Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River
News Release
June 3, 2009
Laura Robertson
304-724-4579
Diane Noserale
703-648-4333
One Step Closer to Understanding Fish Health in Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers
Estrogen Linked to Lowered Immunity in Fish
Exposure to estrogen reduces production of immune-related proteins in fish. This suggests that certain compounds, known as endocrine disruptors, may make fish more susceptible to disease
Read this and an update from DEQ here...
We are 
having another workshop.
if you need a rain barrel..
Join Friends for our next "Make and Take" rain barrel workshop. We are proud to be partnering with Fort Valley Nursery in Woodstock to bring you another rain barrel workshop and hope you will join us to learn how save money and conserve water!
Our March Rain Barrel workshop was a blast!
Fifty people learned how to make a rain barrel and install it at their homes.
Rain Barrel Workshop II
July 15, 2009 from 6:30-8:30pm
You MUST REGISTER for this workshop by calling Leslie or Cindy at 540-459-8550.
Why Rain Barrels? Rain Barrels can be attached to down spouts to capture roof runoff. The water stored in the rain barrel can be used to water gardens or lawns. Rain barrels can also help control storm water runoff, which causes erosion and degrades our streams.
Benefits. Although rain barrels are available at garden stores, they are not cheap! During the workshop, you will convert a heavy plastic pickle barrel into a functional rain barrel. In addition to learning how to install and maintain your rain barrels, you will learn about your role in water conservation and water quality protection. Learn how your actions can affect the North Fork of the Shenandoah and even the Chesapeake Bay. A recycled barrel, tools and supplies will be provided.
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED
The cost of the workshop is: $45 for Friends' members and
$49.00 for non-members (includes free 2009 membership)
[ONE BARREL PER REGISTRATION]
To register, call:
Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River
at 540-459-8550
or email: friends@shentel.net
New E. coli & benthic Monitoring project 2009-2011
Friends, along with our sister organization Friends of the Shenandoah River and Shenandoah University, are embarking on a new monitoring effort focused on the main impairments affecting streams in the North Fork watershed- bacteria and sediment pollution - sediment makes it difficult for the critters on the stream and river bottom to breath. We are looking for volunteers for the benthic portion of the project. If you like to be outdoors and in the water, please give Leslie Watson a call or email 459-8550 or leslie.watson@fnfsr.org
Andy Thayer’s journey down the Shenandoah River begins April 17,2009
Andy Thayer has completed his 2 week long journey from source to mouth of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. Lots of rain, a couple of spills and lots of great wildlife sightings made Andy's trip an exciting one. He has posted a number of his photos and you can read his journal entries at this website: http://andrewthayer.blogspot.com or
http://www.athayer.com/shenandoah_river.html. Andy is a nature photographer and his goals were to photograph their journey from source to mouth and ultimately publish a book that features his pictures of the river’s beauty as well as the challenges that are facing the river. Andy has been a long-time supporter of Friends of the North Fork and we hope that has great success with plans for publishing a book.
Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River
is a grassroots citizens’ group that relies on people like you.....
whether you live here in
the basin of the North Fork
of the Shenandoah River, or you just care about it.
Check us out on
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In celebration of Friends’ 20th year, members hiked to the First Spring of the North Fork.
Jack Lorenz
North Fork Notes
Friends of the North Fork and the conservation community experienced a great loss this past March. Jack Lorenz, long time Friends’ Board Member and former Exec Director of the Izaak Walton League of America, passed away leaving his wife and Friends Board member Margaret, their two sons and his beloved grandson Finn. Jack was a force for conservation and a strong supporter of outdoor ethics with a highlight of his career being the creation of IWLA’s outdoor ethics program that is based upon Jack’s principle “We must leave our woods, waters and wildlife better than we found them, and we must dedicate ourselves to inspiring others to do the same”
To read Jack’s obituary in the Washington Post click here
When Jack Lorenz visited Hawaii in 2007, the trip completed his quest to fish in all 50 states. He was an early advocate of "catch and release." (Family Photo)
Bobby Zirkle
The entire Agriculture and Natural Resource community in Virginia was saddened to learn that Bobby Zirkle (John Robert Zirkle) passed away this Spring. Bobby spent countless hours contributing to his community, to Agriculture and to efforts to protect our Natural Resources. Bobby served on many different boards including the Virginia Farm Bureau State Board of Directors, former president of the Shenandoah County Farm Bureau, the American Farm Bureau Poultry Advisory Committee, the Virginia Growers Poultry Cooperative Board, the Shenandoah County Easement Authority, the Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District and the Shenandoah County Sliding Scale Committee. Bobby also was the Farm Bureau liaison to the Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River . He was a member of Woods Chapel Independent Bible Church in New Market. Friends of the North Fork sends its sincere condolences to Bobby's Family and encourages our membership to contribute to a memorial fund that has been created to honor Bobby and thank his family for their support of his efforts
An account has been established at Farmers and Merchants Bank in Timberville Virginia . If anyone wishes to provide a gift; checks should be made payable to the “Zirkle Children Fund.” Gifts to this Fund are not tax deductible. Denise Zirkle, Bobby Zirkle’s Wife and mother of their four children will oversee the account. The funds will be managed at the discretion of Denise Zirkle.
If you wish to make a gift please make checks payable to the “Zirkle Children Fund” and mail them to
Farmers and Merchants Bank
PO Box 1111
Timberville VA 22853
Thank you
Board of Directors
Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River
Do you have pharmaceuticals that you need to dispose of
and don’t know how? For information to help you rid your cabinet of the drugs and keep them out of our waterways.
"Comments regarding Biosolids permitting in Shenandoah County"
March 31, 2009
Tim Higgs
Valley Regional Office
Department of Environmental Quality
4411 Early Road
P.O. Box 3000
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Dear Mr. Higgs,
These comments on the permit application to allow land application of biosolids in Shenandoah County are being filed on behalf of the Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, which is a community-based volunteer organization representing 400 members dedicated to protecting and enhancing the North Fork of the Shenandoah River.
The Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River opposes the issuance of this permit and requests a public hearing on this matter to be attended by a member of the state water control board (rep from the TAC anybody else?).
The subject permit would allow the application of biosolids to over 1,750 acres of farmland in Shenandoah County. READ MORE...
“Saving the
Shenandoah River”
story click on the links below:
http://www.tv3winchester.com/news/headlines/42158712.html
http://www.tv3winchester.com/home/headlines/41840662.html
Contact us: Leslie Mitchell-Watson, executive director, leslie.watson@fnfsr.org
Cindy Frenzel, education coordinator, frenzel@shentel.net
FNFSR office phone: 540-459-8550 email: friends@shentel.net
