Rivanna River Basin Commission

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

There is still time to sign up for the Albemarle-Charlottesville Piedmont Master Gardeners free composting workshop on June 7 from 1:30 to 2:30! This event will be held at their compost demonstration site in the Bread & Roses Gardens at Trinity Episcopal Church.

Compost acts like a sponge and filter—helping soils absorb water, reducing polluted runoff, protecting local stream health and reducing erosion on your property.

Register here: https://www.piedmontmastergardeners.org/event/turn-your-garbage-to-gold-an-outdoor-workshop-on-composting-2/ -now

Please join us for these upcoming events.

No-Till Gardening:
An Easier Way to Grow

5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 2
The Center at Belvedere
540 Belvedere Blvd., Charlottesville
Free and Open to All

No-till gardening (also known as no-dig gardening) is built on four key principles:
• soil armor (keeping soil covered),
• minimizing disturbance,
• plant diversity, and
• maintaining living roots.
By prioritizing soil biology over mechanical turning, this efficient approach reduces labor, decreases the need for weeding and watering, builds long-term fertility, and creates a more resilient garden ecosystem. Plus, it captures carbon in the soil rather than releasing it as CO2. Take this opportunity to learn about the principles and benefits of no-till gardening and how you can apply them in your own garden and landscapes. Please register at: thecentercville.org/calendar/event/141890/2026/06/02/3 to take part.

Turn Your Garbage to Gold
An Outdoor Workshop on Composting

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 7
Bread & Roses Gardens at Trinity Episcopal Church
1118 Preston Ave., Charlottesville
Free and Open to All

In the next in our series of free outdoor workshops on composting, we will showcase a range of techniques for turning household waste such as food scraps, yard trimmings, uncoated paper, cardboard, and sawdust into the ideal soil amendment for the yard and garden. We will also show how all households, large and small, can keep compostable waste out of landfills. When added to a landfill, food scraps decompose anaerobically (without oxygen) and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global climate change. When composted, food scraps contribute to healthy soil and plants and to cleaner water and air.

Register at: https://www.piedmontmastergardeners.org/event/turn-your-garbage-to-gold-an-outdoor-workshop-on-composting-2/ to reserve your place in the workshop. Registration closes at 5 p.m. June 6 or when the workshop is full.

05/26/2026

The Middle James Roundtable has another great annual meeting coming up this September... Join us at Skyland Resort in Shenandoah National Park to learn more about outdoor recreation in the James River watershed!

Middle James Roundtable Annual Meeting
September 3-4
Skyland Lodge, Shenandoah National Park

Please join us for the 2026 Middle James Roundtable Annual Meeting! Our focus will be on the state of outdoor recreation in the watershed.

​Our event will be over the course of two days, with opportunities for you to enjoy this treasured national park. View the agenda and register on our website!

http://www.mjrt.org/2026-annual-meeting.html

04/27/2026

Sign up a rain barrel workshop this Spring at Blue Mountain Barrel House, 495 Cooperative Way, Arrington, Virginia!

You'll receive a barrel & everything you need to know about rainwater harvesting at home, just in time for your garden.

Date & Time: Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 6:00 pm
Location: Blue Mountain Barrel House, 495 Cooperative Way, Arrington, Virginia
Registration: https://form.jotform.com/form/260354652289968

03/26/2026

Sign up for next week's rain barrel workshop at Cunningham Creek Winery in Fluvanna County, VA!

You'll receive a barrel & everything you need to know about rainwater harvesting at home, just in time for your Spring garden.

Registration: https://pci.jotform.com/form/260266873170964

03/17/2026

A single rain barrel can save thousands of gallons of water annually, lowering your utility bills and reducing stormwater runoff. Interested in learning more & taking one home?

Join the James River Association, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, and the Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District for a rain barrel workshop this Spring.

Staff members will instruct workshop participants on how to assemble and install rain barrels at home. The registration fee for the workshop is $50 and each registration comes with a 55-gallon drum, DIY rain barrel installation kit, and a beverage.

Rain Barrel Workshop at Cunningham Creek Winery in Fluvanna County
Date & Time: Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: Cunningham Creek Winery, 3304 Ruritan Lake Rd, Palmyra, VA
Registration Link: https://pci.jotform.com/form/260266873170964

Rain Barrel Workshop at Starr Hill Downtown at the Dairy Market in Charlottesville
Date & Time: Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: Starr Hill Downtown, 946 Grady Avenue, Suite 101, Charlottesville, Virginia
Registration Link: https://form.jotform.com/form/253496875996989

Rain Barrel Workshop at Blue Mountain Barrel House in Nelson
Date & Time: Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: Blue Mountain Barrel House, 495 Cooperative Way, Arrington, Virginia
Registration Link: https://form.jotform.com/form/260354652289968

01/23/2026

Stay ahead of the storm and protect our local environment with these Smart Salting tips! ❄️

It’s easy to think more salt = safer roads and sidewalks. However, over-salting is not necessary and doesn't just waste money—it's permanent pollution. Remember, a 12 oz coffee mug filled with salt is enough for a 500 sq ft driveway or 10 sidewalk squares!

Bird seed and sand are also great alternatives to add traction and protect the environment.

11/05/2025

The TJPDC is seeking your input on waste management strategies and suggestions for enhancing the local system. Your feedback will help determine the future of waste services, helping us understand what works and what needs to change to make the system more convenient, effective, and efficient for residents like you.

The survey will remain open through December 15th, takes about 5 minutes to complete, and is available here: https://arcg.is/GuiWf.

10/31/2025

Did you know? Stormwater carries bacteria from pet waste into streams and rivers directly through storm drains. That’s pretty scary!

Learn more ways to protect watersheds by visiting: www.rivanna-stormwater.org

10/31/2025

Visit rivanna-stormwater.org to learn more ways to protect your watershed