I. General

This is the second annual status report on the progress of the Chapter's stream improvement efforts at Big Spring Creek, our adopted stream, near Leesburg, VA. Last year's report described the results of the 3 major work days held during the first half of 2002, following our signing an agreement with 2 landowners on February 24, 2002 whereby we agreed to rehabilitate the stream and the landowners agreed to permit a program of limited, managed catch-and-release fly fishing. To date both parties have scrupulously carried out the pledges to which they agreed.

II. Stream Improvements.

(a). On November 16, 2002 a work day was held for the purpose of planting trees. The 15 volunteers from the Chapter who were on hand planted 122 trees, of which 36 were the larger balled-and-burlap type. The principal landowner paid about 2/3 of the cost of the trees, and the Chapter paid 1/3. This event was the subject of an article in the Loudoun Times Mirror newspaper.

(b). Because of the snow melt and extraordinarily heavy spring rains and resulting flooding, no work days were held during the first half of 2003. The first work day of our second year at the Creek took place on July 12, 2003. At that time, 25 volunteers continued the Chapter's earlier efforts to reduce erosion and limit sedimentation by pulling back and stabilizing stream banks which threatened to collapse, installing cedar revetments, and constructing a large hay bale gabion. We continued our earlier practice of using these "soft" engineering techniques rather than introducing rebar, cement erosion control devices such as "A-Jacks", and other more intrusive materials. A benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring survey conducted that day revealed the presence of various insect larvae which are intolerant of pollution and are only found in clean waters.

(c). Our second major work day was held on November 1, 2003. A total of 20 volunteers from the Chapter graded, matted, and planted a long 250' section of impaired bank and other shorter sections as well. Cedar revetments were installed and a rock vane deflector was built to relocate the flow away from a threatened bank.

(d). The third major work day of the year took place on November 18, 2003. The principal focus was on planting. Twenty-one volunteers participated. The group planted a total of 576 small "live stake" trees, with most placed between the flood plain and the water's edge in order to reinforce and stabilize the banks. The volunteers also installed a cedar revetment, planted grass, and relocated the left-over construction materials up a hillside, so that they would not be damaged in case of winter flooding.

(e). It should also be pointed out that volunteers from other organizations participated on these work days in addition to those from our Chapter. The VA Department of Forestry, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, and Adams County (PA) TU also worked alongside our Chapter members.

III. Agreement.

Northern VA TU executed a new agreement with the 2 landowners on February 24, 2003. This contract, which replaced our initial "trial" agreement, governs our presence and activities at Big Spring Creek for a 3-year period, through December 31, 2005. Parking rules for fishermen were relaxed under the terms of the new agreement. This agreement reflects the landowners' growing confidence and trust in our Chapter and our practice of delivering on our promises.

IV. Fishing.

In 2003, fishing trips to Big Spring Creek by TU members increased by about 1/3 over the levels reached during 2002. Many anglers enjoyed multi-fish days, and a few caught wild rainbows in the 11"-13" range. Periodic turbid water during part of the summer which entered the creek from a tributary may have curtailed fishing productivity, but the water consistently ran clear during the last quarter of the year. Again this year, the fact that multi-year classes of trout were caught is indicative of a healthy population. In nearly every case, authorization to fish was provided for the day and time requested. To date there have not been any reported problems related to TU anglers on the private property, nor reports of trespassing and fishing by non-TU fishermen, a cause for concern on the part of the landowners when this program began.

V. Financial.

Two initiatives are currently underway which could alleviate some of the Chapter's financial burden in paying for the materials and services to support the Big Spring Creek rehabilitation project:

(a). Embrace-A-Stream Grant. We have submitted a proposal to national TU for a one-to-one matching grant under the Embrace-A-Stream program to cover the expenses of materials and services at one full Saturday and one half weekday work day in early 2004. These two days efforts should complete all major work on our adopted stream, from the Route 15 bridge to the Spring Creek Lane bridge. Subsequently, our work there is expected to be largely limited to structure maintenance only.

(b). Corporate Support. Our Financial Resources committee has prepared a Power Point presentation to take to business and corporate sponsors for solicitation of donations in support of this and other stream projects, our youth programs, and other Chapter activities. We hope to begin meeting with our first business and corporate representatives in the early spring.<

VI. The Future.

(a). Depending upon the volume of winter and spring rains, we intend to try to schedule the first full work day of 2004 in early March, before the state-sanctioned moratorium takes effect which prohibits work in rainbow trout streams during the period March 15 - May 15. If our half day planting day cannot be undertaken in early spring, after the full work day, it will probably not take place until October or November, and that would be unfortunate.

(b). When our 3-year agreement expires at the end of 2005, our preference is to replace it with a new permanent agreement with no terminal date. If this idea is more than the landowners can comfortably accept, we intend to try to initiate a new long-term agreement covering a minimum period of 3 to 5 years.

(c). When the major work on the adopted area is completed in 2004, our plan is to investigate how to proceed towards successfully adopting from the Homeowners' Association the next stream segment downstream, between Spring Creek Lane and Twin Maple Lane. We fully recognize that negotiating with a disparate group of homeowners may be far more complex than dealing with only two landowners, with both interested in improving the stream, but it seems worthwhile to make our most determined effort.

VII. Conclusion.

During the past two years, more than 80% of the adopted section of the stream has been rehabilitated through the installation of erosion control measures, thanks to the more than 170 conservation-minded volunteers who contributed their time and labor to this important Chapter commitment. This project has been publicized in TU's "Trout" magazine and in the local Loudoun Times Mirror newspaper. The Virginia Council of TU honored our Chapter recently with an award in recognition of the success of this project. Our landowners have generously continued to help by reimbursing the Chapter for the cost of the barbecues on work days. Our efforts achieve an important objective: to help preserve the unique wild rainbow trout population at Big Spring Creek, which is directly responsive to the mission of TU to "conserve, protect and restore North America's trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds".