Pollution Levels Fall in the Bay
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data show that nitrogen and phosphorus were below average in 2015, with nitrogen loads falling 25% between 2014 and 2015, and phosphorus dropping 44. In addition, sediment loads fell 59%. According to the Chesapeake Bay Program, “experts … Continued
The Conservation Partnership
Those in the business of natural-resource protection know that it’s a complicated bag of tricks, fraught with difficult decisions during the process of achieving “balance” among the interests of many, often competing groups. In Virginia, as across the U.S., you … Continued
Shorelines, Coves & Underwater Grasses
From the earliest days of humans slogging through vast reaches of black needlerush, the shores of the Northern Neck have shaped the character of cultural activity and the pace of social change. The Nomini Indians who camped along the Potomac … Continued
Rivers, Creeks & Marshes
You’re out on Little Totuskey Creek, gliding silently downstream in your canoe, binoculars in hand, and you get the distinct feeling that you’re being watched. Not a house or shed or duck is in sight. Coming around a bend … Continued
Pesticides
Underneath it all, most of us are driven by some deeply hidden desire to dominate nature. And this human tendency to control and manage things out there has been picked up by industry and the media. Like the false … Continued
Composting
Decomposed organic kitchen waste, combined with organic waste from your yard, makes great stuff. The black nuggets produced over time, generally between two and five months, will enrich your soil and promote the growth of healthy, vibrant plants and vegetables. … Continued
BayScaping
BayScapes are landscapes well adapted to the Chesapeake Bay region. They incorporate conservation practices—creating diversity, conserving water, and using beneficial plants. The BayScapes program was developed by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, … Continued
Forests, Fields & Farms
Forests The character of Northern Neck forests is fairly basic: a mix of pines and hardwoods that has not changed much in the last few decades. What has changed is the number of acres in tree cover—which continues to … Continued