by Amber Ellis, JRA Watershed Restoration Project Associate/Volunteer Coordinator


As you head out for vacation this summer, there are a few simple ways that you can tread a little lighter on the earth, conserve energy, and protect the health of our waterways.

Be a Friend of the River…travel smart.

Turn off and unplug: Before you leave home make sure to unplug household appliances, such as entertainment systems, microwaves, and computers. Do a walk through and make sure to turn off all the lights. After you are in your hotel room, turn down the air and turn off the lights when you leave the room.

Bring your own snacks and water bottle: Whether you are flying or going on a car trip, packing your own snacks and water bottle can reduce waste and be cost effective. Buy snacks in bulk and then break them into smaller reusable containers for each member of the family. Bring along your reusable water bottle to fill up for free along the way. If you are going on a car trip, fill up a large water cooler or buy a large jug of water that everyone can use to fill up their personal bottle.

Hang up the ‘Do not Disturb’ sign: To reduce water and detergent usage by hotels, most of them now offer guests the option of reusing their towels and linens more than once. They will have door hangers, pillow cards, or towel door rack hangers that allow you to communicate with the housekeeping staff that you wish to reuse your linens.

Be a Guardian of the River…choose a ‘green’ destination.

Reduce flying time or go carbon neutral: Some say the journey is more important than the destination, and flying is one of the most energy consuming means of travel. The best thing is to avoid air travel if you can. If you must fly, try to limit the distance or go carbon neutral by purchasing carbon offsets based on the tons of CO2 created by your flight. The donations are used to fund projects that reduce carbon emissions, like tree planting or investment in green energy.

Take part in ecotourism: When deciding where you want to go, either choose somewhere close by or select an ecodestination. Ecotourism is an alternative responsible form of travel that takes you to natural areas that conserve the environment and supports the health and well-being of the local people. This could include a trip that takes you to a new new,inspiring environment, somewhere to volunteer, and to places that are completely off the energy grid.

For more information on conservation travel tips and ecotourism destinations, go to:
The International Ecotourism Society
Go Green Travel Green Travel Tips
Independent Traveler: Green Travel Tips

For more information on carbon offsets go to:
Carbon Offset Companies
The Conservation Fund: Go Zero

Wildlife of the James - Ick…The Tick!

By Judith Warrington, JRA Communications Coordinator
Outdoor activities make us keenly aware of one of the least favorite residents of the James River watershed, the tick. For its size, no other creature inspires such disproportionate fear and loathing! While the thought of ticks may bug you, they are not insects! Ticks are arthropods and a member of the class Arachnid, which includes such other eight-legged creepy crawlies as scorpions, daddy longlegs, spiders and mites.

Three of the most common ticks in the James River Watershed are the Lone Star tick (a potential carrier of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever), the Brown dog tick (not known to carry any diseases in Virginia) and the tiny Blacklegged or Deer tick, which is found primarily in northern and eastern sections of Virginia. This tick is a potential vector for Lyme disease. Is your skin crawling yet?

Ticks pass through three developmental stages: the larval stage (sometimes called a “seed tick,” which has six legs at this stage), nymph, and adult. Each stage prefers a different host. While you might think you’re the intended victim of this tiny blood-sucker, humans are merely accidental hosts. Your lack of fur means the tick is more likely to be found and is therefore less likely to get a good meal off you. Ticks may feed for several days until they are engorged with blood, then drop off. Fortunately for us, ticks tend to wander round for several hours before they find a cozy, protected spot to feed by inserting their mouthpart into the skin. And finding a traveling tick is always much better than having to remove one that is embedded.

Here’s one comforting fact about ticks…they can neither jump nor fly. The little opportunists simply wait for a preferred host – or you – to brush by them in tall grasses or bushes. But don’t let this tiny creature keep you indoors. Learn how to avoid them. It’s your best protection against ticks. The Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia Tech offers these recommendations:

• Do a “tick check” immediately after being outdoors or every four hours.
• Stay out of tick infested areas such as tall grass and dense vegetation.
• Wear light-colored clothing so ticks can be easily spotted and removed.
• Wear a long sleeve shirt.
• Use an insect repellent that contains at least 30% DEET.
• Check your dog for ticks.
• Learn the proper way to remove a tick. How you remove it can increase or decrease your chances of infection!


For more information about ticks, visit http://www.ext.vt.edu/
For more information about tick-borne diseases, visit the VDH website at http://www.vdh.state.va.us/

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Top 5 Fly Fishing Spots

by Amber Ellis, JRA Watershed Restoration Associate/Volunteer Coordinator

We are in the thick of the best time for fly fishing in Virginia because of the perfect water temperature, amount of insects, and great water flow.  No matter where you live, there are great spots for fly fishing across the James River watershed.

1. The Jackson River: This headwater river of the James offers great spots including upriver of Lake Moomaw, accessed at Hidden Valley Campground, and downriver of Lake Moomaw, accessed by boat at a river access point in Bath County.

2. St. Mary’s River: A tributary of the James, this beautiful river meanders through St. Mary’s Wilderness Area, which is open to the public. This is a great place to catch native brook trout.

3. Back Creek: A tributary of the Jackson River, this stream is located in a rugged mountain setting in Bath County. Access is off Route 600.

4. Falls of the James: This seven-mile stretch of the James drops 105’ in elevation and runs through the metro Richmond area. It offers a unique fishing area that includes a mix of rapids, flatwater, and deep pools. It can be accessed at several points within the James River Park.

5. Rivanna River: This tributary of the James meanders through Charlottesville and joins the James near Columbia. It offers plenty of fish and easy wading. There are several access points, one of best is on Randolph Mill Lane near Shadwell.


Resources:

Fly Fishers of Virginia
Federation of Fly Fishers
Fishing the Falls of the James by Ralph White
Fly Fishing Virginia: A No Nonsense Guide to Top Waters by Beau Beasley