Why urban heat island effect is a problem in Fredericksburg and Planning District 16, what our study found, and how we can address it. Have you ever considered why the temperature is cooler and more consistent in the shade of trees than beside buildings and highways?...
In reading or hearing about the Rappahannock River, you may have encountered the term “riparian.” Riparian is an adjective used for the area along a river or stream’s edge and is used with several different words. A riparian zone or area is the complete...
Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) is proud to announce that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has funded three years of Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) for City of Fredericksburg schools (FCPS). Spread over three school years, the...
The Rappahannock River is one of nine major river systems in Virginia and most importantly the one that we live in. It contains many types of fish that people enjoy everyday in the forms of recreational fishing and consumption, or just to look at. There is a group of...
Please keep off the dunes. To me these signs are synonymous with going to the beach. They’re posted every so often in the sandy hills near the shore to remind people to use designated walkways. As a child my parents explained these signs to me, and I learned why I...
Maintaining a colony of flying, stinging insects may not seem an enjoyable pastime, but it is one that I have chosen to pursue. After being exposed to beekeeping online, I learned of the threats to pollinators, worldwide, and the fulfillment of the beekeeping...
Motherhood. There is no other endeavor that can bring so much joy, frustration, pride, worry, excitement, exhaustion, and love to your life all at the same time. Day to day I don’t always notice the ways that my kids have integrated the values they have learned...
It’s that time of year when the weather and water starts getting warmer and everyone is itching to get outside! Many of you will even spend times along the Rappahannock or on the Rappahannock in the coming months, so it’s important to remember a few key river...
Earth Day. The welcome peak of the spring season. The dogwoods are blooming everywhere I look. Trees’ immature leaves and buds are gaining that shade of green that is only rivalled by the daffodils and tulips that line every street. Ducklings and goslings peck...
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...