Fort Belvoir Environmental Division

09/29/2023

Fall Foliage and Nutrient Related Stormwater Challenges
While fall in Virginia presents us with cooler weather and breathtaking foliage, it also brings specific stormwater management challenges.

Challenge: Fallen Leaves
One of the most enchanting aspects of fall is the cascade of leaves that adorn our surroundings. However, these fallen leaves have an unintended consequence: nutrient pollution. When rainwater washes over fallen leaves, it carries away essential nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen. These nutrients then find their way into our rivers and streams through our stormwater conveyance systems, causing detrimental effects such as harmful algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and harm to aquatic life.

Solution: Be Mindful of Your Lawn Care
Keeping your yard-debris free can help mitigate nutrient runoff associated with leaves. Avoid piling leaves near storm drains when tending to your yard, as this can exacerbate nutrient pollution and lead to blockages and flooding during rain events. Also, avoid raking them into the street or sidewalks where they can be easily swept into the stormwater conveyance system. Do not leave your leaves once piled; compost them, or bag them up and dispose of them by placing them in your trash. Additionally, avoid over fertilizing your lawn or garden in the fall, as it can contribute to excess nutrients in our water systems. Save the nutrients for the spring when your garden wakes up and truly needs them.

Practicing mindful lawn care during the fall allows us to cherish autumn’s beauty while protecting our watersheds from excess nutrients.
Have questions or comments for the Stormwater Team? Reach out here or via their email address at [email protected].

09/27/2023

Check out our Stormwater Fall Newsletter! This article focuses on information on recognizing, responding, reporting, and recording of Spills and Discharges.

08/15/2023

With spotted lantern fly now being seen throughout Fairfax County, Fort Belvoir Environmental would like to hear from anyone living or working on Belvoir who sees one here. Any details on location, vegetation, date, time, and severity would be appreciated. Please email any sightings to: [email protected]

More information at: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/news/spotted-lanternfly-seen-more-areas-fairfax-county

08/04/2023

🚩REMINDER:

DPW-Environmental Division is accepting comments in writing for:
💡Draft 2023 Chloride Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Action Plan
💡Draft 2023 Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Action Plan
💡Draft MS4 Program Plan

Comments will be received until 13 August 2023.

The documents can be found on the Fort Belvoir web page at https://home.army.mil/.../director.../environmental-division. Then click on “MS4 Stormwater Program. Links to all relevant documents can be found here. Submit comments by email to Ashley McMahon at [email protected] or at [email protected].

07/28/2023

📌As required by the Garrison’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit, Fort Belvoir, Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division is accepting comments in writing on the draft 2023 Chloride Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Action Plan until 13 August 2023.

The documents can be found on the Fort Belvoir web page at https://home.army.mil/belvoir/index.php/about/Garrison/directorate-public-works/environmental-division. Then click on “MS4 Stormwater Program. Links to all relevant documents can be found here. Submit comments by email to Ashley McMahon at [email protected] or at [email protected].

The Fort Belvoir DPW Environmental Division is committed to environmental excellence in all aspects of the Fort Belvoir mission. In accordance with the Sustainable Management System, Fort Belvoir's environmental policy focuses the installation’s efforts on operating “The Right Way, The Green Way...

07/28/2023

📌As required by the Garrison’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit, Fort Belvoir, Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division is accepting comments in writing on the draft 2023 Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Action Plan until 13 August 2023.

The documents can be found on the Fort Belvoir web page at https://home.army.mil/belvoir/index.php/about/Garrison/directorate-public-works/environmental-division. Then click on “MS4 Stormwater Program. Links to all relevant documents can be found here. Submit comments by email to Ashley McMahon at [email protected] or at [email protected].

The Fort Belvoir DPW Environmental Division is committed to environmental excellence in all aspects of the Fort Belvoir mission. In accordance with the Sustainable Management System, Fort Belvoir's environmental policy focuses the installation’s efforts on operating “The Right Way, The Green Way...

07/28/2023

📌As required by the Garrison’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit, Fort Belvoir, Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division is accepting comments in writing on the Draft MS4 Program Plan until 13 August 2023.

The documents can be found on the Fort Belvoir web page at https://home.army.mil/belvoir/index.php/about/Garrison/directorate-public-works/environmental-division. Then click on “MS4 Stormwater Program”. Links to all relevant documents can be found here. Submit comments by email to Ashley McMahon at [email protected] or at [email protected].

The Fort Belvoir DPW Environmental Division is committed to environmental excellence in all aspects of the Fort Belvoir mission. In accordance with the Sustainable Management System, Fort Belvoir's environmental policy focuses the installation’s efforts on operating “The Right Way, The Green Way...

07/07/2023

Check out our Summer Stormwater Newsletter. This article focuses on information on how your facility should prepare to respond to spills and how to minimize or eliminate exposure to the environment. Although we should all do our best to prevent spills… we are only human, it’s bound to happen! So, let’s make sure we are prepared to respond.

12/21/2022

The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Quarterly Newsletter is here! In this quarters edition, you'll be able to read about salt storage and salt application. There are some notes on when ISW facilities should notify DPW, and how to prepare your site for construction.

If you have any Industrial Stormwater question please send them to [email protected]

12/17/2022

It's the holiday season and it's time for one of my favorite holiday movies about stormwater. Okay, it's not about stormwater but National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation does have a very important stormwater lesson.

If you've seen the movie you will remember Cousin Eddie and his RV. While the explosive end to Eddie emptying his RV's waste tank into the stormwater system is impossible it is funny. It's also a reminder that the only thing that should go down the storm drain is stormwater.

Litter, yard waste, cooking grease, sanitary waste and automotive oils are all common pollutants that have been found in stormwater systems. None of these belong in the stormwater system. These pollutants decrease the life span of the stormwater system and pollute our waterways. All these wastes have a proper way of disposal. Please dispose of your wastes properly, and don't be an Cousin Eddie.

For any addition question, comments or concerns please feel free to reach out to Stormwater Team at [email protected]

12/06/2022

Calling All Birders! Fort Belvoir’s Annual Christmas Bird Count

The Fort Belvoir Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will be held Saturday December 31, 2022. This annual count is one of the oldest in the area dating back to 1911, helping us understand bird populations, and is sponsored by the National Audubon Society.
Novice birders as well as experts should consider participating in this year’s event! New to the world of birds? No worries, novices will be teamed up with seasoned birders, for an invaluable learning experience.

Choose as many time slots as you would like to participate in:

5:00 AM – 7:00 AM (Owls in the Dark)
7:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Morning Wake-up Call)
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Afternoon Fly Around)

Meeting location is the Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge Environmental Education Center for all start times.

Contact: Kevin Walter at [email protected] or 703-805-3969 to register or for more information.

11/16/2022

Many of our local streams suffer the effects of too much salt. Road salt (sodium chloride) is most commonly used to remove ice from roads, parking lots, and sidewalks. As snow and ice melt, road salt is carried into our lakes, streams, and wetlands, where just one teaspoon can permanently pollute five gallons of water. Chloride from road salt is a major threat to water quality in Accotink Creek, the Potomac River, and other areas of the country where de-icing occurs. Since chloride is not easily filtered from water in the natural environment, it builds up over time in the soil and water. Because of this, chloride levels in streams can remain elevated throughout the year – even into the summer.

Road salt provides benefits y preventing roadway accidents, but can also have negative impacts on our environment and drinking water sources. When large amounts of road salt get into our drinking water sources it can contaminate it so that we can’t drink it. An excessive amount of salt is hard and expensive for water treatment facilities to remove.

With winter weather on its way, we will all be breaking out the road salt, so it is extremely important to control salt at the source by beaing strategic about when, where, and how salt is applied.

For any addition question, comments or concerns please feel free to reach out to Stormwater Team at [email protected]

11/09/2022

Deer Are On The Move
From Virginia DWR via Ft. Belvoir's Natural Resources Team

For Immediate Release
November 7, 2022
Contact: Katie Martin, Deer-Bear-Turkey Biologist (540) 416-3282
Nelson Lafon, Forest Wildlife Program Manager, (540) 414-5262
DRIVERS: SLOW DOWN FOR DEER!
RICHMOND, VA – Autumn is here and along with colorful leaves, crisp air and shorter days, deer are on the move. Fall is the breeding season for deer, so deer will be more active over the next couple of months than at any other time of the year.
Motorists will also be driving more often in the dark, increasing the likelihood of encountering a deer on the road. Colliding with a deer can cause considerable damage to the animal, people and property.
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) recommends the following tips to avoid hitting a deer:
1. Slow down and be attentive, particularly at night (from dusk to dawn). If you see one deer, watch out for others.
2. Deer habitually travel the same areas. Use caution when you see deer crossing signs installed in these areas by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
3. Apply brakes, even stop if necessary, to avoid hitting a deer, but never swerve out of the lane to miss a deer. A collision with another vehicle, tree or other object is likely to be more serious than hitting a deer.
4. Always wear a seat belt! Even if a collision is unavoidable, you are more likely to avoid injury or death if you are wearing a seat belt.
5. If you hit or kill a deer or bear while driving, immediately report the accident to a Conservation Police Officer or other law enforcement officer in the county or city where the accident occurred.
6. If you kill a deer or bear while driving, you may keep it for your own use if you report the accident to a law enforcement officer where the accident occurred and the officer views the animal and gives you a possession certificate.
For more information, see this page and video on deer/vehicle safety: dwr.virginia.gov/blog/drivers-stay-alert-deer-are-on-the-move/

All hunting and deer questions can be directed to Kevin E. Walter 703-805-3969 or mailto:[email protected]

10/20/2022

Here's a video of a flooded five lane highway caused by leaves & trash. While this isn't Fort Belvoir it will give you an idea oh how quick a blocked inlet can cause problems. The video is from ABC13 out of Huston, Texas from 1 Nov 2018, but this could happen anywhere.

ABC13 reporter Deborah Wrigley captured the man who was already working to get a drain cleared in knee-deep water. The man fished around for the problem for ...

10/17/2022

Fall is here and with it brings all the things we love about the change of seasons including the return of the pumpkin spice latte (yes please!), crisp autumn hikes, spooky pumpkin carving, and enjoying the changing colorful landscape as the leaves provide a beautiful show of red, purple, yellow, and orange. As those leaves begin to fall, paired with an increase in stormy wet weather, they can become a combination that leads to clogged storm drains causing water to back up and flood neighborhood streets and sidewalks.

Leaves in housing will be taken care of in one of two ways. If the leave cover is light, they will be mulched in place to help return nutrients to the ground. If thee are big piles then vac truck will come by to pic up the plies. Fort Belvoir's BaseOps contractor will be removing leaves from the rest of the post.

Please feel free to reach out to the Stormwater Team here or via their e-mail [email protected]

09/21/2022

The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Quarterly Newsletter is here! In this quarters edition, you'll be able to read about winterizing equipment, sand blasting, painting, dewatering activities and important dates for MS4 and ISW Facilities to keep track of! We want to ensure everyone is helping Fort Belvoir stay in compliance with all our stormwater permits. Thank you for your time! Let us know if you have any questions.

09/16/2022

The third video we are sharing with you from the Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners.

This is a cute look at the videos from earlier this week. Enjoy and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

09/14/2022

The second video we are sharing with you from the Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners.

This is a great look at yard waste and fertilizer just two stormwater issues we face here at Fort Belvoir, and where ever you call home. Enjoy and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

09/12/2022

The first video we are sharing with you from the Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners.

This is a great overview of many stormwater issues. Pet waste, litter. fertilizer and yard waste. Enjoy and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

09/12/2022

The Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners has been involved in a TV and radio ad campaign. The aim of the campaign is to expand our message of protecting the health of bodies of water in the Northern Virginia area and, in turn, the health of the Northern Virginia Community. If you would like more information about Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners visit their page https://www.onlyrain.org/northern-virginia-s-water-quality

They have graciously allowed us to re-post some of their videos here as a part of our Stormwater outreach.

Clean water is essential to human life and the health of the environment. There are several types of waterbodies in Northern Virginia.  These include tidal rivers, bays, and wetlands as well as non-tidal rivers, streams, creeks, wetlands, lakes and ponds.  Groundwater in the Piedmont zone typicall...

08/15/2022

Check out our Stormwater Pollution Solutions for easy ways that you can do to protect our waters!

08/04/2022

More photos of the Eagle release!

08/04/2022

Today we released the first ever Eagle back into the wild on Fort Belvoir! This juvenile eagle was found earlier in the year unable to fly. Our team of professional wildlife biologists were able to capture it and bring it to our friends at Blue Ridge Wildlife Center. Through their hard work they were able to rehabilitated this eagle back to health and ready to come back home! Our own Garrison Commander COL SeGraves helped release it back here!

07/25/2022

Fort Belvoir is located within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, therefore we are required to help protect and restore the Bay. There are 63 other installations that are in the watershed, that are also required to work towards this goal. The DoD works closely with the Chesapeake Bay Commission and in FY 2020 the two established a Chesapeake Bay Program Installation Status Report. Below is a summary of the efforts from FY 2021 (the full report can be found herehttps://www.denix.osd.mil/chesapeake/dod-cbp-quarterly-journals/reports/dod-chesapeake-bay-program-fy2021-annual-progress-report/DIGITAL_FY21%20Annual%20Progress%20Report_SINGLE%20PAGES.pdf )
The DPW – Environmental Team will be exploring some of the efforts that other installations have done to do our part. If you have any question or comments about the Chesapeake Bay Watershed or the Municipal Stormwater program please reach out to Calli Kaufhold at (703)-806-0022 or [email protected].

07/14/2022

World Snake day is in two days, so we wanted to celebrate by sharing some great information with you about Snakes, and how important they are!

Snakes get a bad rap, and often invoke fear and disgust from a lot of people. And while these emotions are okay to have, we can still learn to appreciate their benefits to our world. With over 3,500 species of snakes in the World, there is a myriad of variations between species that make every snake unique and marvelous. Discover the snake species on Fort Belvoir, and help spread the word to keep yourself and snakes safe and healthy! Good News only one is venomous!

For More information please go to: https://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/reptiles/snakes/snakes_of_virginia.htm

07/07/2022

Fort Belvoir North Area Distribution Center Draft Environmental Assessment (EA)

Interested parties are hereby notified that the Department of Army (Army) has prepared a Draft EA for the Fort Belvoir North Area Distribution Center. The Draft EA is available for a 30-day public review period starting 30 JUN 2022 and ending 29 JUL 2022

Draft EA - Fort Belvoir North Area Distribution Center

HOW TO COMMENT
Online Submission, Email, or U.S. Mail

Project Website: https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/FBNA/

Email: [email protected]

Write: US Army Fort Belvoir Directorate of Public Works
Attn.: FBNA Draft EA
Environmental Division, Chief
9430 Jackson Loop, Building 1442, Rm #226
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5116

We are having trouble with our Fort Belvoir Webpage but it will be up there soon!

Fort Belvoir

The official public website of the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For website corrections, write to [email protected].

06/23/2022

As Summer Starts we would like to take a moment and share a few things you and your family can do to stay healthy and safe this and the ways you can help the Planet stay greener throughout the Summer!

06/15/2022

Today is Nature Photography Day and we would love for you to share your best Nature Photos of Fort Belvoir with us!

Nature photography combines the spirit of preservation with our sense of wonder and amazement, and whether they are photos of wildlife, plants, landscapes, or anything outdoors these images can inspire us to take care of our lands and waters and help protect the environment for future generations. Get out and explore our lovely Fort Belvoir and share with us your favorite pictures which we can combine and share through the Fort Belvoir Eagle!

Send your photos this month to: [email protected]

06/08/2022

Happy World Oceans Day!!

Today we honor our worlds oceans and help protect and conserve them. Oceans provide oxygen, regulate our climate, proved food and medicine, purifies water and much more! Oceans cover over 70% of Earth and all our waterways eventually feed into it as a huge systems that supports every organism on this planet. Although Fort Belvoir is not next to an ocean all of our wetlands connect to the Atlantic Ocean through the Chesapeake Bay!

Learn more about the ocean here:

The oceans cover about two-thirds of the surface of the Earth and are the very foundations of life.

05/23/2022

Happy World Turtle Day!!!

Today we celebrate our hard shelled friends the turtle and tortoise! Both play important roles in their ecosystems by keeping our watersheds and transporting nutrients and making homes for other animals when digging. Many species of turtles are at risk of becoming extinct, and it is up to us to help protect them and see their habitat grow and thrive. In Virginia alone we have 35 species of turtles, 5 of which are sea turtles, and 11 of which we have in our back yard! Take some time today to learn about the importance of World Turtle Day and see what species you may find on your next adventure!

https://www.worldturtleday.org/

https://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/reptiles/turtles/turtles_of_virginia.htm

05/12/2022

If you find a FAWN, LEAVE it ALONE!
The Fort Belvoir Environmental Division wants to remind everyone that it is the time of year when white-tailed deer begin giving birth to fawns. Although our first instinct is to help out a fawn we find, the best way to help is to simply leave it alone.
Fawns will typically appear “orphaned” but in most cases the mother (doe) is nearby and possibly within view. Females will leave the fawns alone so as not to bring attention to the fawns. Fawns will typically stay motionless and not run away when approached. The mother will return several times a day to feed the fawn and then leave it alone.
If you spot a fawn and are concerned, please call the Fort Belvoir Conservation Branch at 703-805-3969 or the Fort Belvoir Police.

Fort Belvoir Fort Belvoir Fire and Emergency Services Fort Belvoir Police Department Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Fort Belvoir MWR The Villages at Belvoir Belvoir Spouses' Club BSC

04/29/2022

The importance of not littering impacts more than just your surrounding community, it helps protect and save wildlife, fish, and plants. This American Robin was caught in plastic netting just his past week, unable to fly or move as it was entangled. Luckily, one of our amazing tenants here on post found and released it safely back into the wild! By cleaning up after yourself and leaving no trace we protect our space. And if you see it and can clean it, why not do your part? Small actions can help protect our environment and the species that live on post live healthy.

04/25/2022

This past weekend we celebrated Earth Day and we couldn't have asked for better weather. On Friday we opened up our Environmental Education Center and had our Environmental Experts talk about all things wetlands, wildlife, trees, stormwater and much more! A huge thank you for those who came out from the Public Health Activity Fort Belvoir Soldiers on Fort Belvoir for collecting the most waste off of our Base!

Then on Saturday we hosted Cub Scout Pack #118 for Earth Day celebrations with their help we cleaned up the rest of the Basin and collected 15 bags! Thank you Pack #118 for all of your help, enthusiasm, and being great environmental stewards to our lands and waters!

04/22/2022

As we enter springtime, many animals (including foxes, groundhogs and raccoons) will come out during the day and, while they might look cute, they could be deadly.

Be on the lookout if they are showing abnormal behaviors, such as restlessness, wandering, paralysis, and attacks on other animals and people, as they might have rabies. Never approach a wild animal.

If you are involved in an animal bite incident, go to your nearest emergency room for evaluation and treatment.

Learn more about rabies here: https://go.usa.gov/xukyk

For additional information, you can also visit the U.S. Army Public Health Center website: https://go.usa.gov/xuky9

Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Fort Belvoir MWR Belvoir Spouses' Club BSC The Villages at Belvoir

04/19/2022

Our Wildflower Garden is starting to Bloom!

Come see our garden and other Environmental booths and displays this Friday (April 22nd) from 10:00am -14:00 in Celebration of Earth Day!

04/18/2022

We were featured in Alice Fergusons Potomac Watershed Cleanup! Thank you all once again for your help!

04/13/2022

Species of the Week: Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis)

The Northern Long-eared bat is one of a few species of bats that can be found in our area. Like similar species, the Northern long-eared bat comes out at dusk and is most active at night as it uses echolocation to find food and water. Sadly it is one of the most threatened, due to a fungal pathogen causing widespread disease across much of their range since 2006. So much so that in March of this year the USFWS has proposed a reclassification from threatened to endangered. However, research has shown that colonies may be adapting to this by virtue of staying in coastal environments and not migrating back into caves in the winter. Still though, it is important to continue efforts to protect and conserve their habitat throughout their range!

To Learn more visit: https://www.fws.gov/species/northern-long-eared-bat-myotis-septentrionalis

04/12/2022

Thank you to everyone who came out and helped clean our basin on our Potomac Watershed Cleanup, we couldn't have done it without you! In total 45 amazing volunteers came out and picked up 54 bags of trash!

Hope to see you all at our next event!

04/06/2022

Come Celebrate Earth Day With Us!

04/04/2022

April is Earth Month and here at Fort Belvoir we like to celebrate it by motivating you to take care of our lands and waters, learn about our beautiful natural systems and home, and enjoy the outdoors!

This year, we were fortunate enough to have a fellow Fort Belvoir tenant, who is pursuing a Graduate Degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Management, help educate us on all things environmental! Check out her fun, inspiring, and educational video featuring Baldy E. as they explore wildlife, wetlands, ecosystems, natural resources, biological threats, and climate change!

Thank you Malynda Jones for producing this great video and helping to educate all of us on the importance of Conservation!