| GOVERNOR GILMORE ANNOUNCES STATE/FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP TO PROTECT WETLANDS
AND STREAMS
From Governor's Office News Release
RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore signed a $91-million agreement intended to reduce the amount of sediment and nutrients in runoff from agricultural land and improve wildlife habitat by encouraging the development of streamside buffers and wetland restoration.
The agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture specifies funding for targeted watersheds throughout the commonwealth.
Statewide, the program targets 35,000 restoration acres to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment contaminants in streams and rivers.
Rental payments will be offered to farmers who voluntarily remove agricultural lands from production for 10 or 15 years.
Conservation practices in the program cover the planting of grass filter strips and forested buffers adjacent to waterways as well as the installation of wetlands restoration measures.
| Rapid Ann |
| In the 18th century a Virginia river was named the Rapid Ann River. Answer to which one in next FPP&P. |
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President's Paddle
My Fellow Float Fishermen,
The new year beckons FFV and we are poised to surf Y2K into the new millennium.
This summer FFV will host our VIP Float on the Dan River. This is our major event of the year and has the potential to be one of our best efforts ever.
The task is large and we need a supreme effort to make it successful.
The VIP Float will be on the Dan River from Danville, VA to near Milton, NC. Please mark your calendar for the VIP weekend June 24 & 25, Y2K. Memorial Day will be on the Rapp. River at R5.
This is our first float of the year and a good time to see your old friends. R5 boasts an excellent campsite and dinner will be provided by the Randy Carter Chapter.
If we are all lucky, we will have water!
The Labor Day Float is on the New River, hosted by the Roanoke Chapter.
We will camp on the same property that we did last year. As you know FFV is a player in the effort to help secure this property for public access.
Those of you who saw this piece of river bottom last year were favorably impressed.
Dinner will be provided by the Roanoke Chapter. Last year we had a good turnout and a bit too much water.
Folks bailed out Sunday morning as Hurricane Floyd surfed us.
The Winter Meeting appeared to have had the largest attendance of any in a long time.
We hashed out the calendar, made VIP assignments and took control of the Randy Carter Award, which is scheduled to be presented at the VIP Float.
New officers include: President elect Larry Born of the Steve Keller chapter and Vice President Brian Jones of the Scotts Creek chapter.
Other officers and chairpersons remain the same.
After the meeting Jim Garner, Pete Van Deman et. al. served up deep fried catfish, hush puppies, cole slaw and the traditional FFV beans.
Again this year, the Steve Keller chapter members contributed oysters, not one, but two bushels for our feast.
There was skeet shooting for those interested and quite a few members joined in the fun.
The Reindeer prance off (remember last years) was canceled due to the contestants being a year older and much wiser.
Poker and humor were not in short supply. And, for the first time at a winter meeting, it did not rain.
A good time was had by all. See ya at R5.
Your Prez,
ROC (R. O. Cooper) |
