As the saying goes “we all live downstream.” But at The Downstream Project it’s more than a saying. It’s the underlying principle behind everything we do, beginning with our flagship 2009 film, Shenandoah: Voices of the River. This 52-minute documentary examines the history, ecology, and beauty of this treasured natural resource—and the potentially devastating impacts on its future. In all of our omni-media efforts we continue to utilize this “in their own words” approach to capture and convey the energy and passion and commitment of our project partners and their missions.
In the words of TDP founder George Ohrstrom: “The hope is that people will educate themselves and stand up and become a voice for downstream issues because they are exceedingly important to all of us.”
Despite the fact that site work has begun on a planned 460,000-square-foot insulation factory on 130 acres in Ranson, W.Va., opposition to the project continues to grow — within Jefferson County and beyond. The Rockwool insulation plant would crush and melt rock using coal and natural gas. Although the proposed plant’s owner, the multi-national ROXEL, has already […]
Virginia Working Landscapes and The Downstream Project hosted a do-it-yourself environmental sensor workshop funded by the U.S. EPA, April 4–5 along the Shenandoah River in Clarke County, Va. Participants learned to build and use the open-source, Arduino-based real-time environmental monitoring systems, which offer individuals, communities, and organizations a low-cost alternative for monitoring water quality, quantity, […]
by George Ohrstrom II As a member of Virginia’s conservation community following the actions of the General Assembly, I was both excited and fearful to see the recently released proposed budget numbers. I knew that both the House and Senate versions would be different, but I did not expect to read what I did. We […]
Two Downstream Project partners invite everyone to join in their annual Christmas Bird Counts. The event was started in 1899 by the National Audubon Society and now takes place across the country. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s count is scheduled for Thursday, December 28, in Loudoun County, Va. The count circle has a 15-mile diameter, covering 177 […]
Elks Run is a small watershed in Jefferson County, W.Va., that drains about 18 square miles. Wending through mostly private lands, the small stream is hidden from view except where crosses beneath bridges on public road. But the people of Harpers Ferry and Bolivar know it well because it serves as municipal the drinking water […]
Water Reporter app empowers people to document conditions by phone [embedded content] It seems that since the dawn of the age of mobile phones, middle-aged people have been telling younger folks to leave the phone at home when getting out into nature. Something about the urge to post and share pretty pictures from mountaintops and […]
Local groups challenge the agency’s approval of Virginia’s decision to not list the Shenandoah as ‘impaired,’ despite excessive algae blooms and nutrient pollution [embedded content] Three local citizen groups, including the Clarke County-based Shenandoah Riverkeeper, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the agency’s repeated failure to address the Shenandoah River’s increasing […]
Outdoor writer and conservationist Robert Whitescarver received two Excellence-in-Craft (EIC) awards at the Virginia Outdoors Writers Association (VOWA) annual meeting held Charlottesville. Bobby, as he is known throughout the Shenandoah Valley and Chesapeake Bay, took home a first place for his blog, “Getting More on the Ground,” and third place for his column “Save the […]
Moore’s Creek State Forest straddles a 2,300-acre expanse of rugged and scenic mountains in the Allegheny Highlands of Rockbridge County, Virginia. The forest was established in 2012 in part as a result of then-Governor Tim Kaine’s endeavor to place 400,000 acres of the Commonwealth into permanent conservation. Establishing the forest achieved a long-term goal […]
(Watch Bobby Whitescarver’s inspiring, and entertaining, acceptance speech. Shot in HD, so be sure to select.) Hats off to our partner and stalwart board member, Bobby Whitescarver, for being honored by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay as the Watershed Champion of the Year for 2016. Bobby accepted the award at the Alliance’s 45th anniversary […]
