Save Our Streams with Geoff

Wonder exactly what is in the creeks you cross? Are they healthy? You may want to consider joining Save Our Streams (SOS) or simply appreciate the good work they are doing in our communities. I had a chance to ask Geoff this week about his work with SOS.

Geoff Orth is a long time BRFAL member and SOS Coordinator. His enthusiasm for the work is clear as he describes the 16 streams that his team monitors biannually. They dip in their nets, take water samples, and discover an impressive variety of macroinvertebrates, from insects to tiny little crayfish and clams, which help indicate whether the water is clean. The more pollution intolerant species they find, the better the water quality. The teams report their findings to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. 

So, how are our local streams doing? Geoff believes the quality is stable. He’s seen some negative events over the years, but thanks to monitoring, the damage can be mitigated quickly. In a world where so many measures show decline, stability is good news!

Covid has presented an opportunity to shift volunteer training on-line, to a self-paced format available at SOS OnLine Training. Check it out and consider tromping through the streams with Geoff and his SOS teams, serving a critical role in saving our streams.

And if you have any questions, just ask Geoff!