Consortium Event
Oct. 23 2024 Consortium Buffer Summit at Maymont
1000 Westover Road
Richmond, VA 23220
The Upper & Middle James Riparian Consortium (Consortium) held our annual Buffer Summit on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at Maymont in Richmond, VA. The theme this year was ‘Nurturing Streamside Ecosystems for a Vibrant Future‘ and included insightful presentations, outdoor tours and demonstrations, mentoring sessions, and even buffer trivia!
Riparian buffer maintenance is consistently highlighted as a need and opportunity for continued – and potentially expanded – focus for the Consortium. In response, maintenance was the focus of the Summit. From a 2024 Consortium recap, James River Buffer update, storytelling of buffers over time, and a new way to look at buffers through the art of ‘slowing down’ – morning presentations demonstrated the breadth of topics related to buffer maintenance. Participants were able to connect in small groups in the spirit of buffers through Buffer Trivia, small group discussions on maintenance challenges, and a sunny lunch on the patio.
A choose-your-own-adventure style afternoon led participants to choose from walking tours like bioretention, tree identification (with complementary bird-watching), and benthic macroinvertebrate discovery; presentations on buffer basics and buffer establishment; and 1:1 mentor sessions. Something for everyone!
Outdoor Session Highlight: The benthic station spent time with some adorable macroinvertebrates that live on the bottom of waterways in mud, leaf litter, and fallen limbs. These creatures are fantastic indicators of water quality and are therefore important for buffer lovers to be able to identify! (Pictured in second image)
Indoor Session Highlight: The final presentation of the day was “Buffers 101” – this included considerations on invasive species management, tree shelters, and more. We really do believe the Consortium is for all buffer lovers and those even a little curious, and were happy to have this session to help introduce buffers!
Thank you to Maymont for welcoming us and to the Consortium Steering and Planning Committees for your support in making the day a success. The Consortium extends its appreciation to the summit presenters David Wise, Stroud Water Research Center; Maggie Dombroski, Izaak Walton League of America; Kevin McLean, Department of Environmental Quality; John Munsell, Virginia Tech; Patti Nylander, Virginia Department of Forestry; Bobby Whitescarver, Whiskey Creek Regenerative Farming; Em White, Em White Photography; and Sean Proietti, Maymont. Thank you also to David Wise, Stroud Water Research Center; Caitlin Verdu, Department of Forestry ; Anne Marie Roberts, James River Association; Matt Kowalski, Chesapeake Bay Foundation; and Shereen Hughes, Wetlands Watch/Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Program for holding mentoring sessions during the event.
