IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE OF AMERICA Fredericksburg-Rappahannock Chapter

Conservation of natural flora and fauna and support of local civic activities in their enjoyment - maintain a 123-1cre natural park-like property having wooded, grassy, and water spaces along with service buildings for equipment and recreational pursuits. During the active growing season, this entails using organizational volunteers to mow the grassy areas, remove weed growth, and trim the overgrowth near fences and wood lines. The property serves as an ecological sanctuary inside a growing suburban community that supports a variety of wildlife including bear, deer, beaver, otter, fish, waterfowl, hawks, eagles, and reptiles such as turtles and snakes. Maintenance of the property requires the purchase of equipment like mowers, trimmers, and chainsaws accompanied by fuel, battery, and repair costs. The property hosts a variety of civic activities including active support for scouts (boy, girl, cub, etc.) and 4_H youth. Training is provided in archery and shooting sports.

Pond and fishing - Maintain an aquatic reservoir of fresh water that serves as a fishery for angling and boating recreation. The chapter's 7-acre pond serves as a source of education and recreation for members and disabled veterans we host as part of the program known as Project Healing Waters. The pond supports kayaking and fishing from electric or human-powered boats. In Project Healing Waters, disabled military veterans are hosted with restorative activities involving artificial fly tying, fly rod assembly, and fishing for trout and other sport fish. The water in the retention pond is aerated and treated to support healthy aquatic life and the dam is maintained to avoid soil erosion in the downstream stream bed. fish are stocked to support fly fishing activity for disabled military veterans in the region. This year we refurbished an old pontoon boat to serve as a stable and large floating fishing platform that people with mobility issues can use to get out in the middle of the pond for a true fishing experience.

Maintain an Apiary - The chapter maintains an apiary (honeybee colonies) to aid in the pollination of flowers and fruit trees in the local geographic area. The apiary consists of normally 10 hives which are used for the pollination of local flowering fruit trees and flowers in the local vicinity. The bees produce honey and beeswax products used for revenue through the purchase of the beeswax and donations towards the honey. Bees have been believed to be in general decline and this effort serves to provide a degree of necessary support for the production of food and produce in an assumed small measure.

The remainder of the programmatic expenses are primarily the cost of some additional minor expenses in support of the organization's goals.