Good day, I’m Terry Rounds, and welcome to the Fairfax County News to Use podcast of January 29, 2008. Coming up, learn about protecting our streams, free tax preparation help and an annual seedling sale. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news.
When it rains, the water running along the gutters in the street vanishes down storm drains. Where does the water go? The water in a storm drain does not go to a wastewater treatment plant like many people assume. This water drains into a local stream, which feeds into a river, and eventually empties into the Chesapeake Bay. Nothing is removed from the water. That means pet wastes, yard debris, fertilizer, motor oil, pesticides and trash all have the potential to flow into the Bay. Here are some tips to follow to help protect our streams and the Chesapeake Bay:
- Limit use of pesticides and fertilizer, and when you do use them be sure it is at appropriate times of the year and in recommended amounts. Introduce natural predators to your garden, and use pest resistant plants. Remove eggs, larvae, cocoons, and adults from plants by hand.
- Prevent property erosion by covering bare soil with vegetation and mulch.
- Remove obstructions from stream channels and replant stream banks.
- Don't mow all the way to the edge of a lake or pond. Leave a buffer of tall grasses or shrubs to filter pollutants.
- Landscape yards to minimize stormwater runoff.
- Preserve neighborhood trees that help minimize the damage caused by surface runoff.
- Place retaining walls or diversions on steeply sloping ground to reduce the rate of water flow and erosion.
- Make sure septic tanks work properly.
- Dispose of litter in garbage cans or in recycling bins. Recycle glass, aluminum, plastic, paper, motor oil, and newspapers.
- Compost yard and garden waste.
- Pick up pet waste and bag it with regular household trash or flush it in the toilet.
- And never intentionally dump anything into a storm drain.
For more information, check out the Fairfax County Stormwater Management Web site at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/watersheds, or call 703-324-5500.
The Creating Assets, Savings and Hope program, or “CASH,” is now open at 12 sites throughout Northern Virginia. This all-volunteer coalition provides free income tax preparation services to residents with annual household incomes less than $40,000. Hours and days vary by location. Clients should bring a photo identification and Social Security cards for all taxpayers, spouses and dependents. Volunteers also are needed to help prepare taxes. For more information, including site locations, visit the News to Use Web page or call 703-324-5171.
And finally, the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District is holding its annual seedling sale for 2008. All seedlings in the package are native to Northern Virginia and the varieties were specially picked to be butterfly friendly. Each package is $17.95 and includes two of each of the following; Tulip Poplar, White Dogwood, Button Bush, Red Bud, Hackberry, and Loblolly Pine. Also included are two packets of butterfly friendly flower seeds; one package of Butterfly Weed and one package of Black-eyed Susan. These plants are sure to bring butterflies to your backyard! For more information, call 703-324-1420.
That’s all for this News to Use podcast. Thanks for listening. For more information about the topics in this podcast and for continuous news updates, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news. You may also call 703-FAIRFAX, that’s 703-324-7329, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. News to Use is produced by the Fairfax County, Virginia, government.