Beaver dam analogs, also known as BDAs, are man-made structures built out of wood and other natural resources designed to replicate the form and function of beaver dams. ACP began working on BDAs this year with the intent to help restore freshwater ecosystems and make possible habitats more suitable for beavers. Being that BDAs are […]
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Category: Rapidan Institute
The Virginia Wildlife Habitat Cooperative, a sector of the Center, is working with residents of Gordonsville, VA to develop pollinator and quail corridors through neighboring land parcels. These corridors are simply designated areas on the owner’s land that we work with to promote an environment that is as close to its natural state as much […]
I don’t think we can get very far with the Bay until we bring back substantial populations of the North American Beaver – and I know this is a crazy idea. And it may be impossible to much implement for lots of reasons. Nevertheless we could at least talk about it more. My beaver-fever is […]
Perhaps COVID will provide some greater awakening on the interdependence of biodiversity and human health. Our contracting services SoilKeepers and the Virginia Wildlife Habitat Cooperative enhance soil, plant, and animal biodiversity for residential, estate, and agricultural clients in the mid-Atlantic region. https://www.sciencealert.com/daycares-in-finland-built-a-backyard-forest-and-it-changed-children-s-immune-systems
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Legacy Sediment
Legacy sediment is a hidden issue that plagues many of the eastern US watersheds where a combination of agriculture, mill dams and deforestation occurred in the 19th century. Much of the Rapidan watershed was deforested for agriculture causing massive erosion into stream valleys. There were also many water powered mills that trapped sediment on floodplains. A few dams […]
The Rapidan Institute in Partnership with the Virginia Wildlife Habitat Cooperative (contractor) has received approval of a proposal to study creation of North American Beaver habitat for a tributary of Goose Creek, in the Potomac watershed. Locations for the creation of Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs) will be evaluated and a construction budget will be created. […]
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The Triple Bottom Line
There are any number of ways to make our community better, and any number of ways to address perceived problems. Within the international development community, a movement to link community, economy, and environment was dubbed the triple bottom line approach back in the 1980’s. Since then the business community, nonprofits (e.g. Grayson Landcare in Grayson County, VA), and governments have adopted […]
Climate change predictions have been cussed and discussed since the 1970s. The latest report paints a fairly grim picture as it looks like a temperature increase of 4.6° Fahrenheit is inevitable in our lifetime. Like recalcitrant children, we balk at dire predictions that we can’t see with our own eyes. Climate doesn’t work that way, and humans, especially Americans, are […]
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In Praise of Elymus
The Rapidan Institute is focused on East Coast rivers floodplain re-connection and resilience. There are relics remaining of what pre-European floodplain and terraces looked like prior to the advent of industrial agriculture. The Floodplain Savanna appears to be a stable ecosystem configuration of trees and perennial native grasses. Bottlebrush and River Ryes along with River […]