2nd Water Monitor Training Session

Join the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA), the Friends of Philpott, and the US Army Corps of Engineers at a free training workshop:

Date: Saturday, March 14, 2009
Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Salthouse Branch Park, Philpott Lake area
Street: Salthouse Branch Road
City/Town: Bassett, VA

Ever wanted to become a Virginia Save Our Streams (VASOS) monitor? Well here's your chance. DRBA, the Friends, and the Corps are partnering to establish a water monitoring program at Philpott Lake. Without our dedicated volunteer monitors, there would be no program. This workshop will provide hands-on training in the stream monitoring method and macroinvertebrate identification for anyone interested in becoming a volunteer water monitor. As citizens, we value our water resources, such as Philpott Lake, for their natural beauty; for the many ways they help meet human needs; and for the fact that they provide habitat for thousands of species of plants, fish, and wildlife. It is our goal to help as many citizens as possible to participate in the protection of our rivers, lakes, and streams and to become advocates for clean water. While the workshop is geared toward adult learners, children accompanied by a parent or guardian are welcome to attend.

You can access the water monitoring site from Fairystone Park Highway (Route 57) by turning onto Trent Hill Road (SR 674). Travel 1.3 miles and turn left on Philpott Road (SR 674). Travel 1.3 miles and turn left on Cedar Hill Road (SR 603). Please note that the road name changes to Philpott Road at county line. Travel about 4 miles to a “Stop” sign, then turn left on Knob Church Road (SR 798). Go less than a mile and bear left onto Salthouse Branch Road. From there it is just 1.5 miles into the park. Please dress for the weather--we know you will!--and bring waterproof boots if you have them. We will have drinks and snacks.

Contact Info: Linda Drage
Phone: 2766816805
Email: ldrage@comcast.net

Article provided by: Linda Drage

Photos provided by: Brian Williams

Edited and posted by: Vicky Thomas

2nd Water Monitor Training Session

Join the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA), the Friends of Philpott, and the US Army Corps of Engineers at a free training workshop:

Date: Saturday, March 14, 2009
Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Salthouse Branch Park, Philpott Lake area
Street: Salthouse Branch Road
City/Town: Bassett, VA

Ever wanted to become a Virginia Save Our Streams (VASOS) monitor? Well here's your chance. DRBA, the Friends, and the Corps are partnering to establish a water monitoring program at Philpott Lake. Without our dedicated volunteer monitors, there would be no program. This workshop will provide hands-on training in the stream monitoring method and macroinvertebrate identification for anyone interested in becoming a volunteer water monitor. As citizens, we value our water resources, such as Philpott Lake, for their natural beauty; for the many ways they help meet human needs; and for the fact that they provide habitat for thousands of species of plants, fish, and wildlife. It is our goal to help as many citizens as possible to participate in the protection of our rivers, lakes, and streams and to become advocates for clean water. While the workshop is geared toward adult learners, children accompanied by a parent or guardian are welcome to attend.

You can access the water monitoring site from Fairystone Park Highway (Route 57) by turning onto Trent Hill Road (SR 674). Travel 1.3 miles and turn left on Philpott Road (SR 674). Travel 1.3 miles and turn left on Cedar Hill Road (SR 603). Please note that the road name changes to Philpott Road at county line. Travel about 4 miles to a “Stop” sign, then turn left on Knob Church Road (SR 798). Go less than a mile and bear left onto Salthouse Branch Road. From there it is just 1.5 miles into the park. Please dress for the weather--we know you will!--and bring waterproof boots if you have them. We will have drinks and snacks.

Contact Info: Linda Drage
Phone: 2766816805
Email: ldrage@comcast.net

Article provided by: Linda Drage

Photos provided by: Brian Williams

Edited and posted by: Vicky Thomas

Benefits of Preserving Local History

The City of Martinsville’s Architectural Review Board invites you to learn!

Spectrum Design Presents: What You Should Know about Historic Tax Credits

Thinking about restoring an old building? In today’s tough economy, understanding the benefits of historic preservation tax credits can mean the difference between tens of thousands of dollars saved or spent.

John Garland, President and Principal of Spectrum Design will present the advantages of tax credits when rehabilitating historic buildings, and offer insights about maximizing your investment. Learn the basics of tax rehabilitation programs, including which buildings qualify, and how to apply the process to your project.

Wednesday, February 25 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the

New College Institute Classroom Building, Room 303
30 Franklin Street, Courthouse Square
Martinsville, Virginia 24112

As Martinsville and Henry County look to the future, this is a must-see presentation. This event is in partnership with the City of Martinsville! Space is limited, please RSVP to Susan McCulloch, Community Planner, in the Community Development office: (276) 403-5156 or smcculloch@ci.martinsville.va.us by February 20 to register!

Article contributed by: Susan McCulloch
Photo by: Martinsville Bulletin file photo
Posted by: Vicky Thomas

Benefits of Preserving Local History

The City of Martinsville’s Architectural Review Board invites you to learn!

Spectrum Design Presents: What You Should Know about Historic Tax Credits

Thinking about restoring an old building? In today’s tough economy, understanding the benefits of historic preservation tax credits can mean the difference between tens of thousands of dollars saved or spent.

John Garland, President and Principal of Spectrum Design will present the advantages of tax credits when rehabilitating historic buildings, and offer insights about maximizing your investment. Learn the basics of tax rehabilitation programs, including which buildings qualify, and how to apply the process to your project.

Wednesday, February 25 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the

New College Institute Classroom Building, Room 303
30 Franklin Street, Courthouse Square
Martinsville, Virginia 24112

As Martinsville and Henry County look to the future, this is a must-see presentation. This event is in partnership with the City of Martinsville! Space is limited, please RSVP to Susan McCulloch, Community Planner, in the Community Development office: (276) 403-5156 or smcculloch@ci.martinsville.va.us by February 20 to register!

Article contributed by: Susan McCulloch
Photo by: Martinsville Bulletin file photo
Posted by: Vicky Thomas

Stream Hike and Geologic Wonders

The Dan River Basin Association's First Saturday Outing on January 3, 2009 was fabulous little two-mile hike along a stream in Ruffin, North Carolina. The hike along Tanyard Creek reveled many of the hidden treasures of this area including a chance to see some very unusual geoligic formations including exposed conglomerate rock from the Triassic period, petrified wood and a picturesque cascading waterfall.

At 10 am on a beautiful "blue bird sky" morning our group gathered at The Happy Home Congregational Christian Church to listen to Will Trunslow and Milton Hundley explain the area we would be hiking too and the wonders we would get to see. A short carpool ride down to the site and we gathered up to hit the trail. The hike was along Tanyard creek with permission form the property owners. The area is on private land and not open to the public except through special arrangement.

Milton Describes the upcoming hike

Tanyard Creek is a real geologic surprise and the weather was perfect for an adventure.

Named for the tannery owned by the family of nineteenth-century governor John Motley Morehead (1796 - 1866), Tanyard Creek creates a gorge as it cuts through Triassic rock on its way to the nearby Dan River.

The group spreads out along the trail. As with all DRBA outings we had quite a large group of hikers and everyone ends up in smaller groups hiking along at their own pace and enjoying the pristine natural surroundings and quiet serenity to be found in another hidden corner of incredible Dan River Basin.

The "puddingstone" conglomerate formation and petrified wood in the stream bed have earned the area's listing as a North Carolina Natural Heritage site.

In the Triassic Era, some 200 million years ago, this section of northern North Carolina and southern Virginia was a deep lake. As rivers flowed into the lake, the slowing water dropped its load of sediment-first the large rocks, then smaller pebbles, then sand and silt. Over the eons, geologic pressures fused the surrounding clay particles, enclosing the rounded rocks and pebbles in a concrete-like mass.

These same geologic forces caused some buried logs to become petrified as minerals replaced the organic matter while retaining the original structure of the wood. Small chunks of petrified wood can be found along Tanyard Creek.

Katherine Mull stops to photograph one of the large examples of petrified wood along the way.

Lines of dark gray rounded boulders, known as igneous dikes, stretch through the woodland along the path to the creek. These dikes were formed when molten rock was forced through underground fissures where it cooled slowly into dense, fine-grained stone that was exposed when the surrounding material eroded away.

Outings and meetings of the Dan River Basin Association are open to the public without charge.