The Chesapeake Bay Targeted Watersheds Grant Program provides financial and technical support to projects that expand the collective knowledge on the most innovative, sustainable and cost-effective strategies for reducing nutrient pollution within specific tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.

The Program is a partnership among the Chesapeake Bay Program, the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, the Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Environmental Protection Agency.

May 31, 2006

For Immediate Release

Contacts:  Eric Bendfeldt, Virginia Cooperative Extension, 540-432-6029

                Lori Greiner, Virginia Tech, 540-231-5863

    Chris Connor, Chesapeake Bay Program, 410-267-5758

$2.5 MILLION TO BE AWARDED TO REDUCE POLLUTION

IN SHENANDOAH WATERSHED, CHESAPEAKE BAY

WHAT -- The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will present checks to three Virginia-based watershed partnerships on Friday, June 2, on a Rockingham County, Va., farm. These partnership groups were awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to reduce nutrient pollution that enters local rivers and streams and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. The North River Watershed, specifically Rockingham County and the Shenandoah Valley, will be the focus of a $1 million partnership project that will demonstrate comprehensive and innovative approaches to managing manure and poultry litter. Following remarks and presentation of checks, there will be a tour of the Rohrer Brothers Farm highlighting conservation practices that reduce pollution and improve water quality.

WHO – Virginia Congressman Bob Goodlatte; Rebecca Hanmer, Director of EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program; Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; grant recipients representing Virginia Tech, the Virginia Waste Solutions Forum, the Opequon Creek Partnership and the Virginia Tech/Virginia Commonwealth University Oyster Partnership.

WHEN – Friday, June 2, 2006, 10:00 a.m.

WHERE – Rohrer Brothers Farm, 2548 Shoreshill Road, Dayton, Va.  Directions:

From I-81, use exit 240 (Mt. Crawford - Bridgewater). Follow Route 257 West through Bridgewater. Turn right onto Route 42 and go north for about 2.7 miles. At the third stoplight, turn left onto Rte 257 (Mason Street/Ottobine Road) and continue west for about 5 miles. Turn right onto Rte. 734 (Lumber Mill Road). Take Lumber Mill Road until it stops at West Dry River Road (approx. 1.7 miles). Turn left onto West Dry River Road and go 0.8 miles. There a two sharp bends in the road. At the second bend, turn right onto Shoreshill Road. Rohrer Brothers Farm is the first farm on the left. The press event will be held close to their commodity shed. There will be a Virginia Cooperative Extension sign at the corner of Dry River Road and Shoreshill Road.

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