2005 Communities success stories

2005 Kids in the Creek Watershed Awareness Program
The Tazewell Soil and Water Conservation District hosted the 2005 Kids in the Creek watershed education program on Thursday, September 29, 2005 in Cedar Bluff, Virginia at York & LaRonda Lindsey’s property.

7th graders at Tazewell and Richlands Middle School as well as Tazewell High School Ecology students participated in the program. The program qualified students for their “Meaningful Watershed Experience” certificate. During the program, students rotated through ten different learning stations. The Tennessee Valley Authority Watershed Representatives used “back-pack” electro shockers to stun the fish for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to analyze their condition at the fish sampling station. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries presented the “We’ve Got Mussels!” station. At this station, students used “view tubes” to look into the stream to see native fresh water mussels into their natural environment. The Department of Environmental Quality conducted a bug sampling and classification. Tazewell County 4-H Programs presented 4-H Fish and Wildlife as well as assisted the students in preparing for the water by putting on waders. The Natural Resource Conservation Service taught students about soils and taking a soil sample. The Tazewell Soil and Water Conservation District presented Stream Flow V.S. Habitat as well as conducted Water Quality Testing through chemical analysis. The Virginia Cooperative Extension EFNEP taught Nutrition and the benefits of water in our daily diets.

James River Cleanup
James River Fishing School and Wildlife Exposed volunteers clean part of the James River as part of Adopt-a- Stream and Stewardship VA.

Everyone should give themselves a hefty pat on the back for a GREAT SATURDAY MORNING CLEANUP!  There was a total of sixty people, 40 adults and 20 children (and several dogs!!!) involved in a cleanup that covered approximately 1.5 5 to 2 miles of the James River along Riverside Drive from Huguenot Flatwater and into the Pony Pasture Park!  There were even rafts out collecting garbage along the banks of the river and around the islands!  The cleanup crew ran out of the 70 bags they started with and about 35/40 were filled to the brim! 

A SPECIAL THANKS goes to Starbucks, who provided coffee in the morning and a cook out lunch in the afternoon AND a donation for the efforts to Stewardship Virginia! 

This clean up was such fun that it is going to be an annual event so mark your calendars now for Saturday October 8, 2006!

Prince Edward County 4-H Envirothon
Congratulations gothe Prince Edward County 4-H Envirothon team who will be representing Virginia at the National 4-H Soils Judging competition in Oklahoma in May. Team members Catherine Pelland, Susan Pin and Ben Jones won the opportunity by competing in the 4-H soils competition at the state envirothon contest in May. Congratulations also go to their coach, Extension Agent Jennifer Bowen.