Dan River Basin Adventures: 5/31/09

Friday, June 5, 2009

Silverfish Benefit Paddle

First Annual Silverfish Paddle

The Dan River Basin Association
joins the Silverfish Paddlers

Saturday, June 27, 2009
(Rain date Saturday July 25,2009)

Lunch -- Entertainment -- Prizes -- Commemorative T-Shirts

Registration :
THREE RIVERS OUTFITTERS 336-627-6215
silverfishfortherivers.com

All Proceeds to Benefit DRBA’s Work to Protect and Restore Our Rivers
Visit silverfishfortherivers.com for Details

Walkers Enjoy a Tuesday Morning Stroll

Ten participants enjoyed a quided walk through Doe Run Park this past week as they participated in the Tuesday Morning Stroll Program, hosted by the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) and Henry County Parks & Recreation.

Jennifer Doss of DRBA led the group as they took an imaginary tour of Europe and learned about Summer Solstice. The holiday of Summer Solsitce (latin for "sol" =sun and "sistere"= to cause to stand still) occurs on June 21st and is the longest day of the year. The sun rises higher and higher each day and on the highest day, it moves so little that it appears the stand still.

Even though it was a warm day outside, the walkers had no compliants as shade from the forest canopy and cool breezes kept us comfortably cool during the walk.

Upon completion of walking the trails of Doe Run Park, the group had a mini-Summer Solstice celebration and are shown above blowing bubbles. Please join us all next month, July 7th at 9am as we walk at Gravely Nature Preserve and discover the meaning behind "Christmas in July."

Water Quality Training & Cookout Planned

In appreciation of your efforts so far in support of the Philpott Watershed Monitoring Program, the Dan River Basin Association, the Friends of Philpott, Inc. and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would like to invite you to attend an Appreciation Cookout/Water Monitoring Session on June 13 at Jamison Mill Park from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Hot dogs, fixins, chips, drinks will be provided with a suggested donation of $3 per plate. RSVP to Jenny Edwards jedwards@danriver.org as soon as possible.

After the cookout, we will monitor Nicholas Creek within the park. Anyone wishing to take the test to become a certified water monitor can do so at this time. You don't have to become certified to participate in the monitoring. If you're interested, we will also be monitoring the sites at Salthouse Branch Park on June 8 at 2 p.m. The certification test will be available on this day as well. We hope to see you at one of the monitoring sessions and especially at the Appreciation Cookout!

Schedule of Events: June 8 @ Salthouse Branch Park @ 2 p.m.-Monitoring Session/Certification Test Available June 13 @ Jamison Mill Park @ 11 a.m.-Cookout/Monitoring

Session/Certification Test Available If you are interested in becoming certified and can't make one of these sessions, please let me know so we can make other arrangements for you. If you plan to attend one/both of these events, please let us know so we can be better prepared.

Remember to RSVP to Jenny regarding the cookout so she can plan for the right amount of food for everyone. Thank you for all your support so far. We look forward to continued success in the Water Monitoring Program at Philpott Lake and in the Dan River Basin.

Submitted by: Mary C. Lawson, Conservation Biologist- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Power Generation on the Dan River

Just an FYI for all paddlers, Pinnacles Powerhouse in Kibler Valley will be generating this weekend due to all the recent rainfall. 9,000 cubic feet per second of water is expected.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Reynolds visits Trout Release

Senator Roscoe Reynolds visited a Trout-in-the-Classroom (TIC) trout release today as students from Albert Harris Elementary released brown trout fingerlings into the Smith River. He is shown learning about crayfish with the youth. TIC is proudly sponsored by Dr. David Jones, Orthodontist and the Dan River Basin Association.

Scouts Honor Local History

Taylor DeVinney of Ridgeway, recently led the scouts of Troop 61 in a project to honor local history. For his Eagle Scout Project, Taylor created grave markers for the 18 graves located in the Burgess Family Cemetery of Ridgeway, VA.

The cemetery is part of a project that the Dan River Basin Association has been working on along with decsendants of the former slaves "Uncle" John & Jane Burgess and community partners such as Bassett Historical Center and Norris Funeral Services.

The scouts created wooden plank grave markers made of poplar wood with a pecan stain. Marine grade varnish was applied to the planks so that they will stand up to the elements. The scouts installed the markers so that each grave is now identified. A number of each plank represents the order in which the grave sites were discovered. For the graves that have been identified, information about those individuals is being engraved on aluminum plaques to be attached underneath the numbers. Thank you Troop 61 for completing this project to enhance the cemetery!