In the name of science, 23,190 bugs were sacrificed during the 2009 Loudoun County Stream assessment project which included collecting benthic macroinverterbrates at 200 sites in the county. The aquatic insects were identified to the family level. The bugs were collected using nets in the streams and later identified in the lab at Versar. Continue reading
Not only do students from Smart’s Mill Middle School in Loudoun understand watersheds and riparian buffers – they’re doing something with that knowledge. Many students have sent letters to their supervisors, urging them to adopt the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance (CPBO) in Loudoun. Jada Iraia and Ilian Burgos, eighth graders at Smart’s Mill, wanted to speak before the Board of Supervisors at the June 21 public input session, but the meeting conflicted with their final band concert at school. Instead, with the help of one mom, they shot a video next to Tuscarora Creek, their neighborhood stream, urging the Board to adopt the CBPO.
As Ilian puts it, “we should strive hard to keep our environment clean and healthy so future generations can appreciate what we have.”
Given the amount of confusion and misinformation surrounding Loudoun’s proposed Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance (CBPO), it is certainly refreshing to read well-cited, clear, concise information on the issue – like, for example, Supervisor Jim Burton’s recent letter to the public. In his letter, Mr. Burton makes a straightforward case in favor of adopting the CBPO, all the while inviting feedback from readers and constituents. While he does not go into the specifics of RPAs, RMAs, Locational Clearances, and non-conforming structures, he adds nuance to a discussion that, recently, has been anything but nuanced. At the very least, he reminds us, it is “worth the effort not to pull the plug [on the CBPO] without some further exploration and deliberation.” Continue reading
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recently published a study on the effects of urbanization and development on stream ecosystems. Their report emphasizes the threat that impervious surfaces – asphalt, sidewalks, etc. – pose to stream organisms: because these surfaces prevent storm water from seeping into the ground, stream organisms are inevitably confronted by increased volumes of storm water runoff and increased exposure to fertilizers and pesticides. By understanding how stream ecosystems are affected by development, our County can take timely and effective steps to prevent stream degradation and protect water quality. Continue reading
To whom it may concern,
Catoctin Creek Waterford Near Phillips Farm, courtesy of James Hanna
My name is Drew Moore and I write to you on behalf of Loudoun’s Clean Streams Coalition. We’re an association of Loudoun citizens and citizen groups who are committed to saving and preserving Loudoun’s streams. We feel that the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (CBPA) – now under consideration in Loudoun – is a pragmatic legal safeguard against stream degradation, as it requires a 100′ riparian buffer surrounding all perennial streams in the county. As you may know, riparian buffers have been shown time and time again to be a simple, effective means by which to protect waterways: the buffer acts as a sponge for silt, animal waste, and nutrients (principally nitrogen) and slows the flow of water from land to stream, helping to prevent water contamination, sedimentation, and bank erosion.
I am writing to ask if you would like to help our coalition of like-minded people as we educate Loudoun about the CBPA and encourage the Board to implement it. In particular, we would like to 1) provide accurate, well-cited information concerning the CBPA and its potential effects in Loudoun, and 2) demonstrate county-wide support for the CBPA at the Sept. 20 public information session before the Loudoun Board of Supervisors.
Let’s work together to ensure safe, clean water in Loudoun – today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Drew Moore
