River Management Society Supporting Professionals Who Study, Protect, and Manage RMS SPRING 2016 VOLUME 29, NO. 1 North America’s Rivers The Anacostia Watershed Society seeks to make the Anacostia River and its watershed a first class recreational asset in the region. From Forgotten to Valued: Restoring the National Capital’s Anacostia River by Anacostia Watershed Society staff: Jorge Bogantes Montero, Ashley Parker, Joanna Fisher, and Ariel Trahan When the Anacostia Watershed indirect anthropic impacts have created Northeast Focus Society (AWS) was founded in 1989, a completely different river running the Anacostia River was a poster child through the political heart of the world’s New Hampshire Inventory .................... 4 for truly neglected urban waterways. biggest economy. The river’s aquatic Nestled in the nation’s capital amidst ecosystems and riparian forests are now The Bronx River.................................... 6 industrial and urban areas, the river was just a shadow of what they used to be. Bronx River Parkway ............................ 8 plagued by tremendous amounts of trash, When the Europeans arrived in the early Wardensville, West Virginia ................ 10 sewage, pollutants, sediment, and a 17th century, there was a population very bad reputation that blighted nearby of Native Americans living along the Connecticut River Controlled Flow ..... 12 communities already suffering from social Anacostia River. They were Algonquian- Large Woody Debris ........................... 16 and economic inequity. speaking peoples and lived in a village Building Capacity on the North ........... 18 In the 19th century, extensive east of the river called Nacotchtank marshes in the Anacostia River thrived (where the Anacostia gets its name). These XWN Workshop - Recap .................... 23 with Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica) and cultures flourished with the abundant A Tribute to Gary G. Marsh ................. 24 were prime habitat for Sora Rail, which natural resources that the river provided. Boise Symposium - Agenda ............... 26 attracted armies of hunters who prized A fishery perhaps unfathomable by the Anacostia marshes as some of the today’s standards, the river teemed with 2016 River Ranger Rendezvous ........ 33 finest in the region for rail hunting. migratory shad, perch, catfish, sturgeon, RMS 2015 Financial Report ............... 36 Over 400 hundred years of direct and and other species. These people practiced (continued on page 20) Executive Director’s Eddy RMS President’s Corner RMS Main Office During the past year we have been Your board recently received an email with the subject line “the Risa Shimoda, Executive Director inspired by members’ tremendous only constant is change” from our longest serving member, Gary PO Box 5750, Takoma Park, MD 20913-5750 involvement and contribution. Early in Marsh, announcing his intention to resign from the RMS Board tel / fax (301) 585-4677 “The only constant is change.” [email protected] 2015, new chapter officers were eager at the Boise Symposium. This issue of our journal is dedicated to ask lots of questions. Bylaws were to Gary G. Marsh and the service he has provided to RMS and Executive Committee Helen Clough, President reviewed, and most were revised to our predecessor organization, the American River Management Juneau, AK (907) 321-4004 reflect new officer roles. While trips were Society. Gary has served as an ex-officio advisor for 27 years – [email protected] cancelled as a result of short advanced joining the board in 1989! Linda Jalbert, Vice President promotion and resultant low signups, Grand Canyon, AZ (928) 638-7909 our resilient chapter leaders quickly So often we dedicate in memory of someone—it is much more [email protected] rescheduled them for 2016 to create one of fun and I hope more meaningful to dedicate something to a Jennifer Jones, Secretary the fullest schedules we’ve seen in years! legend who is very much alive. Gary has served every RMS Moab, UT (435) 259-2136 [email protected] A few shout outs are in order. Board of Directors. We have recognized his contributions to Scott Springer has stepped down from the Society and to river management previously – in 1998 he Randy Welsh, Treasurer Risa Shimoda, RMS Executive Director Ogden, UT (801) 808-2167 thirteen-years of awesome service to RMS received the “Outstanding Contribution to River Management [email protected] as our Professional Purchase Coordinator. Society” award; followed in 2010 by the award for “Outstanding He has supported this program behind the thanks to RMS members Marina Metes Contribution to River Management.” Dave Schade, Chapter Representative Anchorage, AK (907) 267-1246 scenes with great patience and diligence, (DC), Susan Rosebrough (WA), Caitlin [email protected] and has soldiered through a number of Scopel (CA), Erik Wrede (MN), Dave Some of the things Gary has done for RMS and river At-Large Board Member ‘customer service’ challenges endemic Cerniceck and Brian Goldberg (WY), Tom management in general are very visible – his years with the Mike Wight to the world of retail. If you have an O’Keefe and Joel McCune (WA). We’ve Bureau of Land Management and his diverse and regular emails Durango, CO (970) 749-2796 [email protected] opportunity to give him a pat on the also been blessed with stalwart expertise sharing information on just about anything that might be remotely back, please do, for we cannot thank him from UT Chattanooga. Support from the relevant to rivers, river management, and sometimes just life in Ex-Officio Advisors enough. National Park Service and Forest Service general. Dennis Willis, Immediate Past President Price, UT (435) 650-0850 Looking ahead, Judy Culver and early work by Zac Cole (NC), Sera [email protected] (Cottonwood, ID) has stepped up to this Zegre (WV) and Joan Harn (DC) has Other things Gary does are less visible. He has been instrumental Gary G. Marsh role, and Anja Wadman (Price, UT) will be made the effort possible, and we can’t in the establishment of the River Studies and Leadership Mountain City, TN (423) 768-3621 right behind her to help out and step in if thank them each enough for their vision Certificate program. He took Lisa Klinger’s excellent history [email protected] Judy is away. In our ‘transition’ call with and enthusiasm. of RMS and augmented and updated it. He helped index our Lori Potter Scott, these ladies were brimming with Communicating RMS’ value to newsletters and Journals. He has been the author and regular Denver, CO (303) 825-7000 ideas for our next ProPurchase chapter: current and future members – Early this updater of the very detailed planned giving policy (how to leave [email protected] look for news and updates! winter, Jennifer Reed (Alaska Chapter) your money to RMS). Most importantly he has always been a John Putnam Year in, year out – Chet Crowser soldiered us through a process to tap the source of support to whoever is occupying other leadership roles Denver, CO (303) 825-7000 [email protected] has been at the ready to help RMS with minds and hearts of RMS members, both in the organization. its website administration. Despite the brand new and among the longest, whose Web Page Coordinator Cheston Crowser (406) 273-4747 growth of both his job responsibilities and work requires them to communicate I hope Gary and I will see you in Boise in May. When you see [email protected] family size, he still makes time for RMS effectively. Raucous applause goes to Gary, please thank him for his accomplishments and hard work when we come calling. Thank you, Chet! Jennifer, our focus group participants and tell him how much you have appreciated his work on our Professional Purchase Coordinator Scott Springer (541) 490-5289 Another object of thanks is Caroline Kurz, Cassie Thomas, Rachel Collins, Tom behalf. It will be harder for me not having him on our board; but I Gary G. Marsh on the Lower Salmon River, Idaho. Photo: Caroline Kurz [email protected] our former Program Director and RMS Mottl, Julie Thorner, and Doug Whittaker, know I will still be able to pick his brain any time I need because Merchandise Coordinator Journal Editor. Since her ‘retirement’ and those whose late conflicts prevented Gary is just that kind of person—always giving; always sharing. members are the gauging cfs of RMS. The board needs more Linda Jalbert (928) 638-7909 from RMS administration, Caroline has their attendance. Check RMS out in Boise funds and elbow grease, not advice. May this gauging cfs (flow) [email protected] helped us grow the quality of our quarterly to learn the results of the focus group The following excerpts from Gary’s recent email exemplify his continue to increase as a reflection of the Chapters’ diversity and RMS Journal publication with her uber-reliable input and participate in an expansion of generous and humble leadership style: strength.” Caroline Kurz (406) 549-0514 professionalism seasoned with delightfully our input-seeking initiative. [email protected] patient flexibility. Thank you Caroline, for Please stay tuned as we develop the “In addition, after 27 years on the Board I think it’s time to “As a Lifetime member, I’m not disappearing and will always do RMS is a non-profit professional organization. keeping us on track! next RMS Strategic Plan, asking ourselves allow someone else to serve and contribute at the pleasure of what I can for this great organization and family. I look forward All contributions and membership dues are tax-deductible. The National River Recreation how well we’ve done and how the path the Board. How does one reflect upon 27 years of serving the to seeing you along with many other friends in Boise.” Database – This giant project is moving toward tomorrow should flow. We will only professional society dedicated to river managers? A lot of Editorial Policy: Articles are not edited for content and may not reflect the position, forward, and members have been eager embrace the wisdom provided by our memories indeed.