Restoration on the Rappahannock – Culpeper Star Exponent Feature Article Sunday August 27, 2017
Culpeper Star Exponent File 1
Culpeper Star Exponent Article
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Amazing Tenacity
The following series of photos gives you an idea of the effort that it takes to remove some of the trash from our rivers. At the heads of islands in these rivers you will often find a bulwark of downed trees that look alot like a large pile of “pixie sticks”. They catch all kinds of things! Our crew was DETERMINED not to leave this very large piece of trash that was entrenched in one such pile of trees. There are some videos too…showing the sheer joy of our group once the item has been removed…enough said.
Thanks to FOR and VOC!
Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) and Virginia Outdoor Center (VOC)
We’re excited to be working on the Rappahannock River this year and appreciate all the hard work that Friends of the Rappahannock and the Virginia Outdoor Center have done over the years to care for this river. We hope that our efforts to assess and clean the river will expand upon their good work!
After StreamSweepers spent a day on the Rapidan River, it was time to move on over to the Rappahannock. So who you gonna call? — Friends of the Rappahannock! We had great instruction from Bryan Hoffman and Adam Lynch which made all the difference in readying our staff for their task on the Rappahannock this summer.
Thanks also to FOR’s Woodie Walker and Kathleen Harrigan who have been incredibly supportive of our efforts.
Four years ago StreamSweepers was graciously loaned some boats by VOC for our program and they are still out there floating today! Many thanks to Bill Micks and the entire staff at VOC.
Thanks to the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation
Many thanks to the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation for supporting StreamSweepers! We needed a vehicle and a trailer to transport our Sweepers and pull our canoes. We found a great deal on a used Four Runner and trailer and were able to make the purchase thanks to them.
They also helped us move into the realm of volunteer cleanups. Over the next year we will be hosting cleanups led by volunteer groups in Fauquier, Culpeper and Rappahannock counties to clean the smaller tributaries before the trash reaches the Rappahannock. The picture below is of the Highland School crew who cleaned along the White’s Mill Trail and Cedar Run near Warrenton. If your organization is interested in hosting a cleanup, please contact StreamSweepers Program Manager, Debbie Manzari.
Thanks Northern Piedmont Community Foundation from all of us here!
Our Season Has Begun!
Rappahannock River Crew
Our season has begun! We are going to take some time over the next few weeks to thank the MANY good folks who have helped get this project rolling and to introduce you to the wonderful staff and the work they are doing. Stay tuned!
We’re Hiring 2017 Sweepers!
We are looking for young adults, 18 years of age, to provide eco-assessment and stream cleaning services in Culpeper and Fauquier counties on the Rappahannock River during June, July and August.
Employees will receive paid training in eco-assessment protocol, basic field first aid, GPS data entry, mapping skills and business entrepreneurship.
We are looking for prompt and team oriented individuals. Must have transportation and be comfortable in and around moving water and enjoy outdoor challenges. Previous canoeing/boating experience preferred. Must be able to lift 50 pounds daily.
Please send an email to debbie@naturalcapital.us detailing your interest and qualifications to be part of our team. Salary $10 hour.
Learn more about StreamSweepers at www.streamsweepers.org or by calling Debbie Manzari, Program Manager, at (540) 672-2542.
2017 Season Plans
Rappahannock River
In 2017 our Sweepers will continue working Virginia’s rivers by addressing the upper Rappahannock in three counties: Rappahannock, Fauquier and Culpeper. We will begin at Route 29/15 near Remington and continue to the confluence with the Rapidan. In 2018 we will begin at the headwaters and work our way back down to Route 29/15.
We require river access from landowners to get on and off the water and to remove trash. If you have land along the river and are able to offer access please contact Debbie Manzari, Program Manager at 540-672-2542 or email at debbie@naturalcapital.us
We also need some additional financial support as we have a gap of about $9,000 we would like to cover. We appreciate contributions of any amount which can be made via our secure website below.
Clinch River, Russell County, Virginia
We will expand our service area to Southwest Virginia and the Clinch River, home to Virginia’s newest designated State Park.
We’re Hiring – River Cleanup Project Manager
The Project Manager will be responsible for on-water management of seasonal staff to complete ecological assessment and cleanup of rivers as well as general project coordination: outreach to landowners for river access, report writing and training of seasonal staff.
Required Skills/Experience
- Canoeing/Kayaking Skills
- Planning and organization
- Real-time problem solving
- Wilderness First Aid and CPR
- Knowledge of legal and risk management issues related to outdoor construction work on waterways
- Strong leadership and supervision abilities
- Management and team building
- Effective communication
- Detail oriented, creative, and flexible
- Valid driver’s license with no negative incidents and experience driving a truck and hauling a trailer
- Resource Management, Environmental Science, or Outdoor Education background experience
- Presentation and Spreadsheet Software, Google Earth, GIS (preferred)
- Must be 18 years of age and able to lift 50-80 pounds daily
Please send resumes to debbie@naturalcapital.us
Adopt a Pile Removal to Start End of February
Brian and Stanley Morris from Greene County will be working with StreamSweepers to soon begin removal of large debris items from the Robinson, Rapidan, and Hughes Rivers. More information as this project progresses here and at StreamSweepers on Facebook.
We’ve reached our goal for Adopt A Pile of $10,000 – Thanks for your support!
Large Trash Sites 2016
This summer we have uncovered over 25 sites with trash too large to be floated out on our canoes in the three rivers we cleaned (Hughes, Rapidan and Robinson Rivers). We are going to need to hire contractors with heavy equipment to remove these items. This additional expense was not included in our budget. Our Sweepers did a great job this summer and they really don’t like leaving anything behind.
Please consider a donation to fund the removal of these large items – culverts, extra heavy tires, diesel storage tank, dangerous metal objects and more. We estimate the total cost to remove these items to be $20,000 with $10,000 of this amount provided through pro-bono (match) services by our contractors.
You can make a general donation, or you can “Adopt” a specific site by clicking and donating from that image or by using the secure donation link below. Some of this stuff has been in our rivers for decades, rusting, and leaking oil and other substances. It’s time to get it out. Thanks for making our rivers safe for our friends, family members, visitors, and of course wildlife.
Hughes River Sites
Large Pile of Rusted Metal -$1000 Removal Fee
Robinson River Sites
850 Pound Tire – $1000 Removal Fee
Large Metal Object – $2000 Removal Fee
Large Pile of Heavy Metal Fencing – $2000 Removal Fee
Storage Tank – $2000 Removal Fee
Extra Heavy Wood Fence with Metal Hinges – $2000 Removal Fee
5 Locations of Rusted Metal Culverts – $2000 Removal Fee
Diesel Storage Tank – $2000 Removal Fee
Large Appliance – $1000 Removal Fee
Rapidan River Sites
900 Pound Tire – $1000 Removal Fee
Extra Large Culvert – $2000 Removal Fee
Metal I Beams – $1000 Removal Fee
