Pacemaker Fishing Forum

The  Potomac River Smallmouth Club will start 2012 with a conservation theme as our January speaker Brent Walls discusses his role and experiences as Upper Potomac Riverkeeper. Brent joined Potomac Riverkeeper as the Upper Potomac River Manager in September 2009. Brent previously spent several years as the Watershed Coordinator at the Chester River Association, where he worked closely with the Chester Riverkeeper, and he acted as interim Riverkeeper on two occasions. He has extensive experience conducting water quality monitoring programs, coordinating volunteers, investigating pollution, and initiating enforcement actions.

Environmental issues that Brent has taken on include the D&L Coal Tipple Site where there were severe coal-tainted stormwater pollution problems where the sediment would flow into the North Branch of the Potomac River. Thanks to Brent’s efforts, D&L Coal has taken steps to stop the problem. This problem was originally brought to the River Manager’s attention by a citizen complaint, reinforcing the need for fishermen to report pollution issues.

Since becoming the Upper Potomac River Manager, Brent has been involved with cases large and small – from investigating abandoned vehicles left in creeks to monitoring the development of fracking wells for natural gas extraction to fighting a proposed quarry that would drastically change the historic town of Gerrardstown, WV.  Brent’s profile was certainly raised when he and Potomac Riverkeeper Ed Merrifield, along with their team of pro bono attorneys, went before the West Virginia Surface Mining Board to oppose the approval of the proposed quarry.

This is bound to be an interesting talk on a topic important to all of us.

The meeting starts at 7:15 PM at the Vienna Fire Station, 400 Center St., Vienna, VA