2015 Mid-Atlantic Volunteer Conference – Shenandoah University
Bridging the Water Quality Data Gap The Friends of the Shenandoah River is pleased to announce it is one of the hosts of 2015 Mid-Atlantic Volunteer Monitoring Conference on August 6-8 at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. A chance to share and learn form other monitors and programs, this conference will highlight citizen volunteer water […]
A Reference Stream for the Karst Area of Shenandoah Valley
by Wayne Webb In Virginia, a stream is listed as impaired if it fails to meet the State water quality standards that support the designated uses of all of Virginia’s rivers and streams. If a stream fails to meet a designated use and its associated water quality standard, then the State develops a total maximum […]
Stories Your FOSR Data Can Tell You
We encourage you to visit our map and data portal that will open with a map identifying all of the FOSR’s monitoring sites throughout the Shenandoah River watershed. You will be able to click on the individual markers that will lead you to a link to obtain FOSR’s water-quality data for that site. The FOSR’s “Water […]
Aquatic Biogeochemistry of Nitrogen and Phosphorus: a guide to the wilderness
The Friends of the Shenandoah River (FOSR) has conducted a monitoring program that now is approaching 25 years in duration. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are among the nutrients whose concentrations are measured: N as ammonia and as nitrate plus nitrite, P as reactive orthophosphate. The purpose of the monitoring is to detect changes in […]
FOSR Report: Risks of biosolid fertilizer application on water quality
How does nitrogen get in the streams of the Shenandoah Valley? The water quality data compiled from this FOSR 2013 study in Clarke County, Virginia indicate that springs located near fields or areas where biosolids have been applied have higher Nitrate concentrations than those springs located in areas where biosolids have not been applied. Download […]
2014 Monitoring Calendar Available
Thank you to all our volunteers for your dedication to FOSR and to the Shenandoah River. Water samples are to be collected on either the highlighted Friday between 7:30 AM and the scheduled dropped off time for your location or on the highlighted Saturday with samples being delivered to the FOSR’s lab no later than […]
Welcome Urbie Nash to the FOSR Board of Directors
Urbie retired in 2007 after 34 years as a professional environmental engineer. He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. During his professional career he worked in industrial and municipal water and wastewater treatment plant design, construction and operation. He also […]
Good News for Friends of the Shenandoah Valley River System
In July, The South River Science Team sent out for review to its more than 100 members a draft proposal with the title “Remediation of Mercury in the South River and a Segment of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River.” Following review, the document will be submitted to NRDC and the Sierra Club to […]
Support the 2013 FOSR Initiative
Lab Upgrades: To continue meeting the challenge of providing accurate water quality analysis, the FOSR lab and field equipment need to be upgraded. We recently added testing modules that measure total nitrogen and total phosphorous in response to new state and federal requirements for reducing these inputs. FOSR can become a vital informational resource for […]
Water Quality: A Report from Charles Vandervoort
Charles Vandervoort is a retired systems analylist and volunteer for the Friends of the Shenandoah River. His comprehensive report on water quality in the watershed pulls together data from the past decade to reveal a more accurate picture of the river today. Download the professionally formatted version of “The Status of Water Quality in the Rivers […]