Mtg. Citizens Advisory Committee 04/25/2010

Jefferson County is conducting a watershed study of the Blue Ridge area that is bordered by the Shenandoah River to the West, the Appalachian Trail and Virginia State line to the East, the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers to the North, and the Clark County, Virginia state line to the South.

Here is a very informative link, that is going to include a discussion forum, to the project web site http://www.blueridgecommunitiesplan.com/.

I am going to suggest to the Jefferson County Planning Department that a Watershed Education Center be created up here on the mountain.

My suggestion to create a Watershed Education Center somewhere up here on the mountain is going to the Blue Ridge Mountain Citizens Advisory Committee a group charted to conduct an analysis of and plan for the protection and improvement of the portion of the Chesapeake Watershed on the Blue Ridge in Jefferson County. The Committee had their first meeting on Sunday April 25th. I am looking forward to my membership.

You might find of interest this video on work being done by Los Angeles County and the Environmental Protection Agency on similar type watershed projects http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGzbDmgQHTo&feature=related

If you would like any additional information on the Committee including its mission and citizen membership, or how you can get more involved please contact me.

Jefferson County has agreed to fund additional $ for this phase of the Watershed Plan. Most of the monies used during this initial phase (now $60,000) is to be used for education.

I am also hoping to get the country going on establishing Shannondale Lake as a model Watershed Project.

Our next meeting will be after the Planning Department meets with our consultant and facilitation firm: Downstream Consultants.