It sounds like something kids would say to gross each other out: snot-grass. But to Shenandoah Riverkeeper Jeff Kelble and others who use the river, it’s serious business. For the past 10 years, according to Kelble’s group, long strips of slimy green algae (reminiscent of certain substances known to emanate from human nostrils) have formed […]
From Binocs to Binary: Citizen Science in the Digital Age
February 13, 2014 by 1 Comment
You could say it all started with the Christmas Bird Count back in 1900. According to the Audubon Society, that’s the year ornithologist Frank Chapman proposed a new holiday tradition. Instead of shooting as many birds as possible (at the time, a treasured part of the holiday for many), why not count as many as […]
Briar Woods School River Quest
May 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Briar Woods Field School Experience Around 40 Briar Woods students joined teacher Patricia Blackwell and naturalists and river guides from River & Trail Outfitters for River Quest 2012, on the beautiful Shenandoah River near Harpers Ferry, WV. “Who can figure out where we are?” asks river guide John DeMary of the students surrounding him. He […]
EcoVenture Days 27 & 28 Webcast
November 6, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Jeff Kelble, Shenandoah Riverkeeper, on the origins of the river/waterkeeper movement and the use of political advocacy to correct the ravages of pollution. Jeff is one of the “voices” on the Voices of the River DVD asking the tough questions about why fish are dying in the Shenandoah River. Also, some closing thoughts and reflections […]
EcoVenture Day 26 Webcast
November 3, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Steve Reeser and Jason Hallacher of Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries demonstrate how they determine fish populations on the south fork of the Shenanadoah.
EcoVenture Day 25 Webcast
November 2, 2009 by Leave a Comment
It’s been 25 days on the trail and the river. It’s raining on and off and promises to pour all night. The team misses a drop point where they’ll meet Pam Patterson for a hot dinner and have to backtrack half a mile.
EcoVenture Day 24 Webcast
November 2, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Near Luray, in Page County, a cold morning and a 22 ft dam greet our intrepid travelers.
EcoVenture Day 23 Webcast
October 28, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Travis Patterson steps in with a selection of his still photographs for day 23 after George Patterson’s video camera takes a swim on day 22. You can see the full Travis Patterson EcoVenture photo journal here. Good News: The team now has a replacement video camera and will be able to complete posts of the […]
EcoVenture Day 21 Webcast
October 25, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Allan Thomson of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation shows how sample fish seining can give an indication of the current health of the river in a given location. Today’s efforts yield surprisingly good news.
EcoVenture Day 20 Webcast
October 25, 2009 by Leave a Comment
The team packs up and embarks for a day on the river. They are joined by Allan Thomson, an environmental educator for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and spend the night camped on the grounds of the Dixon family’s riverside home, the site of the largest Chinquapin Oak in Virginia.
