Rivanna Conservation Alliance

I have volunteered with RCA for a few years now and have only positive things to say! They do a great job teaching an certifying volunteers to go out and perform benthic macroinvertebrate samples. I have also had great times helping with tree plantings, meadow maintenance, and paddling the river to collect trash. Everyone who works there is very nice, and they have made noticeable contributions to watershed health in the area.

I have been associated with the Rivanna Conservation Alliance (RCA) for almost ten years, starting as a volunteer and currently serving on the Board of Directors, as well as volunteering. In caring for the Rivanna River and it’s watershed, RCA addresses the three components of community science, education, and stewardship in their work. They have a dedicated and long serving corps of volunteers, and work with a number of Community partners, ensuring the health and safety of the Rivanna river. The staff is welcoming, and work diligently to obtain meaningful grants and donations to support the good work they do.

I've been a volunteer with the Rivanna Conservation Alliance for over a year now, doing everything from fundraising to river cleanups and water quality monitoring. My experience volunteering with RCA has been an overwhelmingly positive one. The RCA is focused on protecting our local waterways and educating people about the importance of environmental conservation. They are a valuable resource in our community and I will continue to support their efforts.

I have learned so much, met great people, and have got to see parts of Charlottesville and Virginia I never would have been able to if not for my volunteer position as a benthic monitor with RCA. This organization is such a vital part of our community and I'm honored to be a part of it!

We are fortunate to live along a beautiful river and to have in RCA an organization with a remarkably talented staff and a dedicated group of volunteers working to protect and promote it. RCA programs range from highly technical water quality monitoring and river buffer plantings to recreational paddling and river clean-up drives all accomplished largely by volunteers. As a board member and volunteer I am proud of the work that RCA does both in conservation and in increasing community awareness and appreciation of the Rivanna River.

I've been vounteering with Rivanna Conservation Alliance for 10 years. They provide abundant opportunities for community involvement in protecting our local water resources ... bacteria contamination and benthic organism monitoring, riparian buffer restoration, stream/river cleanups, and education. Events are always well organized.

I have served as a volunteer for both the benthic and bacteria sampling programs for about 2 years and have very much enjoyed my experience. I am constantly learning more about freshwater conservation through RCA's different programs and opportunities. Getting involved with RCA has helped me add a deeper sense of meaningfulness to my life and connectedness with the natural world. Thank you RCA and staff for all that you do and I hope to continue to be a part of RCA ongoings!
-Sam D

RCA has opened my eyes to things I’ve never really paid much attention to before, and has given me a variety of rewarding volunteer experience. From water sampling, to helping educate middle schoolers, maintaining riparian buffers, and especially benthic monitoring, there are so many great ways to get involved.

The Rivanna River Paddle with a Purpose clean up afternoons have been great. My kids and I paddle with other RCA volunteers and learn about the river while cleaning up trash. Fun with a purpose.

I have been with Rivanna Conservation Alliance for 5 years. I started with monthly water testing, now I do stream testing, stream clean up, clean water education, and other events.
RCA has opened my eyes and many others to the importance of clean water and the contribution each of us can make.
AND ITS FUN.

Great coordination of volunteer work for students and groups.

Great alignment of mission and resources--engaging the community and volunteers in a way that connects them to the health of the Rivanna River and makes want to commit to improving it.

RCS is top notch! As a member, I appreciate the information they provide, the programs they offer and the continuing efforts to protect the river. they know what they are doing, and they do it well. What more could you ask for from a community nonprofit? Thank you, Robbi and crew.

As a member of the RCS Board of Directors, I have the privilege of routinely witnessing the incredible work this organization manages to do on a shoestring budget. Our staff is as personally devoted to our mission as they are professionally, and it shows in what they're able to accomplish. It has been a great experience to work with fellow Board members who recognize the true value of this resource that flows through our community, and who devote so much time to making sure that others experience--and ultimately, appreciate--more of the Rivanna's many benefits.

Over the past seveal years my family and I have participated in the RCS River Clean Ups, the Buffer Plantiings and the Geocaching at the Scheier Natural Area. Each event has been exceptionally well planned and implemented and my three sons enjoy being outdoors and at the same time helping to the improve the community's environment. If RCS didn't exist, someone would have to create it because their work is essential!

I am a water management professional from another state and have not had first hand experience with the Rivanna Conservation Society. However, I have known and worked with Ms. Savage, the Executive Director, for over 20 years in her professional capacity and I know her to be a very capable director. An investor in support of this conservation group will be well served by the significant knowledge, expertise and attention to detail that Ms. Savage exhibits in all tasks she performs. Because I believe in the mission of this fine organization, I am a member even though I do not live in the state. The work of this fine organization deserves financial support from those who care about preserving our precious natural resources.

The Rivanna Conservation Society has contributed greatly to the Greene County Park in two ways. They have joined with several other organizations to find grants, implement plantings and educate the public as to why the plantings will help the park, the stream that runs through it and the rivers near by. Great strides have been made this year in the development of this park. A massive seedling tree planting on 3 barren hills was organized this spring. This fall a wonderful educational day was planned with RCA in a lead roll. Five or six organizations joined together to have educational booths set up all over the developed portion of the park. They were very innovative and the public received the effort with enthusiasm.

RCS is a fabulous, effective grass-roots organization that serves to support the health of the Rivanna River. The services it provides, as well as the education of our youth is invaluable. It is the one river organization that actually takes young people out to the river to have a true interactive experience. RCS also manages the Scheier Natural Area in Fluvanna County. This is a 100 acre nature preserve that is used for hiking, educational programs and watershed protection.

Since 1990, RCS has organized river and creek clean-ups, river floats, riparian forest buffer plantings, and a range of water quality monitoring activities. RCS provides high quality environmental education programs and resources for schools, public officials, and other community and civic groups. Since 2005, RCS's ability to support full-time staff has greatly increased the group's presence in local schools and its ability to influence local governments on a day-to day basis in support of improved local environmental and watershed management policies and ordinances. RCS was a founding member of the multi-organization Rivanna-wide StreamWatch water monitoring initiative and remains active in the StreamWatch effort to obtain and publicize high-quality long-term data for environmental conditions and trends in the Rivanna watershed.

RCS has partnered with Charlottesville Albemarle Airport to help us become a more knowledgeable about the watershed and our impact on water as far away as the Chesapeake Bay. RCS also brought us the opportunity to increase our stream buffers by 100 feet and helped make it happen. RCS is a responsible, well-managed non-profit that operates quietly in the community to help ensure stewardship of the local watershed as well as educate citizens on the importance of clean and abundant water. I hope Central Virginia citizens recognize how much RCS accomplishes with a frugal budget and few employees. Please consider RCS as a long-term financial commitment, it is worth the investment now as well as for future generations.

RCS is a great group. I'm a member. From river clean ups to on-the-ground direct improvements like dam removal and field trips for kids, this group of mostly volunteers gets a lot done on a small budget. Groups like RCS all over the country are responsible for helping keep our local rivers and drinking water clean. I strongly endorse this group and encourage you to join or donate, or just get involved. Jason Halbert Charlottesville, VA