Freshwater mussels are one of the few animals that improve our water quality. The live in many streams and rivers, and they filter algae, bacteria and other small particles in the water, making it cleaner for drinking, and providing for recreational opportunities like swimming and fishing. When freshwater mussels are present in a river it generally means the ecosystem is a healthy one. Like a canary in a coalmine, they serve as an indicator species, as they cant tolerate poor water quality and will disappear from polluted waters. Virginia has 81 different species of mussels, with 37 species considered endangered. This is a short video clip from the 3rd Annual Mussel Festival held recently in Bath County to educate landowners and the public about the importance of these animals to our rivers and streams.
DGIF YouTube Video
Virginia State Parks and Project WET offering Professional Development Workshop for Teachers. The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at James River State Park's Visitor Center from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Become a member of the Friends of Shenandoah River State Park. Attend the next meeting on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. with a winter walk at Shenandoah River State Park with the group.
Mountain Empire Community College in conjunction with the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association and Natural Tunnel State Park will be offering the Wilderness Trail Institute. The course will focus on the history of the Wilderness Trail.
The Virginia Association for Parks is the premier non-profit organization for promoting local, state and national parks in Virginia. They have spent more than a dozen years building an effective state-wide grassroots organization.
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"The Wildlife Management areas are managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. What you heard is incorrect. Here is info about the change: Facility Use Permit Effective January 1, 2012, a Facility Use Permit will be required when using any Department-owned Wildlife Management Area or Fishing Lake. Such permit shall not be required for any person holding a valid hunting, fishing or trapping license or a current certificate of boat registration issued by the Department or persons…"
"I was there too with my sister and one of her friends from work. It was a great day. We walked the trail and the hills were quite intense. But we all finished an it was really fun for the first one. "