February is also the Great Backyard Bird Count and we'll be leading our annual bird watching walk on the 18th around "Woodland" Lake between the Indian River Community Center and the High School; come on out and help us see what bird species we find this year! On Saturday, February 25th we'll need volunteers to help do a cleanup at Plymouth Community Park. Get all the details about these topics below!
Sincerely,
Rogard Ross
Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator
Date: Thursday, February 16th, 7 pm
Location: Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Dr.
Join us for a presentation by the Elizabeth River Project (ERP) on the status of the Eastern Branch Restoration efforts. The ERP was recently awarded a $750,000 grant to advance this effort and they are working with the Friends, the City of Chesapeake, the HRPDC, and other partners to work on improving the environmental health of our area. One key effort involves reducing the excessive bacterial levels in the Inidan River and we'll hear about monitoring and mitigation efforts. There will be light refreshments and door prizes after the meeting.
Date: Saturday, February 18th, 8:30 am to 10 am
Location: Meet at the Indian River Community Center, 2250 Old Greenbrier Rd.
Date: Saturday, February 25th, 9:30 am to Noon
Location: Plymouth Community Park at 701 Pond Lane (two blocks north of Border Rd)
- Interested in becoming a citizen scientist FrogWatchUSA is offering training to perform frog and toad monitoring in our area. Anyone with a back yard full of frogs or the willingness to learn and identify frog and toad calls and the ability to learn wetland conservation strategies should reserve your spot for the training class, February 12, noon to 4 pm. See our Facebook post for more info.
- The City's meeting regarding Aqua Virginia on January 23rd became contentious as local residents voiced their concerns and the City and Aqua Virginia were not able to completely present their proposal for addressing the water quality and fire protection issue for the Aqua Virginia service area. However, the City and Aqua Virginia were directed at the meeting with coming up with a written plan in the coming weeks to review with the City Council. State Senator Spruill also said he would raise the issue to the State Corporation Commission - the regulatory agency for Aqua Virginia - if a workable plan was not developed. Two City Council members - Debbie Ritter and Ella Ward - were in attendance at the meeting. We continue to work with our contacts in the City and will report the latest developments.
- There is still no opening date for the new Rokeby Senior Center in the park at Providence and Rokeby, but work is progressing. A new roof was installed, new sidewalks are going in, upgrades are being made in the parking lot, and appliances are being installed. We hope to hear an opening date soon. The Parks Department is still taking input on the soon to be opened Rokeby Senior Center via this online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ROKEBYCENTERSURVEY
- We had a good turnout for our English Ivy removal work event at Indian River Park in January. We cut the ivy off the trees in the section between the trailhead and Fern Gully Creek (the stream crossed by the twin bridges). Thanks to the work of the dedicated volunteers, this will be one section of ivy that won't be producing and spreading berries this winter! See some photos at https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofIndianRiver/posts/1328836867181661
- You can now also become a member of the Friends of Indian River, renew your membership, or make a donation online at http://www.friendsofindianriver.org/p/membership.html
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