Presenter: Jim Cummins

PVMN Continuing Education Eligible

This event is free and open to the public.

Prior to the presentation’s start – at 6 p.m. – Ken Raines of DD Commodities (a bird seed supplier) will be on hand to showcase some of the products we’ll have available at our November bird seed sale. We’ll serve bird friendly coffee and cookies while you meet with Ken.

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society welcomes Jim Cummins. Jim will present “Is that a sinkhole? Climate and Geology of the Eastern Panhandle; Focusing on Karst and Human Impacts”.

Mr. Cummins is an ecologist with a natural interest in natural and human history and how they interplay. His geographic area of expertise is the Potomac watershed.

The Potomac River, the Appalachian Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley are older than grass, i.e., they were here before flowering plants evolved. That age means this region has both unique geology and biota. Join Mr. Cummins as he explains how have they have changed over time, especially the effects of climate since the last ice age’s glacial maximum (22,000 years ago), and how are recent arrivals, ourselves, are influenced by that history and how we have and are affecting the landscape and climate. There will be surprises; hint: dimples.

Jim Cummins is Formerly the Director of the Living Resources of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin. He has a Masters of Science (1985) in Biology from George Washington University. His projects included biological assessments of streams in WV, MD, PA and DC, environmental flow studies, habitat restoration and fish passage, especially in regard to the Little Falls Dam near Washington, D.C. and a linked American shad stocking program with integrated student and volunteer involvement. Principal ecologist for Anacostia River restoration (urban/suburban impacts). Authored “Flowing to the Future,” a 1995 plan for improving the North Branch, Potomac River which mitigating long-standing acidic mine drainage problems, developed an exceptional trout fishery, and helped improve the economy in that watershed (region). Managed and was the primary author for a multi-disciplinary planning project which produced “The Potomac River Watershed Visions Report.” This report became the foundation for the nomination and eventual designation of the Potomac River as one of the nation’s Heritage Rivers.

This program is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

Directions:

Hospice of the Panhandle, 330 Hospice Lane, Kearneysville, WV 25430

www.hospiceotp.org

From WV Route 9, take the Short Road exit. If traveling east, take a left off the exit. If traveling west, take a right off the exit. Follow to the stop light at Sheetz. Turn right. Take the next left across from the old Shop-n-Save onto Hospice Lane. Follow the road back.

The Education Center will be on your left (the inpatient facility will be on your right). The door to enter for the PVAS Program is to the right of the main office door. Look for the yellow Audubon signs.

Please contact Krista Hawley at adultprograms@potomacaudubon.org or 681-252-1387 with any questions you may have.