August news from our friends at Potomac Riverkeeper.

“Keeping” Dirt Where it Belongs! Dirt rushing off of construction sites is a top polluter of our local rivers and streams. We have been fighting for reforms to keep the dirt on construction sites and out of our water. In 2009, we opened up previously sealed pollution plans and maps to all Virginians, allowing them to see how site operators planned to keep pollution out of state waters. This is a victory with costs to no one and benefits for everyone. In 2010, we have not been as successful in pushing for clean water reform. We settled our challenge to a state permit last week on stormwater rushing off construction sites and into Virginia waters. Our concerns were easy enough to understand: we need to keep pollution away from our rivers and streams, especially those that are already over-burdened with pollution Virginians should have adequate notice when a construction project is coming to their neighborhood. Knowledge is power! Virginia put off addressing our concerns for at least the next year to two years, despite our assertion that the permit violates existing law. We are looking at all our options as we move forward, and hope that you will help us put pressure on Virginia to clean up our waters. We’ll keep you posted on how you can help, but in the meantime you can help us grow our supporters by forwarding this message to a friend! Sen. Cardin, Please Save the Clean Water Act Over the past several months, Waterkeepers in the Chesapeake Bay have been closely watching the Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act of 2009, introduced by Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland. Unfortunately, in its current form, the bill will end up doing more harm than good. The bill weakens the Clean Water Act, a tool we rely on to stop pollution from going into our waters. If the bill is passed, it will weaken controls on polluters and, in some cases, allow them to pollute more! We understand bills only get passed through compromise, but weakening the Clean Water Act will only do harm. Please take a moment to tell Senator Cardin, who is a champion of the Bay, that weakening the Clean Water Act won’t help the Bay, or any of the rivers and streams that feed it! Don’t know what to say? Get informed by reading our questions and answers! Jeff Made the Honor Roll! Shenandoah Riverkeeper Jeff Kelble was named to the Izaak Walton League’s National Honor Roll in July. Every year, the league recognizes individuals and organizations who made a difference in conserving outdoor America in their local communities and states, as well as on a national level. The Izaak Walton League was formed in 1922 to save outdoor America for future generations. Way to go, Jeff! What Kind of Curve is This? A recent report card gave the Bay’s health a “C” for 2009. The Bay’s health is average, so I guess that makes it okay, right? Wrong. The excellent data collection and scoring in the report was ruined by the nonsensical grades. The Bay’s health score for 2009 is 46%. Even the Potomac River, which has improved, only scored 45%. Can you imagine taking a test where you score 46% and still get a “C”? More to the point, the 2009 health score is nearly identical to the 1986 health score (45%)–despite millions of dollars spent on cleanup programs. It reminds us that twenty years of voluntary and state-led approaches, including not properly enforcing the Clean Water Act the way it was meant to be enforced, have failed to make any improvement to the Bay’s overall health. Welcome to Our Newest Corporate Donor  We would like welcome GTSI, our newest corporate donor. GTSI paired their donation with a “casual Friday” in support of Potomac Riverkeeper. Employees paid a small fee to dress down, and the proceeds went to clean our Nation’s River! We thought this was an inventive and fun way to support a good cause. Please ask your employer if he or she is interested in hosting a “casual Friday” as well. Email Robin for more information!

Some More From The Dump Site In Mt. Jackson

Alright folks, so we got a bit of a late start today but me and my always supporting comrad J.R. decided to head back to the unfinished business we had waiting for us at the old lonely dump site at the North end of Mt. Jackson. We took our usual course of my “secret” put -in spot and then paddled upstream about an eighth of a mile. There was a bad taste in my mouth of the stove left behind from the last time I was there due to a brand new hole in my ever trusty jon boat. Nevertheless we saw through and did what we had to do today and ended up getting the stove, a bunch of other scrap metal, a great big old stove pipe, and a whole bag of other glass and uneccessary debris. Probaly about 300 to 400 pounds of junk. Not bad for just a few hours of work. It is safely at rest in the old Earth Korps scrap metal pile that will be taken to be recycled as soon as our trusty 4-wheel drive lender truck is out of the hospital. (Get well soon)
Earth Korps will be back in action Saturday as we are having a new youg man pursue some community service hours with us.
Again I would like to thank those of you who are participating in our 5 dollar fundraiser campaign. Your names will be on the website soon. We’ve just had alot going on. Your support is much appreciated and myself and the environment thank you. You are helping us to buy the supplies and provide the man power we need in order to clean his great river. Here are the pictures  of our adventures today. Sorry theres not many, and of course I forgot to take one with the load actually on the truck like I always do, but trust me if were gonna put it on a boat then were gonna load it up on the truck and dispose of it properly. Sailors word.

P.S be on the look out for a giant public clean-up being advertised here soon. We can use all of the help we can get.

The Shenandoah River Rodeo.

 I would like to let everyone know about the great time that they missed out on this past weekend. The third annual Shenandoah River Rodeo took place this weekend  in Bentonville Virginia at the Low Water Camp Ground. A good friend of mine and the man also know as the Shenandoah Riverkeeper named Jeff Kelble was the man behind the madness for this event. This is a fundraiser held for the non-profit organization Potomac River Keeper, who also happens to be my fiscal agent in the business world. The party though was amazing for the time that I was able to spend there.

 Unfortunately I did not get to take part in the Guided fishing tours earlier that morning or the late night action after the campground shut down for the night, but while I was there I was able to enjoy some awesome blue grass form a band whos name is escaping me right now, free bbq, free keg beer, and an awesome time. Low and behold the riverkeeper made it fun for everybody, giving out door prizes, having some sort of line dancing that I made sure to stay away from, and also prizes for all the children to take home with them. A few hundred people showed up, and I hope he was able to raise some money for his organization. I appreciate the shout- out Mr. Kelble during the thank you’s and I will continue to strive to make the Shenandoah and other rivers like it a better place.

 Next year ladies and gentleman make yourselves aware of the good time in Bentonville known as the Shenandoah  River Rodeo.

Captain