Get Involved

Please RSVP here by September 6!

Please join us for an in-person meeting and field visit focused on Riparian Buffer Establishment Research hosted by the Upper & Middle James Riparian Consortium on Tuesday, September 12th, 2023 from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm at the Catawba Sustainability Center in Catawba, VA, followed by a Field Visit at the Roanoke Cement's Riparian Buffer from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Additional information and an email calendar invitation will be sent to those who RSVP.

Location: Catawba Sustainability Center, 4965 Catawba Creek Rd, Catawba, VA

September 12th Schedule:

• 9:30am -11:30am: Come early and explore the Catawba Greenway trail on your own. (Consortium Steering Committee Meeting from 10:00-11:30am)
• 11:30am -12:00pm: Lunch provided
• 12:00pm - 2:00pm: General Meeting
  • Riparian Buffer Establishment Manual and Research Updates from Virginia Tech
  • Alternative Approaches to Buffer Establishment with Deya Ramsden from Virginia Department of Forestry. You'll hear about their experience and lessons learned through their testing of pine and natural regeneration methods in riparian forest buffers. 
  • Pollinator Seed Mixes in Forestry Projects with Angela Larsen-Gray, Senior Research Scientist, Forest Wildlife Ecologist, with National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) on how the forestry sector is considering pollinator-associated seed mixes for erosion control mixes and how it could be used in riparian area restoration
  • Explore topics of buffer establishment in group discussions
• 2:00pm - 4:00pm: Field Visit to Roanoke Cement's 10 year old Riparian Buffer! Hear from the team at Roanoke Cement including Lindsey Layman, Environmental Manager and Patrick McCrady, Corporate Mining Engineer as we explore this award winning buffer of Catawba Creek. Roanoke Cement allotted this site for enhancement and preservation along more than two miles of the creek. More than 16,000 native shrubs and trees were planted to promote the wellness of Catawba Creek.

Please RSVP here by September 6!Please contact Philippa Belsches of Dialogue + Design at philippa@dialogueanddesign.com or 434-989-6874 with any questions.

The CBLP-Buffers certificate course includes 3 sessions:

1. Buffer Basics Webinar – Tuesday, September 26 , 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – online via Zoom
2. Planning & Implementation Workshop – 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM, Choose one: Gettysburg, PA on Thursday, September 28 | central VA, Tuesday, October 10 | Fredrick County, MD  October 26
3. Maintenance Workshop – 9:00 AM – 12 PM, Choose one: Gettysburg, PA on Thursday, October 5, 9:00 AM – 12 PM | central VA Thursday, October 12 | Fredrick County, MD October 27

 Registration fees are:

• CBLP-Buffers certificate course: $250 certified CBLPs/$275 general public
• Buffer Basics webinar alone: $25 certified CBLPs/$35 general public

Due to generous funding for by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources the cost of the Maryland training has been waived for Maryland professionals.

 Scholarship funding is generously provided by the following CBLP partners:

• The James River Association will provide partial scholarships for applicants who work in the Middle and Upper James River watersheds in Virginia, meeting a needs-based criteria.
• Full scholarships for contractors who work in the following Pennsylvania counties:  Adams, Bedford, Centre, Cumberland, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, or York, will be provided by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation with funding from NFWF

There are a limited number of scholarships available. To apply, please email Katie@cblpro.org prior to registering.