In the Olympics, the athletes from around the globe compete at the highest level to represent their countries in the hopes of brining home a gold medal. This is among the greatest achievements possible in athletic competition. In the Virginia world of conservation, we...
CULPEPER, VA— On Friday January 22, 2021 staff members from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Rappahannock Rapidan Regional Commission (RRRC), Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR), and the Town and County of Culpeper met at multiple sites along...
The final two months of this lame-duck Congress needs to focus on protecting our nation’s farms. Friends of the Rappahannock and countless partners are asking our legislators to get numerous pieces of legislation passed, including a new farm bill. The Agriculture...
“If you look closely across the bow you can see we are about to be surrounded by them” said Captain Moncure as he guided the River Steward boat across an oyster reef in Carter’s Creek. My friends and I had signed up to spend a day with Friends of the Rappahannock...
One of the pillars of our work at Friends of the Rappahannock is our Advocacy Program. Since 1985, our organization has been working to ensure a healthy and scenic Rappahannock River. Today our work spans all or parts of 18 counties that make up the Rappahannock River...
Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry by many metrics — economic impact, jobs, and area. There are approximately 46,000 farms covering 8.2 million acres (32%) of Virginia. Agriculture is also the largest source of nutrient and sediment pollution reaching local...
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) manages Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) along with numerous other coastal migratory species through an Interstate Fisheries Management Program. In November 2017, ASMFC adopted Amendment 3 to the Fishery...
Virginians have always treasured and relied on our waters to provide fresh drinking water, support healthy ecosystems, and sustain our economy — from the productive, historic Chesapeake Bay; its mountain headwaters; and the Clinch and Powell Rivers (which host some of...
The health of Virginia’s rivers and streams is paramount to a strong economy and environment. The Commonwealth is blessed with natural aquatic wonders such as the James River and the Chesapeake Bay and has a storied history of responsible water conservation....
The eastern brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) — the official freshwater fish of Virginia — is valued by conservationists and sportsmen alike for its beauty and as an indicator of high water quality. Once widespread, the native brook trout has been lost from 38% of...
