BRFAL Members Help Save Our Streams

GOOD BUGS = GOOD WATER

Alongside Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Virginia Master Naturalists 

Training Session with Don Kelso (preparing to catch the bugs - macroinvertibrates tell the health of a stream)

Counting the bugs (following the SOS guidelines for accuracy in reporting)

BRFAL members get in the field training for SOS Certification

Mayflies and stoneflies are picky, they won't tolerate poor water quality

Virginia Save Our Streams monitors water quality of Virginia's streams and educates the public about importance of clean water. Virginians have the right to know whether or not streams are safe for swimming, fishing, playing, and drinking. Also, having site-specific and timely water quality information allows us identify pollution problems, determine how to restore streams, and assess success of restoration efforts. Our more than 600 volunteers collect information at approximately 400 stream sites. We work with everyone from individuals to agencies to ensure that future generations inherit improved and protected streams, rivers, and estuaries across Virginia.

Information on Save Our Streams and BRFAL:

19 out of 32 Save Our Streams certified volunteer monitors around Smith Mountain Lake are BRFAL members. They currently monitor 20 sites on streams around the lake on a quarterly basis. BRFAL continues to work with the Smith Mountain Lake Association and the local Virginia Save Our Streams program in an effort to increase the number of certified monitors and sites monitored in the Upper Roanoke watershed.  

Data collected by monitors go into the VA SOS statewide database and is used by the VA Department of Environmental Quality. Local data also complements data from the SMLA/Ferrum College Water Quality Monitoring Program on Smith Mountain Lake. 

This water quality monitoring program has become a model across the nation for volunteer lake monitoring programs and is now in its 25th year! 

Don Kelso reviewing macroinvertibrates with trainees. 

Don Kelso, our local certified trainer, works closely with trainees both in the classroom and in streams to get them certified. Currently, four individuals are in the training process. We expect to hold another orientation session for new trainees in Spring 2012.

Visit the Virginia Save Our Streams website here.
Visit the SMLA Save Our Streams website here.

Info and Photos submitted by De English

If any of this interests you, the next BRFAL Chapter Basic Training for Aspiring Virginia Master Naturalists is coming up in March at The Franklin Center in Downtown Rocky Mount VA! You can get the Draft Schedule of Classes and View the Itinerary here, and get the Information Letter and Application here.  If you have any questions about this upcoming basic training please send an email to:  contact@brfal.org 

Learn more about the Virginia Master Naturalist Program here. We hope to see you at the next training!