in the shadow of box elder and sycamore overlooking the remains of the Woolen Mills dam, offering up our observations and hearing how the Rivanna compares to other piedmont rivers the D... Albemarle,County,,Charlottesville,,Education,,Rivanna,River,,Rivanna,mainstem,,South,Fork,,Trails,and,Footpaths lmiddleton@embarqmail.com no No http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/05/16/88-questions-about-the-water-supply-plan/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/05/16/88-questions-about-the-water-supply-plan/#comments Fri, 16 May 2008 23:19:54 +0000 admin http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/05/16/88-questions-about-the-water-supply-plan/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/05/16/88-questions-about-the-water-supply-plan/feed/ 2 00:01:01 May 15, 2008 This show originally aired on May 15, 2008 on ldquo;The Rivanna Rambler,rdquo; a weekly public affairs show airing every Thursday at 11:55 a.m. ... May 15, 2008 This show originally aired on May 15, 2008 on ldquo;The Rivanna Rambler,rdquo; a weekly public affairs show airing every Thursday at 11:55 a.m. on WTJU 91.1 FM or wtju.net. The community water supply plan that is under question has been permitted, as it must be, by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality on February 11, 2008. That plan was approved unanimously by the City Council and Albemarle County Board of Supervisors in 2006. Because our area is not blessed by natural reservoirs, nor rivers whose flows are adequate at every time of the year to yield water for human use even at our present population, we rely on reservoirs to store water for times of scant rainfall and low flows. When our urban population was smaller in the late 1890's and early 1900's, the City of Charlottesville set aside land to create the first, and then subsequently expanded, Ragged Mountain Reservoir. This reservoir is unlike the South Fork in that it is not filled by a running river but rather by aging pipeline from the headwaters of the Rivanna, the North and South Forks of the Moormans River, now impounded by the Sugar Hollow dam. The Ragged Mountain reservoir has a watershed that is relatively small and does not appreciably contribute to the supply impounded in the reservoir. In addition, its slopes are completely forested except for I-64, which bisects the western portion of its watershed. The South Fork Reservoir was built in 1965 with no planning for periodic removal of sediment captured from upstream sources by some form of dredging. It is indeed a very good thing that the community is now waking up to a fact that residents adjacent to the South Fork, boaters and fishermen on its impounded waters, and watershed planners have long known: we have lost about a 1/3 of the storage capacity of this reservoir ndash;and annually this number is increasing and the storage capacity is decreasing. Mudflats impede UVA and community rowers in upstream bends in the river, every rain event brings another wedge of sediment laden water from up-watershed, attempts to travel up Ivy Creek by canoe from the Woodlands Road bridge can only take you so far before you are walking through soft mud. So people are asking ndash; why not just dredge the reservoir and restore its function to store the drinking water that we need? The answer depends upon whether or not you think that cost estimates from eager dredging companies are accurate enough on which to base a water supply. On whether or not you think that it is OK to chop down or inundate trees on land already set aside for the very purpose of storing water ndash; and that was timbered for profit by the City of Charlottesville as recently as the 1950s. Or whether or not we have any obligation to restore natural flows to the Moorman's River, a pristine, headwater stream known for its diversity of aquatic habitat. Or whether you question the numbers ndash; developed by engineers and planners and endorsed by the State of Virginia -- used to project human water usage for the next 50 years. Or whether you believe that dredging should be considered a maintenance task like the nutrient removal upgrades required for Moore Creek Treatment Plant, or other upgrades needed for O-Hill and South Fork water plants. Or whether you think ndash; or hope ndash; that our still growing population will find, collectively, the political and moral will to use water more smartly, and less, in the years to come, regardless of unpredictable changes in rainfall patterns wrought from climate change. Or whether perhaps this time ndash; some 50 years after the South Fork was built, we are entering a time of investment, much as our forebears found it necessary and unavoidable to do, and must plan for our and our children's future ndash; and knowing that it will be costly, we are still willing to bear that cost because it is the right thing to do. Albemarle,County,,Charlottesville,,Moormans,River,,Rivanna,River,,Sediment,,South,Fork,,Water,Conservation,,Water,Supply lmiddleton@embarqmail.com no No http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/05/08/86-bottomlands-of-the-south-fork/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/05/08/86-bottomlands-of-the-south-fork/#comments Thu, 08 May 2008 23:45:13 +0000 admin http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/05/16/86-bottomlands-of-the-south-fork/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/05/08/86-bottomlands-of-the-south-fork/feed/ 0 00:01:01 May 8, 2008 This show originally aired on May 11, 2006 and was aired again on May 8, 2008 on ldquo;The Rivanna Rambler,rdquo; a weekly ... May 8, 2008 This show originally aired on May 11, 2006 and was aired again on May 8, 2008 on ldquo;The Rivanna Rambler,rdquo; a weekly public affairs show airing every Thursday at 11:55 a.m. on WTJU 91.1 FM or wtju.net. A couple of years ago, I visited the bottomland owned by Jane and Stirling Williamson along a stretch of the South Fork of the Rivanna River, to learn about tree planting for river protection. As we descend the hill and cross a thin stream, the floodplain opens up in front of us and we an assortment of trees planted four years ago: red maple, box elder, northern red and willow oak. We, too, are a motley crew: Hank Helman, has brought along his two young children who run alongside, weaving in and out of the plastic tubes that mark where trees were planted. Angus Murdoch, who for years has grown and planted trees around the entire watershed for the Rivanna Conservation Society. And me, curious to figure out the point of planting these trees. The existing banks of the river are brambly and spare buffer of five feet here, ten feet there hellip;some older trees, a lot of blackberry, poke weed, broomsedge stalks still witchy yellow from last fallrsquo;s die-off. But over here, the tender leaves of a small red maple peeks out of the pale green tree tube, unfurling to the world. And here, an oak just emerging from its three-foot high protective sleeve. Spaced 10 to 15 feet apart, they will grow into a riparian buffer ndash; a swath of trees and shrubs that has been intentionally undeveloped landward from creeks and rivers. This is one way that land conservation can improve water quality in adjacent waters: by returning a strip of forest to the edge of waterways, we let the trees do the work of anchoring the soil, filtering run-off from upland development, and absorbing excess nutrients from adjacent farmlands before they reach the water. Several years ago, the Williamsons participated in a USDA program called CREP, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, through the Virginiarsquo;s Department of Conservation and Recreation. They agreed to set-aside for tree planting 8 of the 80-some acres of bottomland that was previously in pasture hay. For this, they received reimbursement for 25% of the costs of planting the trees. And each year that the trees grow and the buffer fills out, they reap a tax benefit in exchange for giving up arable land. At first it seems rather unimpressive, this growing buffer, until I take a closer look and see that something wild is happening. Another kind of pasture is taking hold, hundreds of box elder seedlings stretch out for yards in front of us hellip; born from the mere planting here and there of single elders in tree tubes. There are red maple, too, sprouting on their own, with no protection from deer and wind. Since they have seeded and are growing so well on their own, I cannot help but ask, ldquo;If these trees are taking hold by themselves, why plant them? Why not just set aside the land?rdquo; Angus offers several things to ponder, starting with stewardship. Once in the C.R.E.P. program, a landowner is asked to maintain the newly planted buffer, which means clearing the area of weeds and pesky invasives. And NOT to plant or sow seeds of his own, which can cost a farmer a pretty penny. NOT to mow, but to watch over the slow but sure process of growing something that will live for many more years, which will never be harvested. Looking back at the bluff now over half a mile away, I feel the special quality of this place, one of largest chunks of bottomland in the watershed. Stirling says hersquo;s paddled his canoe across this floodplain in years when the waters rose , blanketing the fields with fresh soil from upriver. On our way back, Hankrsquo;s son crashes to his knees on a rough cement cattle guard and crumples into a quick young boyrsquo;s wail. As his father scoops him up in comfort, we see hersquo;s OK, a small but sudden ... Albemarle,County,,Ecology,,Rivanna,River,,South,Fork,,Water,Quality lmiddleton@embarqmail.com no No http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/02/07/76-tale-of-two-rivers/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/02/07/76-tale-of-two-rivers/#comments Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:32:56 +0000 admin http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/02/07/76-tale-of-two-rivers/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/02/07/76-tale-of-two-rivers/feed/ 2 00:01:01 Headwater streams, if they are healthy, can provide a good reference for evaluating the health of river segments downstream in the watershed. The Doyles ... Headwater streams, if they are healthy, can provide a good reference for evaluating the health of river segments downstream in the watershed. The Doyles River, which will provide reference conditions for a StreamWatch study, is in many ways a sharp contrast to a creek downstream in the urban part of Albemarle County. This show originally aired on February 7, 2008 on ldquo;The Rivanna Rambler,rdquo; a weekly public affairs show airing every Thursday at 11:55 a.m. on WTJU 91.1 FM or wtju.net. February 7, 2008 On a day in January when the snow is still on the ground in the higher elevations, Rose and I drive out Garth Road turning onto 810 at White Hall and head towards the Browns Gap Turnpike. With the landownerrsquo;s permission, we drive across pastures that slope uphill into the headwater basin of the Doyles River. Where the pastures stop, we enter a tunnel of briars, bush-hogged to clear an old farm track that leads further up the floodplain as it narrows in the mountainrsquo;s ascent. Just wide enough for the truck, it leads into the woods. This floodplain rubble is the story of the river in its headwaters, how gravity and the slope of the drainage combine to move whatever is in the way, including rocks. After 5 minutes of rocking and scraping, we agree that this would be a good place to stop. We can walk the rest of the way. Irsquo;m thinking about adopting this site for StreamWatchndash; becoming the once-a-season water sampler here where the Doyles can provide a reference for other sites downstream, where the land use includes people, cows, cats, and shopping centers. Rose, who trains and coordinates those of us who volunteer, has told me that this is just about her favorite site to visit and I am about to see why. We scramble up and through, where trees and briars have taken hold in the floodplain and the periodic floods have left lines of rubble in their wake. Briars snag my pants; I go slowly so as not to turn my ankle or immerse my boot in a pool of melting snow. A quarter of a mile later, we are at the bank of the Doyles, overlooking a gentle drop a few feet down to a spot between sycamore roots next to the water that looks right for setting up. The wind sings slightly through determined beech and oak leaves that will cling for another couple of months until new buds cast them to the ground. A pileated announces its territory as it glides down from higher elevations. The water in the stream is doing what water does, heading downhill, down river, down the watershed. We unpack, set up for sampling and get to work catching bugs and counting. And in this setting, time does what it does best: passes from one bright moment to the next. Three hours and 345 bugs later, we are on our way back to Charlottesville. Later in the afternoon of the same day, I am now in the heart of the urban ring of Charlottesville ndash; off Woodbrook Drive, where an unnamed tributary of Meadowcreek cuts along steep banks on its way to the Rivanna where it will join the water that has drained from the Doyles via the South Fork. Albemarle County is preparing to restore a section of this urban stream in the hopes that aquatic life will return and the water quality be improved. Some County employees are set up with their table and net by the banks of this creek, which are deeply incised, dropping six feet or more in overhang. The group is somewhat in despair as they scrape the net with tweezers and examine each decayed leaf for a clinging caddisfly or something else alivendash; theyrsquo;ve spent the better part of the last three hours straining bugs from the creek ndash; and their total is only 75, and of those, most are bugs that only survive in heavily impacted streams. That there is little life is no surprise, this section of the stream drains down from Route 29, through shopping centers and neighborhoods and over a whole lot of asphalt, rooftops, and lawns. I doubt that I would claim this a... Albemarle,County,,Doyles,River,,Ecology,,Headwaters,,Meadowcreek,,Rivanna,River,,South,Fork,,Tributaries,,Water,Quality lmiddleton@embarqmail.com no No http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/01/31/75-just-birding-around/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/01/31/75-just-birding-around/#comments Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:45:56 +0000 admin http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/01/31/75-just-birding-around/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/01/31/75-just-birding-around/feed/ 0 00:01:01 Bird-watching, like other outdoor pastimes that have a specific focus, provides another lens through which to see and understand a watershed. This week, the ... Bird-watching, like other outdoor pastimes that have a specific focus, provides another lens through which to see and understand a watershed. This week, the Rambler joins the Monticello Bird Club for a morning tour of sites in northern Albemarle County. This show originally aired on January 31, 2008 on ldquo;The Rivanna Rambler,rdquo; a weekly public affairs show airing every Thursday at 11:55 a.m. on WTJU 91.1 FM or wtju.net. Recently, I have been thinking about the variety of ways one can get to know the watershed. You can take to the water, by canoe or kayak, by jon boat, or propelled by oars. If you donrsquo;t have a boat, you can observe from waterrsquo;s edge, along public trails and at parks that snug the banks of rivers and streams. From bridges, you can see a whole lot, too ndash; so by foot, by bike, by car, even, you can start to know the waterways and the vistas, a sense of the terrain. And therersquo;s also the manner of seeing, focusing on habitat, or geology, or plants. Last week, I joined some folks from the Monticello Bird Club and exercised my vision in yet another way. Now, I am not what you might think of as a birder. I do know my share of backyard birds and have special affection for many species that frequent our waterways: the kingfisher, the occasional bald eagle and osprey, green and blue herons on the Rivanna. I can identify some hawks. But recognizing and naming these few is relatively rudimentary, so I felt a tad shy joining experienced birders gathered on a Thursday morning. My 8x30 waterproofed binoculars meant for boating felt clunky hanging from my neck, and I knew that my eyes were not trained to identify birds on the wing, or far away, or small, or in the bush. But my new friends were generous with encouragement and eager to share their knowledge. Guided by Stauffer Miller, whorsquo;d scouted the area the day before, piled into one car and headed for a walking trail at Forest Lakes that brought us close to a patch of unfrozen water. It was crowded with Canada geese, mallards, and a ldquo;hoodie,rdquo; short for the hooded merganser . Binoculars up, we scanned the shore near and far to make sure wersquo;d counted every species. After five minutes, we turned and briskly headed back to the car for the next stop. Passing clumps of grass emerging from the shallows, I wanted to linger at these frozen wetlands that reminded me of similar places Irsquo;d explored as a child. But as a newcomer, I was also watching for signals that would help me learn the etiquette associated with this kind of nature observation, and so, I kept up. Next stop: Chris Greene Lake. It was quiet and flat, a dull gray on a sunny day with high cumulus moving through the blue sky overhead. At the far shore, the birds: a grebe, black ducks, ring neck duck, mallards, hoodies. Over the rise of the earthen dam, bluebirds, juncos, and a mockingbird. An immature bald eagle, all scruffy brown and black, flies across the lake. I wonder if it is the same one I saw earlier in the winter on the South Fork Rivanna. Then, on to the South Fork Reservoir above the dam. An icy footpath up the shore brings us to a lookout where, across the water, we find an American Coot and more mergansers. Atop a twenty foot snag, a great blue blends in. Again, I want to stop, to take in the colors of winter, the water, and ice, but wersquo;re after birds, so we turn and head back. Our last stop is off Polo Grounds Road. As we walk across the floodplain towards the river, birds that I cannot see twitter in the tangled shrubs. There are a few mallards upstream just below rocky ledge. We hear the throaty raucous comments of a raven headed purposefully above the fields to the far woods. I think about how much of my life I have been content to enjoy the natural landscapes Irsquo;ve been lucky to live in and visit ndash; and how only just recently, Irsquo;ve been attracted to naming species and understanding what... Albemarle,County,,Ecology,,Natural,History,,South,Fork,,Wildlife lmiddleton@embarqmail.com no No http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/01/03/71-learning-trees-at-icna/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/01/03/71-learning-trees-at-icna/#comments Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:51:36 +0000 admin http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/01/03/71-learning-trees-at-icna/ http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/rambler/2008/01/03/71-learning-trees-at-icna/feed/ 2 00:01:01 Learning the names of trees and plants at the Ivy Creek Natural Area provides the beginning of a lifetime of naming the things we see ... Learning the names of trees and plants at the Ivy Creek Natural Area provides the beginning of a lifetime of naming the things we see and may eventually hold dear. This show originally aired on January 3, 2008 on "The Rivanna Rambler," a weekly public affairs show airing every Thursday at 11:55 a.m. on WTJU 91.1 FM or wtju.net. The School Trail at Ivy Creek Natural Area got its name because itrsquo;s just right for taking a group of kids on a 45-minute guided walk in the woods, something the Ivy Creek Foundation guides have been doing free of charge since 1980. Itrsquo;s three-tenths of a mile long, traverses both field and forest, and ends up at the Barn for a closer look at natural history artifacts and exhibits. On a sunny fall morning, Irsquo;m with a some kindergarteners from Free Union Country Day School, so young, and so very small compared to their teacher, myself, and Tom Walsh, our guide for the day. Though Tom claims hersquo;s not very experienced, I know hersquo;s been around the trail with kids before when he stops at the row of trees in the middle of the parking area and asks, ldquo;Now, who is the leader here?rdquo; in a firm but kindly way letting them know the rules of the trail. Follow the leader, donrsquo;t take anything from the Natural Area, and stop and listen when he has something to show. And from this moment on, it is all show and tell, starting with an inspection of the dogwoodrsquo;s red berries. ldquo;And what happens to the berries after the birds eat them?rdquo; They all look at him, silent, until he says, ldquo;Well, the seed inside the berry gets pooped out, and this is where a new tree grows.rdquo; The word ldquo;pooprdquo; gets their attention, and suddenly they are all making noises and thinking this adult is OK after all. We start down the mowed trail through the native grasses stopping at clump of thistle, thigh high with seeds scattered from their brown heads. Tom bends one down so the kids can inspect it, telling them that just a month ago, goldfinches had built their late summer nests here and raised and fed their young. Empty of both nest and food, we use our imaginations. We enter the woods where the School Trail veers off to the right and begin to learn about some of the 20 most common trees in Virginia. You can get your own guide from the Ivy Creek website and with the signs marking the trees, this could be a self-guided tour. But today, we have Tom introducing the holly tree with its pointy green leaves. Musclewood, its sinewy trunk easy to identify. High as the sky, we look up to see seed pods on tulip poplars. Stopping in front of another tree, its smooth gray bark scarred by initials cut by a knife, Tom tells the kids that itrsquo;s just like cutting the skin of the tree, and asks ldquo;You wouldnrsquo;t like someone to do that to you, would you?rdquo; We traverse the hillside, making plenty of healthy noise pushing through the dry leaves, our learning stops getting shorter as attention spans wane. By now, each child has picked up a small branch to use as walking stick, or to rake leaves or tap the trees. ldquo;Will we see any animals?rdquo; Tom shakes his head slowly, not wanting to diminish their joy of being outside in the woods which is, along with the learning, the point of our being here today. It is difficult for me recall exactly what I knew, or was taught, when I was the age of these kids. Blessed with an abundance of outdoor time, did I know the names of the trees and plants I encountered? Though naming something is not the same as truly knowing it ndash; this requires understanding habits and ecology -- without names, we cannot learn or converse about what we see, nor be specific about that which we hope to protect. ldquo;Now, whatrsquo;s this one called?rdquo; Tom asks in front of a tree wersquo;ve seen before. ldquo;Hollywood!rdquo; shouts one of the kids, which seems as good a mnemonic as any for a tree that is ... Education,,Ivy,Creek,,Rivanna,River,,South,Fork,,Trails,and,Footpaths lmiddleton@embarqmail.com no No