Prepare for Flooding
Flooding can be a very costly disaster. Flooding can occur not only in identified high-risk areas, but may also occur in areas that may not have been identified as high risk. More than 20 percent of flood claims are from low to moderate flood risk areas.
Get tips to reduce your risk of flooding here.
Flood Resilient Arlington News
In response to escalating inland flooding and flood risk, the County has been
working on several fronts to improve flood resilience. Get the latest updates
Holiday Wreath Workshop
12/4/21. 1-4 PM. Adults. Using all-natural items we’ll create some delightfully decorative crafts you can use to spruce up your home or give as special gifts. We’ll provide music, refreshments, basic instruction and enough materials for each participant to make two wreaths. Participants should bring hand pruners or wire cutters (if you have them) and any extra materials or special decorations you may wish to add. Teens ages 12 and up are welcome, but must be accompanied by a registered adult. For information: 703-228-6535. Meet at Lubber Run Community Center, Oak Room, 300 N Park Drive, Arlington.
Paper Shredding and Inert Material Dropoff
December 4, 8-4:30
- Paper shredding is for Arlington County, Virginia residents only (sorry, businesses are not allowed).
- Limit of two boxes (no larger than 18 in. x 11 in. x 10 in.), or two paper bags per customer.
- Acceptable: paper (including staples, paper clips), checks/checkbooks.
- Unacceptable: magazines, catalogs, credit cards, three-ring binders or phone book-sized material.
- Already shredded paper accepted; do not place shredded paper in blue recycling carts as it is too unwieldy for regular sorting.
- In a repeating process, paper is collected in a cart that fills rapidly and is then emptied into the shredder; participants can watch as their contributions are destroyed.
New to Nature: Becoming a Naturalist
12/5/21. 1-2 PM. Adults. Are you interested in nature, animals, plants, and the outdoors but don't know where to start? Join us to learn how to get started understanding the wonderful world of nature, from identifying plants and animals by sight and sometimes sound, to learning how they interact with each other in their ecosystems. For information: 703-228-6535. Meet at Long Branch Nature Center. Register here.
Provide Your Budget Feedback!
County Manager Mark Schwartz is seeking your feedback to help inform the FY 2023 Budget. Tell us your FY 2023 operating budget priorities online now through Dec. 20, and join the County Manager and staff for a Facebook Live budget town hall on Wed., Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m.!”
Online budget feedback form, available in several languages:
Become a Tree Steward!
Tree Stewards of Arlington & Alexandria will begin a new membership class in late January 2022, and applications are being accepted via this Google Form now through December 31, 2021.
This will be a hybrid training of weekly Zoom presentations (both live and pre-recorded) and assigned readings you do at your own home. In person weekend sessions with experienced Tree Stewards will provide discussions of that week’s Zoom and readings, hold tree walks, practice pruning and planting, and teach the correct way to identify and remove invasive plants.
The schedule of classes will be announced in November 2021 — although we’ve all learned to be flexible this past year!
Plant Nova Trees
The Plant NOVA Natives partnership is launching Plant NOVA Trees, a five year drive to significantly increase and preserve the native tree canopy in Northern Virginia. The drive launches in September 2021 and continues through the fall of 2026. PNT is looking for people who can organize some kind of tree-related public event sometime this fall. To launch the native tree campaign, PNT will be sponsoring a region-wide Celebration of Trees, September through November. Learn more and volunteer at plantnovatrees.org
Arlington Reads: Forces of Change
A fast-changing climate is affecting communities worldwide and poses far reaching multi-dimensional challenges to ecological, political, economic and social systems. As each community responds to a changing world, Arlington Public Library announces the virtual 2021 Arlington Reads: Forces of Change author talk fall series hosted by Library Director Diane Kresh.
Four thought-provoking authors — environmental activist Catherine Coleman Flowers (September 30), journalist and science policy expert Bina Venkataraman (October 21), writer-at-large Nathaniel Rich (November 18) and Cameroonian-American novelist and short-story writer Imbolo Mbue (December 9) — will share their powerful voices to address:
- environmental justice and equal access to our world’s basic resources
- long-term decision making and global health policy
- the history of the climate change movement
- a fictional account of how a small village reacts to an environmental crisis
Getting to Carbon Neutrality: Creating a Pathway to Zero Carbon Buildings
Thursday, January 6, 2022, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Virtual via Zoom
In this webinar, the final in the three-part Getting to Carbon Neutrality series, industry and policy experts will offer insights on how to transform our built environment to equitably decarbonize our homes and offices. Transforming building practices and marshaling the resources to retrofit existing buildings will require support from federal, state, and local governments. More information …
Stream Cleanup at Barcroft Park
- January 17, 2022, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Barcroft Park, 4200 Four Mile Run Dr.
- Registration recommended by 9 a.m. Friday, January 14
In honor of a day on, not a day off, join us for an In-Person cleanup at Barcroft Park. We’ll celebrate the day with volunteers cleaning up trash and debris from Four Mile Run and the surrounding streets. All ages are welcome, adults must accompany children.
The MLK event will be from 9 a.m.-12 noon in two shifts: 9-10:15 and 10:30-11:45. Please choose a shift when registering. More information and registration
Rain Gardens for Homeowners
Did you miss the recent rain garden webinar? Watch the video!
Rain gardens, also known as bioretention areas, are attractive landscape features that allow rain water and snow melt to infiltrate into the ground. A layer of mulch and plants intercept water running off streets, driveways, and rooftops, slowing its flow and removing pollutants before the water reaches local streams, the Occoquan River and the Potomac River, drinking water supplies for the region.
My Tree Counts
Every tree planted makes a difference to the health of our communities and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) and partners want to highlight tree planting projects from across the state. Submit your tree planting to show that your tree counts towards Virginia’s efforts to #ProtectOurBay! We’ll share these stories on the Community Tree Map and social media with #MyTreeCounts. MyTreeCounts
Forestry and Natural Resources Plan
The Forestry and Natural Resources Plan (FNRP) is an update to the 2004 Urban Forest Master Plan and the 2010 Natural Resources Management Plan. This plan will collectively address the conservation, planting, and management of trees and unique ecosystems in Arlington County.
The scope of this project includes an analysis of Arlington’s existing conditions and planning for a greater future. Research methods in the forms of benchmarking, focus groups and community engagement will help inform many components of this plan. This plan will cover topics regarding impacts and opportunities related to Arlington’s tree canopy, natural lands, urban development, wildlife, recreation, public education and stewardship among others. Sign up for updates on this process here!
Backyard Habitat Webinars
Join David Mizjewski from the National Wildlife Federation for webinars on Backyard Habitat and Saving Pollinators. David is one of the leaders of the Garden for Wildlife movement, writing a best-selling how-to book on the subject, hosting the Animal Planet series "Backyard Habitat" and doing thousands of media appearances promoting native plants and natural gardening to support birds, butterflies and other wildlife.
