Friends of the Rappahannock Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2018

Friends of the Rappahannock’s 8th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival kicks off Saturday, March 24 at Rappahannock High School in Warsaw, Virginia. Doors open at 3:00 and the festival concludes at 5:30 p.m.

The festival will then travel to Fredericksburg for a showing at UMW's Dodd Aunditorium on March 31. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with movies playing from 6:45 to 9:00 pm.

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival takes audiences to the world’s most beautiful places, introduces you to the amazing creatures that inhabit them and the adventurous and courageous people who work to protect them.

The festival highlights short and inspirational movies about environmental issues, wildlife, and outdoor adventures.

These movies are suitable for people of all ages, and will be showing in both Fredericksburg and Warsaw.

Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) is a non-profit, watershed advocacy group in its 33rd year of protecting the Rappahannock River, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay.

James River Boat Parade 2015

The James River Parade of Lights will begin in the Upper James River at the Rockett's Landing and end at Henricus Park. The event will take place on December 12, 2015 beginning at 5:00 p.m. and ending at 10:00 p.m.

2015 Lynnhaven River Osprey Survey

The Virginia Aquarium and the Center for Conservation Biology at The College of William and Mary have conducted a two month-long Osprey survey of the Lynnhaven River identifying 98 nests.

To learn more about Lynnhaven River osprey, visit:

http://lynnhavenrivernow.blogspot.com/2015/08/ospreys-keep-their-iconic-place-in.html

Eastern Shore of Virginia (ESVA)

The Eastern Shore of Virginia (ESVA) is a narrow strip of land that is isolated by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Chesapeake Bay to the west.

Part of the Delmarva Peninsula, the Eastern Shore of Virginia is home to a mix of agriculture, aquaculture, commercial fishing, and retirement living.

Among the jewels of Virginia's eastern shore are its wildlife refuges, state parks and towns such as Chincoteague, Onancock, Accomac, Nassawadox, Exmore and Cape Charles.

During his 1608 voyage to explore the Eastern Shore, Captain John Smith said that "... Heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for man's habitation."

The Eastern Shore of Virginia is also known as ESVA or Delmarva.

Eastern Shore of Virginia Towns

Chincoteague Island is a family-oriented vacation resort along the coast. Recreation on the island includes swimming, sunbathing, fishing, clamming, bird watching, nature cruises, eco tours, biking, hiking, boating, kayaking, miniature golf, Chincoteague ponies, the pony swim, fireman's carnival, Chincoteague decoy and art show, arts and crafts shows, the oyster festival and more.

Wachapreague is a small town on the eastern shore of Virginia. The town lies on a winding creek that leads to a series of small bays, tidal flats and eventually to the Atlantic Ocean. Wachapreague is well known for its flounder fishing and deep sea fishing for tuna, marlin and other pelagic species.

Onancock is one of the most beautiful and oldest towns on the lower eastern shore. The town has restaraunts, shops, the harbor and other services within all within walking distance. Onancock is a popular overnight port for sailboaters. The creek into town offers quite dockage and is a nice location to stop off during Chesapeake Bay tours.

Onancock Creek extends roughly 10 miles and merges in the Chesapeake Bay. Along the creek are sandy beaches, ideal for sunbathing and family outings. Further along the estuary are marshy stretches with grass beds, points and other scenic views. Anglers find a wide range of fishing spots within a short distance of Onancock.

Tangier Island is a small but beautiful island in the Chesapeake bay. Shallow water and marshy areas surround the island. The grass beds are home to countless young blue crabs which come to grow and shed. This fishery for shedder crabs, known as "peeler crabs" are a main source of income for watermen.

The commercial crabbers of Tangier Island catch crabs by traps, nets or scrapes and then hold them in tanks until they molt. The resulting soft shelled crab is a valuable seafood delicacy.

Cape Charles Virginia is a historic town near the tip of the Delmarva peninsula. The town was a bustling center of business in the 1800's and first half of the 20th century, with most of its business related to the railroad which terminated in the harbor where rail cars were transferred to barges for transport across the Chesapeake Bay. The rail hub still exists and remains in use.

Eastern Shore of Virginia Wine, Wineries, Viticultural Area

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Wine Trail hosts three wineries along the Land Between Two Waters. The Eastern Shore's three wineries produce a good selection of varietals, including Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot.

Virginia's Eastern Shore American Viticultural Area (AVA) is located on the southern end of the Delmarva Peninsula, an area that is characterized by sandy soils and weather that is influenced by the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters.

Saltwater and Freshwater Fishing

Saltwater fishing is extremely popular with something for nearly everyone. Anglers fishing in the Chesapeake Bay or along the Atlantic Coast fish from the surf, jetties, piers, inlets, bridges or by boat. The many variations of saltwater fishing allow anglers of any age, skill level or physical condition a chance to enjoy the sport.

Chesapeake Bay fishing varies widely with anglers choosing to fish with bait, artificial lures, fly fishing gear or other techniques. Along the coast is surf fishing, jetty fishing and inshore fishing. Atlantic Ocean fishing offers anglers a chance to try wreck fishing, offshore fishing and other activities.

The Eastern Shore offers ponds, rivers and creeks where freshwater species of fish thrive. The waterways are known for excellent freshwater fishing, especially for largemouth bass, pickerel and other cover-seeking species.

Eastern Shore of Virginia Seafood

The Eastern Shore is famous for its seafood, especially oysters, clams, blue crabs and saltwater fish. Wild blue crabs are harvested by watermen from the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters. Blue crabs are served steamed, as soft crabs, or in dishes such as crab cakes.

The region is also known for shellfish. The seaside areas of Virginia produce some of the highest quality oysters on the USA east coast. Clams are also important to the seafood industry of the Eastern Shore. Local clam aquaculture operations produce clams which are prized for steaming or eaten raw.

Lynhaven River April Cleanup

Lynnhaven River April Cleanup
Saturday, April 12, 9- Noon
1045 Lynnhaven Parkway
Virginia Beach, VA

The next Lynnhaven River Now (LRNow) river cleanup will be held on Saturday, April 12th.  This will be the organization's first water based cleanup of the season.

Particpants will meet at the Green Lodge Moose Run at 1045 Lynnhaven Parkway.  Kayaks and canoes will launch behind the building and paddlers will clean up trash along the nearby tributaries.  Call 757-962-5398 or email Dana@LRNow.org for more information or to sign up.

Access to a canoe or kayak is required. There may be extra seats, or openings for a couple of people to do a land-based cleanup. Cleanups are held the second Saturday of each month throughout the year. LRNow encourages businesses to help by sponsoring Lynnhaven River cleanups.

source: LRNow

Virginia National Recreation Trails

Two Virginia trails have been designated as national recreation trails by the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service officials.

The newly designated national recreation trails are:

High Bridge Trail State Park
High Bridge Trail State Park is a 31-mile multiuse rail-trail in Central Virginia. The trail is suitable for hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding. Its centerpiece is the majestic High Bridge, on the National Register of Historic Places and a Virginia Historic Landmark. High Bridge is the longest recreational bridge in Virginia and among the 10 longest recreational bridges in the United States.

Tobacco Heritage Trail (South Boston)

Nature enthusiasts enjoy birding, scenic views of the Dan River, and plenty of fresh air along a 2.6-mile segment of the Tobacco Heritage Trail. Featured historic sites on the rail-trail include the remains of a cotton mill, the Prizery (community theatre, museum, and events venue), Diamond Hill (a former slave cemetery), and Berry Hill Plantation.

source: U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)

The Lynnhaven, Restoring a Legend Book

“The Lynnhaven, Restoring a Legend,” a full-color book of essays, paintings and photographs about the Lynnhaven River in Virginia Beach, Virginia, was recently published by the conservation organization, Lynnhaven River Now.

The river is home to the famed Lynnhaven oysters and was explored in 1607 by the first English settlers in the New World.  For 10 years, Lynnhaven River Now has been working to clean up pollution in the river and bring back the beloved oysters.

The hard cover coffee table book is a reflection of the group’s efforts and successes and of the community’s love for the river.

Forty people, who share the way the river has shaped and enriched their lives, wrote the essays.  Their essays range from childhood remembrances to present day accounts of kayaking on the river, from the hard work of river clean-ups to the pleasure of eating Lynnhaven oysters once again.

Many color photographs are of ospreys, egrets, herons and other wildlife along the river.  Paintings reflect the scenic beauty of the small, but significant body of water in Virginia Beach.

A Lynnhaven River art and photography exhibit, “The Art of Saving a River,” will be on display Oct. 6 through Dec. 31 at Towne Pavilion Center II, 600 22nd Street in Virginia Beach.  Hosted by The Runnymede Corporation, the exhibit features many of the photographs and art in the book and more.

Books are $50 and are available in the Lynnhaven River Now office at 757-962-5398 or email kris@lynnhaven2007.com for more information or to order a copy in the mail for a $5 handling fee.

South Fork Shenandoah River Pollution Lawsuit Settled

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), the Virginia State Waterman’s Association (VSWA), Merck & Company, and the Commonwealth of Virginia have agreed to settle a CBF/VSWA lawsuit challenging pollution limits granted to Merck by the State Water Control Board in 2009.

CBF and VSWA sued the Water Board in 2009 for issuing a permit to Merck that allowed the company to dump more pollution into the South Fork Shenandoah River than state law then allowed. Since that time, EPA has issued the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the estuary and its tributaries, including the Shenandoah River system.

Ken Smith, president of the Virginia Waterman’s Association, called the settlement a positive step for Bay restoration and watermen.

"At the end of the day, watermen are among those who suffer most from a polluted Chesapeake Bay," Smith said.

source: CBF