Sheep Go to Heaven

Finally got my watershed gadget presentation done and posted (see sidebar).  Its a pretty "old-school" tool for removing some of the invasive plants that run rampant in our region--especially the shrub varieties like bush honeysuckle, privet, and multiflora rose.  Not to be outdone though, I am including a link to a company that uses sheep (and i've heard goats as well) to clear invasives from areas where they have become widespread.  The flocks of sheep that are let losse are apparently so proficient that, unfortunately, they will also wipe out anything else growing alongside the invasives so, its like carpet-bombing a natural area.  Still, its seems a pretty good option for those areas that are so overrun with invasives that requiring clearing in order to start over from scratch.  http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/sheep-munch-invasive-plants-atlanta-airport-997322#. 
Anyhow, I'll be down in South Florida for Thanksgiving week and reporting from down there any watershed issues that I might be able to uncover.  I am hoping to run a loop from my house in Lake Worth, over the causeway to Palm Beach Island, and back home this trip.  I'll send you all some sweet photos of the Florida beaches and maybe even some cool swamp pics.  Have a great week!

Cameron Run Levee Coming Soon (?)

Been down in Richmond for the past couple of days getting ready for and running the Richmond Marathon so, I've been a little off the blog lately.  Doesn't mean though, that I wasn't thinking about waterways and watersheds!  If you've never spend time along the James River in Richmond, its a must-see place:  the river is shallow but, wide and fairly fast (even this time of year) in this area with beautiful vistas from several spots in and around the downtown Richmond area.  As I ran across the Huguenot Bridge at about mile 13 of the race, a bald eagle came up from the River and flew up and over the bridge.  Frankly, I've never seen a bald eagle this up close and it was really an inspiring thing to see.  However, the real treat is sitting on the outside deck at Legends Brewery after the race and looking out over the River drinking a tall, cold lager.  Awesome!

But I digress.  Closer to home, and in case you missed it, voters in Fairfax County approved a $30 million bond referendum for stormwater improvements, including the building of a levee along Cameron Run that will (it is hoped) protect the much battered and flooded Huntington neighborhood in Alexandria from flooding.  Approved by 70% of the voters, the levee will stretch a half-mile long and stand 11 feet tall and protect some 200 homes.  http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/11/fairfax-county-voters-approve-30-million-huntington-levee-81891.html.