ConservationUpdated December 5, 2023 Adopt-A-Highway Roadside Litter Pickup Program (updated December 5, 2023 )All Fredericksburg-Rappahannock Chapter Izaak Walton League members have a great program to assist us in promoting conservation of our land. [The location of our event is subject to change.] Our Chapter has a nearly two-mile stretch of roadway on Herndon Road, from one end to the other, to support the Virginia effort to keep our highways free from trash. This piece of highway is our part of the State Adopt-A-Highway Program. It's a great way to get your walking exercise as well. Our stretch of road is identified by a sign and begins at the intersection of Orange Plank Road (Rt 621) and Herndon Road. There is a standard Adopt-A-Highway sign near this intersection that identifies the road as one served by our chapter. The road for which we are responsible ends at the other intersection with Brock Road. We do both sides. This is very convenient as we can park our vehicles at the chapter lot and walk the route directly. Our responsibility as part of the program is to organize a cleanup, as a minimum, two times a year. The VDOT will supply the bags, safety vests and the large, diamond-shaped orange notification signs for each cleanup effort. This effort can be joined by other organizations as well. If the Boy Scouts or other groups would like to schedule a service project at a date and time of their choosing, we can accommodate that. Conservation is important and this is just one way to provide a needed service to our community as well as taking care of our beautiful roadways. Important
Safety and comfort details:
Properly "armed" and
clothed road pickers.
We will meet at the Izaak Walton League chapterhouse at 8:30 AM on the morning of the event. Once in the parking site, a quick safety brief is conducted and orange bags and safety vests are distributed. The group will then depart directly to the roadway outside our entry drive for the task. We usually work until about noon depending on the weather. We have a good time and it offers an opportunity to meet other members of our chapter. And the hours spent accrue in satisfaction of the new member first-year 20-hour work requirement. I look forward to our next event. See you there for the next event. Watch the calendar, look for the notice in "Hot Topics" or look for an email. Tammie
Pasterak, IWL chapter POC for A-a-H
Member Edgar "Butch" Morris Awarded for Save Our Streams Work (posted August 4, 2023)At the 2023 IWLA Convention in Lincoln, Nebraska, our chairperson for the Save Our Streams program was honored with the national award for 2022 Save Our Streams programming. At the August membership meeting at the chapter, president Herbert Pritchett, Sr. presented the award to Rod Hughes and Susan Midland, who work various conservation projects and were representing Butch who was unable to attend the meeting. The award, the "Save Our Streams Award for 2022" is given to an IWLA member "in recognition of outstanding work in clean water programs exemplifying the principles of environmental education and citizen action." The award was announced at the 2023 convention at dated July 27, 2023. Congratulations Butch; you have represented the chapter well and have improved the environment in and around the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania regions. Shown in the following photo from left to right are Herbert Pritchett, Sr., president Fred-Rapp Chapter, IWLA, Inc., Rod Hughes, conservation committee chair, and Susan Midland, SOS committee member.The Short Video History of the IWLA on its Centennial Celebration (posted January 27, 2022)The IWLA 100th Anniversary video history from the IWLA National webpageYou
may also view it on YouTube
Status of Grounds Plantings (posted April 10, 2021 )Terry Fellinger (a chapter Board Director) recently surveyed the tree plantings made several years ago by a group of volunteers from the chapter. Of greatest interest were a number of Bald Cypress trees that are native to Virginia and several other states in the region that constitute the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Bald Cypress trees thrive when planted in or near water and some of our specimens are doing well. At least one is struggling against human caused stress. One observation that Terry wanted to pass along is that at least one tree had been hacked by a human (not beaver damage but more likely Beaver Cleaver). A tree that is near where there might be a good pond access appeared to have had its limbs trimmed back injudiciously to clear a better spot for casting perhaps. When planted these cypresses were provided a white expandable plastic mesh wrap around the base of the trunk so should be visually obvious to the casual observer. Please do not mutilate these trees as these were purposely planted for future enjoyment by members. The Children of Fred-Rapp Chapter have Decorated the Next Replacement Bee Hive Boxes (posted March 25, 2021 )On Saturday, March 20, 2021, the Bee keepers held an activity where the Chapter's younger generation were invited to decorate the new bee boxes with colorful decorations. The boxes were base coated with several coats of a light blue color. The children then used their imagination and artistic skills to beautify the boxes. These boxes will be assembled in the apiary in the coming weeks to replace the older boxes that have served their purpose. Here are a few photos of the artists at work on Saturday. Interested in the Chapter Bees? Read On (posted March 7, 2020)Click on this link for a single page information sheet on the Chapter's bees and the apiary operation. The Bees in our Apiary have been Readied for the Winter (posted December 6, 2019 )rOur beekeepers report that the apiary has been readied for the cold weather upcoming for winter. Flowers Finally Flourishing (posted August 5, 2018 )After a number of trys in order to provide some flowers for our bee and honey production, flowers finally appear in the bee garden. Thanks to the efforts of Barbara Pritchett and several other volunteers that prepared the seed bed and provided irrigation when needed these beautiful flowers are now appearing usut east of our apiary near the shoreline of the pond.
Adopt-a-Highway -- May 2018 (posted May 6, 2018)A few of our fellow chapter members again answered the call to help keep our piece of this beautiful state beautiful. Shaun and Tammy Heming, Jeff and Pam Parker, Butch Morris, and I met at the clubhouse at on May 5, 2018 and convoyed to Widow Tapp's Field in the Wilderness Battlefield to pick up and bag litter along four miles from the road shoulder on Orange Plank Road. Among us we picked up 17, 30-gallon bags of litter. As with everything else, many hands make for lighter work. The participants in the May clean up are veterans of the chapter's adopt-a-highway team, and certainly do their part in the club's work. We'd love to welcome others on the team. It's a great way for new members to meet and get to know other members. I encourage you to join us in June. Our June 2018 event will be on June 16, 2018, the Saturday AFTER the monthly chapter workday. That means June will be an opportunity for new members to work other hours beyond the chapter workday toward the new member work requirement. We will meet at the Chapter clubhouse at 8:30 AM on June 16, 2018. Please feel free to contact me, Bill Hudson. My contact email can be found on the Contact Us page.Clean Water Challenge (posted April 23, 2018)See National Webpage for information about the Clean Water Challenge from Danielle Donkersloot.The Apiary Report for April 15 (posted April 19, 2018)Let this email serve as the work report conducted at the Apiary on 4/15.With the temps holding steadily warm and no other low drop in the forecast, we decided to remove the protective screen break. This will allow for natural breeze through the apiary as we officially enter the summer. We also determined that, based on visual observations and environmental conditions, the feeders would be removed allowing the bees to collect natural pollen for production. All but 2 feeders were completely empty, hive 8 and 13 had approximately 1/4-1/2 liquid. Based on the activity, we did not pull apart the hives. Jim Mauck will check hive 13 in detail during the week, very active and populated hive yesterday. Which we did remove one excess empty shallow from since it appeared they we’re not using that real estate. Jim Mauck also suggested using our new swarm boxes, strategically placing to capture any potential swarms due to over crowding. I’ll send a separate email with our next visitation plans and suggested window for planned extraction in July. We need to be certain we have enough labor to manage the extraction Apiary report for Easter Day, April 2018 (posted April 1, 2018)Today marked the first complete inspection of the season and based on what the Beeks have observed, they are very happy with the overall health of the apiary.Attached is a hive by hive inspection with a few things to note and that there are now clearly identified positions for 18 hives. We currently have 9 total hives; only lost one over the winter, which, in our opinion is very good. Of those hives, 3-5 show potential for splits with 2 appearing to lack the proper queen production one would normally expect at this point of the year. All sugar boards were removed and we began feeding them a liquid 1:1 diet. The next feeding will occur next Sunday 4/8, (unless otherwise announced), around 11 AM for anyone who is available to attend. A few of the Beeks will be attending Thursday’s Chapter meeting on April 5 should questions develop; the Beeks we can answer. Chapter Awarded Monetary Grant from Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (posted March 28, 2018 )The Chapter is excited and proud to report that it has received a $3000 grant from the REC to support the Chapter's Apiary project. See an article explaining the grant as well as what we are doing with our apiary. If you do not already round up your electric bill payment, consider very seriously joining with other members of the REC in rounding up your monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar and allowing the small amount of change to be used to support charitable causes supported by REC members through Community Awareness of Rappahannock Electric Charity, Inc. (C.A.R.E. Charity, Inc.)Bee Status Report from Jim Mauck (posted January 23, 2018)"Happy News All!A couple of items to share:- I visited the Apiary yesterday to inspect our girls and am happy to report there were bees entering and exiting ALL ten hives. I was especially curious to see the status of the newer hives, those in the back, and can report after lifting the top covers, bees were actively feeding on the sugar and pollen patties. Nice moist heat could be felt rising up into the inner cover so I figure those hives had decent clusters. The single hive to the right as you enter was as feisty as ever so I did not linger. Temperature reading inside Apiary was 70-degrees F. I realize there’s more winter to negotiate and all sorts of things can happen twixt now and Spring but, I’m optimistic that we’ll have lots of 2-year hives to work with even if we lose few over the rest of this winter. February is nearing and maple and willow trees will begin to produce nectar although the temperatures will need to in the 60’s for foraging girls. I dropped off 2 finished nucs and 2 swarm boxes the Scouts made for us. Now we need to decide where to place the swarm boxes. Finally, if anyone is interested in taking the Beginning Beekeeping course that Gateway Beekeepers holds, they begin February 6. Eight, two-hour sessions for $35 (?). Taking the class makes you a member of the Associationn and you get a very good textbook. But the best thing about the course is the opportunity to mingle with and pick the brains of a lot of very experienced "Beeks." If interested in the course, email Doug Hancock at: doughancock1973@gmail.com " A Message from our new Conservation Director (Posted July 9, 2017)Hello Everyone!! If I didn’t get to meet or talk with you at the July membership meeting, my name is Mike Cronrath, and I’m pleased to serve as your new Conservation Director. I am new to IWLA, but have been involved with the Fredericksburg Project Healing Waters Program for the last several months, and now eager to help develop a fun and informative environmental conservation program for IWLA. While my professional background is centered on aviation and occupational safety, I’ve worked as an environmental compliance director for a military installation in the past, and will try to bring what I’ve learned about environmental sustainability to the association. I’ve been looking over the conservation postings from the last several years to see what areas and efforts we’ve been involved with, and it looks like you’ve been busy with bee keeping, tree plantings, Earth Day activities, Stewardship awards, and of course the Adopt-a-Highway cleanup program. So now, I’m wondering, what can we do next to increase our conservation awareness, and broaden our understanding of good stewardship principles? I think I have a simple 6 point plan to get started:
1. Talk to and meet you! It’s apparent that several of you already have a ‘conservation area of expertise’. Let’s leverage your wisdom in forestry management, fisheries and water management, entomology, avian, game and non-game mammal care, sustainable living, recycling, renewable energy, etc. 2. Develop an internal ‘conservation network’ or planning committee. Everyone can contribute hopefully, and we can publish a local ‘point of contact’ or reference listing for locating additional subject matter expertise to share our experiences. 3. Develop an external conservation network. How can we build synergy with other environmental and conservation groups to promote our vision, and how can we attract and inform others of our cause? 4. Find out what educational and informational offerings you desire? In the next few weeks I’ll check on setting up a web based survey, but feel free to contact me anytime. 5. Develop a conservation ‘calendar of events’, for inclusion on the IWLA calendar of conservation events, training, and planning meetings . 6. Identify any needed resource gaps and develop a status report for the leadership. Tree Planting Event at The Chapter on Saturday, April 29 (Posted March 23, 2017 )Rod Hughes has obtained some chinquapin saplings and bald cypress saplings for us to plant. We will plant the saplings at the Chapter grounds on Saturday, April 29 starting at 9 AM. Bring a garden spade or a tree spade, if you have one, and a digging bar as some of the earth at the Chapter has never been disturbed and will need some persuasion even if we have some spring rainfall this week. For those planting the cypress, bring some boots as the cypress will like to be near the water's edge. It is a great conservation outing for all IKES and especially new members that need to accrue some hours against their 20 hour commitment.Be sure to sign the volunteer work sheet that will be in the Chapterhouse to indicate you were there. Savings Bees by Planting Flowers (Posted March 12, 2017 )Adopt-a-Highway Status Report (posted June 3, 2017)Finally got a break! Bill Hudson and a larger contingent of volunteers this month tried to completed the June roadside clean-up and the weather was perfect. Bill and his crew collected 20 bags of debris from the roadside and it looks so much better. Bill has an Adopt-a-Highway event for every work day through October to "get 'er done." So, plan on a schedule for a pick-up in July, August, September and October. Meet in the parking lot in front of the Chapterhouse early Saturday morning. Shaun Heming has agreed to be the Assistant Road Warrior to help Bill fulfill our commitment to VDOTBee Hive Inspections - August, 2016 (posted August 31, 2016)This August has been a very hot, humid month with very little pollen or nectar sources available for foraging bees. So weekly feedings of 1:1 sugar syrup are required to ensure the bees will have sufficient population growth and food stores for the winter. Cooking up 100 lbs of sugar per week for sugar syrup has been the norm to keep the ten hives of the ILWA fed this summer. The result has been steady bee population growth and, with one exception, all hives are comprised now of a deep hive body topped with 2 supers. The exception, Hive 8, is the slowest growing hive but likely it will have a second super added by summer’s end. Due to the heat, (it’s tough on both the bees and the beekeepers) the inspections were generally cursory: only on one occasion were the hive bodies inspected. For the most part, the focus of the August inspections were ensuring the hives were fed and, by assessing extent of capped frames in the uppermost super, whether to add and additional super. .
Hives
1 through
5
Hives
6 through 10 Annual Tree Planting, May 7, 2016 (posted April 29, 2016) Rod Hughes has planned our IWLA Annual Tree Planting Project. At our April meeting, it was decided to do the planting on the Chapter work day (May 7) at the Lee Hill Park, 9910 Lee Hill Park Road (Fredericksburg address) Spotsylvania County. Please bring tools if you have them: digging bar (or specialty seedling tool) to make small holes for planting seedlings; alternatively bring shovel. Also need hammers to drive in small stakes to mark locations and to secure protective seedling tubes. Meet Rod at the IWLA Fred Rapp Chapter grounds for a 9:00 AM departure if you wish to play “Follow the Leader” all the way to the Lee Hill Park planting site. You will convoy first to Loriella Park, to pick up our trees, then continue to the Lee Hill planting site. If you live closer to Loriella Park than to our Chapter grounds, you can meet us there, and join the convoy to our final destination.
"Hope to see you on the morning of May 7th. Thanks in advance," Rod Adopt-A-Highway Dates Planned for 2016 (updated July 3, 2016)A message from Bill Hudson, our Adopt-A-Highway coordinator... Several years ago, the IWLA Fred-Rapp Chapter began supporting state conservation efforts via the Adopt-A-Highway Program and committed to keeping clean and litter-free both sides of 2 miles of Route 621/Orange Plank Road adjacent to the Wilderness Battlefield and northward. That commitment requires picking up the litter along that stretch of highway no less than four times each year. Normally, as a minimum, we do that in April, June, August, and October each year and do it on scheduled chapter workdays during those months. Should weather cause safety issues we reschedule the event for the following Saturday of that month. Sadly, it is our experience that very few chapter members take advantage of this opportunity to help keep our little piece of Virginia countryside clean and free of litter. Remember --- many hands make light work, and there is no better way to get to know some fellow Chapter members than to walk along our byways picking up the trash so many of our fellow citizens so thoughtlessly toss from their vehicles. Please consider doing your part to help your Chapter do its work and to keep our beautiful Commonwealth beautiful. This year I urge each of you to meet us at 0900 on the Chapter workday Saturdays in June, July, August, and October to don an orange safety vest and tote orange trash bags (safety vests and bags will be provided) and participate in this important work. |
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Michael J Sullivan
Conservation Chair Emeritus
Fredericksburg/Rappahannock Chapter
Izaak Walton League
mjs2516@comcast.net
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Gathering Acorns and Seeds in September/October 2014 Posted: September 9, 2014
IKES and others: Save some time on your calendar to
replenish our supply of native trees in Virginia. The
Virginia Department of Forestry asks for our help the last week of September and
into October to pick up acorns and nuts from our Virginia
trees. The Forest Service then uses these acorns to
regenerate trees for planting in our community and on forest
lands. These are the same saplings/trees we use each year to
plant along our rivers. Please
bring your cardboard boxes/paper bags (no plastic)
full of nuts to the
October monthly meeting (October 2, 2014) . I’ll
collect and deliver the boxes and bags to the Dept. of
Forestry. Please place your full name and e-mail address on
the box or bag so I can mention you on our webpage and give
you hours of credit if you need them. Thanks, Mike
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Road warriors:
Jerry Cappeller, Dave Long, Keith Buck, Nikki Metterman,
Michael Jordan, John Caracciolo, Hank Fulgham, Paul Simmons,
unnamed 15 year old and Mike Sullivan.
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Road warriors:
George Lear, Mark Harbison, Randy Toney, Mark Wakeman,
Travis Wakeman, Cynthia Sheppard, Dennis Sheppard, Scott
Darkow, Mike Sullivan
Thanks to all our volunteers.
SOME FACTS ABOUT HONEYBEES
From the Backyard Beekeeper Association ( http://www.backyardbeekeepers.com/facts.html )
Pollination
Agriculture depends greatly on
the honeybee for pollination. Honeybees account for 80%
of all insect pollination. Without such pollination, we
would see a significant decrease in the yield of fruits
and vegetables.
Pollen
Bees collect 66 lbs of pollen per year, per hive. Pollen
is the male germ cells produced by all flowering plants
for fertilization and plant embryo formation. The Honeybee
uses pollen as a food. Pollen is one of the richest and
purest natural foods, consisting of up to 35% protein, 10%
sugars, carbohydrates, enzymes, minerals, and vitamins A
(carotenes), B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinic
acid), B5 (panothenic acid), C (ascorbic acid), H
(biotin), and R (rutine).
Honey
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Opening the transport containers. |
Checking the bees |
One queen bee per hive |
Covering
the hive |
Adding supplemental food |
Almost
done |
The four nucs of bees will be picked up Thursday evening and installation is planned for Friday May 23, around 7 PM - IWL beekeeper wanabees please make plans to attend Friday's installation - if you can not make it let me know - I might be installing another two nucs next week. If anything changes I will let everyone know. If you are planning on attending the bee installation Friday evening please have your bee outfits which includes veil, gloves and suit, if you are going that way. You do not need anything else.
Please send your contact email to confirm if you are still
planning to support this project to Jim Ashcraft at Jashcraft@comcast.net
Below: A photo of a bee tending a hive and photo of a bee keeper's equipment:
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Road warriors: Hank Fulghum, Barry Kilday, Mike Jordan, Paul Seal, Nate Majean, Devin Majean, Jim Lloyd, Ray Lopez, Andrew Lopez, Matt Lopez, Josh Lopez, Paul Simmons, Brenda Holland, Bryan Smith, Denise Smith, Joseph Murray, Jolene Murray, John Caracciozo, Nikki Metterman, Eugene Slaygle, Mike Dunlap, Dascha Finley, Rod Hughes, Wayne Rinker, Patty Nunn and Mike Sullivan taking Pics
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Fourteen hearty souls (and two pooches) made their way to Fauquier County today. It was a perfect day to plant trees on the banks of Rock Run Creek. We parked our vehicles on a farm and walked back into the woods about a quarter mile. We assembled on the banks of the creek to get a safety brief and a planting demo. Then it was off to planting. We put almost 220 native trees in the ground today in places that had been deforested. The area is beautiful and with our work today, it should stay that way for future generations to share and enjoy.
Thanks to all our volunteers. They got muddy and plenty of exercise. We all had a great time and made our piece of this planet a little nicer. - Mike
Our volunteer work party for the activity included Patty Nunn, Jim McCloud, Tim McCloud, Michael Jordan, John and Susan Webb and “Zeke", Andrew Lopez, Josh Lopez, Matthew Lopez, Jim Lloyd, Greg Raines, Darrin Comfort, Mike Sullivan and two dogs.
Michael J Sullivan
Conservation Chair
Fredericksburg/Rappahannock Chapter
Izaak Walton League
mjs2516@comcast.net
Cell 717 756-6435717 756-6435
Note: Scroll down to see the article and pictures from the 2013 tree planting activity on the Rappahannock river.
At our February 2014 membership meeting, Fred/Rapp IWLA Chapter Member Dick Barnett provided a lively introduction to the sport of fly fishing illustrated by several of his visits to renowned streams in the United States.
Dick is planning to conduct an IWLA Fly Fishing University at Walton Park starting in March 2014. The University will focus first on learning, developing skills and then fishing. There was an initial sign-up for prospective students at the conclusion of the meeting. To inquire about the University and to sign up to be a student send an email to Dick at k4guj@aol.com with a copy furnished to Mike Sullivan at mjs2516@comcast.net .
The curriculum for the course can be viewed here.
Adults: Make this a family event by signing up your son or daughter. As a proviso, Dick would like for each youngster to have an adult present for the classes.
Shad fishing on the Rapp. | Fly fishing Prof | Places I have fished | Thanks Dick |
2014 Quarterly Speaker Program
The 2014 schedule for Conservation Speakers is:
If you have an idea regarding a group or an individual, please let me know and I will contact them to see if they may be interested in being a speaker at one of our monthly meetings.
Michael J Sullivan
Chair for Conservation
Fredericksburg/Rappahannock Chapter
Izaak Walton League
mjs2516@comcast.net
Cell 717 756-6435
Each Year in the March time frame the State Department of Forestry has provided trees to organizations such as ours to plant and beautify or regenerate areas in our nearby community. The date of the tree distribution is usually done on short notice (about a weeks notice). We have planted trees on the Rapidan and Rappahannock Rivers in the past couple of years and hope to do the same again this year. Please keep some weekend space on your calendar for approximately 21 March to come out and help us make our slice of this earth a little better.
Member Earth Day Celebration/Planting - 9 AM, Saturday, April 19, 2014. Six members and families have volunteered to plant a tree or shrub. If you and or your family would still like to plant a tree or shrub on the Izaak Walton grounds, I have room for a few more volunteers. I purchase plants based on the needs of our property and the number of people interested in planting and maintaining a plant on our Chapter property. Please let me know by e-mail or phone NLT 7 April.
Michael J Sullivan
Read below for the reports of each of our clean-up events for the past several years.
The scheduled Adopt-A-Highway clean-up dates for 2014 are:
Safety and comfort details
We will always meet at the Izaak Walton League clubhouse at 0900 on the morning of the event and convoy as a group over to the location. Once in the parking site a quick safety brief is conducted and orange bags and safety vests are distributed. We usually work until about noon depending on the weather. We have a good time and it offers an opportunity to meet other members of our chapter. I look forward to the next event. See you there! Thanks,
Michael J Sullivan
Chair for Conservation
Fredericksburg/Rappahannock Chapter
Izaak Walton League
mjs2516@comcast.net
Cell 717 756-6435
I want to introduce Jim Ashcraft to all of you. He is our Fred/Rapp Chapter lead in getting our Honey Bee Keeping efforts up and running. Jim and I attended the December Chapter Board meeting and Jim presented the Bee Keeping plan. The board liked the idea, the location and the plan. They unanimously accepted the proposal for keeping honey bees on our property.
Jim currently has three other members interested in taking an active role in our bee effort. We are always looking for more people to get involved. If anyone else would like to participate, please see me or Jim Ashcraft. It will be a fun educational program for our chapter. Jim's e-mail is: jashcraft@comcast.net
March 16 started out rainy and nasty. Knowing this was our day to plant trees on the Rappahannock, it was almost expected. On the drive into the Izaak Walton the rain constantly beat against the windshield and cab of the truck. To my surprise, upon entering the chapter grounds the rain let up and it turned almost nice. There were some volunteers already in the parking area ready to head to the site. At a few minutes to 0900 we had thirteen people ready to go. We consolidated into six vehicles and headed for our site. Upon arrival we gathered at the top of the river bank and listened to the tree planting guidelines and the safety brief. We were ready to go. Our volunteers gathered their saplings and headed down the bank and onto the flood plain of the Rappahannock. Once at the bottom, it was easy to see where the trees were needed. Our group went straight to work and within thirty minutes, had all our fifty trees in the ground.
The Watershed Manager happened to be at site and had an additional one hundred plus trees available if we wanted them. We took advantage of the opportunity and planted them as well. By noon we were just about finished. We took some pictures and assisted with putting up the sign indicating our planting for the area (see Pic). Once finished with the sign we headed back up the river bank to the parking area. We had a very successful day due to our volunteers.
I want to thank all of them for their time and effort. They did a great job and made a difference in our local environment. I also want to thank Tom Snoddy (Va Dept. of Forestry) for coordinating the trees for us and Officer Lee Sillitoe (Watershed Manager) for locating an exceptional and historic place to plant the trees. It worked out fine and we had a great time. - Mike
The entire group: Darrell Schultz, Patty Nunn, John Caracciolo, Kevin Haley, Joseph and Jacob Macina, William Raney, Tony Oliver, Ryan Parker, John and Susie Webb, Christy Burns, Mike Sullivan, Tom Snoddy, Lee Sillitoe.
Michael J Sullivan
Conservation Chair
Fredericksburg/Rappahannock Chapter
Izaak Walton League
mjs2516@comcast.net
Cell 717 756-6435
To all Fredericksburg/Rappahannock Chapter IKES, last year was very good in the conservation area. Participation was at an all time high and it was nice to see parents bringing their kids to many of the events. Our success came from members who enjoyed planting trees (twice a year), participating in our Adopt-a-highway program (four time a year) and conversing with our speakers at the quarterly conservation speaker program.
What I want to accomplish with this note is to see if there is interest in expanding to other areas this year. I talked to volunteers at our conservation activities and at our chapter workdays. Many indicated they would be willing to participate in other areas if offered. I asked for ideas and if they would be willing to take on the coordinating aspect of a project. The new ideas or proposals flowed quickly. Some members indicated they would also like to see projects that were more kid friendly while others asked for some projects that were less physical.
The collection of ideas below are noteworthy. I am asking all interested members who would like to take on an exciting conservation related project to give me a call or send an email. It is a great way to meet new people, make new friends, and improve our environment.
The items with an * are programs that would require less physical activity.
The items with two ** are proposed kid friendly programs.
Michael J Sullivan
Conservation Chair
Fredericksburg/Rappahannock Chapter
Izaak Walton League
mjs2516@comcast.net
Cell 717 756-6435
Governor McDonnell set up the Stewardship Virginia program upon entering office as the Governor of Virginia. This program allows organizations to recognize worthy individuals who lead and participate in conservation programs aimed to conserve and enhance Virginia's lands and waters.
The Fredericksburg-Rappahannock Chapter of the Izaak Walton League participates in this program. Listed below are chapter members who made a difference and participated in at least three conservation projects or events over the past three years. These individuals were recognized with a certificate of appreciation from Governor McDonnell at our January 2013 monthly meeting. See picture below.
Thanks to all our Conservation Warriors!
Michael J Sullivan
Conservation Chair
Fredericksburg/Rappahannock Chapter
Izaak Walton League
mjs2516@comcast.net
Cell 717 756-6435
Road warriors: Nikki Metterman, Mike Anglemeyer, Joe Eastes, George Lear and Mike Sullivan (taking Pics)
Michael J Sullivan
Conservation Chair
Fredericksburg/Rappahannock Chapter
Izaak Walton League
mjs2516@comcast.net
Cell 717 756-6435
View pictures here