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How to steward our most important natural resource

water runoff
(Image: VPM)

Water is one of the building-blocks of life, it nourishes us, our gardens and our world. Explore methods used to conserve water and control runoff. From rain gardens that beautify our landscapes yet replenish the underground water supply to flood control structures that protect communities, learn how to steward our most important natural resource.

Peggy Singlemann visits the rain garden at Rappahannock High School and talks to Blair Blanchette, the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts' VCAP Coordinator, to learn about ways property owners can control runoff to protect waterways. The Virginia Conservation Assistance Program helps advise on these projects and also provides funding.

Dr. Robyn Puffenbarger travels to Hone Quarry Dam in Rockingham County to learn how Virginia’s network of dams are managed and maintained with Megen Dalton, District Manager of the Shenandoah Valley Soil and Water Conservation District and Cory Guilliams, District Conservationist at the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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Mat Lyons uses a topography map to show to area of land drained by Hone Quarry Reservoir (Image: VPM)

In the studio Blair shows off soil mixes to encourage rainwater infiltration and shares favorite native plant suggestions for rain gardens. Mat Lyons, State Conservation Engineer with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, explains his organization's role in managing Virginia's network of dams and uses topography maps to explain how dams are sited.

Serome Hamlin explains the benefits of installing drip irrigation in your garden containers and shows how easy it is to get started. Dr. Robyn Puffenbarger shares tips for saving water in the vegetable garden at the Bridgewater College community garden.