Rappahannock Friends and Lovers of Our Watershed

Ways to Protect Our Watershed

We are continually discovering more ways to help protect our watershed, and more resources to assist individuals and groups. In each of the following sections, you will find people, ideas, and how-to-do-it information to assist you in your efforts to protect and benefit from your land, streams, ponds, groundwater, and other natural resources.

Rain Gardens

A “rain garden” is just what it sounds like: a specially designed garden area created to capture and filter rainwater that runs off from hard surfaces such as parking lots, roads, driveways and rooftops. Rain gardens perform a dual role:

  • They filter pollutants picked up when stormwater flows across an impervious surface
  • They help to maintain the hydrologic balance of the area by slowing the stormwater and giving it a chance to absorb into the soil, adding to our groundwater supply rather than rushing away, causing damage further downstream

During the spring and summer of 2008, RappFLOW constructed a Rain Garden at The Link in Sperryville, VA, wrote an article in the local paper, collected publications, and held a workshop for home owners interested in rain gardens.

Rain Garden Presentation

Rain Garden Pamphlet

Rain Garden Article

Virginia Dept. of Forestry Rain Garden Technical Guide

NEW!! 2013 - Report prepared  by RappFLOW (Tim Bondelid) regarding the rain garden we constructed in Sperryville at the Old Schoolhouse

Understanding Nutrients and the Environment

To help educate local citizens on watershed issues, RappFLOW held a presentation on how nutrients affect our waterways. The presentation mainly discusses the affects of nitrogen and phosphorus on aquatic ecosystems and human health. We also discuss what landowners, farmers and the community can do to prevent excessive nutrients from entering our streams and ponds.

“Understanding Nutrients and Their Effects on the Environment” Presentation

VA Cooperative Extension Soil Sampling Publication

USDA-NRCS Publication “Soil Sampling to Save Money”

Pond Management

Ponds are an important resource in this county. Rappahannock County alone has over 540 ponds used for agriculture, recreation or aesthetics. As part of a National Fish and Wildlife Grant obtained by RappFLOW and in coordination with the Culpeper Soil and Water District and the Virginia Cooperative Extension, we held a workshop in the fall of 2008 for landowners interested in building ponds or just looking for information on improving ponds for wildlife or water quality. Topics discussed were:

  • Pond usages
  • Construction and placement
  • Regulations
  • Hydrology
  • Pond ecology
  • Wildlife habitat

We had a large turnout of citizens and we will be having more workshops in the future as well as more reference materials about ponds.

“Ponds in Your Landscape” Presentation

"Nuisance and Native Aquatic Vegetation Management" Presentation

CSWCD Resource List for Pond Information

Pond Management Quick References

Pond Management URLs

Culpeper Soil and Water District’s Pond Planning Brochure

Culpeper Soil and Water District's Pond Construction Brochure

Farm Pond Maintenance - Ponds and Buffers

Native Aquatic Plant Habitat Continuum

Recommended Species for Enhancement of Aquatic Areas in Virginia (1)   (2)

Plant Zones for Ponds and Buffers

 

Promote Streamside Vegetation

The single most important action a landowner can take to protect the watershed is to promote and enhance vegetation (trees, shrubs, tall grasses) along their streams and ponds. Beginning with our workshop on this topic in July 2003, we have been gathering information to assist landowners in understanding the benefits of streamside vegetation, getting help, and implementing best practices.

Stop Erosion Now

One of the most important actions we can take to protect our watershed is to prevent and control erosion and sedimentation from driveways, roads, and other earth-disturbing activities. Beginning with our workshop on this topic in November 2003, we have been gathering information to assist landowners, excavators, and developers in understanding the benefits of erosion control, getting help, and implementing best practices.

Sustainable Forestry

One of the most important actions we can take to protect our watershed is to manage our forested lands carefully. Beginning with our workshop on this topic in July 2004, we have been gathering information to assist landowners, foresters, and local woodworkers in understanding the benefits of sustainable forestry, getting help, and implementing best practices.

Sustainable Agriculture

One of the most important actions we can take to protect our watershed is to manage our agricultural lands carefully and help to sustain farming as a key industry in our County. Beginning with our workshop on this topic in August 2004, we have been gathering information to assist landowners, farmers, and the general citizenry in understanding the benefits of sustainable agriculture, getting help, and implementing best practices.