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Don Chernoff

Eventide: Gala Cruise on the Potomac
Onboard the yacht Celebrity, Washington Marina
1300 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Dockside reception
8:30 – 9:30 p.m. Evening river cruise

On Wednesday, September 19, the Conservancy’s friends and supporters will gather on the yacht Celebrity to celebrate our recent successes. Eventide: A Gala Cruise on the Potomac will feature delicious food and drink, river views, and the opportunity to meet others who are invested in the future of this region’s world-class natural resources.

Following the evening’s program, which will honor Will Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, we will leave the dock for a one-hour cruise. Click here for tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and detailed information about the gala.

For more information: Please respond by contacting Christine Iffrig, the Conservancy’s Vice President of Development, at iffrig@potomac.org, or 301.608.1188, x206.

Volunteer

• Fall Volunteer and Intern Opportunities with Growing Native

Speak Up!

• Legislators are on recess – now’s your chance to talk with them!
• SpeakUpdates

Events & Trips

• River Center at Lockhouse 8 Open - through October 14
• Growing Native Ambassador Trainings - August 4, 11, 18, and 25
• Voices of the River: Fiddlin’ On the Porch - August 5
• Potomac Watershed Forum: Conserving Land to Conserve Water - August 10
• Dragonfly & Damselfly Walk - August 11
• C&O Canal Work Party - August 25
• Voices of the River: Glen Echoes - September 9
• Growing Native Seed Collection Events - Dates in September andOctober
• Eventide: Gala Cruise on the Potomac - September 19

News & Notes

• Montgomery County Passes "Complete and Green Streets" Guidelines
• Questioning the Potomac's Water Quality
• Drought Comes to the Watershed
• Running Out of Time: Silt Threatens to Strand Anglers at Legendary Fletcher's Cove

Good Neighbor Conservation Tip

• Weeding Tips

Support the Conservancy Today

• Hassle-Free Workplace Giving

Fall Volunteer and Intern Opportunities with Growing Native

Internship Available for Late Summer/Fall. Growing Native needs an intern for late summer and fall. This intern will work closely with the Project Director to prepare program materials, promote the program to the public, and assist with program implementation. Stipend available. Click here for more information.

Volunteers needed for Ambassor Trainings and seed collection events. See below for dates and locations of Ambassador Trainings and seed collection events.

Volunteers needed to help construct Growing Native kiosks. Volunteers are needed to drive to official drop-off sites located throughout the Potomac River watershed and construct the Growing Native kiosk. More information is at www.growingnative.org. If you are interested in helping, please contact the Growing Native Project Director at 301.608.1188, ext.211, langan@potomac.org.

Legislators are on recess – now’s your chance to talk with them!

It’s August, and Congress is in recess, as are many local legislative bodies. This means your elected officials are back in their home states and towns, looking to talk to you, their constituents. Take advantage of this great opportunity to let them know what you think! A few issues you might consider speaking with them about:

Members of Congress: Let them know you support making the new conservation easement tax credit permanent. The new tax credit runs out in December – bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to make it permanent, but Congress needs to take action on these bills. To find out if your member is a sponsor of these bills, go to: www.lta.org/publicpolicy/tax_incentives_cosponsors.htm. To find out who your representatives are, go to: www.house.gov (House of Representatives) and www.senate.gov (Senate). For more information on the tax credit, go to: http://www.lta.org/publicpolicy/tax_incentives_updates.htm.

Montgomery County Council: Thank your councilperson for passing the new Road Code, which contains cutting-edge stormwater provisions, and for passing the ban on accessory structures within 200’ of the C&O Canal park, which helps protect the park’s viewshed. Tell your councilmember that you are eagerly anticipating the comprehensive improvements to the Forest Conservation Law, which the Council plans to take up this fall.

Frederick County (Maryland) Board of County Commissioners: Thank your commissioner for passing the Lake Linganore stream protection ordinance, which protects the County’s drinking water, and tell them you’re looking forward to hearing how the entire County could be similarly protected.

Montgomery County (Maryland) passes Road Code, creating first “Complete and Green Streets.” On July 3, the Montgomery County Council passed a new Road Code that requires all new and rebuilt roadways to capture and filter stormwater on site, and accommodate multi-modal transportation. This bill has the potential to make Montgomery a national leader in stormwater management.

Frederick County, MD, passes Lake Linganore stream protection ordinance. After an initial delay, the Frederick County Board of County Commissioners passed the Lake Linganore stream protection ordinance. This law protects the County’s drinking water by creating a variable-width stream buffer throughout the Lake Linganore watershed. The Board of Commissioners has indicated that it is interested in expanding this buffer program across the entire county.

Montgomery County passes C&O Canal viewshed protection measure. Also on July 3, the Montgomery County Council passed a measure to protect the C&O Canal National Historical Park by banning most accessory structures, including fences and sheds, within 200 feet of canal. The measure is intended to address the growing impacts of development on the historic park and its viewshed.

River Center at Lockhouse 8 Open
Weekends until Sunday, October 14, 10 am ‘til 2 pm
River Center at Lockhouse 8, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Cabin John, Md.

The River Center will be open weekends, from 10 am until 2 pm, May through October. Summer programs include Voices of the River and nature walks (see below for July events). Visit www.potomac.org for more details, or contact Potomac Conservancy at info@potomac.org; 301.608.1188.

Growing Native Ambassador Trainings Scheduled
August 4, 11, 18, and 25 in locations in the watershed

Potomac Conservancy will present Growing Native Ambassador Trainings to prepare for the upcoming fall seed collection season (see below). During these trainings, Growing Native Ambassadors will discover the nuts and bolts of the project; learn how to organize their own native seed collection event; and go through an introductory course on identifying native trees. These trainings will equip Ambassadors to be representatives in their communities for the environment by leading others in hands-on stewardship activities to promote a clean and green environment.

• District of Columbia, August 4, 10 am – 1 pm: DC Parks and Recreation Watts Branch Recreation Center: 6201 Banks Sts., NE (61st & Banks Sts.) Nearest Metro train station is Capitol Heights, on the blue line.
• Virginia and West Virginia, August 11, 9 am – noon: Frederick County, at Jim Barnett City Park, Cork Street & Pleasant Valley Road, Winchester, VA 22601.
• Pennsylvania, August 18, 9 am – noon: Adams County at Strawberry Hill Nature Center, 1537 Mount Hope Road, Fairfield, PA 17320-9420.
• Maryland, August 25, 9 am – noon: Montgomery County at Audubon Naturalist Society, 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815.

Contact Colleen Langan, Growing Native Project Director at langan@potomac.org or 301.608.1188, ext.211, to sign up for a training.

Join the fiddle-guitar duo Kitchen Gorilla for some fiddlin' on the porch! To RSVP for this free event, contact Judy Welles at welles@potomac.org; 301.608.1188.

Potomac Watershed Forum: Conserving Land to Conserve Water
Sunday, August 10, 1 pm 'til 3 pm
George Mason University, Prince William Campus, Verizon Auditorium, Occoquan Building
10900 University Boulevard, Manassas, Virginia

The Potomac Watershed Roundtable is a regional government-citizen forum whose purpose is to promote collaboration and cooperation on environmental concerns, especially water quality issues, among the various local governments and stakeholder interest groups residing within the Virginia side of the middle and lower Potomac River watershed.

A full agenda and registration information is online at www.potomacroundtable.org/. The $20 registration fee includes continental breakfast, lunch & parking, if postmarked by August 1, $30 thereafter.

Dragonfly & Damselfly Walk
Saturday, August 11, 1 'til 3 pm
River Center at Lockhouse 8, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Cabin John, Maryland

Back by popular demand! Volunteer naturalist Kevin Munroe will take you on a walk along the C&O Canal and the river, where you will learn the difference between dragonflies and damselflies and everything from how they begin their lives underwater to their predatory eating habits. To RSVP, contact Heather Montgomery at montgomery@potomac.org.

C&O Canal Work Party
Saturday, August 25, 9 am 'til noon
Swains Lock (Lock 21) C&O Canal National Historical Park, near Potomac, Maryland

Join C&O Canal Association volunteers to help improve the Park by a general spruce-up at Swains Lock. Contact Jim Heins, 301-949-3518 or vip@candocanal.org

Growing Native Seed Collection Events
Dates in September and October, in locations throughout the watershed

Make a difference in your community by volunteering at Growing Native’s Seed Collection Event! Every fall, thousands of Growing Native volunteers collect native hardwood tree seeds. Since 2001, volunteers have collectedmore than 94,000 pounds of seeds and helped restore hardwood forests along nearly 800 miles of streamside land. The demand for native trees is growing all the time, and we need volunteers this fall to continue the progress. All seed collection events are listed at or visit www.growingnative.org.

For more information on upcoming events, or to plan your own seed colleciton effort, contact: Colleen Langan, Growing Native Project Director, langan@potomac.org or 301.608.1188, ext. 211.

Voices of the River: Glen Echoes Barbershop Quartet
Sunday, September 9, 3 'til 4 pm
River Center at Lockhouse 8, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Cabin John, Maryland

Come hear this a capella quartet sing rousing songs of the past. To RSVP for this free event, contact Judy Welles at welles@potomac.org; 301.608.1188.

Montgomery County Passes "Complete and Green Streets" Guidelines

Montgomery County Council voted unanimously to adopt guidelines that ensure that streets are designed with all users in mind – pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders and drivers. The law also requires that county roads minimize polluted stormwater runoff.

Conservancy President Hedrick Belin submitted a letter to the editor of the Gazette, "Making Montgomery a River-friendly Leader," applauding this cutting-edge legislation. Bill supporters, including the Conservancy, now call on County Executive Ike Leggett to develop regulations that support this progressive law.

The Conservancy is a member of Stormwater Partners, which issued a press release on the passage of the road code. Potomac Conservancy.“ The release quoted Anne Merwin, our Director of Policy: "Bringing road building standards under new water quality requirements is innovative and important. By capturing and treating more of the polluted stormwater runoff before it leaves the site, we make great headway in protecting vulnerable streams and the Potomac River.”

Questioning the Potomac's Water Quality

The quality of the drinking water in the Potomac has come under scrutiny lately. Coverage includes stories about the Environmental Working Group's report on toxins from water treatment, odors eminating from our faucets, Potomac Riverkeeper's threat to sue pollutant dischargers, and the trend toward using tap water instead of bottled water, which places a burden on our landfills and our wallets.

• Study: Unsafe Toxin Level in D.C. Water - The Washington Post
• Water Smell Funky? Blame the River - wtop.com
• The Nation's River is the Region's Sewer - WUSA9
• Know Your Drinking Water: Bottled vs. Brita - The Washington Post

The Post also featured an article, On the Potomac, Swimming in Risk, that discussed the Potomac's safety for recreational activities such as swimming and boating. The article cited perceptions about when the river is safe for swimming and other activities, and the confusion stemming from different jurisdictional water quality standards.

• Summer Dry Spell - Washington Post
• Drought Conditions Force Water Restrictions - Frederick Gazette
• When the Rivers Run Dry - Frederick News-Post
• How Dry We Are: Area Crops Aching for a Cool Drink - Winchester Star

Weeding Tips

Weeds can indicate what type of soil you have in your yard. Sheep sorrel likes acidic soil; goldenrod prefers alkaline. Sedge thrives in areas with poor drainage.

Are pesky weeds growing in walkways and sidewalks? Pulling by hand or scalding with boiling water are two alternatives to pesticides.

This tip came from the 2007 Conservation Calendar. The calendar, which is chock full of hints for year-round conservation, is distributed by the Virginia Soil & Water Conservation and Virginia Cooperative Extension's Master Gardeners, and the Shenandoah RC&D Council.

For more information about minimizing your impact on the environment, download our Good Neighbor Handbook.

Hassle-Free Workplace Giving

If your company conducts an annual United Way Campaign, participating is a no-hassle way for you to support Potomac Conservancy's efforts to protect the rivers and streams you care about. Simply take part by selecting designation #8158.

If you are a government employee, participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) of the National Capital Area and choose designation #44786. Virginia state employees can take part in the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) by selecting a different code, #8218, for Potomac Conservancy.

United Way, CFC, and CVC are conducted September through December and provide a convenient approach to giving through monthly payroll deductions.

Select United Way/CFC #44786 and CVC #8218 today!