Fredericksburg.com - Water, earth and sky

Recyc Systems Inc. in Remington is seeking permission from the state to apply treated sludge on more than 6,500 acres on dozens of farms in Caroline County. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is preparing draft permits on the plan. View a fact sheet and draft permits here, here and here. For more details see my story, which ran earlier this week, here.

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Wild things

Jan. 14, 2010 3:24 pm

Painted turtle hatchling rescued by the Wildlife Center of Virginia. The Wildlife Center of Virginia had a busy 2009, treating over 2,500 injured, ill or orphaned animals at its headquarters in Waynesboro in the Shenandoah Valley. This tiny painted turtle was among six hatched after its mother was brought in for treatment. (The photo was taken by a wildlife center staffer.) The center's focus is: treat and release. That was the case with a tar-covered bald eagle rescued at the King George Landfill last spring. After being patched up, the bird was released at Caledon Natural Area in King George. For more information on the center, click here. See my story in Saturday's Free Lance-Star for more details, pictures.

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Leaky dike

Jan. 12, 2010 10:42 am

There’s an apparent leak in one of the dikes at North Anna Power Station. Dominion power yeterday reported a wet area on dike six, which sits next to a settling pond at the plant near Mineral on Lake Anna. The report was noted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission this morning. The company says the pond is used to contain storm water and other runoff water before it goes back into the lake. Dominion is investigating the cause of the leak and that there is no threat to the power station or the public. View the NRC report here.

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`Kilowatt Ours'

Jan. 7, 2010 2:39 pm

Jeff Barrie is coming to town at the end of the month to discuss his documentary film, "Kilowatt Ours," promoting energy conservation, efficiency and renewable energy. It's part of an energy fair, sponsored by the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club, at James Monroe High School Jan. 31, beginning at 1 p.m. Free screenings of the film will be shown at area libraries throughout the month: Tomorrow, 2 p.m., Porter Library at 2001 Parkway Boulevard in Stafford; Sunday, 2 p.m., Salem Church Library, 2607 Salem Church Road in Spotsylvania;
Jan. 20, 7 p.m. at Central Rappahannock Regional Library, library headquarters, 1201 Caroline St.
;Jan. 24, 6 p.m., library headquarters; Jan. 25, 7 p.m., Snow Library, 8740 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania.
Jan. 30, 4 p.m., Snow Library, and 7 p.m., The Free Lance-Star community room, 616 Amelia St.

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Make a video for EPA

Dec. 16, 2009 4:17 pm

Got a hankering to bust into "green" video? The Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring a video contest challenging filmmakers to produce short, creative videos highlighting the "Three Rs" of individual consumption: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Entries should be either 30 or 60 seconds long. They should "creatively promote steps individuals and organizations can take to minimize negative environmental impacts within their communities" on the following topics: reducing and reusing, recycling, composting, and consumption and its effect on environmental footprint.

The agency is accepting submissions for the contest, "Our Planet, Our Stuff, Our Choice," through Feb. 16. Winners will be announced in April, in time for the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Awards will be given to the top three videos, including a student (13 to 18 years old) category. For more details, click here.

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A green Christmas

Dec. 2, 2009 2:55 pm

Environment-minded parents might want to consider putting something green under the tree for those little tree and /or animal huggers. Imaginechildhood.com has got some rather cool things, along with a gift registry. One potential stocking stuffer is a kit to cast animal tracks, click here.

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Something fishy in the Potomac

Nov. 11, 2009 12:25 pm

The Potomac Conservancy today released its annual State of the Nation's River report, focusing on chemicals that appear to be causing fish kills and fish with altered gender characteristics. It's an issue that's gotten a lot of attention due to kills and altered fish found in the Potomac, Shenandoah and Monocacy rivers. For more, see my story in tomorrow's Free Lance-Star. Read the report here.

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A "slimmer" bay?

Oct. 28, 2009 3:00 pm

The Environmental Protection Agency is working on a "pollution diet" for the Chesapeake Bay, aiming to control harmful chemicals, sediment and toxic compounds that run into tidal rivers, and into the bay. For more on the total maximum daily load, or TMDL process, and an upcoming public information meeting here, see my story in tomorrow's Free Lance-Star.

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Check out Crow's Nest

Oct. 26, 2009 2:18 pm

It's been described as an environmental jewel for good reason. The Crow's Nest peninsula along Aquia and Accokeek creeks in Stafford, has pristine tidal marshes, abundant widlife and the most extensive mature coastal plain hardwood forest in the mid-Atlantic region. Efforts to preserve the land have been in the news for decades, but here's your chance to see what the fuss is all about. There's a field day Saturday, Nov. 7, at what is now the state's Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve. Hosted by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, it will include hikes and natural history interpretation. It's from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with hiking trips leaving at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Call 804 786-7951 to reserve a spot. Below is a file picture taken along the shoreline after a dusting of snow in March. For more details on the preserve, click here.
Heron in snowy landscape

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Give 'em a hug

Oct. 16, 2009 5:10 pm

OK, it's official. If you are a tree hugger, tomorrow's your day. National Tree Hugger Day is at the Jefferson Memorial in D.C., from noon to 3 p.m. American Forests, known for its "Global ReLeaf" restoration projects, is putting it on, and thanking IKEA for its contributions that made it possible to plant a million trees. Along with music, food and crafts, a "Community Tree Hug" will take place at 1:30. Huggers will also gather in Chicago and Los Angeles. For more details click here.

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Welcome weed?

Sep. 22, 2009 2:22 pm

Brazilion elodea in Rappahannock River

If you've paddled or fished the Rappahannock above Fredericksburg recently, you've noticed a sea of green in spots along the shore. (Staff Photographer Mike Morones snapped this picture of me and John Tippett, executive director of Friends of the Rappahannock, knee-deep in the stuff last week.)

Submerged aquatic vegetation is a good thing, but this grass is closely related to invasive hydrilla that has made a home in the Potomac and area streams and lakes. For more details, and an assessment of whether it's good or bad, see tomorrow's Free Lance-Star.

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Frankenfish!

Sep. 18, 2009 3:27 pm

Northern snakeheads, the toothy, voracious pedators that invaded the Potomac River five years ago below Washington, D.C., are heading down river. Aquia Creek is one of the latest hot spots, where a Spotsylvania boy recently caught a really big one. See my story in tomorrow's Free Lance-Star.

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