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Monday, November 30, 2009

Jones to be Presented with Conservation Award

The Dan River Basin Association is pleased to announce that Dr. David Jones is the recipient of the "Taylor Turner Conservation Award" from the Fly Fishers of Virginia in Richmond

The award is presented annually to an individual or group that engages in activities that support the conservation of our fisheries and natural resources.

The award will be presented at the Fly Fishers annual banquet on the evening of January 23, 2010 at the Salisbury Country Club in Chesterfield.

According to Vice President of Conservation Jay Armstrong: "Dr. Jones will be presented the award for his work with Trout in the Classroom and the endeavor to bring this educational tool to the public school environment. It is a great example of how people can make a difference in the future of conservation of our natural resources. Programs of this type can provide the spark that gets children into the sciences and educates people that our natural resources are not infinite and require that we give something back."

Please join us in congratulating Dr.Jones for his outstanding support of our natural resources and his tremendous efforts for the students of Southern Virginia!!!
 
Article by: Brian Williams

TU Names Brian Williams Conservation Educator of the Year for Virginia


Brian Williams of the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) was recently recognized by Trout Unlimited, a national conservation organization, as their Conservation Educator of the Year Award recipient for Virginia.

Williams worked as a volunteer with the Trout in the Classroom Program for four years helping with the creation of Virginia’s first Trout in the Classroom program in Martinsville & Henry County. In early 2008, he was hired as the Education, Outreach, and Conservation Coordinator for DRBA where he has continued to support Trout in the Classroom in more than 25 schools and in the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Williams currently works out of the organization’s Collinsville office. Since the inception of the program in Henry County by Dr. David Jones he has led the Smith River Chapter of Trout Unlimited in becoming the largest Trout in the Classroom Program in the nation.

Trout Unlimited recognized Williams at their annual meeting in Ruckersville, Virginia with the Mike Barbour Memorial Award for his extensive work in educating the public about the importance of water quality and conservation. His work has directly impacted many thousands of children and adults across Southern Virginia. Over the course of his career he has given more than 100 presentations to youth groups on the imperative need for conservation in the Smith River corridor and related areas, has staffed more than 25 workshops for teachers and other educators, has served as a river guide for youth and adult groups floating the river and has authored a new guide to the Smith River that is being used as a tool to promote tourism of our area.

According our local Trout in the Classroom sponsor, Dr. David Jones, Williams “is a tireless advocate for improving water quality in the Smith River, protecting riparian borders and view shed forested areas. His work and passions provide us with one of our greatest opportunities for creating jobs and tourism leading to economic recovery in the Martinsville-Henry County area.”

Monday, November 16, 2009

Smith River Flood 2009

The Smith River presented an impressive show this past week as it came out its banks with excess waters from Hurricane Ida.  Brian Williams of the Dan River Basin Association captured nature's fury on film to document it.  Thankfully, the waters are now under control and the trails along the Smith River Trail System survived the event with minimal damage. Check out this footage...