Protecting Mt. Vernon's Fisheries

The 44th District is fortunate to serve as the sentinel "guarding" our border with Maryland.  The Potomac River is a true asset and Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) helps to keep it thriving and to restore it.  Outdoor activities like fishing and hunting create millions of dollars of economic activity in the Commonwealth.

DGIF's has a team of biologists who continually monitor the our areas creeks and rivers.  It is funded nearly entirely by licensing fees for fishing and hunting, and grants.

DGIF's biologist in our area is John Odenkirk.  I have taken several trips with him to learn about his efforts to study and monitor the Potomac's Snakehead population which originated in Dogue Creek and Little Hunting Creek.  Here's some of my prior posts:

The Dixie Pig: Shadding on the Potomac (May 15, 2014)

The Dixie Pig: Mt. Vernon Snakeheads in the News! (Apr. 30, 2013)

The Dixie Pig: Snakeheads in the 44th District (June 11, 2012)

The Dixie Pig: Snakeheads in Mt. Vernon (June 27, 2010)

DGIF publishes a series of videos called "The Fish Head Chronicles" on Facebook.  One of their latest versions focuses on John's Mount Vernon fish monitoring and removal of an invasive species called the water chestnut.  You can see the passion he brings to his job in the video.  You can watch it here.

Post by VDGIF Region 4 Aquatics.

Enjoy the video and make sure you "Like" their page on Facebook!

44th District School Report Cards

The Virginia State Board of Education has issued its academic report cards for all of the schools in the 44th District.

I will write more later on the significance of these results.  The schools that changed status from last year are West Potomac HS, Whitman MS, and Hybla Valley ES.

44th District Schools 2012-13 Academic Report Cards 

School	Accredited	FRM Population	Limited English Proficient	Link
Overall Fairfax County	Fully Accredited	27.83%		Report  Card
West Potomac HS	With  Warning	42.22%	16.03%	Report  Card
Mt. Vernon HS	With  Warning	55.8%	16.83%	Report  Card
Hayfield Secondary	Fully Accredited	32.16%	9.32%	Report  Card
Carl Sandburg MS	Fully Accredited	44.82%	17.74%	Report  Card
Whitman MS	With  Warning	60.45%	22.54%	Report  Card
Belleview ES	Fully Accredited	33.64%	23.22%	Report  Card
Bucknell ES	With  Warning	78.09%	44.17%	Report  Card
Fort Belvoir ES	Fully Accredited	30.5%	4.14%	Report  Card
Fort Hunt ES	Fully Accredited	32.31%	12.65%	Report  Card
Groveton ES	Fully Accredited	72.29%	54.66%	Report  Card
Hayfield ES	Fully Accredited	10.93%	11.66%	Report  Card
Hollin Meadows ES	Fully Accredited	54.15%	34.77%	Report  Card
Hybla Valley ES	Fully Accredited	90.39%	66.96%	Report  Card
Mt. Vernon Woods ES	With  Warning	84.3%	53.18%	Report  Card
Riverside ES	Fully Accredited	66.04%	40.27%	Report  Card
Stratford ES	Fully Accredited	18.96%	5.84%	Report  Card
Washington Mill ES	With  Warning	56.4%	34.86%	Report  Card
Waynewood ES	Fully Accredited	1.66%	4.28%	Report  Card
Woodlawn ES	With  Warning	63.29%	25.10%	Report  Card
Woodley Hills ES	Fully Accredited	69.64%	52.16%	Report  Card