Announcement:
The Board of Directors will be holding a special meeting on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 1pm at the District Office,
8850 Rixlew Lane, Manassas, VA 20109 to discuss personnel matters.
Inspiring Personal Responsibility for our Environment and Natural Resources.
Is This a District Question?
We get lots of questions every day and we want to make sure you are guided in the right direction!
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For services the District provides, click here. This will tell you who from District staff can help you out!
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For services the District does not provide, click here. If your question is not on the list, contact any of us and we'll do our best to help!
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Got questions, but not in Prince William County (or City of Manassas)? Click here for information on how to contact your local soil & water conservation district!
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The Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District (PWSWCD or District) is focused on protecting and enhancing our water and soil resources by providing leadership in the conservation of soil, water, and related resources to all Prince William County citizens through technical assistance, information, and education.
Services
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Free Technical Assistance for Traditional Ag. and Horse Farms
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Conservation Plans
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Nutrient Management Plans
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Soil Sampling
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State Cost-Share/ Tax-Credit Programs
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Conservation Capsules (Classroom Education)
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Farm Field Days
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Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE)
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Arbor Day
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Adopt-A-Stream
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Water Quality Monitoring
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Chemical Monitoring
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Floatables Monitoring
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Plastic Pollution
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Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP)
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Gardener's Gold
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Pollinators Corner
Want to show support for water quality projects? Then check out the Chesapeake Bay License Plate! Click here for an application.
->UPDATED!
Latest Newsletter - Winter 2022/2023
Annual Report for FY 2022:
July 1, 2021- June 30, 2022
Calendar: Board Dates and Upcoming Events
Minutes
Potomac Round Table Meeting
Friday, April 14, 2023 @ 10am
Wetland Studies & Solution
Gainesville, VA
RSVP required as lunch will be provided; for more information and to register, click here.
Septic System Function and Maintenance: Wednesday, April 19, 2023 @ 11am via Zoom
Great training if you have a septic system! Please register by Tuesday, April 18.
Avian Influenza: Click here for the latest information from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (posted January 25, 2023)
News & Upcoming Events
Click on the orange link below for more info.
Well Water Clinic April 5th (virtual), April 8th (Manassas), or April 10th (Woodbridge).
Youth Conservation Camp
July 9-15, 2023 at Virginia Tech Campus in Blacksburg, VA.
Accepting applications until Friday, April 28, 2023.
Ecological Society of America’s 2023 Katherine S. McCarter Graduate Student Policy Award: Our very own Veronica Manka'a Tangiri has been selected to receive this honorable award!
Black Vultures: Regulations on Black Vulture Control
2022 Earth Team National Award: Our Water Quality Team won this national award!
Adopt-A-Stream Site Locator: Find a spot to adopt! Let's continue to beautify Prince William County!
Agriculture Cost Share
Program Year 2023 now open!
Tax Credit: Updates
Market Maker: Connect with your customers!
VASWCD YouTube: Check out these educational YouTube videos
Become a Certified Water Quality monitors in Biological Monitoring!: Online training available
Nutrient Management: A Message for Producers: Important info. on protecting the Chesapeake Bay
Hot Topics
Algae Blooms and Water Quality:
Click here to learn about cyanobacteria in freshwater and its effects on human health
Interested in Volunteering? Click here!
2023 VCE - Prince William Drinking Water Clinic
Do you know what’s in your well water?
Public water supplies are tested daily for contaminants, but
most private water supplies, like wells, are rarely tested. Well owners are encouraged test their water at least annually for bacteria and nitrates. Regular well testing allows you detect and correct problems early.
The Virginia Household Water Quality Program (VHWQP) tests water samples for iron, manganese, nitrate, lead, arsenic, fluoride, sulfate, pH, total dissolved solids, hardness, sodium, copper, total coliform bacteria and E.coli bacteria. All for the low cost of $65.
The Prince William Drinking Water Clinic has 3 parts:
1. Attend a Kick-Off Meeting - There are 3 different kick-off meetings to choose from:
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April 5 (11am-12pm) - Online (Zoom)
this session will be recorded and available for later viewing, links for both will be emailed to registrants. *test kits for this option must be picked up at VCE-PW Office located at 8033 Ashton Avenue, Suite 105 Manassas, VA on April 10-11th 8a.m.-5p.m. -
April 8 (12pm-1:30pm) - Manassas: Jean McCoy Conference Room, Sudley Government Center, 7987 Ashton Ave, Manassas, VA 20109
test kits will be available at this meeting. -
April 10 (7pm-8:30pm) - Woodbridge: Board Champers, 1 County Complex Ct, Lake Ridge, VA 22192
test kits will be available at this meeting
2. Drop off Sample - Sample Drop Off is ONLY on Wednesday April 12th from 6:00am-10am at the VCE Office, 8033 Ashton Ave., Suite 105, Manassas 20109
3. Attend the Results Interpretation Meeting on May 22 from 7-9 pm - This meeting will be through zoom; a zoom link and further details will be e-mailed to all registrants.
The number of kits is limited. Pre-payment online is the only way to pay and guarantee you will get a kit. You must pay and register by March 31st. No refunds will be available.
To pay the $65 fee and register online, go to: https://tinyurl.com/VCE-PW-VAHWQP.
For more information, please email mastergardener@pwcgov.org or call 703-792-7747
Youth Conservation Camp
The 43rd annual Youth Conservation Camp will be held Sunday, July 9th through Saturday, July 15th 2023, at Virginia Tech. Please note that to be able to attend YCC a student must be in 9th-12th grade in the 2022-2023 school year. Students will gather with other students throughout Virginia for a week-long, jammed packed adventure. Each year the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts coordinates this environmentally focused camp.
Prince William County and City of Manassas high school students must apply directly through the Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District. Topics for past camps have included:
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lake ecology
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GIS technology
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fisheries management
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forestry and wildlife issues
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turf grass management
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water quality
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soils
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agricultural best management practices including tours of swine and dairy facilities
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beekeeping
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stream study
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and more!
The cost of the camp is $550.00 per student. The local chapter of Ducks Unlimited and the Prince William-Fairfax Farm Bureau are each providing a $500 scholarship to enable two students to receive partial funding. Scholarship recipients will be responsible for paying $50 and providing their own transportation to/from Virginia Tech. Applications must be completed and submitted on or before Friday, April 28, 2023.
For an application, click here. All applications should be sent to Jessica McCaulley either by e-mail education@pwswcd.org or drop it off/snail mail it to Prince William SWCD, Attention: YCC, 8850 Rixlew Lane, Manassas, VA 20109.
For more information on Youth Conservation Camp, please visit http://vaswcd.org/conservation-camp.
Ecological Society of America’s 2023 Katherine S. McCarter Graduate Student Policy Award
Our very own Veronica Manka’a Tangiri has been selected to receive the Ecological Society of America’s 2023 Katherine S. McCarter Graduate Student Policy Award! This award is offered to graduate students throughout the country.
Information provided from ESA's website:
The Ecological Society of America (ESA) offers this award each year to give graduate students hands-on training and science policy experience. Award recipients will receive communications training and learn about the federal budget and appropriations process. They will then meet with congressional decision-makers to discuss federal support of research and education in the biological sciences.
“Advocating for sustained science funding and establishing connections with legislators is an invaluable experience when laying the groundwork for a meaningful career at the science–policy interface,” said ESA President Sharon Collinge. “Many of our former award recipients have launched impressive careers in public policy, and it will be exciting to see what this year’s cohort sets out to accomplish after their experience on the Hill.”
For more information on this award, click here! Congratulations, Veronica! :)
Black Vultures
New Regulations on Black Vulture Control
New regulations have come into play that may allow a producer who currently is suffering the effects of depredation caused by Black Vultures to kill up to 5 Black Vultures per year. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and the Virginia Office of USDA-Wildlife Services have secured a process (with approval from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency that holds ultimate regulatory authority) by which affected producers can acquire a sub-permit that allows for this lethal take.
For additional details, visit the VDACS website at Black Vulture Depredation and Control (virginia.gov). Questions about this new program should be directed to Chad Fox, coordinator of the USDA-WS Vulture Damage Control Program (540-381-7387 or chad.fox@usda.gov).
National Earth Team Award
The Conservation District's amazing Water Quality Team are the winners for the National Earth Team Award from NRCS/USDA!
This award recognizes an outstanding volunteer group that has furthered the mission and expanded Natural Resources and Conservation services.
"Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!'"
Click here to view the ceremony! (*Click “watch on web instead” and “join anonymously” to view)
Adopt-a-Stream Site Locator
Are you inspired to make a difference in your community? Locate any site (point) on this map or propose any waterway/body close to home and contact waterquality@pwswcd.org for more information.
Together, we can promote clean waterways in Prince William County!
Virginia Agriculture Cost Share (VACS)
Cost Share funding is available from the District! These funds provide financial assistance for agricultural landowners and operators to implement best management practices on their properties in order to improve soil and water quality. If you have a natural resources concern on your farm, now is the time to talk with district staff about developing a plan to address these concerns! We can provide cost-share funding for practices to help:
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decrease soil erosion on crop and pasture land
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exclude livestock from waterways
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implement nutrient management plans
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adopt new precision nutrient application technology
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establish tree plantings or vegetated buffers along streams
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plant cover crops
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construct manure storage or chemical storage facilities
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construct feed lots/sacrifice areas
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continue to practice no-till planting
In order to qualify for cost-share, your farm must meet the following:
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Property has/had a water quality concern (e.g. livestock has/had access to a waterway, manure is washing into a waterway, there are no cover crops when main crops aren’t growing)
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Property must have at least 5 consecutive acres
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Property has been in agriculture production for the past 3 years
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Property has produced at least $1,000 worth of agriculture products/year (agriculture products include crops, hay, and livestock, such as cattle, equine, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, etc. Horses solely for personal use are not considered as agriculture products.)
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Property is located in Prince William County (if your farm is outside Prince William County, contact your local soil and water conservation district; to find your district, click here.)
If you feel you have a need to implement these practices on your farm, or have any questions about the cost-share program, please contact us:
(571) 379-7514
Duane Mohr - duanemohr@pwswcd.org
Nicole Slazinski - nicoleethier@pwswcd.org
Seth Hatfield - sethhatfield@pwswcd.org
Alex Murphy - alexmurphy@pwswcd.org
James Mitchell - jamesmitchell@pwswcd.org
Want to learn more? Then go to our cost-share page!
Tax Credit Updates
The state has made some significant changes to the tax-credit program available for the purchase and installation of conservation tillage and precision agriculture equipment and for our cost-share practices.
For more information on these changes, please watch this video (~38 minutes). If you have any questions, please contact us at 571-379-7514 or e-mail nicoleethier@pwswcd.org. Please note that the Soil and Water Conservation District cannot provide any tax advise, but we can assist you with the program and answer any questions you have on the program.
Market Maker from Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE)
As more and more people want to buy their food fresh and locally, Market Maker is an upcoming way to connect farmers with their customers. Market Maker is an online portal where customers can search for farms, farmer's markets, specific agriculture products, etc. that are near by. Farms can also sign up on the portal so customers can better find them. Market Maker is free for both farmers and customers.
For more information on Market Maker, go to: https://ext.vt.edu/agriculture/market-maker.html.
Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD) Education Videos
Being unable to hold public events at this time, the VASWCD has compiled a YouTube channel for kids and adults containing videos across the state on a wide variety of topics including Agriculture Best Management Practices, Watersheds, Septic Systems, Soils, and more!
Check out their channel by clicking here!
Did you know we also have a YouTube channel? Check out our channel by clicking here! (New videos recently added!)
Become a Certified Water Quality monitors in Biological Monitoring!
Are you interested in becoming a Certified Water Quality monitors in Biological Monitoring? If so, visit: https://www.iwla.org/water/stream-monitoring/upcoming-water-monitoring-workshops/online-certification to start your online identification training!
Please ensure to fill out this registration form: https://forms.gle/NRir3RFUiX1pDkNK6 so that the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) can follow-up on your progress. After your online training, please e-mail Veronica Tangiri to start on Part II: Field Practical Test and complete certification.
Nutrient Management: An Important Message for Producers
The 2025 Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals are here, and we need every farmer's help! We need documentation of implementation of every nutrient management plan in Prince William County. Here's what you can do to help:
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Work with your nutrient management planner to develop a plan that can be implemented easily
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Keep application and yield records
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Put in place a record-keeping system so you can justify application and yield data.This must include required elements such as dates, field locations, loads, bales, bushels, gallons of manure, tons of litter, etc.
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Share this record-keeping system with your planner.
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Update your plan as changes occur on the farm.
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Be prepared at the end of the growing season to evaluate how well you were able to follow your plan.
If you have questions, please contact your nutrient management planner:
(571) 379-7514
You can also call the DCR Warrenton Regional Office at 540-351-1501 or
540-351-1570. For more information, click here.
Below are some record-keeping sheets to further assist you:
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Nutrient Management Records (All of the records above combined)
Calendar
The Board meets monthly at Virginia Cooperative Extension - Prince William office, 8033 Ashton Avenue, Manassas. Citizens may have a voice in local natural resources issues by attending these meetings and taking part in District programs.
To view the calendar, click here.
For a .pdf version of our calendar, please click here (updated 4/28/2022)
TRC = Technical Review Committee (reviews conservation plans, cost-share practices, VCAP, etc.) BOD = Board